The city/country of Singapore is a destination a visit twice a year, at least. And one of my favourite sight is the Jurong Birds Park that is located north-west of Orchard Road (if you are not familiar with Singapore, Orchard Road is the main shopping area for tourists).
The Jurong Birds Park can be reached by bus or MRT (Singapore underground) but I suggest to us a taxi that is not expensive, it takes you directly to the entrance and can wait you as long as you like.
Some more advises. You can visit the park by feet (walking) as I strongly suggest or by air-conditioned monorail (you can ride it as long as you like, get on and get off at the several stations located along the rail trail) that I don't' like because I suffer of claustrophobia. The entrance ticket cost is around 1,50 Euro while 3 Euro is the cost for the monorail. If you wish to make a full and enjoyable visit you must spend here at least three hours. Opening hours: 10 am - 6 pm, very day, 365 days a year.
The itinerary winds through tropical trees and flowers; in some points it seems to be inside a jungle.
Along the trail there are large, sometime huge, aviaries housing all species of our terraqueous globe. Every aviary has one or more placards that show the characteristics of the bird, its origin, etc. There is also a special building devoted to the nocturnal birds; inside is very dark but it is still possible to shot photo. Unfortunately inside smells musty. Some areas houses birds that don't fly like ostriches, ibis, flamingos, etc. Those area are designed in open space with ponds full of waterlilies, lotus and more aquatic flowers.
But what I like over all in an huge aviary with the shape of a jungle and with inside a waterfall and two streamlets. The area is bounded by a metal net well hided by the dense vegetation (you know that just because you must pass through two doors to enter inside). Inside this aviary there are hundreds species of birds: from the smallest hummingbird to the toucan. If you visit the aviary at the right time you can watch the birds feeding.
Nearby this aviary there is a bird-watching zone. Special watching boxes allow you to watch and photograph marvellous birds without disturbing them.
Inside the park, hided by the vegetation, there are some rest areas with vending machines and, of course, toilettes.
Recently (may be 10 years ago) the park added a typical attraction that I don't like: an amphitheatre where at specific time there is a show with eagles, falcons and other birds of prey.
I strongly suggest a tour of the Jurong Birds Park to everyone who likes flora and fauna; to everyone who likes the wildlife, to everyone who likes to experience the jungle life without go to far away. It will be a new experience. It will be an healthy day if you decide to walk instead to use the monorail.
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Aug 19th, 2005
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