Large giant flowers with colored lights that change color in the dark and musical singing that fills the entire garden. I know. Gardens by the Bay is overwhelming. Totally Singaporean - and I love it!

Normally, I find myself quite at home in environments not designed to entertain audiences. I must say, I’m making an exception here. One of the first things we did when we arrived in Singapore was to visit Gardens by the Bay. It also happened to be one of the last things we did when we returned three weeks later (after a stay in Bali).

Gardens By The Bay, Singapore
Singapore   Gardens By The Bay

The City in the Garden and Supertrees

When my parents lived in Singapore from 1992 to 1995, there was no such thing as Gardens by the Bay. In fact, the land it’s built on didn’t even exist! It was reclaimed land, and construction began in 2006, opening to the public in 2011.

Gardens by the Bay was created as part of the government’s strategy to transform Singapore from what they called a “Garden City” (a city with many gardens) to “Our City in a Garden”. Their vision was (and is) to make the entire city feel like one giant garden, enhancing residents’ quality of life with nature and green spaces.

Gardens by the Bay comprises two of the world’s largest conservatories and the so-called “supertrees” – towering structures that resemble 25-50-meter-high flower towers. These flower towers are covered with orchids and climbing plants, illuminated at nightfall.

The flower towers are filled with solar panels used to power the cooling systems of the conservatories. Alongside the solar panels, the flower towers collect rainwater for irrigation and cooling, mimicking real trees.

Behind Gardens by the Bay lies the new Casino, Marina Bay Sands, architecturally stunning with a touch of Asian grandeur, which is very typical of Singapore.

View of Marina Sands from Gardens by the Bay - Singapore
View of Marina Sands from Gardens by the Bay – Singapore

Overwhelming Rhapsody in the Tropical Night

Walking among the flower towers connected by walkways – OCBC Skyway – during daylight is an experience in itself. But at night, it’s overwhelming!

Every evening, all the trees and walkways transform into a grand spectacle of luminous colors and music! During the 15-minute Garden Rhapsody show, the flower towers transition through a myriad of color combinations, as if they were living organisms expressing a range of colorful emotions. The show takes place every evening and it’s completely free.

We knew we should see it at night when we first arrived during the day. But it didn’t quite fit our schedule to visit in the evening. And we also knew we were probably missing out…

I don’t think any of us had anticipated the effect the show would have on us when, on the very last evening before we were to return home, we stood amidst the tropical night, with our minds filled with experiences from our first family trip to Asia. How overwhelming it felt.

Perhaps in Singapore, displaying emotions is seen as losing face, but they are by no means disconnected from their emotions. And they certainly reached mine in a profound way.

A Festive Conclusion to a 4-Week Journey

On that very same day, we had visited China Town, and Sebastian had carefully selected a Chinese pajama set. In the picture below, he stands in his Chinese outfit, wearing the flip-flops from Bali, which became his only footwear throughout the trip. It had been four long, enlightening weeks in Asia, which not only broadened his horizons but also imparted lessons one cannot learn in school or in the backyard at home.

Singapore was Sebastian’s big hit. And especially this enchanting garden of colorful flower towers. The place we arrived at – sweating profusely on our first day in Asia, and three weeks later, acclimatized and saturated with experiences – yet still equally eager to explore.

We were heading back to Denmark the next day, but this evening brought together all the threads of our journey and reminded us how privileged we are to experience the world at large. It reminded us of the magnitude of standing there, the three of us together, on the other side of the globe, with a sea of experiences to carry forward.

So, it certainly doesn’t hurt to be a little overwhelmed.

Sebastian at Gardens by the Bay - in his Chinese pajamas
Sebastian at Gardens by the Bay – in his Chinese pajamas

On the Other Side

At the time of writing, it’s approximately 2 PM here in Denmark. Over on the other side of the globe, around Gardens By the Bay and Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, there’s surely a small family that has been out experiencing Asia and has witnessed Singapore’s overwhelming light show and Rhapsody.

I love to think that even though I’m here at home, the city over there on the other side of the world is alive and bustling. Nothing stands still. Every day brings forth another experience and adventure being lived.

See you later, Singapore!

Gardens by the bay in Singapore
Gardens by the bay in Singapore

  Useful links

-> Gardens by the Bay
-> Marina Bay Sands
-> Visit Singapore

  Gardens by the Bay, Singapore