Singapore 2017
The city state of Singapore sits at the south end of the Malay Peninsula.
The dark line in the map above marks the international boundary between Singapore and Malaysia. Changi Airport, Singapore's international airport, is shown in the map above near the east end of the island.
My hotel, called the Strand, is located a little north east of the National Museum, near the center of the above map.
To enlarge one of the pictures below, click on it.
Even though Singapore is populated mostly by people of Oriental ancestry, many of whom are Buddhists, Hindus, or Muslims, holidays that are important in the Western world are "celebrated" here, meaning that signs commemorating an up coming holiday are displayed in areas where visitors are most likely to see them. Maybe this will remind the visitor to make a purchase related to the holiday?
At right above is a copy of the immigration form for Singapore. Laws are strict here, particularly those related to illegal drugs. Trafficking in illegal substances is punishable by death. These laws in particular are to be taken seriously.
At right above is a copy of the immigration form for Singapore. Laws are strict here, particularly those related to illegal drugs. Trafficking in illegal substances is punishable by death. These laws in particular are to be taken seriously.
City Near My Hotel
The picture above at left shows the entrance to the Strand Hotel, where I stayed before and after my trip to Indonesia with the Indonesian Parrot Project. This was my fourth visit to Singapore, and I have spent at least part of each visit at the Strand. The hotel is located on Bencoolen Street near its intersection with Bras Basah Boulevard. Across Bencoolen Street and on the corner with Bras Basah Boulevard is a large indoor food court called Food Republic. It was at that location when I first visited in 1994, and offers a good variety of Oriental dishes. Down the street a couple of blocks on Bras Basah is a Starbucks coffee shop, which was not there when I last visited in 2000. I found their prices offensively high, even for Starbucks.
Along Bencoolen Street as it runs northeast from the Strand are a couple of hotels, Hotel Bencoolen and the Somerset, both of which have been there for many years, and both have had face lifts more than once. Note the small mosque that sits between them. It too has been there for a long time.
Above at right is a view along Bras Basah taken from its intersection with Bencoolen. Vehicles run a little to the left in Singapore. Bras Basah is one way in the stretch shown, which makes the picture a bit deceptive.
Above at right is a view along Bras Basah taken from its intersection with Bencoolen. Vehicles run a little to the left in Singapore. Bras Basah is one way in the stretch shown, which makes the picture a bit deceptive.
Looking the other way on Bencoolen Street and across Bras Basah Boulevard is the National Museum. Here are exhibits that show Singapore's history, and at the time that I visited there were several exhibits related to the Japanese occupation during WWII.
There was some kind of maintenance work going on when I was there, and I wondered about the concrete mixer truck that had the mixer tank covered with shiny aluminum plating. What do you suppose that was for? To reflect the sunlight?
There was some kind of maintenance work going on when I was there, and I wondered about the concrete mixer truck that had the mixer tank covered with shiny aluminum plating. What do you suppose that was for? To reflect the sunlight?
Beyond the National Museum is a hill that has a reservoir at the top. Referring to the large map above, this is Fort Canning Park. The park encompasses the hill, which is covered with forest. This is a bird watcher's paradise, with a good variety of species that are native to this part of the world. The small map above at left is one of several scattered throughout the park, and the sign in the middle picture shows the distances to several destinations. At right is one of the many species of flowering plants in the park.
Singapore is a land of rules. There are rules that govern just about any activity that you can think of, and notices are posted in conspicuous places in order to make sure that people are aware of the rules that pertain to that place or activity. Above at left is a list that tells visitors how to behave in a small area of religious significance in the park. Note that the last item is a prohibition against feeding birds. This shows up frequently in parks and other public places.
It was mentioned earlier that at the top of the hill in the park is a reservoir. This lake is surrounded by a sturdy fence and there are signs like the one in the middle above every few yards along the fence so that there is no way that a visitor will not see one. It is written in English as well as in some of the many languages of the people who might live on or visit the island. And just to make sure, the illustration leaves no doubt about what will happen if someone tries to cross the fence.
One of the most common birds in Singapore is the Javan Myna, Acridotheres javanieus, shown above at right. This species is native to Java and Bali, but has been introduced throughout the region. It spends much of its time on the ground in open areas.
It was mentioned earlier that at the top of the hill in the park is a reservoir. This lake is surrounded by a sturdy fence and there are signs like the one in the middle above every few yards along the fence so that there is no way that a visitor will not see one. It is written in English as well as in some of the many languages of the people who might live on or visit the island. And just to make sure, the illustration leaves no doubt about what will happen if someone tries to cross the fence.
One of the most common birds in Singapore is the Javan Myna, Acridotheres javanieus, shown above at right. This species is native to Java and Bali, but has been introduced throughout the region. It spends much of its time on the ground in open areas.
A species that is common in Fort Canning Park is the Asian Koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus. It is a member of the cuckoo family that is secretive and its resonant call is heard more often than the bird is seen. The species is strongly sexually dimorphic. The male is shown above at left and the female is in the middle. The picture at left was taken by Challiyan, and the image in the middle is by Doug Janson. The double picture at right shows the male and female Oriental Magpie-Robin, Copsychus saularis. This is a forest dwelling species that is somewhat uncommon in Singapore but is widespread in eastern Asia. This picture is by Shantanu Kuveskar.
The bird above at left is a Yellow-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier. This is another common species that prefers open areas with scattered trees and shrubs. Bulbuls are an Old World group of birds that are found from Africa through Asia to the Malay Archipelago.
The picture in the middle above shows the Singapore Art Museum with a small lake in the foreground. The picture at right shows a warning to stay out of the lake, and tells you what the fine will be if you choose to ignore the warning.
The picture in the middle above shows the Singapore Art Museum with a small lake in the foreground. The picture at right shows a warning to stay out of the lake, and tells you what the fine will be if you choose to ignore the warning.
The picture at left above was taken from Fort Canning Park looking east toward the office buildings at Marina Bay. The tall building at the far right is Raffles Tower.
At right above is a view of Orchard Road looking somewhat west from near the point where Orchard becomes Bras Basah.
At right above is a view of Orchard Road looking somewhat west from near the point where Orchard becomes Bras Basah.
I saw a number of signs telling visitors that Christmas was coming, even though it was early November. The two pictures above show a sign that had been posted at the corner of Bras Basah and Bencoolen Street, in front of the Food Republic. I think that it is suggesting that the businesses on Orchard will be open for Christmas between 11 November and the first of January. This sign was one of several that I saw in this part of the city.
Singapore Botanic Garden
I spent one of my days in Singapore visiting Singapore's Botanic Garden. I traveled from near my hotel to the Bukit Timah gate using the train. Singapore's subway and light rail system is excellent. The trains are clean and well maintained, they operate on schedule, and they are reasonably priced.
At the entrance I found the typical list of rules and regulations that visitors must follow while visiting the garden. Such postings are found in all public areas in Singapore.
I found the grounds inside the garden to be impeccably maintained. I walked from the entrance to Symphony Lake. The lake had several turtles, probably TBD, and some large fish, which were probably some kind of carp.
I saw several birds, including the Lineated Barbet, Psilopogon lineatus, shown above at left. Barbets are closely related to woodpeckers, and are found mostly in tropical forests. This species is found from India to Java and Bali.
The bird shown in the middle picture is the White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis. This species is distributed throughout tropical Asia from the Arabian Peninsula to Singapore, and north to Taiwan.
Above at right and below at left are relatives of our domestic chickens. Chickens are descendants of the Red Junglefowl, and the birds in these pictures are Green Junglefowl, Gallus varius.
The bird shown in the middle picture is the White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis. This species is distributed throughout tropical Asia from the Arabian Peninsula to Singapore, and north to Taiwan.
Above at right and below at left are relatives of our domestic chickens. Chickens are descendants of the Red Junglefowl, and the birds in these pictures are Green Junglefowl, Gallus varius.
The shallow pools along the edge of the lake are filled with a variety pond lilies as shown in the pictures above and below.
The Singapore Botanic Garden has the largest orchid collection in the world. The collection includes more than 1000 species and 2000 hybrids. When I was there, it seemed that they were all in bloom.
The picture above at left shows a collection of orchids at the entrance to the Orchid Garden. Above and below are pictures of only a few of the many blossoms.
At one end of Symphony Lake is the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. At first glance the stage appears to be water, but it is really highly polished floor. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra performs here regularly.
Sungai Buloh Reserve
I spent a day visiting the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, a large protected area that is located on the north edge of the island. It was set aside to protect wetlands that are essential as a stop over and a wintering ground for migrating birds. It includes 130 hectares (320 acres) of wetland and forest that is crisscrossed by a number of hiking trails.
To get there I took light rail for much of the way and then a bus to the entrance gate.
To get there I took light rail for much of the way and then a bus to the entrance gate.
Just inside the entrance gate there was the standard list of prohibited activities, though this list was shorter than many that I saw in other places. Along the way were a number of flowering plants including the one shown in the two pictures above. I have no idea what it was.
Above at left is a bit of art near the entrance. I had barely cleared the desk where I signed in when a worker called my attention to the small snake shown in the middle above. It appeared to be small in girth but long, maybe four feet. It had been surprised by the worker and was lying very still with its tail protecting its head. I believe that it was an oriental wolf snake, Lycodon capucinus, though I might be mistaken; I don't know the Asian snakes well.
The pictures above at right and below at left show what I believe was an oriental whip snake, Ahaetulla prasina. The qualifiers above apply here as well. This snake was small in diameter but quite long, maybe as much as six feet.
The pictures above at right and below at left show what I believe was an oriental whip snake, Ahaetulla prasina. The qualifiers above apply here as well. This snake was small in diameter but quite long, maybe as much as six feet.
The trail that I followed ran out along a boardwalk above the waters of Johor Strait. The structure at the far right of the middle picture is an artistically built shelter where one may be protected from the sun while observing wildlife. The cluster of buildings is on the opposite shore in Malaysia, perhaps in the city of Johor Bahru.
The bird in the picture above at right is a Striated Heron, Butorides striata. It was perched at the base of one of the posts that held up the board walk, and was probably waiting for just the right prey animal to show up. This species is found throughout much of the world except in North America and Europe. It is found in Panama but no farther north in the New World.
The bird in the picture above at right is a Striated Heron, Butorides striata. It was perched at the base of one of the posts that held up the board walk, and was probably waiting for just the right prey animal to show up. This species is found throughout much of the world except in North America and Europe. It is found in Panama but no farther north in the New World.
I saw a number of things in the sea water beneath the board walk, and one of the more interesting sights was a pair of horseshoe crabs that appeared to be mating. Horseshoe crabs resemble crustaceans but are arthropods and are closely related to arachnids. These creatures are very old, with fossilized remains dating back to the Ordovician Period, some 450 million years ago. There are four species of horseshoe crabs in three genera, with one species found in the New World and rest in the south and southeast Asian regions. The creatures swim upside down, which the creatures above appear to be doing. The ones shown above are probably mangrove horseshoe crabs, Carcinoscorpins rotundicauda.
After leaving the ocean, the board walk ran through a mangrove forest. These plants spend roughly half of their time with their roots submerged in sea water, and the other half with them exposed to the air.
Near the end of the trail that I was following I came to what appeared to be a pool of fresh water. Here I found a North American transplant, a turtle called a red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta. This species has been widely introduced in tropical Asia.
After leaving the ocean, the board walk ran through a mangrove forest. These plants spend roughly half of their time with their roots submerged in sea water, and the other half with them exposed to the air.
Near the end of the trail that I was following I came to what appeared to be a pool of fresh water. Here I found a North American transplant, a turtle called a red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta. This species has been widely introduced in tropical Asia.
Another resident of this pool and its surrounding area is the Asian water monitor, Varanus salvator, shown above at left. The middle picture above is of some kind of fish, probably a species of catfish, though have not been able to identify it.
Near the pool was a rest area with a small building that had vending machines and benches, where the hiker could rest and take some refreshment. In the rafters above the resting hikers was a large group of resting bats, which were said to be lesser dog-faced fruit bats, Cynopterus brachyotis.
Near the pool was a rest area with a small building that had vending machines and benches, where the hiker could rest and take some refreshment. In the rafters above the resting hikers was a large group of resting bats, which were said to be lesser dog-faced fruit bats, Cynopterus brachyotis.
Beyond the rest area was a bridge across an arm of the Johor Strait. Beyond the bridge was a huge wetland that was full of resting shorebirds. The birds in the middle picture above are Common Redshanks, Tringa tetanus. This species is a common nester in northern Europe and Asia, and winters south to southern Europe, Africa, southeast Asia. Note the tags on some of the legs.
At right is a group of Whimbrels, Numenius phaeopus. These birds nest widely in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere and winter in much of the Southern Hemisphere.
At right is a group of Whimbrels, Numenius phaeopus. These birds nest widely in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere and winter in much of the Southern Hemisphere.
Above at left are a couple of Pacific Golden-Plovers, Pluvialis fulva, in winter plumage, standing among Whimbrels. This species breeds in Siberia and western Alaska, and winters from eastern Africa to south Asia, the Hawaiian Islands, south through Asia, to the tropical Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. A wide ranging species indeed.
In the middle above is a Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus. This species is part of a group of storks that are among the ugliest birds in the world. This one is surpassed only by its larger cousin, the Greater Adjutant. It is non migratory and is found from India and Sri Lanka to southern China, Indochina, and Indonesia.
Above at right is a Little Egret, Egretta garzetta. This small heron is widespread in Eurasia, eastern and southern Africa, east to Indonesia and New Guinea, and to northern and eastern Australia. Note the black bill and yellow feet. This species is closely related to our Snowy Egret, which also has a black bill and yellow feet.
There was a nice looking trail that led north along the wetland, but rain was threatening so I decided to head back along the way that I had come. This turned out to be a good decision, because there was a huge rain storm that caught me just as I reached a shelter.
In the middle above is a Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus. This species is part of a group of storks that are among the ugliest birds in the world. This one is surpassed only by its larger cousin, the Greater Adjutant. It is non migratory and is found from India and Sri Lanka to southern China, Indochina, and Indonesia.
Above at right is a Little Egret, Egretta garzetta. This small heron is widespread in Eurasia, eastern and southern Africa, east to Indonesia and New Guinea, and to northern and eastern Australia. Note the black bill and yellow feet. This species is closely related to our Snowy Egret, which also has a black bill and yellow feet.
There was a nice looking trail that led north along the wetland, but rain was threatening so I decided to head back along the way that I had come. This turned out to be a good decision, because there was a huge rain storm that caught me just as I reached a shelter.
Above at left is a better picture of the Asian water monitor. At right is a fish that has the ability to breathe air. This is one of a large group called mudskippers. This one is called the giant mudskipper, Periophthalmodon schlosseri. I saw several of these odd-looking creatures in the wet mangrove forest.
I had spent the better part of a day in this wetland, and could have spent more, but there were other places to see.
I had spent the better part of a day in this wetland, and could have spent more, but there were other places to see.
Gardens by the Bay
On my last full day in Singapore I visited an attraction that did not exist when I was last there. It is called Gardens by the Bay, and it looks like an example of imagination gone wild.
I took the MRT from the station that was next to my hotel and rode to Bayfront Station, which for some reason is not shown on the map above. I walked through a very posh multilevel shopping mall which was of course, decorated for Christmas. I rode the escalator shown at the left of the picture above at left and followed an elevated walkway to the Marina Bay Sands Resort, shown in the middle picture. There is a garden on the surfboard-shaped structure that spans the three towers of the hotel, and I wanted to see it. I asked the fellow at the hotel desk if I could ride up and take some photographs. He smiled politely and said that if I made a reservation to stay at the hotel, then I could ride up and have a look. I told him that this was my last day in the city, and was leaving in the morning. He smiled and said that he was sorry. Oh well.
I continued through the hotel and took the elevated walkway that leads to the park. The picture above at right was taken from the walkway. In the distance are three of the structures called "super trees."
I continued through the hotel and took the elevated walkway that leads to the park. The picture above at right was taken from the walkway. In the distance are three of the structures called "super trees."
I decided to take the elevator and then follow the walkway that connects some of these strange structures. The walkway is 22 meters or about 72 feet above the ground. The picture above at left is what it looks like from the ground, and the middle picture was taken from the walkway. The picture at right is a look at the ground beneath a neighboring tree.
Sure enough, there it was. At the end of the walkway was the sign showing the list of activities that are prohibited. At the bottom of the list are some things that are recommended for people on the walkway.
The two domed structures shown at right provide specialized environments for a variety plants. By now I was hot and tired, and decided to pass up visiting these structures. It was getting to be time to go home.
The two domed structures shown at right provide specialized environments for a variety plants. By now I was hot and tired, and decided to pass up visiting these structures. It was getting to be time to go home.
Jurong Bird Park.
When we made the trip Masakambing to see the abotti cockatoos, we were joined by Dr. Jessica Lee, who works for the Singapore government and is involved in environmental conservation. She offered to give me a tour of the Jurong Bird Park, where work is being done to preserve a number of bird species.
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