Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
148
for closer vie ws of smaller cr eatures. It costs S$10 ($6.70/£4.50) extra, but it 's worth it
since it reaches areas of the zoo that don't have paths.
Staff, placed at regular intervals along each of the three trails, help you find your way,
though it's almost impossible to get lost along the trails; however, it is nighttime, you are
in the for est, and it can be spooky . The guides ar e there to add peace of mind (and all
speak English). Flash photography is strictly pr ohibited, and be sur e to bring plenty of
insect repellent. Check out the bathrooms; they're all open-air, Bali style.
Singapore Zoo, 80 M andai Lake Rd ., at the w estern edge of the Buk it Panjang Nature Reserve, on the
Seletar Reser voir.
&
65/6269-3411.
w ww.zoo.com.sg. A dults S$22 (US$15/£9.90), childr en 11 and
under S$11 (US$7.35/£4.95). C ombination Z oo and N ight Safari ticket (without tram): adults S$30
(US$20/£14), children S$15 (US$10/£6.75). Park Hopper Ticket for Zoo, Night Safari, and BirdPark: adults
S$40 (US$27/£18), childr en S$20 (US$13/£9). Daily 7:30pm-midnight. Ticket sales close at 11pm.
Entrance Plaza, restaurant, and fast-food outlet 6:30-11:30pm. Ang Mo Kio MRT to bus no. 138.
Sasanaransi Buddhist Temple
Known simply as the Burmese Buddhist Temple, it
was founded b y a B urmese expatriate to ser ve the o verseas Burmese Buddhist commu-
nity. His partner, an herbal doctor also from Burma, traveled home to buy a 10-ton block
of marble fr om which was car ved the 3.3m-tall (11-ft.) B uddha image that sits in the
main hall, surrounded by an aura of brightly color ed lights. The original temple was off
Serangoon Road in Little India and was moved here in 1991 at the request of the Hous-
ing Development Board. On the thir d stor y is a standing B uddha image in gold and
murals of events in the Buddha's life.
14 Tai Gin Rd., located next to the Sun Yat-sen Villa near Toa Payoh New Town. Daily 6:30am-9pm. Chant-
ing Sun 9:30am, Wed 8pm, and Sat 7:30pm. Take MRT to Toa Payoh, then take a taxi.
Singapore Zoo
Kids
They call themselves the Open Zoo because, rather than
coop the animals in jailed enclosur es, they let them r oam fr eely in landscaped ar eas.
Beasts of the world are kept where they are supposed to be using psychological restraints
and physical barriers that ar e disguised behind water falls, vegetation, and moats. S ome
animals are grouped with other species to show them coexisting as they would in nature.
For instance, the white rhinocer os is neighborly with the wildebeest and ostrich—not
that wildebeests and ostriches make the best company , but cer tainly contempt is better
than boredom. Guinea and pea fo wl, Emperor tamarinds, and other cr eatures are free-
roaming and not shy; however, if you spot a water monitor or long-tailed macaque, know
that they're not zoo residents—just locals looking for a free meal. Major zoo features are
the Primate Kingdom, Wild Africa, the R eptile Garden, and under water views of polar
bears, sea lions, and penguins. D aily sho ws ar e themed ar ound ecological issues and
include “ The Rainfor est F ights B ack,” featuring 15 species, including orangutans,
lemurs, otters, and bir ds at 10:30am and 1:30pm; sea lions, penguins, and pelicans at
11:30am, 2:30pm, and 5pm; and the elephants at 11:30am and 3:30pm. You can take
your photograph with an orangutan, chimpanz ee, or snake, and ther e are elephant and
camel rides, too. The new Rainforest Kidzworld area is phenomenal: part water park, part
adventure playground, and part petting zoo.
Zoo literature includes half-day and full-day agendas to help make the most of y our
visit. The best time to arriv e, however, is at 9am, to hav e breakfast with an orangutan,
which feasts on fruits and puts on a hilarious and very memorable show. If you miss that,
you can also have tea with it at 4pm. Another good time to go is just after a rain, when
the animals cool off and get frisky. See also the Night Safari listing, above.
80 Mandai Lake Rd., at the western edge of the Buk it Panjang Nature Reserve, on the S eletar Reservoir.
&
65/6269-3411.
w ww.zoo.com.sg. A dults S$18 (US$12/£8.10), childr en 3-12 S$9 (US$6.05/£4.05).
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