RadioRoryMy daily dances with Customs officers in Malaysia and Singapore really cramped my style (not that I have much of one). It took about two-hours each way to get from one country to the other so I had to choose my time wisely.
The Customs lines were a pain, but at least they were air conditioned. I’ve lived through 20 Florida summers, but Singapore makes for a special kind of heat, even in late September. Gardens by the Bay topped my travel wish list, and it’s jaw-dropping. Supertree Grove is a collection of vertical concrete and steel gardens made to look like giant trees. Ranging from 80 to over 150-feet tall, many of the trees are connected by a suspended walkway that provides amazing views of the 250-acre park and the nearby Marina Bay Sands Casino. It’s a special place during the day.
And spectacular at night.
I stumbled across a nightly water show that’s done on the opposite side of the marina.
The whole world seems to come together and enjoy this part of Singapore. The casino, its theater and shopping center are, of course, big draws. Still, there’s a strip of pubs and restaurants on the other side of the water that caters to locals. Trust me, they’re also nice to tourists who appreciate a good beer. The nightly light show at Supertree Grove is free, so families with young kids flock to it. And not once did I give a thought to my personal safety. It’s like walking through a Disney theme park. You SHOULD give more thought to your own safety, you just don’t.
I mean, women feel safe enough to take part in an outdoor yoga class at night on the waterfront.
There are two futuristic buildings at Gardens by the Bay.
The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest offer different experiences but both make you marvel at the architecture and engineering as well as the trees and flowers inside.
The gardens and waterways that surround the buildings are almost as magical, but nowhere near as air conditioned.