The orchids of the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Posted on August 24, 2012 by skisoo

The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and is full of amazing orchids. The garden hosts more than 1000 different species and 2000 hybrids and each year new vibrant creations are made. A special feature of this garden is the VIP Orchid Garden, a garden displaying the orchids hybrids created in homage to VIP people who have visited the botanical garden.

Dendrobium Abdullah II, named after his Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 2001

Epidendrum Ivan Gasparovic, named after His Excellency Ivan Gasparovic, President of the Slovak Republic in 2006

Cahuzacra Hanh Sang

Aranda Chao Praya Beauty

Renanstylis Bangkok Beauty

Dendrobium White Fairy

Dendrobium Jean Chretien, name after the Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada in 1998

Dendrobium Tien Soeharto, named after Wife of General Soeharto, President of Indonesia in 1974

Vanda Usha, named after Madame Usha Narayanan, Wife of His Excellency Kochenil Raman Narayanan, President of India in 2000

Marina Bay Sands Timelapse

Posted on August 17, 2012 by skisoo

I recently bought a GoPro Hero 2 video camera ($466 at Singapore airport). For what purpose? Mainly to film what I do when I travel abroad (diving, hiking). The advantage of this camera is that it shoots in HD, is water resistant to 60 meters deep, has many mount to fix it everywhere (on the head, a helmet, a wrist …) and is relatively small. Another feature that I had not paid much attention at the beginning is the possibility of do time lapse (taking a picture every X seconds), the GoPro can take a photo every 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, 60 seconds. Here is my first real time lapse done with the GoPro Hero 2 of the famous Marina Bay Sands in Singapore:

Weird cctv installation in Singapore

Posted on August 14, 2012 by skisoo

From time to time, when I walk in Singapore, I meet some strange creatures in the street:

The creature with 6 cameras

The 4 cameras pylons

CCTV is omnipresent in Singapore, whether in public transport (metro and bus mainly), in the street (especially in front of the metro stations), in malls, in front of residential buildings and even the inside taxis as recalled by this tragic accident. Cameras can be real or fake for the deterrent effect but Singaporeans do not seem to be really annoyed by the video surveillance, some even complain that cameras are installed incorrectly!

Will you be able to find the 8 cameras hidden in this picture ?

7 cameras are hidden in this photo

Singapore Tree Top Walk

Posted on August 1, 2012 by skisoo

After living for several months in Singapore, I never went in the nature reserve located in the middle of the island. I wanted to discover more about the Singaporean green nature (the real ones, not like Garden by the Bay), so I took the bus to the McRitchie Reservoir. I arrived at the South of the park with a view of the huge reservoir that seems to serve as training ground for rowing and other water sports.

McRitchie Reservoir

I did not pay much attention but the tree top walk is actually located a few kilometers away from the reservoir. Fortunately, one of the trails going through the forest leads directly to it (the blue trail on the map). The path starts by going around the lake by the right, passing next to a clearing where an Indian family was celebrating a wedding at that time. The trail then continues in the forest for several kilometers. The forest was full of life with many birds and monkeys. For the bipeds, some few joggers and walkers were sharing the trail.

Trail in the forest

Bob

After a good hour walk, I finally arrived at the tree top walk. The bridge is rally narrow, only one person can pass abreast, and access is one way, it is better not be afraid of heights (moreover, the bridge tends to move when the number of people increases). The middle of the bridge is 25 meters above the ground and offers a magnificent view of the canopy. Singapore is almost invisible, just a few buildings in the distance.

Singapore Tree Top Walk

North view from the Tree Top Walk

South view from the Tree Top Walk

For those who just want to go to the tree top walk, bad news, the bridge is one way only, you must do all the rest of the trail in the forest (about 3 km) with many stairs, I saw a family having some difficulties with a stroller.

The trail continues after the Tree Top Walk

Singapore Zoo

Posted on July 23, 2012 by skisoo

The Singapore Zoo is often considered one of the best, if not the best zoo in the world. I went to check it out.

Walkway near the entrance

Access is not very easy, the zoo is located in the north of Singapore and is served by only two bus lines (138 and 927). So I went by subway to Ang Mo Kio and I took the bus 138. An hour later and after I paid the entrance ($ 20), I’m finally in the Zoo

Playground for the Borneo Orangutans

Lunchtime for the Borneo Orangutans

First impression, it’s completely in the jungle, very little concrete and enclosure remains relatively discreet, it changes from some other zoos … The variety of the animals is impressive and all of them have their enclosure specially built. Some like the Orangutan of Borneo are almost free in the park, their area is not closed and many ropes allow them to roam freely. I have not seen the show because I did not want to wait but considering the number of people already present, the show must be very successful.

Flamingos

Zebras

Rhinoceros

a Lioness

Joe

Elephants

Singapore Airport Terminal 1 refurbishment finished

Posted on July 15, 2012 by skisoo

The renovation of Terminal 1 at Singapore airport is finally over! It lasted 4 years. The purpose of the renovation was to provide a modern terminal (It was opened in 1981) on the theme “tropical city” which can meet the growing demand, the terminal also remained operational throughout the construction period. Basically, we can say that it is larger (22 000 square meters more), contains more shops (from 85 to 110e29, more airy (the ceiling is a floor above), greener (space within tropical gardens inside and an outdoor thematic garden), has quality toilets (point often underestimated), large glass facade and a new viewing gallery.

Green s0ace inside the Transit Area

I had the opportunity to use the Terminal for an AirAsia flight this weekend and I found that it gives the same impression of freshness that the terminal 3. Great, clean, airy, bright with a fast checkin (for once there were almost no people at the AirAsia counter) and an ultra fast immigration clearance (I use the automatic gates that scan the passport).

Arrival Immigration

And I could not talk about the refurbishment of the terminal not to mention his new signature, the largest kinetic art sculpture: the Kinetic Rain, a sculpture made of 1216 aluminum drops performing a choreographed dance really impressive. For the dimensions: 9.8 meters long and 4 wide by 7.3 meters high (the difference between the highest point and lowest of a droplet) with a duration of 15 minutes, all done by ART + COM.

Kinetic Rain

Official Video:

I tried to make my own video, but my phone was keeping refocusing:

Press release