Good News! Free Admission to National Orchid Gardens at UNESCO Heritage Botanic Gardens

I wanted to pay for my friend admission ticket to National Orchid Garden located in the vast 82-hectare Botanic Gardens which is the first UNESCO heritage site in Singapore. To my surprise, there is now free admission to National Orchid Gardens during the school June holidays till 26 June this year. The usual price for local residents is $5.00 and standard price is $15.00.The National Orchid Garden is really big and we could not explore all 1000 species and 2000 hybrids orchids in 3 hours. I think you need at least 4 hours to really various attractions in the National Orchid Garden which include the air-conditioned Tan Hoon Siang Mist House and The Sembcorp Cool House which is like the Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay.

For more information, click here.

Nearest MRT station: Botanic Gardens MRT -Circle line

Orchids in the Sembcorp Cool House. It is like the Cloud forest dome at Gardens by the Bay. 

Free admission to Orchid Gardens till 26 June 2022.

Singapore National Flower

At the Secret Ravine to The Sembcorp House and Mist House

Aranda Lee Kuan Yew, one of the few leaders I respect. 

At this area, you get to see orchids named after Very Important People (VIP) like leaders from around the world. 

I like this unique looking orchids with twists named after Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of United Kingdom in 1985.

The latest orchids 

I love these pretty big monstera leaves!

Into the cool Tan Hoon Siang Mist House

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Tree Planting Today at Bedok South

I'm so happy today as I have achieved one of my dreams to plant trees at Bedok South in Singapore as part of the OneMillionTrees movement organised by the National Parks Board . Previously I was upset that I couldn't participate as most of the tree planting events are held on weekdays morning and the weekend slots are always fully taken up. Luckily I managed to book a slot during the March holidays. 

I planted two trees namely the red mempat and medang asam today. Wow, I didn't know it was so exhausting digging the soil using the changkol. I made a big mistake choosing a big tree with really thick root ball. I had to dig the tree hole as deep as the root ball. I was sweating profusely when digging the wet and sticky soil with the heavy changkol. My arms still feel sore after the activity. Fortunately the kind NPark staff helped me.  

I think I will be back to plant more trees during the school holidays. This time I make sure I do more arm exercises so I have more strength. I hope to see the trees grow tall and strong. 

You can find out more on the OneMillonTrees movement from National Parks website here.

From National Parks

The OneMillionTrees movement aims to restore nature back into our city through the planting of more than a million trees across Singapore over the next 10 years. This is part of our efforts to transform Singapore into a City in Nature, which is a key pillar under the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Community is key to the success of this movement – so join us to play an active role in the greening of Singapore!

I planted this tree Elaeocarpus mastersii or Medang Asam 杜英

Nice hibiscus painting on HDB flats at Bedok South.

Getting ready to plant the trees. The tools are provided by NPark.

A staff from NPark giving briefing before we plant the trees.

To help me remember which tree I planted, the tree is on second row facing Blk 38, Bedok South Road.

Another tree I planted is commonly known as red mempat. You  can find out more about the tree here.

The other tree I planted is facing the landed property as shown here.

Watch this video first on how to plant the tree before attending the tree planting event.

OneMillion Trees Movement in Singapore

Are you interested to help to achieve the goal of planting one million trees over the next ten years in Singapore? I find this activity really meaningful and plan to plant a tree in mid or late November. It is one method to reduce climate change. I love nature as it helps me to recharge and it helps to reduce global warming. 

Hey buddies if you plan to plant a tree too, watsapp me so we can participate this meaningful activity together. I will go only in November during the holidays. 

To find out more information on upcoming tree-planting activities, you can visit NParks website here.

Sengkang Riverside Park

I haven't been to Sengkang Riverside Park but it is definitely one place I want to explore when I'm free. Jamus Lim did a great job introducing this beautiful park.  The park looks amazing and cheerful. I'm looking forward to explore the scenic park.

Exploring Southern Ridges in Singapore 2020

I'm embarking on exercises now to shake off excess weight. Hopefully I can shed off 12 kg by the end of this year by exercising and reducing food intake. 😊

This Tuesday, my buddy and I decided to spend the day hiking at the Southern Ridges in Singapore. We started the journey from the Harbourfront MRT station, climbed various stairs on the steep Marang trail, explored Mount Faber Park then to Telok Blangah park via the Forest walk in the midst of secondary forest with rich biodiversity and finally to Labrador Park MRT. It took us about 3 hours plus to complete the trail and we walked about 16000 to 18000 steps. I can't really remember the number of steps. But if I were to include the Chinatown Ann Siang Hill trail to home, it was about 24000 steps for the day.

We had early dinner at the ARC (Alexandra Retail Centre) before heading to Labrador Park MRT and later to Chinatown. 

I love the scenic walk and I do hope if I have another half, he also enjoy exploring nature like I do. 

Remember to wear a hat and apply sunblock to protect yourself from the scorching hot sun in Singapore. Good to apply insect repellent on your shirt too. 

To read my earlier blog post of Hiking at Mount Faber and Henderson Waves in 2014, click here,

You can download the walking guide here from the National Parks.

We arrived at the Henderson wave at about 12.40 pm. It was literally empty on Tuesday afternoon.

You can download the walking guide here from the National Parks.

Walking up the steep Marang trail.

Finally up to to the Mount Faber park.

The bright orange cluster of flowers are still here.

View from the Mount Faber park

We love the 1.3 km Forest walk in the lush secondary forest.

Simpor air flower

Simpoh air is a shrubby tree which grows in secondary forest. Its leaves were traditionally used by hawkers to wrap local dishes such as rojak and tempeh. The flowers of the Simpoh Air starts to open at about 3am and come into full bloom an hour before sunrise. Its fruit split open at about 3 am.

View from the Mount Faber

View from the Faber Walk.

Glad that the weather was good for hiking this Tuesday. Lovely cloud.

The seats at the Henderson waves are condoned off.

I love this forest walk where you are in the midst of secondary forest and you can look at the flowers and trees around you. 

Social distancing reminders

Alexandra Arch