Hort Park

I took 1 day annual leave from work on 15 November 2011 to send off Jared to the airport back to Davao from his 3 months stay with us in Singapore. Lola, Hendrik and I accompanied him as Joseph just got back from his 2-day annual leave (went to Padang, Indonesia) and needed to be at work that day. Jared’s flight was scheduled at 3:00pm, so he checked-in at around 1:30pm and went through the airport immigration at around 2:00pm. Lola, Hendrik and I left the airport when Jared passed through airport immigration and was on his way to the boarding gate. Since it was only 2:30pm at that time, I decided that we visit the Hort Park since we have wanted to go there since last weekend, but was not able to because of the rainy weather.

The 3 of us took the airport shuttle bus to the train station, boarded the train from Changi Airport station to Tanah Merah interchange. We continued our journey and took the 45-minute train ride from Tanah Merah Interchange to Queenstown station. When we alighted at Queenstown station, we took a cab to Hort Park since we did not know how to get there.

It was drizzling at that time, and while waiting for it to stop we first looked at the park’s “Lifestyle Corner” just right beside the Visitor’s Center area. The “Lifestyle Corner” is an indoor showcase that embraces and incorporates greenery in a living or working space.

Hendrik and Lola inside the Lifestyle Corner

 We also noticed this interesting wall art at the Visitor’s Center Area.

 Hendrik with the wall art on the background

After eating donuts and some potato chips, we started our exploration of the garden as the drizzle had stopped. The major part of the park is the “Garden Patch” which consists of about 40 outdoor display plots that showcase garden designs, concepts and ideas on home gardening.

 I suppose this is Hendrik’s favorite part of the garden as he spent a lot of time here. He even returned to this area on our way out.

 “Asian Pots” in the garden

 One of the artworks in the garden

We also found a playground! but Hendrik was not that interested. As the rain and /or drizzle had just stopped, the slides and other play areas were wet.

We continued our walk through the park and stopped here and there for a couple of minutes as we see a nice landscaping or a gardening concept, until we came across a vending machine – just nice for a hot afternoon out in the open. Lola and I had iced peach tea while Hendrik got a cold Milo.

Hendrik was quite amazed how I took the iced peach tea from the vending machine, so I made him do it with his drink. He inserted the coins into the slot, pressed the number for the Milo, and got his drink and straw from the dropping area of the machine. Here he is enjoying his iced Milo on a hot afternoon in the park.

Then, we made our way to the “Glass House” (background), a high-tech production facility for plants and flowers.

 We sat down on the platform at the center of the "Glass House" area to relax a bit from our walking.

 Hendrik trying to cover his face when I asked him to pose for a photo.

 And another one…

 Then, he also took a picture of Lola and me.

Before we made our way back to the entrance, Hendrik looked at the fish pond at the "Glass House" area.

Lola and Hendrik on their way back to the entrance.

On our way back, we saw a swing so we settled there for a couple of minutes to enjoy the scenery and the fresh air.

 Our last stop, “Living Walls” where tall walls are no longer plain and boring, but are decorated with plants to make them look lively.

We took bus 51 from SP Jain Center of Management bus stop towards Hougang Central. It was the longest bus ride I ever rode in Singapore for 2 hours! Good thing was that Hendrik enjoyed the ride and was talking and playing with me the whole time. He still got energy to spare when we reached home at around 8:30 in the evening where Daddy prepared dinner for us.

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