Singapore Botanic Gardens

After a morning of rain, the weather held off as students enjoyed a trip to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the first UNESCO Heritage Site in Singapore and the first and only tropical botanic garden on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Over the course of about three hours, students marveled at the various trees and plants native to this region, and looked for wildlife such as turtles, birds, fish and otters.

The last half of the visit included visiting the National Orchid Garden, an expansive part of the Gardens that features over 1,000 species of orchids. Each species of orchids were displayed in forest environments and gardens in which they are most compatible. The Sembcorp Cool House was a favorite of students; aside from it allowing them to escape the heat and humidity for a few minutes, the house emulates a high elevation montane forest and provided the opportunity for students to see orchids and other plants (including some carnivorous plants) that can only naturally be found at higher elevations.

At sunset, the group enjoyed the last bits of the nature sanctuary and the swinging benches throughout the garden. While Singapore has incorporated greenery and nature throughout the city, it was unique to have this intentional experience.