On our last visit to Singapore these magnificent gardens were being translated from the vision to construction. So we were particularly anxious to see the finished product, which has regularly been described as an outstanding eco environment creation.

We enjoyed a superb breakfast at So Sofitel and were picked up at 9.00pm by a small bus and we drove some 20 minutes to the park area. Having been deposited at the entrance we entered the large Park and as first activity we boarded the audio tour which is a small bus which then gives you a 25 minute tour through the outer areas of the park and provided an excellent informative audio commentary as to the Park activities prior to us then entering the specific activities. This also enabled us to see the amazing coloured trees of varying sizes which serve multiple purposes such as heating and cooling tours, solar panels and water reticulation throughout the resort.

Thereare several sizes of these amazing steel trees with vegetation growing up the sides, but they are really amazing energy storage and generating plants using eco friendly technology such as solar , wind turbines and water collection facilities for the park, when combined with the amazing air conditioned gardens are simply amazing.

Following this audio tour we had an excellent guide to commence our tour through the two garden indoor worlds. I will attempt to describe them, but probably will not do justice. These are immense glass and stainless steel structures which are environmentally controlled to simulate the various climates by use of water mist and cooling technologies from the trees.

It is a stunning air conditioned environment, with an immense range of plants.

So let me commence with some detailed commentary as to the various attractions. Firstly, there is the Golden Garden which reflects the desert areas with various cactus and desert growths. Then you come to the Canopy which is a sheltered area where the tickets are sold and the entry point to the real stars being the Flower Dome and The Cloud Forest. These are the giant Sulver and Glass domes with air conditioned eco zones. We started in the Flower Dome and saw gardens constructed from a whole range of nations and eco zones from across the world, including the Australian outback. We walked through these amazing pavilions with a gentle sloping walkway. It took us some 90minutes to walk through and take photos of the various exhibits. Several photos are included.

Then we came through the canopy area and back to the entrance to the Cloud Forest and we can only describe the next almost 2 hours as a sensational experience unlike anything else we have done in the world.

You enter and face the 50 metre waterfall, which is a centrepiece of the whole exhibit and then walk through various rainforest areas of numerous plant and fern varieties. There are gentle walkways where you encounter amazing varieties of plants all vigorously growing within this controlled tropical atmosphere. Every hour there is a fine water mist over the plants, but this seems to miss the walkways.. you continue to ever so slowly climb, but it is an easy walk, all the time engrossed by the beauty of the plants and the amazing outlook over the harbour and back across the skyline including the nearby Marina Bay Sands resort.

At the top you also then get to walk along the suspended pathway, the magical walkway that is suspended from the glass and steel ceiling. Simply stunning .

We next came to the Supertree Grove and the OCBC Skyway. These are the super trees which provide the solar energy, eco power, water collection and venting of hot air from the domes. These Super Trees also have other vines and bamboo growing on them. They range in height from 20- 50 metres and each is activated independently to provide this dynamic eco environment. Quite frankly they are amazing and set the scenery for this wonderful high tech garden. There are several photos attached.

Next is the giant outdoor floral clock, which was partially under reconstruction during our visit. In addition, there are several heritage gardens being, Indian Garden, Chinese Garden, Malay Garden and Colonial Garden.

There are also several other outdoor pieces of art such as the planet, a large sculpture of a baby boy in alabaster. There is the Meadow and Sun Pavilion, the Canyon and the Silver Garden.

Jeanette and Ken thoroughly enjoyed the Far East Organisation Children’s Garden which is a large water park for children of all ages with a variety of water spouts and fountIns fit the children to play in.

We completed the tour and then got a taxi back to So Sofitel having had a wonderful morning.

Following a wash and clean up we went out to the vendor markets for some Chinese food.

After lunch, Jeanette decided to rest, but Kem caught the train from Raffles Statuon some 300 meters down Robinson Road and had a great afternoon.

Dinner tonight was in house at “experience “ Restaurant where we enjoyed a superb 3 course meal. Ken also enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine.

This has been a fantastic 4 days and 3 nights here at Sofitel So. Our accommodation has been great, venue and convenient to everything. We have had sufficient time to not be rushed.