Urban oasis

Flower Dome mimics the Mediterranean's cool-dry climate, with a luscious collection of thousand-year-old olive trees and unusual baobabs.

Flower Dome mimics the Mediterranean's cool-dry climate, with a luscious collection of thousand-year-old olive trees and unusual baobabs.

We stay close to each other as we step through the lush forest for fear of being left behind by the group. There are four themed trails, providing exciting encounters with various species of animals, as they engage in their nightly activities.

Rae Tang, our guide from Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort, says the zoo runs an annual Halloween festival that adds further excitement.

Our second stop is Gardens by the Bay. It is a new attraction and was just launched in June. The Gardens' key features are two landmark glass biomes - Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.

Cloud Forest has a man-made mountain soaring 35 meters into the sky and a majestic waterfall that dives sharply into a pool. Veiled in mist, the mountain is densely planted with orchids, pitcher plants and ferns. The view is like a scene from a science fiction film.

While Cloud Forest replicates the cool-moist climate of tropical mountains, Flower Dome mimics the Mediterranean's cool-dry climate. It has a luscious collection of thousand-year-old olive trees and unusual baobabs of the cool-dry Mediterranean and subtropical regions, in addition to seasonal floral displays.

As I walk out of the glass biomes, the most magnificent section of the Gardens by the Bay, Supertrees, welcomes me.

It is a collection of 18 imposing trees that have concrete trunks and artificial branches and canopies, created by thousands of thick metal rods.

An aerial walkway is suspended 22 meters above the ground, linking two Supertrees of 42 meters, which appear to be reaching for the sky.

Against the backdrop of Marina Bay, the bridge offers a breathtaking bird's eye view of the Singapore Strait.

Through the grid floor, I spot smaller, real trees, struggling to reach the same immense heights. At night, these trees are brightened with lighting and projections, offering a multi-media experience.

After visiting Gardens by the Bay, we head down to the city's largest green attraction, Sentosa Island. Visitors can choose to either take the 20-minute ride via cable car or shuttle buses. I decided on the cable car.