It’s snowing in Singapore!
What? No, of course it’s not! The snow in this picture is an edit by me;-). But it sure looks and feels like winter during Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay. With a carpet of (fake) snow in the Flower Dome and quasi-snowflakes during Blizzard Time in the Spallieri you get as close as it gets to a winter-mood in tropical Singapore.
Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay
Christmas Wonderland’s Festive Market is on untill december 21st, while Yuletide in the Flower Dome, part of Christmas Wonderland, can be admired until january 6th 2015.
Walking around in the gardens, admiring the Italian light installations (untill january 1st 2015), enjoying the Gharden Rhapsody and listening to the choirs is free.
For entering the Spiegeltent and the Flower Dome there is an entrance fee.
Yuletide in the Flower Dome
Christmas trees, beautiful light installations and big teddybears on a carpet of snow; it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
The Flower Dome looks beautiful! The temperature inside the dome has been set extra low for the occasion. Brrr…
Very photogenic!
Italian Light Installations
On various locations in the Gardens you will find huge Italian light installations. Archways (Luminaries) , a gazebo (Casa Armonica) and a 5 stories high installation (Spalliera). The lights create a fairytale ambiance. Super pretty and romantic.
Dutch Spiegeltent (mirror-tent)
An exclusive and exquisite dining-experience is offered inside a traveling dutch mirror-tent. There is only a handful of these beautiful, vintage tents left. I have had the pleasure to dance tango in one once. And I remember them from my childhood, when they came to the village like once per year. Nostalgia in a beautiful decor.
The Idolize-mirror-tent was closed when we were there, for a private event. That was a bit of a disappointment. Here you see me in front of the gorgeous tent, trying -for the last time (unsuccessfully)- to get in.
Festive Market
Amidst the Super Tree Grove are a number of wooden huts housing vendors like Bakerzin, Yankee Candles, Brewerkz and many more. Offering a variety of merchandise, food and beverage.
There are three pop up outlets on site, one of which is Janice Wong’s.
I came across her for the first time at the beginning of this year, during the Year of the Horse celebrations at Somerset 111, where she painted a (fake, of course) horse with gummies.
This award-winning pastry chef is now selling very original, pretty and delightful sweet treats. They are more then just pretty and delicious sweets, I would say; it’s edible art! And yes, they taste yummy!
You can even have a go at it yourself, at home, using her chocolate paint, sold in jars. How original is that?
Janice Wong is opening up shop at ION Orchard soon.
Garden Rhapsody Christmas Edition
The Supertrees are a feast for the eyes, especially at night, when the lights are on. Twice per evening there is a short (12 minutes) light and sound show named Garden Rhapsody. I have seen two variations so far.
The Cristmas Edition is very pretty.
Entertainment
There is a lot going on during the Christmas Wonderland period. Check out the entertainment schedule here for the latest, updated schedule, including dates, times and locations.
The program includes:
- Festive sirens: musical performance at the Spiegeltent
- Dance: Nutcracker Parade, Merlion Pipes & Drums
- Stilt walkers
- Choirs
- Blizzard Time: foam snow at the Spallieri, three times a day
- Activities for children
I hope you will visit Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay! I’m sure you’ll love it.
Tips:
- bring a vest; it’s freezing inside the Flower Dome!;-)
- check the schedule when planning your visit (to see what’s on at what time)
- check it again just before leaving to see if there are any changes
- arrive around 6 pm, so that you can see all the installations by daylight AND by night
- eat and drink on site, be it snacking your dinner at the Festive Market, going for a special dinner in the Spiegeltent or enjoying the view high up at Indochine on top of the highest Super Tree
- buy original holiday gifts for your friends or family at Janice Wong’s pop-up store
- be sure to catch the special edition of Garden Rhapsody
Personally I love Christmas in the tropics and outdoors. How about you? Have you ever celebrated Christmas in a warm climate? How was that? Do you need real snow and cold to feel Christmas-sy?
Wow this looks AMAZING! I’m so sad you weren’t able to go into that mirrored tent. So unique! Looks like something right out of a Ray Bradbury novel. “Something Wicked This Way Comes” comes to mind.
You are looking lovely too Anja : )
bisous
Suzanne
I was particularly sad for Sylvia. At least I know them from the inside; she has not seen one before. Ah well, we’ll get over it, hahaha.
I don’t know Ray Bradbury’s novels, so now I ‘ll have to check them out, I guess;-).
Thanks for the kudos about my look, dear Suz.
How come everything is so grand in Singapore. Do they have a lot of money to spend? Is it because they don’t (have to) worry about environmental protests? Or citizens protest about spending too much of the people’s money?
You never see such grand and beautiful celebrations here in Holland.
And I agree with Suzanne, you look lovely.
The art of Janice Wong is indeed extraordinary. Almost too good to eat.
Greetje
Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world, Greetje. That’s one. Further: the city/country does do a lot regarding the environment. The Gardens by the Bay, e.g., were built in an environmentally friendly way. So that’s two. Three: protest? Those do not occur in Singapore, dear. As in: never.
The way they celebrate everything is very much up my alley, as you understand! Light ups, as they call it here, are a big thing. Loving it!!!
Thanks for the compliment about my look;-)
I believe a large part of this is financed by the casino. Part of the ‘deal’ with the Singapore government of being able to run that casino is that they need to spend a huge chunk of their earnings on arts and entertainment. Gardens of the Bay was created by the Marina Bay Sands resort. Since they are earning a LOT of money, they need to find ways to spend some of that on entertainment.
Yes, that’s correct, Sylvia, I did not think of that, but I heard about that before. Thanks for the explanation and addition.