Blown Away by Gardens by the Bay

Try not to get distracted when you go through the ticket stalls at Bayfront MRT station. In front of you will be the shopping mall located beneath the world famous Marina Bay Sands. One of the newest and most spectacular malls in Singapore, it has an ice rink, a floating Louis Vuitton store and even a canal running through the middle – complete with gondolas. But all that will have to wait, for Gardens by the Bay waits just ahead. After taking the underground walkway, you will emerge just near Dragonfly Bridge.

It’s hard to put into words what you will experience while standing on Dragonfly Bridge. In one direction is Marina Bay Sands, towing above you, almost imposing, definitely impressive. To one side of the bridge is the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest Ferris wheel. But the most awe-inspiring site is in front of you. Knows as the Supertrees, these enormous plant covered structures, some as high as 50m, tower over the surrounding area looking like something from a science fiction film. These Supertrees do more than just look amazing. Some hold solar panels on the roof helping power the site, while others actually act as exhaust chimneys for the conservatories. Looking past the Supertrees are the conservatories themselves. Two massive white and glass dome structures, you might have seen them while driving from the airport on your arrival to Singapore. Now it’s time to see what’s inside.

After crossing the Dragonfly Bridge you will enter some of the many themed gardens on offer, including the Indian Garden, the Chinese Garden and Malay Garden. These gardens show of the diversity of local and near-local flora.

By now you will have reached the domes. After purchasing tickets head into the Flower Dome. You will need a few minutes to adjust your senses once in the Flower Dome. If you’ve been inside large conservatories before you know they’re usually hot and humid, but you’re in Singapore and there’s enough of that outside. The temperature and humidity inside the Flower Dome is as close to perfect as you could get, and with over 300,000 kinds of plants you may end up staying longer than planned. Although named the Flower Dome, its overall design is that of a desert. Ancient trees sit alongside strange cacti as different deserts from around the world are represented. Follow the path down to the very bottom of the dome to see the central flower display that gives the dome its name. Here you will find people relaxing, children playing and many, many photos being taken. It’s very tempting to sit here and soak up the atmosphere for hours but something a little more blood-tingling is waiting at the Supertrees.

Instead of going straight from one dome to the next, it’s time for a closer look at those Supertrees. You would have noticed as you walked towards the Flower Dome a high walkway between the two largest Supertrees. That is the OCBC Skyway, and if you’re afraid of heights, it might be time to go and have a coffee. Accessed by an elevator in one of the Supertrees, the 128m long walkway is not only exhilarating but also gives the best view of the entire Gardens. While you’re up there you should also try and get a close-up look at some of the 160,000 plants that grow on the Supertrees.

Before we move on to the last dome we should think about timing and the specific order we’ve chosen to see the attractions. The best time to visit Gardens by the Bay is mid-afternoon. The reason for this will become clear in a moment. The first stop is the Flower Dome so you can cool down after the walk from the MRT station. Next up is the Skywalk as it closes the before the domes, but the real reason for this timing is to experience the second dome, the whimsically but perfectly named Cloud Forest, at dusk.

Entering the Cloud Forest is truly a breathtaking experience. After being hit by a wave of cool air at the entrance, you walk further in to discover you are at the bottom of a 30m high waterfall. Rising up in the middle of the dome is a spectacular mountain, covered in greenery and with walkways weaving in and out of it. Make your way through the spray of the waterfall to the other side of the mountain where you can catch an elevator to the top. From the top you can slowly make your way back down using the almost-clear bottomed walkways, again, definitely not for someone who is afraid of heights. If this is timed correctly, you will make your way down as the sun sets and the world outside becomes a city of light. Through the dome windows you will be able to see the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands and the Supertrees, all lit up in a dazzling array of colours. Once you’ve completed the walkway you’ll find yourself deep inside the mountain. Here you will discover educational films and resources about the dangers of global warming and what humans can do to slow it down. You will also find a display that shows how the self-sustainability of the Gardens works. These displays really help to show that the Gardens and more than just a tourist attraction, they are also an example of pro-active conservation.

On your way out of the Gardens it’s time for one last stroll through Supertree Grove. Walking through them at night when they are all lit up is a mesmerizing experience. Even more so when you remember all the power is coming from the solar panels in the tress themselves. It’s the perfect way to end an amazing afternoon.

One of the more spectacular destinations in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay simply cannot be missed.

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