Gardens by the Bay

We started our day at Gardens by the Bay. First we wandered through the many free gardens which were really pretty. They also had neat little information boards where you could learn about the different plants. There was one section where you could learn how different plant species evolved and they had examples that you could look at.

Gardens by the Bay was kind enough to supply us with media passes for my blog so we were able to enter the conservatories for free. We went into the Flower Dome which is in the middle of their "Tulipmania" event. They had a ton of tulips and some were organized in a way to re-create a famous painting. There was one of Van Gogh's Starry Night which was really pretty. They also had lots of other different sections, like cacti and other succulents, and Mediterranean or South American. I liked the tulips the best. This is the world's largest glass greenhouse according to the Guinness World Records 2015.

Next was the Cloud Forest, which is the other dome. This was really cool. They re-created a tropical mountain region with cool, moist climate and a man-made mountain (35 meters tall) with waterfall.  The flowers and plants grew all the way up the 'mountain' and it was really pretty. You could take an elevator up to the top and walk around inside it and also on a skywalk around it. You'd make your way down through the different sections. We also got to learn a bit about how the huge conservatories were built to be so environmentally friendly. They collect rainwater at the surface and circulate it through a filtering system which uses the Supertrees (more about those later) to vent hot air and cool circulated water.

We wanted to go straight to the Supertree Grove and do the Skyway, but at the time it was closed down due to lightning concerns. We decided we'd come back at night when it was all lit up. The supertrees are tree-like structures that are vertical gardens. They contain lots of unique plants and are fitted with environmental technologies to help mimic the function of trees. They take in solar energy to be used for lighting, they collect rainwater to be used in irrigation, and they also take in and exhaust air for the conservatories. Here is a picture, but more to come.

We left Gardens by the Bay and grabbed a quick lunch. We checked out the Fountain of Wealth- you had to stick your right hand in the fountain, make a silent wish, and then walk around it 3 times. We followed the instructions so hopefully our wishes come true!

Then we went to Haji Lane, which is well-known for it's unique shops and restuarants and also its intricate graffiti. Lots to see around there. We wandered by a Mexican restaurant where a couple was enjoying margaritas and guacamole. I decided I had to have some, so that was my afternoon treat. 

Once it got dark we made our way back to the Gardens by the Bay just in time for the first light and sound show at 7:45pm. There were a ton of people there for the show. It was really cool- they had music playing and the supertrees would change colors along with the music. We were lucky enough to skip the line (thanks to the media passes!) and go right up to the skyway for the light show and enjoy it from up there. It really was beautiful along with the night skyline. I would definitely recommend this to be visited at night. I have a ton of pictures and a few videos, here are a couple:

After the show was over the crowd dispersed into the gardens. We did the same and caught a train to Clarke Quay, which is near our airbnb. We hung out there for awhile and grabbed some dinner. Then we walked around and enjoyed some of the live music that was playing and people-watching as everyone was out in their Saturday night outfits. It was a happenin' place with lots going on and lots of clubs. We were pretty tired though (walked over 26k steps today!) so we headed home after a bit. 

Gardens by the Bay did sponsor our visit today but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.