Night Safari and the Singapore Zoo

The Night Safari is one of the most unique zoos in the world. Opening in 1994 as the world’s first nocturnal zoo it took a different approach towards nocturnal exhibits. Rather than reversing the day-night cycles of the animals the zoo is only open at night.

A leopard resting at Night Safari

It houses over 1040 animals of 120 different species including Indian rhinoceros, tarsiers, leopards and tigers. Nearly 30% of species at the zoo are considered endangered species.

There are two different ways to see the animals: you can walk one of the zoo’s four trails or you can take a 40-minute tram ride around the zoo.

Right next door to the Night Safari is the Singapore Zoo. It has everything from tigers to elephants, monkeys to bears. There are a total of 315 species of animals from around the world!

If you show up in the morning you can even eat breakfast with an orangutan, elephant and a few other guests.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

There are many boardwalks to explore

Situated in the northwestern area of Singapore, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve has been well preserved making it a great place to see a large variety wildlife native to Singapore including mudskippers, mollusks, Smooth Otters and Bitterns.

There are two routes that you can take and they both feature boardwalks, observation posts rest stops. Admission is only $1 for adults and $0.50 for children.

Pulau Ubin

The Dugong feeding trail at Chek Jawa

Paulau Ubin or translated “Granite Island” is one of the last rural areas left in Singapore. As the name hints, the island is known for its granite. The Island is only 3.9 miles squared but with only 100 or so villagers there is lots of greenery and wilderness to explore.

One of the main highlights of Pulau Ubin is Chek Jawa, which used to be a coral reef 5000 years ago. Today it remains virtually untouched and is alive with marine life such as sea hares, cuttle fish, octopuses and more.

To reach the island you must take a bumboat ,which will cost you a few dollars. Once you arrive, you can rent a bike to get around.

Jurong Bird Park

Flamingos at the Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park is home to thousands of birds and a dozen exhibitions. The largest exhibition is the African Waterfall Aviary. It has over 1500 free flying birds and the world’s tallest man made waterfall, which measures 100 feet tall. Other exhibits include the Pelican Cove featuring 7 species of pelicans and the Penguin Coast. If you want to get closer to the birds you can feed the birds or take the Panorail (monorail) through the exhibits.

Don’t forget to download the mTrip Singapore Travel Guide to help you navigate both the natural and urban sides of Singapore!

images by: Michael McDonough, cryptor3, bibicall, wildsingapore and linkway88

….that’s because today we are offering two travel guides for free in the Apple App Store. Budapest Travel Guide & Prague Travel Guide will be free on iPhone & iPod only today. If you are on Android, the two travel guides will be at 0.99, also a steal!

Grab a guide today because prices will go back to $5.99 tomorrow!

Each city has something unique to offer the world of technology. Whether it’s a vital tool or just a simple gadget, we’re impressed and have listed them below. So without further ado, here are the top five destinations for the tech tourist.

Beijing

We had to put Beijing at the top of this list for their approach to traffic jams. They’re currently experimenting with what they call the 3D Express Coach, also known as the ‘straddling bus’. It is effectively a bus on legs, whose body spans two lanes of a road but which lets cars travel beneath it. Supplementary power will come from solar panels on the roof, and it’ll be 90% cheaper to build than a comparable length of subway. Trials have yet to start, but they’re supposed to begin towards the end of 2011.

Tokyo

The government of Tokyo is extremely keen on near-field communications technology – the kind of gadgets that let you and your smartphone ‘check in’ when you arrive somewhere significant. They’ve taken it further in Tokyo though. The aim is to create a Minority Report style city where everything is referenced using NFC, accessible to locals and allowing tourists to ‘see the sites’.

Technology has already played a part in overcoming Tokyo’s navigation problems. The city has many unnamed streets, so in the eighties maps were sent by fax to prospective visitors. Tokyo was responsible (in part) for the proliferation of fax machines, and then later GPS for the same reason.

Dubai

While Dubai appears to be the epitome of sleek modernity, there have been some stumbling blocks. The internet is highly regulated and very expensive, with the average broadband package costing around $40 a month. What’s more, the government is anxious not to let companies use VPN connections to bypass their own cumbersome internet structure.

On the other hand, Dubai has built some incredible things. The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building at 828 metres, built using the world’s tallest ever concrete pumping and serviced by the world’s fastest elevators (40mph).

Vienna

Vienna University is at the forefront of 3d printing technology. While the technology isn’t new, Vienna University has produced a small, cheap one – their version weighs about 1.5kg and will probably cost around €1200 ($1,700), making it a viable addition to the manufacturing and healthcare industries.

 

London

 

A simple app called Tube Status is a must if you’re going to be in London for any length of time. The ancient and idiosyncratic London Underground (aka the Tube) is prone to failure – this app will warn you before you descend the escalators.

Claire Tucker writes on behalf of Tripbase. When she isn’t travelling, she’s usually planning her next trip.

Images: Erman Akdogan, chusico

So, we are happy to announce the launch of five new travel guides: Stockholm, Sao Paulo, Bangkok, Budapest & Prague.

Grab a guide here & enjoy

Visiting just about anywhere in Europe for spring is sure to be a pleasant experience – the streets, bars and restaurants are filled with enthusiastic locals, the French are packed into their neighborhood bistros while the British are packed into their traditional pubs for lunch, the Dutch linger over strong coffee while the Italians gesture over tiny espressos and the Spanish fill the evening streets for their paseo and tapas.

Concert series are fully underway. Unique art collections are on display at museums, local castles and palaces and everywhere you go, you will find locals enjoying regional specialties and vino from nearby vineyards.

Residents truly cherish this time of year because it’s when they can enjoy their cities without being crammed into small spaces by the rush of travelers. This is also the time that seasoned travelers will want to take in the enjoyment of these same places.

Here are a few spring destinations to choose from for 2011.

Holland

An easy daytrip from Amsterdam, the gardens here are truly worth a visit. A riot of tulips and crocuses, spring in Holland is the most colorful time of year.

Springtime means the Dutch fields will be rainbow colored and the farmer’s markets will sell 50 tulips for less than 10 euros. In spring, the Keukenhoff gardens are truly at their very best.

Paris

Avoid hyped prices and wicked long lines by taking your travels to Paris in the spring instead of summer. Overbearing crowds really put a damper on a romantic visit to the Eiffel Tower and can really thwart all your efforts at a romantic experience. Take a visit to the Palais de Versailles to see the legendary gardens in bloom or take a stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries to admire the well-maintained gardens surrounded by palaces and ponds. Often a spot for picnics, don’t miss out on a visit to Le Pont des Arts for some photogenic moments and people watching. Tip: if you are planning a visit to a popular museum, reserving online before arrival is worth it during springtime too. No matter what season, lines are bound to form and while a half-hour wait in spring is much better than a two-hour wait in summer, no line at all is even better.

London

While the winter months in London bring drab weather and heavy clouds, the spring is filled with warmth and sun. Pub terraces reopen, magnolia trees spring all over the city, contrasting against the drab grey buildings, and the weather shifts from blustery to balmy. One to check out is Edinboro Castle, which is located near Camden Town.

Download an mTrip Travel Guide for your spring travels

The great thing about mobile broadband is that users can get online not only whilst out and about in their own country but also when out in other countries. Many network operators have networks available in other countries, and therefore offer what is known as roaming facilities. However, there are a few things that you should check on and bear in mind if you are considering using mobile broadband abroad.

What to consider if planning to use mobile broadband abroad

• You should always check with your provider whether roaming facilities are available, otherwise you may not be able to use the service abroad. If you feel that you will be using mobile broadband abroad regularly to get on the internet then check on the roaming facilities before you subscribe to the package
• Always check the roaming mobile broadband charges with your provider before you travel, as otherwise you may be using more than you can realistically afford and could end up being the victim of ‘bill shock’ upon your return
• Look at other options for getting online whilst abroad if you are worried that you may end up paying over the odds. Remember, many destinations have public WiFi for free or you may have free or low cost WiFi at your hotel or accommodation
• If you are on PAYG remember to top up and activate your account for roaming before you go away

Other things to bear in mind

You should remember that the cost of roaming is not necessarily the same for each country, so even if you have been to one country recently and know what the roaming charges are for that country you should always check on the charges before you travel to another destination. The cost could vary significantly.

It may be worth asking your provider about options such as pay per day plans if you want to use mobile broadband whilst abroad. This can help you to budget far more effectively, and will eliminate the risk of bill shock.

Do bear in mind that if you are using your mobile broadband for things like surfing and emailing then you should be fine in terms of cost as long as you have done your research. However, you should resist the temptation to stream content and shows using your service, as this can cost a fortune, and has left some people facing bills of thousands when they return home.

This promotion is open to all customers but it will only be on July 4th. After that all mTrip Travel Guides will go back to their regular price.

Grab a FREE guide and celebrate with us!!!

Van de Kaart

Van de Kaart serves French/Mediterranean cuisine with fresh ingredients and unique combinations to please every type of guest, from tourists to locals. The restaurant itself is cozy, located half below canal-level and the staff is outstandingly friendly, always greeting each guest with a warm smile.

Address: Prinsengracht 512, 1017 KH

Restaurant Fyra

Hanna Liden has been featured in notable group exhibitions in the US and abroad but she is also known for her solo projects. For more on the exhibit and Hanna Liden visit Half Gallery.

Visit the gallery: 208 Forsyth Street, New York

{gmap|208 Forsyth Street New York|500|300}

Download mTrip’s New York Travel Guide