Singapore has a World Heritage Site!! Are you kidding me? Seriously...

Singapore is a renowned and safe tourist destination, boasting a plethora of modern attractions. Despite its modern ambiance, the island retains a lush, scenic environment without excessive heat (despite its close proximity to the equator). Coupled with its short distance from Thailand, making it a quick flight, this small island nation has become a top travel destination for Thais seeking international travel.

One surprising aspect of this small island, with an area roughly half that of Bangkok, is the constant emergence of new tourist attractions. Even if you have explored the entire island, you will likely find yourself returning for more in the near future.

Moreover, the most surprising thing is that amidst the limited natural resources, this country at the tip of the Golden Peninsula has a valuable natural learning center, guaranteed by the "World Heritage" mark.

Yes, the place you are referring to is the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

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^ Thank you http://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/657813 for the news image above. ^

Singaporeans rejoice as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

The Singapore Botanic Gardens has been unanimously declared a World Heritage Site, making it the first in Singapore and the first tropical botanic garden in Asia to receive this prestigious recognition.

Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Chairman of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO, announced that the Singapore Botanic Gardens has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the UNESCO meeting in Bonn, Germany. He stated, "Over a thousand World Heritage sites around the world are treasured assets of humanity, and today, Singapore finally has its first World Heritage Site. This is a source of great pride and a gift to all Singaporeans as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Singapore's independence."

Rosa Daniel, CEO of the National Heritage Board (NHB) of Singapore, added, "The process of registering the Singapore Botanic Gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was complex and challenging, but ultimately the efforts of all parties involved were successful. This success is a result of the collaboration between government agencies, experts, communities, and the public, all of whom have demonstrated their commitment to preserving the country's cultural heritage."

The Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the first botanical garden in Asia and the third in the world to be inscribed, following the Orto Botanico di Padova in Italy and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England. It is the only English-style garden in a tropical climate zone and is located in the heart of Singapore.

The park houses significant areas dedicated to the cultivation of key economic crops for domestic and regional use. It also boasts the National Orchid Garden, home to over 1,000 orchid species and 2,000 hybrid varieties.

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The following is a translation of the provided text from Thai to English:

This news from late June 2015 surprised many, including us at VACA VACA. We wondered, "Does Singapore really have such a valuable natural learning resource?"

The feeling has been kept until today, and then we had the opportunity to visit the world heritage site in the heart of Singapore. ^^

From the bustling Orchard Road shopping district, we took the SMRT train to Singapore Botanic Gardens. Our destination was Botanic Gardens station, and in just 10 minutes, we were at the entrance of the gardens. It was incredibly convenient!

Upon entering the park, visitors are greeted by an information board and a box containing informational pamphlets. Visitors are welcome to take a pamphlet as a souvenir, but the park kindly requests that they return it if they have finished reading it.

Okay, let's take a look at one sheet.

Here is the translation of the provided text:

The 158-year-old park covers an area of 0.74 square kilometers (462 rai 2 ngan), which is larger than Lumphini Park, which is only 360 rai. It is home to over 30,000 species of plants!

The park boasts three additional large ponds teeming with swans, an amphitheater for classical music performances or concerts, and the National Orchid Garden.

With such a spectacular show, how much will the admission fee be?

"0 coins" (Wow... I'm speechless)

Yes, that's right... This park is open from 5:00 AM to midnight every day and is free to enter.

The National Orchid Garden showcases beautiful orchid varieties, including special hybrids named after prominent figures such as former South African President Nelson Mandela and Diana, Princess of Wales. Admission to this section is an additional 5 dollars, or approximately 130 baht. This is incredibly affordable, considering that this amount wouldn't even buy a full plate of Singaporean chicken rice.

The following is a translation of the provided text from Thai to English:

"Alright!! We've been excited about the script for quite some time now. Let's go experience the real atmosphere!"

Thank you for the map of the Singapore Botanic Gardens from https://www.sbg.org.sg/index.php?option=com_k2&vie….

Based on the map, the park consists of both World Heritage Site areas (areas within the red dashed line on the map above) and areas outside the World Heritage Site (areas outside the red dashed line, on the left and right sides of the map above).

Entering the park through the Bukit Timah Gate, located on the north side (top right corner of the map), we planned to walk towards the Tanglin Gate, situated on the south side (bottom left corner of the map). This diagonal route through the heart of the park covered a distance of approximately 2.3 kilometers, a comfortable and manageable walk.

The area of the park near the Bukit Timah Gate is outside the World Heritage Site. As you walk along, you will enter the World Heritage Site, which is marked by a sign like this. ^^

The map indicates a distance of approximately 2.3 kilometers, however, the actual walking distance is likely to be between 4 and 5 kilometers due to the terrain's winding paths and elevation changes.

Despite the long walk, the overall atmosphere of the park remained serene and refreshing. The lush greenery and diverse vegetation provided a sense of tranquility and well-being, mitigating the effects of the hot and humid climate characteristic of an island nation.

The design and layout of the park also provides benefits for all groups of people. Whether it's for sitting, picnicking, jogging, or bringing children and grandchildren to visit, even people with disabilities can use it as well. This is a true example of Universal Design.

In expansive gardens teeming with diverse plant life, concerns about getting lost or failing to identify specific species are alleviated by the presence of informative signage seamlessly integrated into the surrounding environment. These labels provide comprehensive knowledge and insights, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience for visitors.

The surrounding area of the park also boasts numerous scenic spots and stunning sculptures, offering ample opportunities to capture breathtaking photographs.

The scenery is pleasing to the eye, the air is fresh and invigorating, and the walk is relaxing. It is truly one of the most perfect recreational areas.

Oh… While enjoying your walk in the park, please be mindful of the warning signs and refrain from damaging the plants. Let's work together to preserve this beautiful park as a treasure for all of humanity for generations to come.

This expansive park is divided into numerous sections, making it impossible to explore every corner in a single visit. Among the areas we encountered, the Rain Forest stood out as a particularly captivating destination.

From the outside walkway, the rainforest garden looks dense and overgrown, like another world entirely. However, upon entering, the feeling is different, more lush and refreshing than imagined. As you walk, you can hear the sounds of birds, insects, small reptiles, or flowers and leaves rustling in the wind.

The lushness of the rainforest garden truly resembles a real forest. The small saplings sprouting from the decaying stumps of large trees serve as a powerful symbol of the garden's abundant vitality.

Another area of interest, and arguably the highlight of the garden, is the National Orchid Garden, which showcases a diverse collection of beautiful and rare orchid species.

Why is this a major highlight of the park?

The national flower of Singapore is the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid.

Those who wish to witness the national flower of Singapore in all its glory, or those who simply have a passion for orchids, should not miss the opportunity to see these diverse and beautiful flowers up close.

The interior of the park is well-maintained and organized, but the shops are scattered and difficult to find. There are only a few restaurants and rest stops.

If you don't want to patronize those shops, it is recommended to bring your own provisions and drinking water. You can stop and rest anywhere you want to have a picnic and relax for as long as you want. ^^

The area outside the World Heritage Site of the park is divided into two parts. One part is called "The Learning Forest", which was just opened in early 2017. (The dark green area in the picture below)

This area differs slightly from the World Heritage Site in that it features an elevated skywalk that leads into the forest on the hillside.

The forest on the hillside resembled the rainforest we had just passed through, but it appeared more open and offered a greater sense of adventure.

The information sign indicates that the park is actively expanding, with plans to extend its green space in the near future (as shown in the image below). This suggests that the park is a dynamic and evolving space, and it may be worth revisiting in the future to experience its continued growth.

Another section of the park outside the World Heritage Site is the area adjacent to the Bukit Timah Gate, located on the north side, or the gate we entered from.

The area in question was arguably the most bustling part of the park. We observed foreign workers from various countries and languages, some gathered in groups for picnics, others lying down to relax, and still others getting haircuts.

What a vibrant garden! ^^

We started our walk in the park around noon. Even though we didn't cover the entire park, we were so engrossed that we didn't realize it was almost dusk.

Tanglin Gate, located at the southern end of the park, comes into view. It seems it's time to bid farewell to this world heritage site.

Exiting Tanglin Gate, we crossed the street a short distance to board a public bus, heading back towards Orchard Road.

Access to the park via Tanglin Gate will be further enhanced in 2021 with the completion of the new SMRT train line.

With such continuous development and change, a return visit to Singapore will surely bring more surprises.

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English:

VACAVACA #Singapore #SingaporeCity #SingaporeBotanicGardens #WorldHeritage

Thai:

VACAVACA #สิงคโปร์ #สิงคโปร์ซิตี้ #สวนพฤกษศาสตร์สิงคโปร์ #มรดกโลก

An account of a visit to Singapore in July 2017.
First published in December 2017.

For those who have kindly read our review and especially those who have graciously liked and shared it, we would like to express our deepest gratitude.

For those who enjoyed or liked the review, have suggestions or criticisms, or are interested in discussing and exchanging ideas, please feel free to leave a message in the comment box below this review or follow the links below. We would be delighted to hear from you.

Oh, and please follow our work under the name VACA VACA, our new pen name on Readme.me. Thank you very much!

Link to Readme.me profile

Thank you very much!

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Singapore Botanic Gardens and Changi Airport Transportation Information

For details on the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, please visit: https://www.sbg.org.sg/

For information on Changi International Airport and transportation options to Singapore City, please refer to: http://www.changiairport.com/en/transport/public-transport.html

For details on Singapore City's public transportation network, please visit: https://smrt.com.sg/