the little red dot (singapore)

the little red dot (singapore)

December 29, 2024

We spent four days in Singapore, which is sometimes referred to by its nickname the little red dot. I found it to be a clean, safe city that lacks spontaneity, but is an efficient marvel.

gardens by the bay #

We visited Gardens by the Bay, the cornerstone of Singapore’s tourism industry, which is a must-see if you’re visiting the city.

gardens by the bay
Gardens by the Bay.
gardens by the bay
The metal branches of the trees.
gardens by the bay
A unique artificial landscape.
gardens by the bay
Just to give you an idea of how large these structures are.
skyway
The skyway.

cloud forest #

Nearby is Cloud Forest which is a large enclosed greenhouse. It was much cooler inside so it was a welcome reprieve from the heat of outside.

cloud forest
One of the many viewpoints.
man winking
Jade's entry for i-D magazine.
cloud forest
Cloud Forest's central structure.
purple orchids
Purple orchids.
flamingo flower
A flamingo flower.
white orchids
White orchids.
medinilla magnifica
A Medinilla magnifica.

Sadly we had to make the choice between Cloud Forest or another area of the park called Flower Dome as the entrance fees for both were exorbitant.

singapore zoo #

We spent one of our days visiting the Singapore Zoo, supposedly one of the best in the world. Already warmed up by the aviary back in Indonesia, we opted not to visit their bird sanctuary, and just see the classic zoo fare: giraffes, lions, tigers, you get it.

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An Asian water monitor.
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An overworked mother baboon.
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Snack time.
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A majestic black-casqued hornbill.
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Hello there.
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They told me to capture their best side.
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A red ruffed lemur hangs out.
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A couple of rhinos.

chinatown #

singapore building
Some of the more impressive houses in the city centre.
singapore building
I quite liked this buildings trimming.
singapore building
Pastel colours galore.
sausage stand
A Chinese sausage stand.
hawker chan
Hawker Chan's main dish, perfectly fine but apparently a far cry from its heyday.

joo chiat road #

One of the highlights was Joo Chiat Road, on which we were staying. The street is known for it’s Peranakan shophouses, which blend Malaysian, Chinese and European architectural styles. Walking through the streets, you can see various buildings with cracked tiling, carved shutters and bright popping colours of mango yellow and bright pink.

pastel houses
Quaint pastel houses.
potted plants
A few potted plants.
joo chiat road
Walking down Joo Chiat road.
mr mamak restaurant
Mr Mamak Restaurant.
floor tiles
Note the varied floor tiling.
corner building
An ornate corner building.
windowsills
Beautiful windowsills.
apartment complex
A cream yellow apartment complex.

christmas time #

We wound up timing Singapore so we’d be there for Christmas.

christmas tree
One of the many Christmas trees on Orchard Road.

singapore changi airport #

One of the funny things about Singapore is that their airport is one of their main attractions. We saw the Rain Vortex fountain, which is an impressive circular waterfall that centrepins the shopping complex.

rain vortex
The famed Rain Vortex.

Would I go back? Sure, for a layover. But give me Jakarta’s chaos any day.