Rose Brooks

Episode 632 – Singapore Day Two: Birds

As planned , today was a less intense day, focussed on giving Ted the chance for some bird photography, and both of us some time to get caught up on photo sorting and journalling. 

Our excursion today was to the 42-acre aviary at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Asia’s Largest Bird Paradise, where there are more than 3,500 birds from over 400 avian species. 

The park is committed to breeding and conservation, and has been awarded international accolades for its success. 

The waterfalls, statuary, and orchids in bloom help make the park’s environment beautiful.

A highlight of our visit was the air-conditioned penguin habitat – both for the penguins and for the air conditioning! Of course, all the photos had to be taken through glass.

Fellow passenger Andrea and I channeling our inner penguin.

Unfortunately, while the park itself is gorgeous, it’s not easy to see or photograph many of the birds. Most species are in large cages surrounded by black wire mesh that is difficult to see through and impossible to photograph through.

We’d have loved a close encounter with the various species of African hornbills.
Top L to R: ???, Paradise Flycatcher. Bottom L to R: Columba, Goura.

Ted was getting quite discouraged until we got into the large Asian Wings area where we were able to walk among the birds inside a huge wire enclosure.

The nearest thing I could find to a fainting chaise in the oppressive heat.
In the bottom photo, chicks (out of sight) were being fed.
Black-faced spoonbills.
Blyth’s (Papuan) hornbills.
Top to bottom: Grey Imperial Pigeon, Blue-eared Pheasant, Pied Imperial Pigeon, and Nankeen Night Heron.

We returned back to the harbour around 1:30 p.m., not quite ready to return to the ship yet, but a bit hungry. One of our guides mentioned that Singapore had removed all of their street food venders off the streets and into “Hawker Halls” where their licensing could be simplified and their sanitation practices more easily inspected. We decided to try the one nearest the port for lunch.

Ted looked pretty astonished at our $4SGD/$4.25CAD/$3USD soup and noodle lunches and the size of the $2SGD almond and lime juice drinks. Our plates were freshly cooked to order, spiced up with sambal and jalapeño peppers, and delicious.

We walked off some of our lunch by strolling around the VivoCity Mall, attached to the harbourfront. VivoCity is the largest mall in Singapore, with a total area of 1,076,250 square feet. With all of the familiar brand names, it could have been any huge North American mall, except for the much more diverse food court and the scrupulous cleanliness.

In the evening, we dined with Karin and Al and Judi and Joe at Manfredi’s. Sadly, this is our second last day together, since Karin tore the meniscus in her knee two days ago (as confirmed by an MRI in Singapore today) so she and Al will be cutting their cruise short. They fly back to North Carolina on March 3rd so that Karin can have the required surgery done in the US.

We’ll have one catch-up sea day tomorrow before reaching Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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