River Safari Singapore Asia's First River-Themed Wildlife Park

ABBEY : Ok, so we've been to Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. And when River Safari opened, we planned on going to it. 

While waiting for the gates to open, we took snaps on their facade. The park was sectioned into two and by different rivers around the world; Nile, Yangtze, Gangee, Mekong, and Amazon. For me, Amazon is the best. You will be at awe when you see the river giant, manatee (seacow or dugong). They are very huge creatures but can gracefully swim on the tank.  

On the side of the Wild Amazonia is a 10-minute boat ride that costs SGD5(adult) and SGD3(child). Be sure to be there on time of your ride. You can see flamingoes, maned wolf, copybara, macaws, squirrel monkeys and a lot more.  

On the other side of the animal park are giant pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia who welcomed us also on their abode. We were shown what food they are eating and how it was prepared. Be sure to keep quiet so they won'be startled. Along with them are red pandas that look like oversized racoons and golden pheasant. 

We also got a taste of their Panda buns (choco and red bean flavor) at SGD2.90 a piece. Fish like puffer fish, catfish and Australian lungfish can be seen as well as giant salamander, Indian gharial and stingrays. You will be able see all in it at half a day but you will enjoy it.

WILL: River is calling. River Safari's tag line advertisements are everywhere so who are we not to answer that calling. Before my Ate Sol's 10-day vacation here in Singapore, we went at Mandai Lake area where the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are also located. River Safari is just in the middle of the two well-known tourist spots in Singapore.

The park exhibited the great rivers of the world and the inhabitants of those. It is not an ordinary aquarium, its not an ordinary zoo. With great thinking they showcased the endangered animals that needed our care. 

Be owed by different rivers and its characteristics. Mississippi River, Congo River, Ganges River, Murray, Mekong, Yangtze River and the great River Nile were all there. Showcasing their inhibitors. 

Amazon, the virgin forest, once flooded will be a home to the great giants of the sea. I turned dwarf when we were standing in front of the foot to ceiling glass.. The glass that separates us manatees who swim gracefully under our watch. A jaw-dropping experience indeed.

We ran to catch up the second batch of (Amazon River Quest). Maybe because the boat is too fast, we do not have enough time to see some of the caged animals.

Hush yourselves when you enter the Giant Panda Forest. We just saw the retiring panda from a screen through a cctv camera. The other one is just sleeping, hmm, maybe she is trying to get rid of her panda eyes. Haha.. Joke!

You can go in here and finish for 3hours. 

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Village Hotel Bugis' - The Landmark

ABBEY: We had our lunch at The Landmark on one of the days Ate Sol visited us here. It is located at Village Hotel in Bugis (Bugis MRT Exit B - head to Arab St.). Yes it is a buffet one; international. The place has a touch of Mediterranean theme; white table cloths, blue wine glasses and crystal chandeliers.

The chef manager, Oktay, warmly welcomed us to the buffet table. In there are variety of food like chicken tandoori, vegetable samosa, chicken shawarma, prawn dry chilli, fish fillet in spinach sauce, and bbq chicken drumlets. Desserts were overflowing too; nyonya kueh, fresh fruits, and pastries. 

What I like the most is buttered naan matched with yellow dhal and chicken tandoori. It was a hearty lunch and were filled with delicious food and new acquaintance.

WILL: I like the way Chef Oktay Sahin entertain each visitors in his restaurant. He literally walk on and chit-chat to his diners one by one. So if you want to have some conversation to a head checf of a restaurant The Landmark must be in your list. 

We are all excited to have a buffet lunch to celebrate my 31st bday. We were greeted by the men at the concierge and brought us at our table. OMG, a blue wine glass and a very neat table waiting for four of us. I felt that I am so special that time, well Happy Birthday to me! 

The food, oh the food. How many times I went back to take food? I forgot to count because some were served in our table. It is an indian cuisine so all were bit spicy and curry. 

What we love the most? The garlic naan!!! The freshly baked aroma was all-over the place everytime it hit our table. 

Singapore's Haw Par Villa

ABBEY: Haw Par Villa is a park themed with Chinese beliefs and tradition. As you have guessed, nearest MRT Station is Haw Par Villa (Circle Line). 

Its name translated also in Chinese can be seen in a stone structure at the entrance of the park. Pagodas, kois, and large statues of Chinese zodiac were among the displays in it. Large obelisk were also erected as a memory for the Chinese brothers, Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par (makers of Tiger Balm).

The most prominent feature of the park is the Gates of Hell. It depicts the travel of the dead; how their acts were judged and sentenced with punishment and until their way to the world again thru reincarnation. The museum is good as it has English translation; helpful for the visitors that came from foreign land. 

WILL: It was Sunday afternoon when Abbey exerted all his effort to wake up after a 4-hour sleep. 5pm we entered the villa and directly went to the Courts of Hell before it closes its doors. 

10 Courts of Hell is a hair-raiser. They magnificently illustrates the punishments for every doings they have sinned. It also shows the purification and reincarnation. Inside is hot, I do not know if they intentionally done it for you to feel the hell. Haha!

Then we went out to see the park. Of course we will see a statue of the tiger balm. 

There's a lot of statue and my favorite are the happiness, prosperity, and longevity. It reminds me of the figurine that people giving to my mom. Hey, if you have a week knee, get ready for a long walk uphill. When we reached the top, Abbey and I sat on one of the benches while my nephew happily playing with the pigeons.

This is a great free park. Please visit. It just few steps from HawPar Villa MRT yellow line.

NEWater Visitor Centre

ABBEY: Singapore is having scarcity in water. As it has a small land mass, catchment of water is difficult. They have built canals to efficiently trap the rainwater, imported water from Malaysia and even undergo desalination. To make use of the precious water, they also treat the used water to reuse it again. This is where the NEWater comes in. 

Sewerage canals were interconnected and goes to NEWater plants. It was then treated by passing thru a series of  pipes with microfilters to separate bacteria and germs and last stage is the putting the water under ultraviolet light for disinfection. Some of the water are being used in industrial sites for cleaning. 

The guided tour also gave us ample time to have fun on their games teaching how to conserve water. In the end, they gave us free samples of treated water to drink. Yes, it is potable. No need to fear for your health.

WILL: Do u know that most of the water pouring out from your faucet was imported from Malaysia?

Singapore receives a huge amount of rainfall every year but it didn't suffice the demand of water. SG put a lot of effort for a solution on this. And that is why Singapore intensify the research on NEWater. 

NEWater is a process of cleaning the used water from our own drainages. I am quite interested how they do that and so I booked tour in one of their site in Bedok.

Unlike Marina Barrage that have a regular bus route, NEWater don't have, so from Tanah Merah it will only cost you around $5 in taking a cab. Hmmm, unless you are okay for a very long walk. Haha!

We was greeted by a very warm welcome by their staffs and immediately started the tour by letting us watch a video. Then we went to the stages of how they recycle water we drink. 

Its very enjoyable and it will makes you more conscious to save water. After the tour we were given a free bottled water. A pure recycled water. Taste like the any other water. No stench, after taste what so ever.

You can book a free tour here.