The rivers act as simulants to host a wide variety of species in their respective natural habitat.
The Amazon Quest ―a boat ride along the ‘Amazon River’ is an additional feature.
If you ask me, I suggest that you opt for the zoo only if you have little children around, or if you are a wildlife enthusiast or if you have plenty of time in your hands. And if you do decide to visit for all the reasons cited above, then it’s wise to shelve 2 days. If your sojourn in Singapore is a short one, then I’d suggest other places that are more rewarding. In fact, Jurong Bird Park is a ‘must-visit’ & entails a full day’s tour.
The next morning saw us visit a couple of Hindu temples. With only a few devotees at that time of the hour, the temple seemed exactly as it was meant to be!
Dandayudhapani Temple
Idols in Sri Krishna Temple
We also visited the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, close by, which is overseen by the Ibis
Hotel. 
The temple was no doubt teeming with people that morning, but it did offer us the peace that worshippers hanker after. Their gaze transfixed only on the deity, devotees chanted in whispers, holding up lighted joss sticks.
Shops had just begun to open & I was bent upon scouting for music CDs, that I had purchased during my previous visit. The cassettes of yore have been replaced by compact disks today. On the sidewalk are shops selling music CDs, which contain both instrumental as well as devotional Chinese music.
I bought a couple of them from the shop above. If you happen to visit, do pick up more. You’ll never regret.
Chinatown’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which also houses a museum & a tea-house, is another place that’s quaint yet calming.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown
This temple is a recent addition but its majestic facade fashioned in Tang style is bound to pull you in & once in, you’d never want to step out; in fact even shopping will have to wait.
The temple may seem a tad out of place, but that’s what makes it striking.
The Buddha’s tooth that was procured from his pyre at Khushinagar, India, is the relic that’s preserved in the temple.
As soon as we entered the precincts, the drone of Buddhist chants, the fragrance of incense, the lambent glow of lanterns & the sight of ardent devotees engulfed us. The ambience was one of pure piety.
This 5 storeyed structure has in its first floor the Hundred Dragon Hall & the Universal Wisdom Hall.
On one section are the guardian deities, which are the Zodiac protectors of the Chinese zodiac signs.
Universal Wisdom Hall (Avalokiteshwara Hall)
The second & the third floor have the Aranya Gallery & the Samantabhadra Hall, where the former hosts a collection of paintings, sculptures & calligraphy paintings & the latter contains an array of Buddhist artefacts depicting the Buddha’s life & events pertaining to his life.
As soon as we landed on the fourth floor, we were greeted with a serene silence. Suddenly the milling crowd had also thinned out. We came face to face with a large ornately decorated hall. On the fourth floor is the Sacred Light Hall, which treasures the relic ―the tooth!
Yet, as we entered the hall, the vibes & energy were quite palpable. There at the farther end in the opulently garnished sanctum, was the Jewel in the Crown ―The Tooth Relic, contained in a mammoth stupa made of gold! On the ceiling above was a vibrant painting of the Mandala and surrounding the stupa, were 20 guardian deities. Note: The entire sanctum is beyond the reach of the public & is meant only for monks. Had it not been for the rules, you’d have got to see some beautiful pictures of this fascinating place, on this blog.
The outer chamber has many plinths set with cushions, where the devout can be seen meditating. I too found myself a place & shut out the world, albeit the inner murmur persisted for a few minutes, until I turned my focus inwards.
A few minutes later, we transcended the existing level to catch sight of the Icing on the Cake ―the rooftop, wherein lay a charming Pagoda (Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda), ensconced in a pretty garden.
Dendrobium Orchids
A gigantic Prayer Wheel, bearing sacred inscriptions & motifs within the Pagoda
At each cardinal point, is a Buddha statue encased in a glass shelf.
After spending some quiet but merry moments, we reluctantly allowed ourselves to be guided by our plans. We took a train to Little India for a Tamil styled lunch at one of its classic Tamil restaurants & returned to Chinatown for shopping.
Chinatown
Even the last time, I had been quite smitten by the sights, sounds & scenes that fill the alleys of Chinatown & this time was no exception. Believe me, you must allot one whole day. This one is verily a shopaholic’s haven. This is the place where you can haggle & the place that has the showpieces, the ‘antiques’, paintings & everything you can take home for your near & dear ones.
It has everything to suit every purse & every valise too.
It’s so lively & colourful that it has the power to make you fall in love with the place all over again.
I cannot proceed without mentioning the honesty of some of its shopkeepers. The shop at the farther end & close to Marriamman Temple had a display of lovely floral tops, which I’ve always loved. What I found attractive didn’t fit me & those that fitted me, were not to my liking. I must’ve spent more than 30 minutes & was about to zero in on one, when the lady at the counter told me to go for it only I were fully satisfied. “I unthersthand ith may not fith you & if you alther ith, the beauthy of the dthress goes. You can thake your thime & choose; no hurry. You could thry in other shops also, mam.”
Unlike other snappy shopkeepers who dislike reluctant customers who merely hover around without heading for the counter, this lady was very thoughtful & hence this mention. Moreover, she didn’t want me to buy something that I’d later regret or whose beauty may have to be compromised. May her tribe increase!
Marriamman Temple, Chinatown, Singapore
The aforementioned destinations are usually never missed by tourists. However, Singapore has a slew of spellbinding places, some of which are certainly unmissable. One of them is the Chinese Japanese Gardens. If you prefer tranquil settings & some ‘me time’, then please do not miss this place.
The Chinese Japanese Gardens (Jurong lake Gardens)
Located on Jurong Lake, adjacent to Jurong Bird Park, the Chinese Japanese Gardens are indeed a visual treat, especially pronounced for their aesthetic appeal. The twin gardens & Jurong Lake are connected by the Bridge of Double Beauty.
While the Chinese Garden is supposed to tickle the senses, its Japanese counterpart is supposed to reawaken feelings.
The overcast sky & the drifting zephyr lifted our spirits; what better auspices could we ask for, on what could have otherwise been a hot afternoon?
Even as we approached the gates, the gentle breeze began to spray its cool contents & the twin fragrance of wet earth and fresh grass made it even more exhilarating!
The Stone Boat & the Tea House are the first to welcome guests. The former is a replica of its namesake in Beijing, China. The seven storeyed Pagodas offer sweeping views of the environs.
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Think about it ―as far as my eyes could see, the sprawling meadows stretched afar, punctuated by tiny birds that hopped about; it was nothing but a sheer pleasure to breeze through, unhindered by crowds.
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At a distance, a few statues towered over, beckoning us. Those were the sculptures of the 8 Chinese Legendary Heroes, who stand for social rectitude such as loyalty, love, honesty, civility, righteousness, benevolence, modesty & piety.
Confucius ―the titan renowned for his wise noesis.
Turtle Museum
Turtles, which the Chinese revere, are housed in this Turtle Museum within the precincts.
These smiling Buddhas near the fish pond make for a pretty picture.
The Garden of Abundance
The Garden of Abundance is certainly an interesting spot, strewn with sculptures of the 12 Chinese zodiac characters.
Bonsai Garden
Another eye-captivating yet serene component is the Bonsai Gardens, housing 2,000 bonsai specimens.
Also known as the Black & White Gardens, the said theme it seems is deliberately maintained to accentuate the greens & other myriad colours.
It is the starkness that underscores the lushness; the serenity that accentuates the liveliness, the vastness that provides the backdrop for the delicate & as yang merges with yin, the void is filled with vim; they exist seamlessly, each complementing the other. Think about it ―the woods are beautiful on their own & austerity is a standalone beauty but when the twain meet, their union is a man-made marvel ―A Garden!
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Japanese Gardens
The bridge that links both the Gardens
The Japanese Garden, adjoining the Chinese, although not profuse as its counterpart, is nevertheless charming. The pathways strewn with white pebbles, lead to colourful, well-manicured shrubs that line a lotus pond scattered with full blooms.
With elegant Pagodas looming over the landscape, lotus ponds, old-world garden bridges & colourful shrubbery interspersed by quaint rocks, this place seemed like a dreamland!
Stone Lantern Valley
Different kinds of lanterns strategically placed here, are the highlights.
I cannot still comprehend what it was, but the place evoked a rare emotion. It was ecstasy coupled with ache. Certainly, that ecstatic solitude seemed blissful & I found it really hard to tear myself away from the place.
We called it a day after a visit to Mustafa Centre at Little India. Your trip to Singapore cannot be complete without a shopping spree at Mustafa.
Jurong Bird Park
If Singapore holds in its coffers floral fantasies & faunal flamboyance, then it also boasts of avian gems that grace its many groves.
There they were ―some perched on branches, some gliding on ponds, some hopping about the place, a few strutting about ―showing off their vibrant plumage, some having a dip yet some flying as far as they could. Some had convoked a meeting with their ilk & were busy chirping, while some had a woodnote to share.
There were the colourful ones as well as the cagey ones, but all had a story to tell.
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The soothing birdsong that rent the air was indeed uplifting & at a distance a storm cloud that had gathered, broke into a thunderous applause, as if cheering the performance!
These fleeting fantasies had captured our hearts but time was flying & that was the last day of our tour. ‘The woods are dark & deep’, but we had promises to keep.
Some places always seem to beckon & one such place is certainly Singapore! Maybe someday I shall return to revisit & to discover hidden gems that are waiting to be explored.
PS: The zoo has tram services & the bird park has a trolley facility for young children who can traverse the place with ease. I couldn’t resist the urge to click this trolley & luckily, the parents had obliged!
If you’re still not sated, Singapore’s Changi International Airport too has a lot to offer. If you have enough time in your hands, do take a peek into its various themed gardens. As my relatives explained, the country is on a constant mission to evolve. Each time you visit, the old would’ve been improvised & something novel would’ve found its way. I, on my part, hope that I get another reason to visit this spectacular place again.
The temple was no doubt teeming with people that morning, but it did offer us the peace that worshippers hanker after. Their gaze transfixed only on the deity, devotees chanted in whispers, holding up lighted joss sticks. 
We are planning a family holiday here. Your blog will be most useful. Thank you Shubhrata.
Thanks for liking the article. Hope you had a wonderful trip.
Thanks so much for the blog post.