SINGAPORE: Day 1 Night Safari

Date: June 15, 2011

We really had a full itinerary for this day, so much that if left us tired. Lethargic because we pushed our bodies to its limits but nevertheless thankful for the experience that we were allowed to do.

After our trip around the city, we were bound to go to the night safari. We have two options available to us by MRT. In my research, Ang Mo Kio was the way to go but last minute, Anne suggested Choa Chu Kang. We did that.

We were the usual tourist, asking around on which way to go but we made it to the zoo! It was a long wait in the bus stop but we made it! As can be read through all the tourist guides in the internet, the trip took 30-40min.

When we got there, it was already late but there were still a lot of people in the place. We went to the wrong entrance and as usual, there was a not-so-friendly uncle directing the traffic of lost foreigners to the correct entrance. They had some renovations going on that time.

When we entered, we lined up on the ticketing counter and got ourselves a good deal. I think. We even got souvenir ID laces for us to remember the experience.

We wanted to do the tram ride first but when we got there, it was another 30 minutes before the gates will open again. So we headed back to the clearing and watched the Thumbuakar Performance at the open bar.

People eating fire isnt new to us. We always see that in movies and in most of our visits to Boracay. What made this performance different is something that I cant explain. Maybe because it was more theatrical than those I have seen.

When the performance was over, we went back to the lines of the tram ride and by then, there was already a long queue of people waiting for their turn. Even though there was a hundred or so people ahead of us, we were able to take the ride! We had our eyes on the farthest back seats but four american girls beat us to it, so we took the next best seats, or so we thought. Riding at the back of the tram is not the way to go if you really want to get the most from the experience. If you do, you will end up not seeing some of the animals in time the guides at the front direct your attention to it or the worst part is that you will never see anything at all. Though the experience was not as I thought it was, we enjoyed our time in the ride. I saw some animals Ive only seen on screen.

Next to the tram ride, our goal was to line up on the “Creatures of the Night” show. When we got there, we were just in time. People were already lining up for the next set. We were supposed to be on the farthest end but the park people opened another gate for everybody since the line was already taking up too much space. Because of that, we end up in front!

It was so good to see families lining up with all their kids in tow, toddlers to teenagers. Mothers fussing with their already crying kids and fathers trying to silence the tantrum-consumed child.

The show was super nice! I just wish it was a bit longer than it was because I loved it! Next to the show, we didnt have anything to do and we didnt want to go home yet. We decided to do the foot trail.

I forgot to mention that in some parts of the tram ride, the guide informs the guests that they have the option of doing the foot trail instead of finishing the ride. There were designated tram stops. We were contemplating to do it but then we decided not to. And now, we were doing it!

We saw a lot of creatures, weird american rats and a lot of other crickets and stuff that I can no longer remember. One thing I can remember for sure, it was a nice experience!! We got lost a couple of times but we were figure it out eventually.

The last part of the night was awesome, to say the least. We ate ice cream!! Not your ordinary ice cream but Ben & Jerry’s ice cream!! I had something that I can hardly remember; was that strawberry? I know Buding had something chocolatey.

We caught the last bus of the night to get back to the city. Im very thankful that the MRT is open until midnight because it saved us a lot of money.

We met up with Annetot at the train station and end up the night with a walk to our temporary home for the week. So far, the start of the week was a success!