Revisiting Gardens by the Bay!
There is no winter in Singapore, but you can experience a drop in temperature at the two magnificent conservatories at Gardens by the Bay – The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest.
Over the festive period from December 2012 to January 2013, Gardens by the Bay has a slew of exciting activities lined up. You can find out more via their official website.
Rachel and I revisited the Flower Dome a week before last Christmas to soak in the festive atmosphere. We brought Asher along since he enjoyed himself so much during our last visit.
The dome was transformed into a Winter Wonderland, with some 2,000 poinsettias in striking hues of red, pink and white and a grand Noble Fir taking centre-stage in the 850-square-metre Flower Field.
Asher had fun running all over the dome, exploring and smelling the different fragrance from the various flowers.
Other Christmas motifs like penguins, polar bears and Santa with his reindeer sleigh were peppered across the dome to enhance the celebratory mood. For the camera-trigger-happy folks, there are lots of spots for amazing photo opportunities:
We were greeted by this Christmas tree upon entrance to the Flower Dome
Festive themed Flower Dome
Can you see the tall Noble Fir centerpiece?
Family photo in two Christmas bells
See how happy Asher is
Flowering cactus
More cactus flowers
“No Asher, do not touch the flowers”
Beautiful little cactuses
Beautiful lotus-shaped cactuses
Exploring the Flower Field
Rachel showing Asher a flower
A Christmas crow
Three green penguins
More penguins
Rachel and Asher with the penguins
Christmas teddy
Up close with the bear
A pair of Christmas crows
Another pair
Two polar bears under the fir tree
Santa and his sleigh
Close-up on Santa
Isn’t this so beautiful?
Asher got busy running all over
The Alvinology family
Giant hibiscus in bloom
Festive decor
This is prickly!
Lots of spots like this for great photos
Flowers in bloom
Another photo spot
Other than visiting the Flower Dome, we also pop by the Cloud Forest to see the majestic waterfall. Now that many of the plants have grown to maturity and flowering, it looks much more beautiful than our first visit. The walls definitely look more lush and green, covered inch to inch with vegetations:
Revisiting Cloud Forest
Every inch is covered with vegetation now
The pillars are covered too
Lush green walls of the waterfall in the Cloud Forest
Flowers in bloom
Assortment of colours
Hanging flowers on the walls
The window openings are covered with plants too
An interesting plant
Even the canopy garden is more lush
This looks like a little hill by itself
Top down view
Behind the waterfall
Me with Asher
Rachel strolling with Asher
One last look
The wonderful thing about Gardens by the Bay is that you can visit it at different time of the year and you would see something different as the seasons change. Rachel and I can never get sick of this place. We will be visiting more – together with Asher.
The Winter Wonderland display at the Flower Dome is still on till 9 January (next Wed). Do head down for a look if you miss it during the Christmas period. One good thing is that the crowd might be thinner during this time and you will be able to take better photos! Best of all, there is a 10% discount promotion from now till 9 January if you book your tickets online! 
