Today I resume writing about my Singapore-related posts. I would like to pick the pieces up through my anticipated and designed to be the most favorite day during the entire trip. I think it is crazy to have a projected most favorite day. But let me qualify that.
Before boarding the plane, I have envisioned the 31st of July as the most memorable day of the weeklong Singapore-Malaysia-Singapore Malaysia trip. Incidentally, Lee Min Ho (or Jun Pyo of Boys Over Flowers) had a tour in Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore on that same day that we intended to visit Singapore Zoo. Few days before the trip, I had a little chat with a Malaysian colleague and he hardly contained his giggling when I mentioned that I was torn between catching Lee Min Ho and proceeding with the date with the animals. Last week, I bumped onto him during the corporate retreat. “Hey, hey, hey, how’s your trip? So did you see the animals or ____ (paused and thought hardly), what’s his name again?”, he asked. “Hahaha. No, I went for the other creatures. The guy on tour? (tried to recollect, imagine I totally forgot Jun Pyo!) Wow, I forgot his name.” I replied. “You made the right choice. LOL.”
The main point of this narrative is that I went to Singapore Zoo (initially) not wholeheartedly. Because I thought that I wanted to see Jun Pyo instead (*facepalm*). I guess it was a mixture of trying to be sensible and mature enough, trying to be unorthodox, and the let-us-see-what-will-happen-I-am-not-a-zoo-fan-but-I-want-to-take-photos-of-the-never-before-seen-up-close.
Until I set my feet there. So, the child in me was tickled by these amazing creatures. I was really, really, really amused by this zoo. To simply put, they got it all for you! From the bunch of photos, those contained in this post are my favorites.
Applying the same approach in Jurong Bird Park, we visited some animals during the feeding session. It is better to see them in their liveliest form and the crowd’s cheer and challenge to take photos added to the enjoyment. I think though that not everyone will enjoy the sight of white tigers nibbling fresh meat in those selected sessions.
I was most thrilled when I saw The Long Neck! I do not know why, but seeing the giraffe up close felt like accomplishing a long, lost dream.
Morning and afternoon feeding trails are available in the provided zoo map for the elephants, girafee, jaguar, orangutan, white rhinoceros, cheetah, hunting dog, meerkat, African lion, gibbon, otter, hippo, mandrill, chimpanzee, proboscis monkey, kangaroo, giant tortoise, komodo dragon, king cobra, baboon and goat.
Aside from that there is a LOT to visit, Singapore Zoo offers four great shows: Rainforest Fights Back, Elephants at Work and Play, and the other two which we regretfully had to skip, Splash Safari (pacifying ourselves that we have seen something similar in Hong Kong Ocean Park) and Animal Friends Show to save time. I must say that we stayed in the zoo for at least 7 hours and still that was not enough. There is just SO MUCH to SEE, MEET and be photographed.
Elephants at Work and Play
The elephants show is not to be missed. It was highly entertaining and it helped that we were able to take the front row. But it was totally unexpected that while we were engrossed taking videos and photos, the elephants blew waters on us (part of script/play)! That was literally cool.
There is also a mini-museum near the elephants show venue. This skull as well as the varied statistics about elephants piqued me most.
But honestly, there is a killjoy portion in my head. I wish that the two (of the four) elephants get to rest, I think they are old enough and had entertained a lot already. Maybe they should just be “participating” at weddings in the zoo like this:
Rainforest Fights Back
The script, the drama, and the spontaneous appearance of different animals are sensible and entertaining. As the show’s title suggests, it tells about how the greed of men almost destroyed the rainforest. It was funny though that the barter was depicted by exchanging Jack n Jill’s Potato Chips (probably a sponsor) with access to the nature and its inhabitants.
(Slideshow of other attractions in Singapore Zoo including the komodo dragon, giant tortoise like those in Taman Rama-Rama in Malaysia, and more.)
Tram and boat rides
Since this is a 28-hectare zoo, the existence of tram (four stations) and boat rides (two boat docks) is a comforting idea. While we tried the panorail in the Jurong Bird Park, we opted to ride the boat in this zoo. It was refreshing and definitely one of the better means to rest. As I write this and sort the photos, the more I realized how amazing Singapore Zoo is. That it is indeed huge and superbly planned.
This animalandia is no doubt worth the time and resources. No wonder that visiting it is one of the top three to dos in Singapore.
While I am not fond of stuffed toys, I would appreciate a real polar bear! Haha. Seriously, I kept shouting inside my head the words “they are real”. Well, I guess that happens to people like me who have only been to the classic Manila and Avilon zoos and the other amusing zoos in Luzon and South of the Philippines.
Here are a couple (among the many) of my favorite candid shots:
I caught this during the feeding session. How can you say no to that angelic-goat look?
And this kangaroo pose is so adorable. I remember I have strategically posed to have “our” photo together. Just when the camera was about to get clicked, he actually jumped and left the frame. “Oh, sh*t! He’s playing hard to get!”, a bystander exclaimed. LOL. Seriously, charming creatures are worth the chase.
Envisioning a memorable day is not crazy at all. But sometimes, it turns into one not exactly for the same reason we anticipated.
[Information on how to get there, ticket prices, attractions, and more.]
witsandnuts 
0 thoughts on “Stripes, white, and everything nice”
kayni
i like your ending :). i love the white tiger cooling in water, and yes, polar bears are cute even in real life.
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witsandnuts
The first time I saw a polar bear!
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Photo Cache
animals bring out the kid in all of us. i’m glad you had heck of a time. are you planning on returning to s’pore anytime soon?
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witsandnuts
Not to soon. But I absolutely plan to re-visit. 🙂
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angeli
you take beautiful pictures, witsandnuts.
have a great day!
🙂
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witsandnuts
Thanks, Angeli.
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sheng
The kids loved your animal features!
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witsandnuts
Thanks, Sheng. I’m glad they were amused.
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eds
you got a lot of beautiful pictures from that tour ha. i love it. animals brings out the kid in me as well.
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witsandnuts
I agree. Watching these beautiful creatures makes us childlike.
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upto6only
gusto ko na talaga pumunta dyan. sarap ikutin ang daming makikita. love your shot of the kangaroo. perfect timing 🙂
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witsandnuts
Punta na, heehee.
Dami kong shots ng kangaroos, eto pinakapaborito ko. 🙂
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Mimi - SleeplessInKL
The most unforgettable memory I have of Singapore Zoo is seeing polar bears swim gracefully! Having breakfast with the orangutans is a close second 🙂
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witsandnuts
We were not able to have breakfast with the orangutans. Na-late kame ng dating. Tinamad gumising. 😉
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HalfCrazy
Oh wow, really great photos, especially on the zebra! I would have loved to see those white tigers nibbling fresh meat! Haha, did you know that in India, one white tiger only appears to the public once every ten years.
Wow, the Zoos in Manila all fail in comparison with this Singapore Zoo! Like everything else in the Philippines. Haha
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witsandnuts
Thanks for the info about the white tigers in India. I didn’t know that. 🙂
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Kero
Thank you so much for the lovely photos – especially of the zebras. my son stared at the screen for a few minutes and won’t let me scroll down. when i explained they are eating grass with their heads bent down, he moved the grapes he is eating closer to the screen – wanted to feed them as well lol!
i had them screen captured if you don’t mind and will ask his Dada to print them in the office. Andreas’ been fascinated with them for a few months now =)
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witsandnuts
You’re welcome. I sent you an email and attached a copy of the photos of the zebra with higher resolution. I hope your son will like it more. 🙂
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josiet
When I am in singapore I feel like everything has been planned well, the city, the attractions, etc…I love your shot of the peacock. Beautiful creature!
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witsandnuts
I remember that peacock had a grand entrance. Singapore really has a lot to offer.
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mordsith
gusto ko rin sumakay sa elepante. =)
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witsandnuts
There are two sessions daily when they allow visitors to ride the elephants.
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ever
napansin ko din, masyadong busy ang mga animals…saka nakikita ko sa picture, na medyo pagod na nga si haring elepante…
pero mukhang alaga naman silang lahat…
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ahmer
i’ll visit SG soon : )
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chyng
not a big fan of land animals, but that zebra and kangaroo are really attractive. would like to see a zebra personally in the future, lagi ko lang kasi yan sa books nakikita. hehe
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Nomadic Pinoy
You did make the right choice visiting the zoo than getting star-struck with some celebrity. You’re able to capture great shots here which probably won’t happen when you’re trying to elbow with other fans trying to take pictures of a big star.
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PM
oh wow so much life! i love the tigers, syempre, haha! ang ganda! naalala ko tuloy nung nagzoobic safari ako, kung saan ako nacontact dermatitis, haha!
witsandnuts, i have an event on my blog, sali ka tsaka followers mo din sali kayo!
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dong ho
oh wow! that’s how strong the elephants trunk can be. the zoo looks nice.
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