Come sail with me on a virtual cruise on Majestic Princess to Fiji!

[ellie1145]

20 hours ago, curlybelle2 said:

 

Ellie,

Thank you for this  "virtual cruise", I have enjoyed it and looked forward everyday to see where we were going next!  Thanks again for all the time and devotion you put into this posting. I really appreciate it! I will be tagging along if you do another one. 

Kaye

Thank you, Kaye. I’m so pleased you have enjoyed it. I’ve certainly enjoyed doing it.

 

Watch this space.......😉

[ellie1145]

16 hours ago, dickinson said:

I would love to see the zoo!

 

Your slightest wish is my command...(as the genie in Aladdin once said...)

 

 

[ellie1145]

16 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

Well Ellie, I will have to hang on to your lovely photos of the Crowne Plaza at Changi as our April cruise from Singapore is officially cancelled.  It was painful to push the cancel button on the hotel reservations (thankfully refundable) but I will visit again someday!

 

Oh, azbirdmom, I’m SO sorry to hear your news. How disappointing. 😢

 

 

[ellie1145]

Back into the Tardis we go!

 

Have you got your walking shoes ready, and some sunscreen and a bottle of water?

 

So if you are ready to visit the zoo let’s step into my Tardis and away we go! 

 

(Forgive me if I have posted any of the photos before)

 

[ellie1145]

 

Singapore Zoo occupies a 69 acre site within a heavily forested area. It opened in 1973 and attracts over 2 million visitors a year.

 

With around 315 species of animals it is arranged into different areas, such as the Treetops Trail, Wild Africa, Australasia, Primate Kingdom, Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia, Fragile Forest, Elephants of Asia, Chimpanzee Island, Reptile Garden, Reptopia  and Orangutan Island.

 

We will explore many of these areas.

 

[ellie1145]

 

We arrive at the entrance and, make our way to the ticket office. Thanks to our Singapore Passes we are soon free to wander about the zoo. We pay extra for a pass to use the little trams that will transport us from one part of the zoo to the next. 

 

A large party of immaculately dressed schoolchildren have just arrived in front of us. They are impeccably behaved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 22, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Land of the Giants

 

 

 

Our first encounter is with some huge invertebrates!

 

Monster sized insects are scattered among the lush tropical plants. This exhibition of metal sculptures is called Land of the Giants, and it's incredible to think how many billions of them exist on this earth. They serve many functions, such as being food for other animals, and pollinators of plants. Many of them control insect pests, and some recycle organic material back into the soil. Not only that but they area able to adapt so that they have become amazing survivors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 22, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Proboscis Monkeys

 

 

A group of artificial proboscis monkeys - they are very realistic from a distance.

We walk along the Rainforest walk and pass a huge tortoise before seeing the proboscis monkeys.

 

With their long noses, and  long tails, the proboscis monkeys are easily identified, and are found in Borneo where they live alongside the Bornean orangutan.

 

They appear completely bored with all of us spectators and mainly turn their backs on us. 

 

 

 

These monkeys have an amazing area to live in, where they can roam about the trees. 

 

 

Edited September 22, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

More Monkey Business..Gibbons

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little toddler is fascinated by the gibbons. 

 

 

[ellie1145]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patas Monkey

The monkey enclosures are surrounded by water, and in that water there are many huge fish. The monkeys can roam about freely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

Oh no, not more tourists! 

 

 

Quick, boys, turn your backs on them.... that'll make them run for the hills!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

Colobus Monkeys

 

 

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

 

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

Splash Safari

 

 

It's getting late here in the UK, and we are plunging back into lockdown again, so it's time for bed. But next we will watch the Splash Safari show, which was a lot of fun.

 

Hope you've enjoyed seeing the primates.

 

Back soon. 🙈 🙉 🙊

 

[dickinson]

Beautiful pictures!

[ellie1145]

4 minutes ago, dickinson said:

Beautiful pictures!

Thank you. 😊

[Noodles84]

Hi Ellie, and thank you so much for this review.  I can't tell you how much my husband and I enjoyed reading about so many of the places that we had visited in the past, and what memories you brought back to us.  We first cruised into Sydney about 20 years ago and wanted to see more of the country,  so did a 5 week guided camping trip throughout the country, from top to bottom, getting to see more of Australia than most Australians!  We loved every minute of it.  We have also been to Singapore three times and have seen much of it as well, but your cruise took in some places that we haven't seen in the South Pacific.  We had a cruise booked on HAL for Jan. 2021 to do a lot of the S.P. islands, but they sold the ship and the cruise got cancelled.  Like so many others, we just have to dream of the day when we can cruise again, but you certainly helped with the wait. We also really enjoy Princess too (over 25 cruises) but sometimes we choose other lines because of the itinerary offered.  Thanks again. Nicole

[ellie1145]

14 hours ago, Noodles84 said:

Hi Ellie, and thank you so much for this review.  I can't tell you how much my husband and I enjoyed reading about so many of the places that we had visited in the past, and what memories you brought back to us.  We first cruised into Sydney about 20 years ago and wanted to see more of the country,  so did a 5 week guided camping trip throughout the country, from top to bottom, getting to see more of Australia than most Australians!  We loved every minute of it.  We have also been to Singapore three times and have seen much of it as well, but your cruise took in some places that we haven't seen in the South Pacific.  We had a cruise booked on HAL for Jan. 2021 to do a lot of the S.P. islands, but they sold the ship and the cruise got cancelled.  Like so many others, we just have to dream of the day when we can cruise again, but you certainly helped with the wait. We also really enjoy Princess too (over 25 cruises) but sometimes we choose other lines because of the itinerary offered.  Thanks again. Nicole

 

Hi Nicole!

 

Great to hear from you. I am pleased that you and your husband have enjoyed this virtual adventure, and that it brought back some happy memories. We certainly need those at this horrendous time, don't we?

 

What an amazing tour of Australia you must have had. It is an extraordinary country of such diversity- of people, animals, landscape and climate. We have really only scratched the surface and there is so much more we would love to see.

 

I'm really sorry to hear that your cruise was cancelled. It is heartbreaking to hear of so many ships leaving the various fleets. 

 

We must just live in hopes that one day we can return to cruising. What a celebration that will be! 

 

 

[ellie1145]

Splash Safari - Wet, Wet, Wet! 

 

The undercover tram station.

After a wander round the primate area we decide to hop on the tram to take a tour of the rest of the zoo. It is intensely hot and humid and it reminds me of how my father-in-law must have had to cope with this climate when he was a prisoner of war. It is quite draining so we are pleased to get a seat and relax as the tram chugs round the zoo. 

 

 

We decide to get off at Splash Safari which is due to take place in a few minutes. It is located in an open air amphitheatre, with tiered wooden seating, which leads down to a pool area where the sea lion will perform. The Californian sea lion performs a number of tricks and interacts with the trainer. 

 

The amphitheatre begins to fill up.

 

 

This little tot keeps us amused with his antics while we wait for the show to begin. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did warn you! 

 

 

 

 

The show reminds me of the shows at Seaworld in Orlando, but on a much smaller scale, of course. There is a blue splash zone where you will definitely get wet, so beware. 

 

So take your seats and the show will start - and don't blame me if you get wet. 😉

 

A few videos to give you a taste of the show - sorry they are so short, not sure what happened there! 🤔

 

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Time for a bite to eat!

 

After the show is over we get back on the tram and do a circuit of the zoo before getting off at the main Tram Station and walking over to the Ah Meng Restaurant for a bite to eat.

 

 

It serves a variety of food and drink, both Asian and European, and we both decide on the fish and chips which looks freshly cooked. It is delicious.  

 

There are several eateries at the Zoo, including KFC, Inuka Cafe which serves kaya toast and soft boiled eggs, Chawang Bistro which serves hot dogs, pasta, cakes and tarts, and the Ah Meng Restaurant which serves a range of authentic Singaporean favourites as well as such things as chicken and rice, biryani, gourmet sandwiches, pastries and desserts. There are vegetarian options too. 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Free-Ranging Orangutan Island

 

After lunch we make a bee-line to the Free Ranging Orangutan Island and Boardwalk, where the orangutans roam freely.  It's a short walk from the cafe and we stand and watch their antics for quite a while. 

 

 

Orangutans have been a passion of mine since my son did voluntary service in Borneo for the Raleigh organisation after he left university. It was a gruelling few months in the most remote of areas, but one of the things he learned about was the endangered orangutan population of Borneo. 

 

The fur of the mature orangutan hangs like a warm and somewhat ragged cloak.

 

Orangutans eat mainly fruit, although they will also eat bark, honey, birds' eggs, vegetation and insects. 

Singapore Zoo is, apparently, the only zoo in the world to have this feature, and it houses the largest colony of captive orangutans in the world.

 

Orangutans can live over 30 years, both in captivity and in the wild. They are amongst the most intelligent of the primates, and can use quite sophisticated tools, such as sticks. They are considered to be critically endangered, as a result of poaching and the destruction of their rain-forest habitat, and the resultant cultivation of palm oil.

 

There are plenty of trees for them to climb and they can move from tree to tree by means of ropes and wires placed high above the ground. It's fascinating to watch them as the younger ones play and swing from the trees while the older ones seem to be more interested in watching us. 

 

 

 

 

An adult male can weigh up to 165 lbs, and stands 137 cm (4ft 6in) tall. With their 4 fingers and a shorter opposable thumb they have a strong grip, which enables them to travel from tree to tree.  They can grasp things with both their hands and their feet. 

 

 

 

 

An orangutan pregnancy lasts for about 9 months, and the female will usually only have one baby every 6 years.  It is the mother that does most of the childcare, and the baby will stay with her for the first 2 years of it's life. 

 

 

We also see a Sun Bear, also vulnerable. 

[ellie1145]

Zebras and Giraffes

 

We finally tear ourselves away from the wonderful orangutans, and walk past the zebras and giraffes. I am not overly impressed with their habitat, which looks bare of vegetation and nothing like the wide open savannahs of Africa where they roam free. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A mother and her baby.

 

 

The giraffes feed on foliage which has been hung from the top of the tall trees. 

 

 

 

What graceful creatures they are. 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Onward to Africa!

 

We say goodbye to the zebras and walk across to Cat Country. 

 

 

En route we spy a ostrich, who eyes us up and down in a rather threatening way. We will give him a wide berth. He looks as if he has been drawn through a hedge backwards. 

 

 

 

As I'm sure you all know, cheetahs are the fastest land animals, with a top speed of 80-120 km per hour. They are beautiful creatures with solid black spots, and black tear-like streaks on their faces.

 

The cheetah is regarded as being vulnerable, having been hunted by poachers, and with much of their natural habitat lost. 

 

Sadly, these cheetahs are displaying repetitive behaviour, pacing backwards and forwards repeatedly. They don't seem to have much room in which to run. 

 

Next it's the lions. 

 

 

 

 

This lion looks pretty mangy and painfully thin. 

 

 

 

Some of the inmates of the zoo are having a siesta. It's so hot and humid I am tempted to join them....

 

African Painted Dog

 

Amazing tusks.

 

 

Edited September 24, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Compare the Meerkat

 

In the UK, there has been a very successful television advert which has run for several years, featuring meerkats. It is an insurance comparison website which uses meerkats in various comedic roles, and with Russian accents, to advertise the website 'Compare the Market.' It plays on the confusion over the name 'Compare the Meerkat' and 'Compare the Market.'  Soft toys were produced which have become collectibles and the characters have evolved over the years. 

 

The advent of 'Meerkat Manor' on the TV has also added to the popularity of meerkats. Filmed in the Kalahari Desert, the natural habitat of the meerkat, it follows the lives (and deaths) of the Whiskers family. 

 

I have to admit to being a little obsessed with these adorable animals. They are so fascinating to watch, standing  up on their hind legs and looking around, constantly vigilant, looking out for danger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

Now for some Reptiles!

 

 

DH has to drag me away from the meerkats as we have lots more to see. Ahead of us is Reptopia, which houses reptiles from different geographical regions of the world. There are pythons, king cobras, chameleons, and numerous lizards, to mention but a few.

 

Now I have to admit to being petrified of snakes, so getting close enough to photograph them was a mission in itself. 

 

But I hope you enjoy our walk around this fascinating area, even though it scares me witless....