Singapore Botanic Gardens Travel Guide
Ok, today the weather was looking ominous, with plenty of dark clouds and the odd rumble of thunder, but at least for now, no rain, so it was time to venture out, heading for the Botanical Gardens; it was breakfast, then the MRT.
Following my usual Marks and Spencer breakfast and a short trip on the MRT, I emerged back into the heat from the Botanic Gardens Station and wandered into the gardens.
Finding the National Orchid Garden top
At least there was still no rain, although the sky was looking ominous, and yes still some rumbles of thunder, so rather than spend the day looking around the gardens, I decided to head straight for the Orchid Gardens as that was high on the must-see list for a visit, and see the rest if the weather gods allowed it.
What I did not fully understand was that the Orchid Gardens were not exactly close to the MRT station, rather at the far side of the gardens, anyhow off on the latest long trek, following the signs and really trying to avoid getting distracted.
It took about half an hour to get to the Orchid Gardens, and yes, that included getting turned around by some confusing signs and being distracted by other things to see.
And no, getting distracted is not a bad thing, as while looking for the Orchid Gardens, I took a wrong turn and came across this lake, which, after some digging, is called Eco Lake.
While this lake is a stunning location, very relaxing, the sort of place I would bring a book, sit under a tree and read, absorbing the atmosphere.
And yes, even the weather gods cooperated, although there was still some thunder in the distance, so rather than chill by the lake, I decided to head for the Orchid Gardens again.
The Orchid Gardens are the only place in the Botanic Gardens that charges for entry, not that this is a problem, and trust me, it's worth it.
As expected, I spent several hours in the Orchid gardens taking many photos, with the best ones making it into a dedicated gallery, which can be found here.
When I emerged from the orchid gardens, the weather looked ominous, with dark clouds and even more thunder, so for this trip, I decided to cut things a little short and avoid getting drowned, so I headed for the closest exit, which, coming from the Orchid Gardens, is the Tanglin Gate.
Tanglin Gate is a good choice, as it's very close to the Napier MRT station. A good thing to note for the next visit, as it's close to the Orchid Gardens and would let me avoid walking too far in the heat.
Ok, this is impressive, another stunning lake, this one is called Swan Lake and on the way to the gate. Hmmmm, it seems my decision to head for the exit was a good one, as the rain was starting to fall, although light, still annoying.
For the next trip, I will make sure to pick a better day to visit, so expect updates.
The daily stats: 24,543 steps, or a little over 20km.