Sorensen Hong Kong China Temple Mission: Singapore

Here is the second part of our trip to Singapore with Elder and Sister Chiu. This time we will show only a few pictures of the plants and animals that we saw while visiting the River Safari, Flower Dome, Cloud Dome and Jurong Bird Park.

The River Safari is a river-themed zoo and aquarium located in Singapore. It is the first of its kind in Asia and features freshwater attractions and river boat rides as its main highlights. The park consists of a total of 10 different ecosystems around the world, including the River Nile, Yangtze river, Mississippi, Amazon as well as the Tundra. It features 5000 animals of 300 species, including numerous that are endangered.

The Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit, which houses the manatees and various South American fish, contains 2,000 m (71,000 cu ft) of water and has a viewing panel that measures 22 m × 4 m (72 ft × 13 ft). Its volume and the size of the viewing panel are both world records for a freshwater aquarium.

Getting ready for the River Safari, this was not the boat we actually rode in.

Squirrel Monkeys trying to distract us from reading the signs.

We were inside the area with the monkeys free roaming in the trees.

This monkey was by a monkey exhibit but not inside the enclosure. Not sure if he had escaped or was a local resident visiting. When leaving the park we saw wild monkeys run across the road.

A Jaguar we saw on the Safari.

Elder Sorensen sizing up a Mekong Catfish while thinking "Where is my fishing pole".

Manatees.

One of the Pandas enjoying his lunch while laying on his back.

Picture with the Pandas, the real Pandas are the ones in front.

Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. Gardens by the Bay is part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from a "Garden City" to a "City in a Garden". The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city.

The conservatory complex at Gardens by the Bay comprises two cooled conservatories – the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. Both are very large (around 1 hectare (2.5 acres)) and the Flower Dome is the world's largest columnless glasshouse.

Panoramic view of Gardens by the Bay with Supertrees in the center and the Flower Dome and Cloud Dome on the left in the back.

Cloud Dome on the Cleft, Flower Dome Center, Supertrees right.

The Flower Dome is the larger of the two, at 1.2 hectares (3.0 acres). It replicates a mild, dry climate and features plants found in the Mediterranean and other semi-arid tropical regions (e.g. parts of Australia, South America, South Africa). The Flower Dome is 38 metres (125 ft) high and maintains a temperature between 23 °C and 25 °C, slightly lower at night.

Sister Chiu with Alice in Wonderland. Notice all the live plants everywhere.

Elder Chiu singing opera with The Queen of Hearts.

These were live trees inside the dome.

Dragon in a tree.

You thought Santa's Cabin was in the North Pole and here it is in Singapore.

The Cloud Forest is slightly smaller at 0.8 hectares (2.0 acres). It replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above sea level, found in South-East Asia, Middle- and South America. The "Cloud Mountain" itself is an intricate structure completely clad in epiphytes such as orchids, ferns, peacock ferns, spike- and clubmosses, bromeliads and anthuriums. It consists of a number of levels, each with a different theme.

Sister Chiu and Sister Sorensen inside the Cloud Dome.

Looking down on a couple having wedding pictures taken inside the dome.

All of this mountain is live plants.

Looking at the mountain of flowers from higher up.

Beautiful flowers and unique flower pots.

The following pictures some of the flowers we saw in the Cloud Dome.

It is hard to show in a picture all of the plants that were inside the Cloud Dome and how large it is but this is just a small part of it.

Supertree Grove

Supertrees are tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens' landscape with heights that range between 25 metres (82 ft) and 50 metres (160 ft). They are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens. The Supertrees are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns, vines, orchids and also a vast collection of bromeliads such as Tillandsia, amongst other plants. They are fitted with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees – photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy which can be used for some of the functions of the Supertrees, such as lighting, just like how trees photosynthesize; and collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, exactly like how trees absorb rainwater for growth. The Supertrees also serve air intake and exhaust functions as part of the conservatories' cooling systems.

A Supertree at night. The green is live plants.

Jurong Bird Park is now a world-famous bird zoo where there are specimens of magnificent bird life from around the world. It is currently the world's largest bird park in terms of the number of birds, and second largest both in the number of bird species and land area. There are 5,000 birds of 400 species of which 29 are threatened species. The African Waterfall Aviary is the second largest walk-in aviary in the world, covering 2 hectares (4.9 acres) and including more than 600 free-flying birds of more than 50 species. The aviary is named after the 30-metre (98 ft) tall Jurong Falls, one of the world's tallest man-made waterfalls.

Entrance to the Jurong Bird Park.

Live Flamingos.

Amazing colors of birds.

We enjoyed being inside the enclosures with many of the birds and not just looking in.

Elder and Sister Chiu and Sister Sorensen on the bridge in front of Jurong Water Falls mentioned earlier as one of the world's tallest man-made waterfalls.