26 April 2025
So many ticket options to ignore
Botanic gardens and gardens by the bay
Last day to do anything in Singapore, so I went to 2 boring gardens and did not pay any of the entry fees to any of the attractions. Perfect.
First up was the Botanic Gardens. This is partially world heritage listed, with clear delineations between the parts that are listed, and those that are not, via a huge number of signs. I would have loved to have been on the committee that wandered around and yelled STOP! Beyond this point, no heritage value.
There is also a pay to go in orchid garden within the garden, and many laughably expensive cafe's, I partook of neither. Partook is my new favourite word, replacing circuitous.
Following one garden, it was time to board the subway and head to gardens by the bay, where there are many many lines to buy tickets for things at even crazier prices. I greatly enjoyed partooking of none of those ticketing options, am I using partooking right?
The area is impressive, even if it is very touristy. Strangely it was full of every scout troop in Singapore all on some kind of jamboree.
Finally, after becoming concerned at the level of UV absorption I was experiencing, I headed into the underground Venice themed mall at the Casino, where no one goes in any of the shops, but the food court was busy.
The gates to enter. No fee to enter the standard garden. There are many gates and conveniently located subway stations.
There are a lot of lakes to walk around, it was hot in the sun. A lot of people were jogging, I was mildly surprised you are allowed to jog in the garden.
Water lilies, you will see more below.
A nice fake cave and waterfall you can can get behind.
I pushed past a lot of people filming themselves doing old people dancing on a live stream to take a clear photo of the grassed area. Maybe I am famous now?
There is a symphony stage surrounded by more lilies.
The cafes were full of people who were mainly British. I found it creepy to hear on 2 occasions, children who looked old enough to drive, refer to their mothers as 'mummy'.
The main disappointment of the day, I did not see any smooth-coated otters with pups.
Now for gardens by the bay, sign photo included for confirmation of location change.
More water lilies.
And more, tricky light.
Now for supertree grove. It is free to walk around, but costs a silly amount to walk along the walkway or go up a lift to the top of one of them.
There are 2 x indoor arboretum's, both with separate exorbitant entry fees, so enjoy a photo of glass.
See the yellow walkway? About $20 to walk along it.
Last one of the supertrees, they probably look interesting at night with lasers and smoke machines.
There are many food courts at gardens by the bay, this one is Jurassic Park themed, the food prices were pretty good.
Giant baby, with penis.
The train station is over by Marina Bay Sands, I have been up to the top previously on a work trip.
To get there, you can go below ground level to avoid the sun and through a tunnel.
And then you come up inside a mall with a river running through it. Yes there are gondolas to sit in (you can see one here), which might be just about the most pointless thing in recorded history.
On the floor here is an interactive digital art thing being controlled by the people standing on it and the kids sitting at the desks around it.
The mall is very large and opulent, but I think no one buys anything, it is for brands to compete with each other for clout.
The food court however, quite full. The problem with food courts at lunch time is all the stalls are selling dinner sized meals. I did not partake (wait... partook, partooking) and instead went into the subway station area for another cooling acai bowl.