Yesterday I took you for a stroll through Singapore’s Chinatown during Mid-Autumn Festival. That was nice, right?, with pretty lanterns and all. Today I am gonna show you the big work: Mid-Autumn Festival at Gardens by the Bay.
I went there last night and it was…wow!
A great place to stroll around for a couple of hours.
Mid-Autumn Festival @ The Gardens 2014
Imagine vast, lush tropical gardens with spectacular architecture in and around it. It’s evening, dark, humid. The park grounds are filled with people. Not queuing crazy many people, but a lively ambiance.
When you start your walking tour from the Visitor Centre, this is your starting point.
Enormous lantern displays are sprinkled all over the park, some of which are set up in the waters and lakes in the park.
There are maps on several spots in the Gardens, but it roughly points itself out. Just follow other people;-).
Come, let me show you around. Oh, and for those in Singapore: you can still visit the Mid-Autumn Festival @The Gardens till the 14th (coming weekend). Don’t miss it; it’s gorgeous! AND it’s free!
Photographic tour along the displays
Ok, here we go:
There are several displays where you can stick your head through for a quick photoshoot.
This huge lantern of peacocks on a tree is one of the first ones you come across.
Look how beautiful and detailed they are!
There are ‘sculptures’ everywhere, made out of cable lights. Charming, but they loose from the giant lanterns all around them. Sorry, guys;-).
The lantern display with all the birds and trees is cute. The fruit basket is special, since these lanterns have mosaic crystals on them. I have never seen that before!
A magical palace in the water
Oh, what do we see over there? A whole pavilion floating in the water, with the gorgeous SuperTrees in the background.
That palace in the water looks spectacular. Let’s have a closer look, shall we?
Wow, that looks amazing. Especially with it’s reflection in the water!
You will see beautiful reflections in the water with all the floating lanterns, since it was full moon when I visited.
Who are these ladies in the palace? I have no idea.
Taiwan steals the show
Besides the water palace that we just saw, these horses are the highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival @the Gardens for me. They are a Taiwanese contribution and they are fabulous. Life-sized and in very realistic poses. And they have hair! Hair! I have never before seen that on lanterns. Normally it is a matter of silk fabric glued to rotan sticks or metal wire, so this is very innovative. The effect is supercool!
Also from Taiwan: a group of carriers. They seem to be carrying a royal person.
This girl, walking in/with a canoe, is also from Taiwan. No idea why she is doing this, but I think it’s funny.
National landmarks in lanterns
There are some displays depicting a country, like this one that portrays the Netherlands. Ofcourse extra fun for me, being Dutch;-).
Yep, cows, milkmaids, windmills and tulips is what we’re all about!….NOT, hahaha.
Now let’s see if you recognize the other countries:
These three countries should be easy peasy to guess, right?
The bottom two countries should be simple too, but the top one (I give you two pictures, because then you have more clues) may be less obvious. Let’s see what you come up with…
Singapore is depicted as the multi-cultural society that it is - Racial Harmony- although I missed the Indians. Or did I overlook them?
More floating lantern displays
Besides the palace that we already saw, there are two other large floating lanterns: a platform with the famous Eight Immortals and a ship.
Let’s have a better look, shall we? First at the float with the Eight Immortals:
The Eight Immortals come from a famous Chinese mythology story.
And then there is this huge ship:
The lights in the sails flicker on and of; pretty.
I don’t know who are aboard of that ship, but at least there are dolphins jumping around them.
Entertainment along the road
For those who are interested in e.g. music, or are thirsty or hungry, there are ample food-options and there is entertainment of all sorts.
They kept the food stalls in style. Very cool to make them lantern-style too! And the stall with the long queue is selling something I showed you before!
Poetic Bridge
What’s that there? Where? Oh that! That’s the Dragon Fly Bridge, now decorated for the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Gardens by the Bay. I nicknamed it the Heart Bridge, during the festival. Do you agree that that’s a good name? Officially it is temporary renamed in Rainbow Arch. I think mine is a better name;-).
The DragonFly Bridge, temporary renamed the Rainbow Arch or HeartBridge;-).
Let’s go up there, ok?
Wow, it’s pretty up here!
Is this a heart bridge or not?!
After looking at this bridge from ground level and walking over it, let’s now climb a few levels higher and look down upon the bridge. I bet that looks beautiful!
Loving it! Do you see the people walking over the bridge?
Finale
From my high viewpoint I was able to catch the renewed, revamped sound and light show in the SuperTrees. Together with the lit HeartBridge and the full moon it created a magical backdrop. Wow!
It may be clear from my post that I find this festival at the Gardens by the Bay highly recommended for young and old alike!
Which countries did you recognize?
Oh, and about the depicted countries: tell me in the comments which ones you recognized. The person who sums them all up, or the person with the most correct countries, will receive some very cool, personalized snail mail from me! Suspense!
Australia, Spain and South Africa?
Such great photos. Very beautiful.
Did you see the post by Shelley Forest City Fashionista? She mentions you and your house in the post : )
bisous
Suzanne
I also meant the countries in the one picture above the one you answered for;-). So three more countries….
Thanks for mentioning Shelley. I went and checked it out. She has a cool house too!
This is such a wonderful, spectacular and beautiful festival, WOW I wish I could be there.. maybe next year, you never know.
The countries that I recognize are Australia, South Africa, Taiwan, Netherlands, China, India, Japan, Spain, England, France and Italy, Singapore and maybe Russia!!
Thank you for sharing the Mid Autumn Festival everything was gorgeous…
Friends and I will try and get over for a Mid Autumn Festival in the next couple of years as they have fallen in love with everything I have shown them of Singapore, thanks once more for letting me ramble on. Ever yours, have a great night!
Karen
Glad to have made you enthusiastic even more, Karen! Where do you live? And can you send me your postal address via email? You can find my email address in the right-side bar on this blog. (Click on envelop or on ‘contact’)
London, England with Big Ben! Italy with the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Japan, Mount Fuji and Tokyo are those the right ones? I think, they all look absolutely fabulous both the country ones and the giant flowers, fruits and Peacock, do they still have lots around? The Rainbow Bridge decorated with butterflies was very spectacular, thanks for all the great pictures Anja
You have them all, Karen! Once I have your postal address, some nice snail mail is coming your way!
I am in awe…. indeed spectacular. What a beauty. I would be walking around with my mouth wide open from amazement.
Beautiful. And indeed, real hair with the horses. Who would think of that?
I am not guessing the countries as I am sure I will get a snail mail from you anyway. (I am such a spoil sport.)
Greetje
Hahaha, you are right about THAT!
Wow love these colourful photos, what an event to experience! 🙂
Yes, I enjoyed it enormously, Becky. Even went twice;-).