Singapore Zoo. Singapore, the Lion City.

Singapore, known as "Temasek" in the 14th century, was a small fishing village of few hundred people. One of the many versions of how Singapore got its name:     

“…  As the story goes, Sang Mila Utama (or Sri Tri Buana), ruler of Palembang, landed at Temasek one day while seeking shelter from a storm.  Sighting an animal that his followers called a lion, he decided to establish a settlement and named it Singapura - Lion City.  The island became commonly known as Singapura by the end of the 14th century.” (1)  

Singapore was later founded in the 18th century by Sir Stamford Raffles when he set up a trading post in 1819. Singapore became an independent republic in 9th August 1965.   


In 1965, 99,000 visitors came to Singapore. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, in 2010, Singapore received more than 11.6 million visitors.  The number of visitors is twice its population of 5.07 million people. Singapore  is now  a leading tourist destination and is ranked among the top ten tourist destinations in Asia.

The legendary Merlion

The Merlion, a popular tourist icon, is a mystical creature with the head of a lion and body of a fish. The lion's head represents Singapore's original name - Singapura - meaning "lion city" or "kota singa."

Singapore has many attractions for its visitors, including its numerous parks, museums and colonial monuments and building

Others may like to visit the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands Skypark, Raffles Hotel, Universal Studios, Chinatown, Science Centre Singapore, Singapore Night Safari, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Little India and Singapore Botanic Gardens. For more attractions, Singapore Attractions, A - Z

Lets discover and explore Singapore through these pictures, taken during trips to the Lion City. The Fullerton Hotel, a 5 star hotel was previously the Singapore General Post office, built during the colonial days. 

Today's destination - Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo is part of the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Widlife Reserves Singapore Group. The 28-hectares awarding winning zoo was opened on 27 1973. 

Visitors are welcome, daily from 8.30am to 6.00pm. The Zoo registered 1.6 million visitors in 2010. Entrance fees are charged. Expect to stay in this lush tropical environment at least 4 hours or more to view exhibits and watch some of the shows. 

The zoo is "... set in a rainforest environment, Singapore Zoo's world famous "Open Concept” offers the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the wonders of nature. Home to over 3,000 specimens from 316 species…" (Singapore Zoo).

Map of Singapore Zoo

Show time - check it out

Long-Tailed Macaques

To learn more about each species 

Since its opening, the Zoo has evolved into an "Open, Learning Zoo."It is not just place a for watching the animals only. As part of this learning concept, exhibits with educational content are designed in an interactive mode.

"The orang utan is the flagship species of the Singapore Zoo. A total of 24 of these charismatic apes call the zoo home and are displayed as a large social group in a spacious naturalistic enclosure. Though not the only zoo in the world to display a social group of orang utans, we are the only ones who have done so on such a large scale." (Singapore Zoo)

 This guy is napping, after his lunch. Lets visit him later. 

What's in his mind? To welcome or to attack?

Is still waiting for your arrival?  Are you coming....

At last - standing up, feel relaxed. Train to welcome you. He is not hungry.

Same for this guy too.  After lunch, is having a nap.

Some bonding is going on?

Let's find out

Like to be close

Hi, we are here, com'on in, feel welcome

Baboons

Parental responsibility?

Is where they came from - my hometown?

Information - wildlife

Cool and windy?  Parliament in Sesion.

Heavy guns are  ready, with their commanders?

Commanders and their gangs,  here we come

More about elephants and growing up

See them in action - lots of action

Getting in line - battle ready

This heavy, can you lift it?

In harmony, all together

Information 

Food for energy and growing up

Up and here we are, join me...

Need some shade...

Lesson on habitat

The show is on ..............

Is he part of the show?

Part of the team?

Growing the family?

T

Real sleepy - napping

Leopards

Giraffe - I can see it all

Here, there and everywhere

Zebra, having a teabreak - during their conference

Information - plant predators

A jeep - this is what you need for the SAFARI, not here but in Africa

 Reference: (1) http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/singapore/pro-history.htm




 Singapore Zoo  
 History of Temasek  - watch a video here
 Your Singapore (for more tourist attractions)
 Singapore Tourism Board (for tourist attrations)

Joshua Tree National Park, California

"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts." ~ C. S. Lewis

Joshua Tree National Park is a amazing desert park in California, located in Twenty-nine Palms, about 140 miles east of Los Angeles, California.

"In the shadow of California's Transverse Ranges lies an arid sanctuary of almost unearthly beauty, a wilderness of exotic desert plants and sun blazed boulders, of craggy mountains and boundless shimmering plains, of sun and wind and stone. In this unforgiving clime, stillness and solitude reign. Stop and listen, and only the wind fills your ears; look about, and you will behold a land where nothing seems to move except the clouds, scudding across a sky of endless cobalt blue."  (1)

...  on a day trip to this wonderful destination. Final reminder from the flight captain, "please fasten your seat belts." 

What about my seat belt?

Journey started from Honda Stadium, Anaheim and traveled along Twenty-nine Palms Highway, passing through Morongo and Yucca Valley.

 

More snowy mountain - is this the Colorado mountains?

Harnessing more natural wind power / energy....

Arrived and ready to explore......after more than two hours driving.

It was a wonderful journey and like to share our experience with you. Pictures taken during the trip and grouped under, (a) Joshua Trees and plants/greens, (b) rock formation and (c) view from a distant.

(a) Joshua Trees and plants

Joshua Trees - found mostly in the western half of the park - the Mojave Desert habitat - at elevations above 3000 feet. 

Melo is taking the lead.  Which way to go - north, south, east  or west? Pets must be leashed at all times and not allowed on trails and beyond 100 feet from any parked road, campground, or picnic areas.

   The moment you see a Joshua Tree - you know you are somewhere in the Mojave Desert.

Joshua Trees - alive or dead -is home for many small animal and birds, like loggerhead shrike, Scott's oriole, red-tailed hawk, ladder-backed wood-packer, American kestrel and western scrub jay.

Joshua Trees, plants and rocks.

Patches of green and yellow. There are about 813 species of vascular plants in the park.

This is not too tall. 

More shrubs and greens. 

Not too tall either? 

It grows about an inch a year,  but how high can it grow?

More about the Joshua Tree: 

"Growing to a height of 40 feet, this huge yucca (which, technically, is not a tree at all) seems to assume as many poses as a runway model. Its trunk bristles with a grizzled bark; from its twisted branches sprout clusters of fibrous green leaves, as pointed as paring knives, and in spring, fat white blossoms."  (1)

(b) Rocks / boulders


Information about the rocks and its formations.

"Here, the land is also littered with astonishing rock formations. Exposed to the forces of erosion, masses of ancient granite have been splintered into shapes of all descriptions and polished to a fine finish. Rising like islands from the pebbly desert floor, they are as plump as marshmallows. Whether as small as a grapefruit or as big as a stadium, standing alone or massed in improbable piles, they are especially breathtaking at sunset, when their polished faces seem to reflect all the colors of the sky." (1)

It is hot and dry, we  to drink more water. As you stared at the rocks,  different images and lots of imagination flows through your mind. 

(c) A view from the top

More on Joshua Tree National Park.

The park existed for more than 5000 years ago. Initially occupied by members of the Pinto Culture, followed by the Serrano, the Chemehuevi, and then Cahuilla tribes of the Native Americans. The park has a rich cultural history. It has a museum that housed more than 123,253 items in its collections. It protects about 501 archaeological sites, 88 historic structures, 19 cultural landscapes.

With an area of about 800,000 acres or 3237 square meters, the desert park can hold more than 8200 zoos, equivalent to the San Diego Zoo in California. The park is renown for its huge piles of rocks, unusual plants, birds and and small animals.

What else can we do at Joshua Tree National Park?

Need to come back again, during the cooler season. It will be fun to camp overnight. More discovery and exploration. 

It depends on your interests, the season of the year,  and the hours you like to spend at the park.  


These activities? Such as, camping, hiking, climbing, driving (four-wheel drive vehicle) birding (bird watching) wildlife  and more of the wilderness. See link for more information (2)    

Some Reminders:

(a) As this is a desert park, bring sufficient drinking water. Avoid life-threatening situations, like getting stuck in the middle of the park and without any drinking water. Your car may breakdown or keys get locked inside the car. Simple precautionary measures, like carrying enough drinking water can minimize such incidents.

(b) Adopt fire prevention measures whenever you are in the park. 

Listen to John Denver sing his "Rocky Mountain High"   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwARpaKHx_w 

References:
(1)  http://nationalparkinformation.org/joshua-tree-national-park/
(2)  http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/things2do.htm 

Victorian era homes in San Francisco

San Francisco, both a city and a county, has a  population of about 805,000 people as of 2010, residing within an area of about 47 square miles or 120 km².  


Charms of San Francisco

Besides its undulating terrain and beautiful views from the hills, San Francisco is proud of its Victorian era architecture homes. It is just simply amazing. These homes were better known compared to those in other North American cities.   As you stroll or bike around the  neighborhoods, you will be charmed by these colorful and beautiful homes, inscribe with intricate Victorian architecture.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_San_Francisco#1848_gold_rush)

See some beautiful Victorian era designed homes. Listen to Scott Mckensie's  famous "San Francisco, Be sure to some flowers in your hairs"

Did you know that?

ü    Denim jeans were invented in San Francisco for the Gold Rush miners who needed   tough, comfortable clothing.

ü  Today, this city that abounds in natural beauty is the fourth most populous city in California and 14^th most populous city in America.

ü  San Francisco Bay is considered the world's largest landlocked harbor. In 1579 when Sir Francis Drake landed near San Francisco, however he missed the entrance to this magnificent natural harbor.

ü  San Francisco has been built on 43 hills, the beauty of the city is express through the undulating terrain and beautiful views obtained from the hilltops. Twin Peaks offers a great view across the city.

ü  San Francisco's original Spanish name was Yerba Buena or "Good Herb."

ü  Irish coffee was first concocted in San Francisco, not Ireland.

Background

A settlement was set up by the Spanish around the San Francisco Bay area 1776. Prior to this, there were other European visitors to the area, including the Sir Francis Drake in 1579.

San Francisco was hit by a Gold Rush in 1849.  As a small mining town, it grew from about 1000 to 25,000 people by 1849. Migrants continued to move into the city. By 1880 its population grew to 234,000. New neighborhoods were created, some of which continued to exist till today. Though San Francisco was hit by a devastating earthquake and fire in 1906, it was quickly rebuilt.

Well designed Victorian era homes

  Part of Government Office building

 A park is located on this hilly Alamo Square

  A spot where Tourists will not missed - Painted homes of Seven Sisters

 

 Masonic

San Francisco was the center of hippie culture during the latter half of 60s. In 1967, thousands of young people entered the Haight-Ashbury district during what became known as the “Summer of Love”. One of the theme song during this era is “San Francisco, (Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair) performed by Scott McKenzie. Click the sign below to watch his video performance.  

Listen to Scott McKensie -  "Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair, if you going to San Francisco"