The Gardens By The Bay is a large visitor attraction in Singapore, one of the latest attractions to have opened here in 2011. Encapsulating the concept of life as a city in a garden, the attraction consists of altogether seven themed gardens. There are plenty to explore and take in; it is a photographer’s paradise too, given the multifarious variety of botanical flora and fauna.
The above photos feature the Supertree Grove in the garden. This is an unticketed open space featuring many gargantuan trees that climb up to sixteen storeys high. These trees have large canopies that provide shades for visitors who need a leg rest. The OCBC Skywalk ($5 per adult), at 22 metres above ground, is also connected between two of these supertrees. Up high and above is where visitors can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the whole Marina Bay city center.
The Marina Barrage, Singapore’s fifteenth and latest reservoir, is located less than a kilometer away from the garden. We spent about fifteen to twenty minutes walking to the barrage from the eastern end of the garden, prodding past many joggers who were wheezing along leisurely towards the opposite direction where the setting sun is. The differently hued soaring kites dotting the skyline makes for a most picturesque view before the calm turquoise horizon.
Back at the garden. A free laser show entitled ‘OCBC Garden Rhapsody’ runs every evening at the open area of the Supertree Grove. There are two shows per day – the earlier one at 7.45pm and the later at 8.45pm. The entire show lasts about 15 minutes, with laser beams and rhythmic music bringing to life the wonders of nature all at once.
While the show went on, I managed to steal a few HDR shots (above) of the beams and rays against the backdrop of the Marina Bay Sands. It was not easy, given the constantly changing colours of the light and beams. The two shots below are similar attempts of the night scene along the periphery of the garden. The views from across the river to the Singapore Flyer and then from across the bridge to the Marina Bay Sands were spectacular and breathtaking.
The rest of the photos below were taken inside the domes at the garden, including the Flower Dome ($12 per adult) and the Cloud Forest Dome ($12 per adult), the latter of which was our favourite due to its extremely cooling atmosphere within the enclosed arch.
A rather expensive place to go to, given the numerous ticketed turnstiles installed within a single attraction as well as the touristy prices of the food and beverage, but otherwise a great place to be at on a bright sunny (week) day morning, afternoon and evening.
