CLOUD FOREST: A SURREAL CLOUD WALK
Cloud Forest on Daytime / Video Credit: Sant Leelavilas via Youtube
Have you ever wonder what is it like walking in the clouds? If there's an opportunity to do a cloud walk, would you grab that chance? What if it's a surreal cloud walk, would you still grab that possibility? As for me, YES, I would and actually did in the Cloud Forest where cloud walking is so surreal. Follow me through until the end as I do the cloud walk in one of Little Red Dot's most visited attraction -- The Cloud Forest.
THE CLOUD FOREST
THE CONSERVATORY DOME
A dreamlike 35-meter tall mountain with timing mist of clouds found inside the conservatory dome that made of 2,577 glass panels in 690 different shapes and sizes; covering the 12,000m2 surface area of the dome with a freezing temperature of 23 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius. This area has a size of 0.8 hectares as big as having two 1.5 regular football fields when put together.
The Cloud Forest with the Falls / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
The cloud mountain is surrounded by succulent plants and variety of flora and fauna attached to the walls of the mountain that made it looked like a forest. A breezy atmosphere and refreshing mists from the 30-meter waterfall will greet the guest as they set their foot forward at the entrance of the Cloud Forest conservatory dome. If you are a person who's not used to in cool temperatures just like me, might as well bring a sweater, jacket or anything that will keep you warm.
THE SURREAL CLOUDS
Source of the Surreal Clouds / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
There are secluded tubes under the foothills of the cloud mountain that is responsible for emitting a foggy effect that regarded as clouds where you can barely see within Cloud Forest's vicinity. Make sure to set your arrival at the conservatory few minutes before the mist timing schedules for a surreal cloud walk experience. Mist timings are the scheduled time for the clouds to be discharged. For future reference, below are the timing schedules and available on daily basis except for some closure dates for maintenance purposes.
Mist Timing Schedules
10.00am
12.00pm
2.00pm
4.00pm
6.00pm
8.00pm
OPERATING HOURS
Cloud Forest is open daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Last ticket sale is at 8:00 pm and last admission of the guests is 30 minutes right after the last ticket sale. No business operations for maintenance of the Cloud Forest for these following closure dates:
CLOSURE DATES FOR MAINTENANCE
Mon, 15 Jan 2018
Mon, 12 Feb 2018
Mon, 5 Mar 2018
Mon, 9 Apr 2018
Mon, 21 May 2018
Mon, 18 Jun 2018
Mon, 9 Jul 2018
Mon, 27 Aug 2018
Mon, 24 Sep 2018
Mon, 29 Oct 2018
Mon, 26 Nov 2018
Mon, 17 Dec 2018Source: Gardens by the Bay website
ADMISSION TICKETS
For the admission tickets, please do visit the official website of Gardens by the Bay or simply click it here for the rates.
SURREAL CLOUD WALK BEGINS WITH MANDATORY ROUTES
Cloud Forest has mandatory routes in exploring the nine zones of the cloud mountain. It's a "descending" route from the topmost of the mountain to the rainforest floor or foothills. There is no other way that you can explore the Cloud Forest than the implemented one unless you insist on having it your way but always be reminded that you are in a country with a heavy hand in terms of its laws and rulings; am not giving you the heebie-jeebies, but it's a friendly reminder though. Due to photo attachment limits, there are routes that I will try to fuse-in in one route. So let's begin!
1st ROUTE: LIFT TO LEVEL 6 OF THE CLOUD MOUNTAIN
Level 6 of Cloud Forest / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
From the rainforest floor, left side facing the main entrance of the Cloud Forest , there is a lift that will take you to Level 6 (endpoint of the lift). As you turn left at Level 6 after alighted from the lift, there is a concrete staircase and at the right (not seen on photo) another signage on the wall bearing these words: " start your climb to Lost World" . The staircase will head to Level 7 which is the highest point of the cloud mountain where the Cloud Forest journey begins.
2nd ROUTE: CLIMB TO LOST WORLD
Lost World at Level 7 / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
At level 7, the area is almost covered with thick white fog (regarded as clouds) and a showcase of lush forest greeneries that mostly found at 2,000m above sea level. Keep an eye out on a Venus flycatcher, pitcher plants, and other carnivorous species. An added advantage into this level is having a spectacular view of the Marina Bay Waterfront just by looking through at the greenhouse glass pannels. Climbing the stairs going to the Lost World of the Cloud Forest is quite lengthy and tiring but it's all worth the leg pain.
3rd ROUTE: DOWN THE SURREAL CLOUD WALK TO CAVERN
Surreal Cloud Walk / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
Find your way out from the Lost World by following the arrow signs on the wall and start descending to the Cloud Walk platform. The steel platform will lead you outside the cloud mountain for an up-close view of the different plant species, flora, and fauna that enveloped the whole cloud mountain. These are plants that grow on another plant, on tree trunks, and in the tropical rainforest but primarily not on soil. Usually, these are ferns, air plants, bromeliads, and orchids. There are parts of the platform where you encounter some thin or thick fogs (refer to the photo above) while walking and this is the moment to experience a surreal cloud walk before leading to the Cavern. The Cavern is a zone that is packed with various pieces of informations regarding the location and the characteristics of the Cloud Forest as well as the unique plant species and special life forms of Cloud Forest that can be found anywhere in the world.
4th ROUTE: ESCALATOR TO WATERFALLS VIEWING
Falls Viewing / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
Proceed to the escalator going down to Level 5 for the Waterfalls Viewing right after your surreal cloud walking and an up-close view of the entire Cloud Forest. In this level, you can feel the chilling temperature that comes with the mists and droplets of the waterfalls. Getting wet at this level is at your own discretion. There are informative materials that you can read along the way about the use of epiphyte-laden branches on why they capture water droplets from the mist and fog. Never read one of those since my nerves were shaking due to the coldness of the area; I even hugged my nephew to warm myself up. So bring a jacket!
What is Epiphyte?
It is a kind of plant that doesn't take nutrients from the trees but rather relies their nutrients from the falling rain, air and the compost found on tree branches.
Source: rainforests.mongabay.com
5th ROUTE: ESCALATOR TO CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN CAVE
Crystal Mountain Cave / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
Take one level down by means of the escalator after exploring the source of the waterfalls. Step into Level 4 -- the Crystal Mountain Cave to learn and discover the earth's age, and be pleased with the displays of real stalactites and stalagmites that are in various shapes. Furthermore, learn the importance of fossils in the past era of the earth and how the continents are formed.
Stalactites
- comes from a Greek word stalasso which means "to drip" and a formation that can be found from the cave's ceilings, hot springs or manmade structures.
Stalagmites
- comes from a Greek word stalagmias which means "dropping, trickling" and is usually a rock formation from ceiling drippings with materials deposited on the floor such as lava, mud, minerals and et al that is commonly found on cave's floor.
Source: Wikipedia
6th ROUTE: TREE TOP WALK
Tree Top Walk platform / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
You have reached the 3rd level of the Cloud Forest -- a 30 meters high walkway above the rainforest floor with the high grown tall trees and that is the origin of the Tree Top Walk. This walkway will take you closer to the canopy for a possible spectacular bird's eye view of the treetops.
7th & 8th ROUTE: CLOUD FOREST GALLERY AND CLOUD THEATRE
Earth Check before, Cloud Forest Gallery now / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
The Earth Check is now named as the Cloud Forest Gallery. An informative zone of the Cloud Forest for you to explore the exhibits, discover some artifacts, videos, and dioramas, and enrich your knowledge more about the condition of the earth such as the climate change, mass extinction in history and find out how you can do your part in the conservation and sustainability of our environment.
The Cloud Forest Theatre is quite similar to the +5 Degrees during my visit. It's a mini-auditorium where awareness is the main concern of their shows particularly climate change and on how planet earth could change when the earth temperature increases to +5 degrees and exploring positive changes that we can make to the environment.
9th ROUTE: WALK TO SECRET GARDEN
The Secret Garden / Photo Credit: Dimpsy
The last but not the least zone in the Cloud Forest is the Secret Garden. It's a landscape of various plants and species that are commonly found in the habitat. These are plants that grow in a special environment of limestone forests and caves. A newly installed miniature orchid have been made within the garden where the use of magnifying glass is a must for you to view the bloom. Hmmm sounds interesting to me. Definitely, a must-see for my next visit.
Cloud Forest at Night / Video Credit: rendezvous009 via Youtube
Before my route reached a dead end, I will be leaving you a video of the Cloud Forest during the night from rendezvous009 via Youtube. It's more cool in the night than in daytime, so wonderful with all the lights on and the view of Marina Bay Waterfront. Aww, why haven't we thought about it? Sigh! Oh well, I guess its an addition to my list for my next visit. Hopefully sooooon!
_______________________________
DEAD END
In every road, there is always a dead end, surreal or real my Cloud Forest route have reached its end. What made this journey so real is the experience of having a first surreal adventure; it's a combination of both worlds. Kudos to the great minds for creating such an award-winning attraction.
KEEP MOVING!
Here's a Querlo chat for you...
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Thank you for following me through until the end.
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This blog is created and submitted by yours truly - Dimpsy for bitlanders.
the world is full of wonders for me to wander.
single wanderess
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