The advantage of living in Thailand is that this country has a central position in Southeast Asia. Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam are all within a flight hour or two from Bangkok.
This is also the case for the city-state of Singapore, which is just 2 hours by plane from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
Singapore Bay
In this first video I take you to discover the bay of Singapore. This spectacular bay is not very extensive, but concentrates some of the most beautiful views of the city, not to mention the many attractions that make it very touristy.
Gardens by the Bay
These large gardens occupy a large space along the bay. They host, in addition to the gardens themselves, many tourist attractions.
It is very easy to get there via the TE Thomson- East coast line of the MRT (subway).
It is a must, at least during your first visit to Singapore.
The gardens
At the exit of the MRT Gardens by the Bay station, a park welcomes you with, especially on Sundays, many impressive kites.
You will quickly arrive at the water’s edge. You can then walk along the bay on a wide path, unfortunately crowded with many bikes, runners, skateboards and other rolling gadgets, all with athletes in outfits worthy of a fashion week. Rather comical, except that the majority of the crowd on foot must be satisfied with a thin dedicated strip, the athletes having priority elsewhere.
Moving away from the water a bit, you can walk through a garden that, although seemingly natural, is still very organized. It is a mixture of French garden and English garden. The result is quite successful.
Price: access to the gardens is free.
The Cloud Forest
Impossible not to see the two huge domes along the water. The highest one houses an attraction dedicated to the world of the movie Avatar, with a “floating” hill of the planet Pandora.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this attraction. The photos were impressive, but between the photos and reality, the gap can be huge.
The result is impressive by the height of the hill, but we cannot help but find the whole a little disappointing, with a realization not really up to the mark and especially animations not convincing at all.
This dome will probably make children happy, but for Avatar fans, you’ll come away with mixed feelings.
Price: 50 S$ (combined pass with Flower Dome possible)
The Flower Dome
There is a second dome, adjacent to the Cloud Forest dome, called Flower Garden or Flower Dome.
I imagined it would be a botanical garden or something close to it. This is not the case and I still do not find the right word to characterize this bric-a-brac of flowers and trees, without apparent coherence or didactic or pedagogical approach.
With the help of the end-of-year celebrations, the whole thing was populated with Christmas trees everywhere, discrediting everything, if it was still necessary.
A visit to avoid, even with children who will probably be bored to death.
Price: 10 S$ (combined pass with Cloud Forest possible)
The Sky Walk and its trees
It’s hard not to have seen them in all the photos of Singapore: tall “flower trees” with a corole and metal pistils, all illuminated at night.
From the gardens they are clearly signposted. I have not counted them, but there must be a dozen.
They become truly magical at night, when they are illuminated.
There is a light and musical show in the evening at 19:45 and 20:45
You can also walk on the Sky Walk (after Avatar, Star Wars …) to enjoy a beautiful night view of the bay.
Price: The show is free – Sky Walk 10 S$
Bay Sands and its luxury shops
For shopping lovers, Singapore is obviously not to be outdone.
You will find your happiness at the Bay Sands marina – MRT station Bayfront-, with the usual luxury signs, seen in all major cities, which will allow you to show off your Ultra-Exclusive-Uranium-Gold credit card, or… to buy you a Dior keychain.
From the top of my Birkenstock and my shorts, I still have to say that I was not impressed more than that.
Bangkok, along Sukhumvit Road, offers a number of luxury malls that are both more numerous and more upscale, whether in terms of architecture or hosted shops.
You can also enjoy a beer for S$25 on the dock. To be credible, just think about taking the attitude of the millionaire who has remained simple, so natural, in shorts and Birkenstock.
Light and water shows
After experiencing this luxury, the poor can enjoy the marina’s free aquatiquo-luminous show at 20:00 and 21:30
The nightlife is sumptuous: the bay, the illuminated buildings of the business district, Bay Sands behind you. For the rest it is mostly colored water jets, very pleasant to look at, but without wow effect either.
Free also, the light show of the Sky Walk and trees at 19:45 and 20:45
In conclusion
Singapore Bay is a must if, like me, this is your first visit.
Ceci dit, ces attractions sont un peu hors sol (Cloud Forest) et sans véritable âme.
There are more authentic places to visit like Little India and Chinatown, but that’s the subject of my next video!
Ciao!
