Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay

Celebrating Christmas in tropical Singapore got a bit more special this year with over 30 impressive Italian-crafted Luminarie light sculptures and a European-style Festive Market set up at Gardens by the Bay.

A giant Christmas tree decorated with the Gardens’ signature dragonfly motif greets visitors at the Golden Garden, near the main attraction’s entrance. You can also see the 16-metre tall Frontone arrival arches, the first of the Luminarie light sculptures, leading you into a Christmas Wonderland located in the Flower Dome and the Supertree Grove.

The Luminaries light sculptures inspired by 16th and 17th-century Baroque architecture were hand-crafted by Paulicelli Illuminations International, a family of Italian craftsmen. I must say the specially-designed pieces blended very well into the tranquil atmosphere of the Gardens.

Some 95,000 bulbs were used to create the Luminaries, and each bulb meticulously placed by hand before being carefully shipped to Singapore.

At 17 metres tall and 31 metres wide, the Spalliera located just in front of Supertree Dining is the largest of the Luminaries.

Other than being a fab photo spot, also look out for the daily “Blizzard Time” (7.30PM, 8.20PM, 9.05PM and 9.45PM; weather permitting) where ‘snow’ made of foam is released to create a wintry scene.

Snowing in Singapore is definitely fit for #wefie time :)

Getting an aerial view of the light sculptures from the OCBC Skyway

Be treated to a myriad of performances at the Cassa Armonica with performances such as 12 Days of Choirs, Festive Sirens and Verses by the Garden Lights By Act 3 Drama Academy.

Spectacular-looking!

Other than the light sculptures, you can explore the European-style Festive Market at the Supertree Grove.

Satisfy your sweet cravings at pastry chef Janice Wong of 2am:dessertbar’s pop-up store.

The spectacular Spiegeltent, a two-century old travelling ‘mirror tent’ from the Netherlands makes its first appearance in Asia under the Supertrees. Made of 1,000 pieces of wood, canvas, brocade, exquisite mirrors and stained glass, visitors will get a chance to dine within this enchanting tent for a unique gastronomic experience.

Originally built in the late 19th and 20th century, only a handful remains in existence. Did you know this particular tent was once found abandoned at a railway station? Now it’s lovingly restored and travelling the world. What a fairytale.

Do drop by for a different Christmas experience in the tropics, and say cheese! :)

Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay
Festive Market: 29 November to 21 December 2014, 3:00PM to 11:00PM. Food huts open from 5:00PM
Luminarie Lights: 29 November 2014 to 4 January 2015, 7:00PM to 12:00AM
Free admission

Gardens by the Bay – Yuletide in the Flower Dome

This Christmas, the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay transforms into a winter wonderland with Teddy Santa on a sleigh, illuminated reindeers, enchanting light sculptures and a mini Christmas village set amidst cheery festive blooms. Temperatures have been turned down as well, so come in your winter best for that picture-perfect moment with a loved one, muaks :)

Illuminated reindeers. Shiny noses are so yesterday.

 

Illuminated Luminarie sculptures which is also a part of Christmas Wonderland that is happening in the Supertree Grove during the same time.

 

Vantage point for photos

 

A cute teddy bear greets visitors at the entrance of the Flower Dome. I hope he has a present for me…did you know this bespectacled bear is made in the likeness of the Gardens’ CEO? :)

 

Teddy bears adorn the place, giving it a warm and fuzzy feeling

 

Twinkling lights lead the way to the floral display

 

Gorgeous with a capital G

 

Star light, Star bright
Are you bringing my present this Christmas night? ;p

 

I want the tree. I want the tree!

 

A charming mini winter village huddled at the back of the main floral display

 

If only I could shrink myself 10 times, I would start playing in the snow…I miss winter but definitely don’t miss the cold!

 

Even reindeers play hard to get

 

The bird sculptures also got a festive makeover. I wonder what this one saw, maybe a roast turkey haha

 

I spy a candy factory at the corner of my little eye…it’s for show only though.

 

Bird’s eye view of the floral winterscape

 

I am looking forward to Christmas, just like this smiley snowman. What about you? :) xoxo

Yuletide in the Flower Dome
17 Nov 2014 to 6 Jan 2015
Gardens by the Bay
9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Admission charges to the Flower Dome applies

 

Photography – In the Mood for Xmas

It’s starting to feel like Christmas :) Are you looking forward to celebrating with friends and family? I sure am. <3

 

Otterly Cute

I spotted this cute fella on one of my evening strolls at Gardens by the Bay, much to my pleasant surprise. Looks like it knows how to enjoy life in an urban garden :)

Nonchalantly lying on the wooden deck, and giving me a stare for disturbing its happy hour :p
This is a smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), once thought to be locally extinct since the 1960s. The first sighting of a smooth-coated otter in Singapore was of a male in 1938 from Lazarus Island. The second otter sighting was recorded at Sungei Buloh in 1990. The otters have since returned, presumably from Johor, as they seek out new areas with increasing populations. Yeah, even otters have housing woes.

My first impression of it was: “It’s actually quite big, almost the size of a small-size dog!”
I would have wanted to stroke it, but held back my enthusiasm as wild animals should be left as they are, and observed from a distance. This one though, seems oblivious to people walking around.

Awww…so cute
As its name suggests, the smooth-coated otter has a velvety, dark brown pelt which is well-groomed and maintained. They are often sighted in mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas such as Sungei Buloh, Punggol, Pasir Ris, Pulau Ubin, Changi and now, Marina Bay (these must be the high-class ones).

Smooth-coated otters are generally social and live in pairs or families. They have an average length of 1.2m and weight of 11kg. It eats mainly fish, but also turtles, clams and snails.
The Smooth-coated otter is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore.

Oh hello, it’s a boy :)

I’m suppoused to be observing from a distance, don’t come near meeeee! lol

Awwww….are you asking for a belly rub?

Okok I geddit…I shall leave you to indulge in your siesta
When I went home to research more about the otter, I was heartened to learn that he has set up home at Marina Bay with his partner and rearing 5 pups! Well, I guess everyone has to adapt and with decreasing forested areas, setting up a home in an urban garden may not be a bad idea afterall. Afterall, it’s prime land that even I want to stay in, and there is an ample supply of fish – heard that it gave the Gardens staff a scare when it was caught lurking around the koi pond…you do have pretty exquisite taste Mr Otter! :D Hope to see you around sometime soon….

Check out OtterWatch and NUS’s blog for the latest otter happenings in Singapore.

Photography – Curious

A curious juvenile oriole spotted at Gardens by the Bay