KNOW SINGAPORE

Singapore's National Day

2009-08-09T12:30:00.002+08:00

9th August is Singapore's National Day. Here is a firework display in celebration of the Nation's Birthday.

Singapore Zoo

2009-06-26T18:05:00.020+08:00

Singapore Zoo, together with Singapore Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park, is the first zoological institution in Southeast Asia to receive both ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications.

Making its grand opening on 27 June 1973, Singapore Zoo occupies a total land area of 28 hectares and is located besides a peaceful Seletar Reservoir. Set in a rainforest environment, with beautiful species of flora varieties and 315 animal species, the Zoo is world famous for its open-concept habitats for the animals. It attracts 1.5 million visitors per year.

The Singapore Zoo offers a wide-range of experience from animal viewing, animal rides, wild discoverer tours, showtimes, feeding sessions, dining pleasure, scenic/animal photography, boat rides, tram rides, animal rides, children's play area, to conservation and educational efforts.

Animal exhibits include Orang Utan, White Tiger, Wild Africa, Cat Country, Elephants of Asia, Primate Kingdom, Hamadryas Baboons, Polar Bear, Reptile Garden, Fragile Forest and Australian Outback.

Visitors can catch the 3 different shows - Rainforest Fights Back, Splash Safari, and Elephants At Work and Play - at no extra cost.

Hungry? There are different restaurants offering different varieties of food like nasi lemak, laksa, pizza, toast sets, buffets, KFC chickens and burgers and ice cream with restaurants like Ah Meng Kopi, Ah Meng Restaurant, KFC Restaurant, Pizzafari, and Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop.

There is also a newly opened Rainforest Kidzworld to engage children and families with lots of fun.

The Zoo has won itself many accolades including "FORBES TRAVELER.COM 2007 - One of the World’s Best Zoos" and "Singapore Tourism Board 22nd TOURISM AWARDS 2008 - Best Leisure Attraction Experience of the Year".

For more information on the Singapore Zoo, please visit http://http://www.zoo.com.sg./

Photo Gallery : Click on pictures to view bigger images.

1st Asian Youth Games

2009-05-30T10:43:00.008+08:00

The inaugural Asian Youth Games (AYG 2009) will be held in Singapore from 29 June to 7 July 2009.

AYG 2009 will serve as part of the Youth Olympic Games legacy and also prepare Asia's young athletes before the Youth Olympics Games, which will also be held in Singapore, in 2010.

This regional and multi-sport competition event is open to athletes 14 - 17 years old, who are also members of Olympic Council of Asia. About 1,400 young sportsmen from over 40 countries will compete in 90 sports games from the 9 sports offered, namely Athletics, Aquatics (Swimming and Diving), FIBA 33 (Basketball), Beach Volleyball, Bowling, Football, Sailing, Shooting, and Table Tennis.

Co-organised by the Singapore Sports Council and the Ministry of Education, the major event aims to, amongst others, provide a forum to foster cultural exchange, friendship, learning amonst the Asian youths, and create the opportunity for Asian youths to participate in friendly competitions and fostering the Olympic sporting values of excellence, friendship and respect.

The Great Singapore Sale 2009

2009-05-26T22:09:00.017+08:00

The Great Singapore Sale is back from 29 May - 26 July 2009. This annual islandwide bargains offer discounts of up to 70% off the original prices. The items on offer range from fashion, beauty, IT, furniture, wellness, watches, jewelleries to dining and sightseeing.

Major events highlighted include:

1) The Great Singapore Shopping Challenge 2009 (30 May, 3pm - 9pm)
A Challenge by teams from around the world to designated locations for the best buys at the onset of the Challenge on Orchard Road Pedestrian Walkway in front of Wisma Atria. Grand prize waiting is $10,000.

2) Late Night Shopping
Major shopping centres will extend their operating hours during weekends.

3) Club 21 Bazaar (29 to 31 May 2009)

The Club 21 will be organising a 3-day bazaar from 29-31 May for its popular designer items at Pit Building 1 Republic Boulevard.

Other events include Singapore Arts Festival, Singapore River Festival, Singapore Food Festival, Night Festival 2009 and Singapore HeritageFest 2009.

Do visit http://www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg/2009 for more details.

Photo Gallery of Mount Faber Park

2009-05-16T03:26:00.003+08:00

This photo gallery displays the scenery at the Mount Faber Park, as well as the view of its surrounding scenery.

Click on the photographs to view larger images.

Photo Gallery of Jurong Bird Park

2009-05-04T22:16:00.012+08:00

This photo gallery displays the beautiful species of birds at the Jurong Bird Park.

Click on the photographs to view larger images.

Singapore River

2009-05-01T15:26:00.035+08:00

Wikipedia : “At one time, Singapore River was the very lifeblood of the colony, the trade artery, the centre of commercial activity, the heart of entrepot trade and the place which was frequented by the secret socities, the swaylos (Cantonses for coolies who worked on a boat) and the coolies who worked for the philanthrospist Tan Tock Seng at Ellenborough Market and the towkay (Hokkien for business owner) Tan Kim Seng who was busy filling his godown with the riches of the East.”

Singapore River holds a significant historical importance. Today, the Singapore River has become an attractive tourist and leisure spot. Its major attractions include museums, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay, restaurants, entertainment spots, retail shop houses, river cruises and the mouth of the River was guarded by Singapore’s famous icon, the Merlion. Landmarks like Singapore Flyer, Esplanade, CBD Office Buildings, City Hall, hotels form attractive backdrops of the Singapore River.

Choose to take a walk or dine along the banks of the river, visit the attractions, take photographs of the scenic background or ride along the river onboard the bumboats, glass-top boats, Duck Tours and Hippo River Cruise.

Visit http://www.rivercruise.com.sg/ and http://www.ducktours.com.sg/ for more details on the Singapore River cruises.

Photo Gallery. Click on the pictures to view larger images.

Mount Faber Park

2009-04-18T19:50:00.007+08:00

Mount Faber Park, located at about 106 metres above sea level, is one of the oldest Park in Singapore, mainly covered by secondary rainforests and several landscaped gardens. Road and footpaths are available for easy access up the hill.

Standing at strategic look-out points in the Park, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the harbour, Sentosa and other southern islands, cable cars, Keppel Bay Towers, central business districts and Telok Blangah (Singapore housing estate).

Tourists can experience a free choice of activities ranging from nature trail walk and enjoying the tranquility, shopping at the souvenir kiosk, cable car ride, fine dining at restaurants like Sapphire, Empress Jade, Black Opal, Moonstone and Emerald Lodge, and photograph taking of its picturesque view.

To and fro cable car trips are available to Keppel Bay Towers and another favourite Singapore tourist spot - Sentosa. To make the cable car ride unique and long lasting, passengers can request for sky-dining and savour a romantic and sumptuous meal.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

2009-04-07T22:13:00.018+08:00

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Botanic Gardens - one of the world’s largest botanical reserves, a tourist and educational attraction, and an important institution for plant taxonomic, biodiversity research and conservation programme in the region. The park holds the important mission of connecting plants and people. Admission to the Park (with exception of National Orchid Garden) is free and it is open from 5am to midnight daily.

The park is the habitat of very wide varieties of plant specimens located in different settings like gardens, tropical forest, lawns, lakes, waterfall and fountains.

Its main attractions include:
1) National Orchid Garden
2) Rainforest
3) Evolution Garden
4) Ginger Garden
5) Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
6) Palm Valley
7) Lakes – Symphony Lake, Swan Lake and Eco-Lake.

Food court, restaurant, café, visitor centres and gift shop are also located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

For further details, please refer to http://www.sbg.org.sg/

Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve

2009-04-03T18:08:00.023+08:00

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a 130-hectare Nature Reserve located between Kranji Reservoir and Sarimbun Reservoir of Singapore. Sungei Buloh has the Malay meaning of ‘bamboo river’.

The park consists of the Visitor Centre, the Reserve proper (which consists of mangroves and man-made brackish and freshwater ponds) and Pulau Buloh, an island in the north (which consists mainly of mangroves). This is the habitat to over 500 species of wetland wildlife and flora and also a popular hangout for nature lovers.

Visitors can take the trails and mangrove walkway area while looking out for the different species of flora and fauna and with significance is the migratory birds. This is the first wetland Reserve to be officially gazetted in Singapore on 1 January 2002 and was globally recognized by the Wetlands International as a significant stop-over Reserve for migratory birds. During the Northeast Monsoon, the Reserve attracts hordes of migratory birds as far as Siberia.

Photo Credits: flickr

Other attractions include the mangroves, freshwater plants, crabs, mudskippers, spiders, shellfish, water snakes, giant size monitor lizards and visiting otters from Malaysia. There are birds like bee-eaters, bitterns, coucals, doves, herons, sunbirds, kingfishers, bee-eaters, tailorbirds, woodpeckers and munias.

It will be useful to bring along a camera or video to capture the nature of the wetland wildlife here.

More details

Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg

Address: 301 Neo Tiew Crescent
Singapore 718925

Tel: +65-67941401

Fax: +65-67937271

Email: info@sbwr.org.sg

Singapore's National Flower

2009-03-31T21:43:00.006+08:00

Singapore's national flower is the Vanda Miss Joachim, a hybrid between Vanda teres and Vanda hookeriana.

As part of Singapore's overall effort to foster national pride and a sense of identity, the Vanda Miss Joachim was announced by the then Minister of Culture, S. Dhanabalan, as the national flower of Singapore on 15th April 1981.

It beats 40 other flowers to be the symbol chosen, with its ideal qualities of resilience and blooming ability all round the year. These reflect Singapore's continuous quest for progress and excellence in all aspects of life, and Singaporean's determination to stand fast through difficult times.

Jurong Bird Park

2009-03-29T01:47:00.020+08:00

Jurong Bird Park is located at Jurong Hill in Singapore. Occupying a 20.2 hectare of land, it houses 8000 birds of 600 species and is largest Bird Park in the Asia Pacific. The park has won itself an accolade of awards including the "Best ASEAN New Tourist Attraction: African Wetlands" in 2007.

The Park offers both entertaining and educational programmes for School, Public and Volunteers. Some of the main attractions include:

African Waterfall Aviary

African Wetlands Exhibit

Dinosaur Descendants
Southeast Asia Bird Aviary
Lory Loft

Visitors must catch the two shows that are the popular "Birds n Buddies Show" and the breathtaking "Birds of Prey Show" which promises a close encounter with the flying predators.

Visit http://www.birdpark.com.sg/ for more details.

Singapore Flyer

2009-03-24T14:04:00.025+08:00

The Singapore Flyer

Being the world’s largest observation wheel, Singapore Flyer stands at an amazing height of 165 metres and that of a 42-storey building.

Riding on the Flyer is a breathtaking experience as it offers panoramic views of significant landmarks in Singapore like Marina Bay, Singapore River, Padang, Merlion Park. Each capsule can carry up to 28 passengers and each ride takes about 30 minutes.

View 1 from the cabin

View 2 from the cabin

Finish taking the ride? Indulge yourself in some of these other activities that are offered at the Singapore Flyer Terminal Building:

1) Yakult Rainforest Discovery
A built-in mini rainforest to enjoy a slow and serene stroll. Enjoy the sound of the mini waterfalls.

2) Flight Experience
A flight simulation experience on a commercial airliner under the guidance of instructors.

3) Build-A-Bear Workshop
An enjoyable venue for kids to play and build teddy bears.

4) Kenko Reflexology and Fish Spa
Fish spa treatments (Doctor Fish).

5) Dining
Savour the good food at the Terminal Building which offers cuisines ranging from Chinese, Western, Indian, Japanese, Mexican to Italian.

For more details, please visit http://www.singaporeflyer.com/.

Sentosa

2009-03-24T12:39:00.024+08:00

Source: http://ww w.sentosa.com.sg

Overview of Sentosa

Sentosa is a popular island resort and the 4th largest island in Singapore (excluding the main land of Singapore). The island is covered by secondary rainforest and offers star attractions like Underwater World, beautiful and clean beaches, and Fort Siloso.

Upcoming destinations will be the Resort Worlds and a Universal Studios Singapore (scheduled to open in 2010 at Sentosa). The Island is a popular get-a-way for Singaporeans and tourists of all age groups.

Express Train Service to and from Sentosa

Attractions at Sentosa

1) Underwater World
An oceanarium which houses more than 2,500 marine and fresh-water fishes, corals and invertebrates.

2) Dolphin Lagoon

A place to meet and feel the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (pink dolphins).

3) Songs of the Sea
Featuring a spectacular and live show of dramatic effects pyrotechnics, lasers, special computer imaging, flame bursts and songs. It is the winner of “The Award for Outstanding Achievement for Event Spectacular” (March 08) and “ASEANTA Award for Best ASEAN New Tourist Attraction (June 08).

4) Fort Siloso
The only preserved coastal fort in Singapore that used to guard Singapore during World War II.

5) Tiger Sky Tower
An observation tower that offers a panoramic view of Sentosa, Singapore, and the Southern Islands, standing at a height of 110 metres above ground and 131 metres above sea level.

6) Sentosa 4D Magix
A state-of-the art Theatre which offers an enjoyable experience of movie magic.

7) Sentosa Cineblast
Singapore's only state-of-the-art cinema simulation ride.

8) Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom
A house to 1,500 live butterflies (from more than 50 species) and up to 3,000 species of insects

9) The Merlion and Merlion Walk
An unique icon of Singapore, which offers a good 360 deg view of Sentosa and Singapore’s southern shores from the higher floors of the Merlion.

10) Sentosa Luge & Skyride
This is a fun-filled gravity ride that is safe for all ages and a pioneer in Southeast Asia.

11) The Flying Trapeze
An adventurous sport and recreation.

12) Animal and Bird Encounters
Featuring sessions of animal performance

13) Images of Singapore
A wax museum featuring the history of Singapore

14) Beaches
Featuring Palawan, Siloso and Tanjong Beaches

15) Nature
Featuring walk along Dragon Trail and a 1.5-km Nature Walk commencing from the Cable Car Arrival Plaza

For more details on Sentosa, please refer to http://www.sentosa.com.sg/.