Singapore Changi Airport ~ maintains its spot as World's Best Airport (Part 2)

Continuation from:  

Singapore Changi Airport ~ maintains its spot as World's Best Airport (Part 1)

One of the many travellators inside Changi International Airport.

When we talk about gardens then Singapore is on top of the list. It is known around the world as the Garden City as the country is engulfed with lush greeneries everywhere, as in EVERYWHERE!!! Wherever you go, it feels like you’re in a natural landscape where trees and flowers filled each corner. They have known parks to enjoy, like the Gardens by the Bay just at the back of Marina Bay Sands, Singapore’s Botanical Garden in Cluny Road, Mt. Faber near Vivo City, Japanese and Chinese Garden in Bonlay, and lots more.

You're eyes is always filled with greeneries as lots of garden everywhere.

Within the airport, there are various themed gardens available to take pleasure in as well. These gardens serves a very huge part as this is become the signature feature of Changi Airport. They called it the nature trail. I spent much time checking all these themed gardens as it interest me bigtime! I have that inclination into gardens and hope I have these kind of sanctuary in my own house in the future (dreaming much ~ hehehe!). It’s a haven, a refuge to seat on as it rejuvenates your lose energy. There are supposed to be 6 gardens but I listed only 3 in here:

The Orchid Garden located in Terminal 2 with Koi ponds.

1. Orchids Garden ~ as the names suggest there were plenty of varieties to witness in here. If you love such plants, then you don’t need to go to Singapore’s Botanical Garden located in Cluny Road because they have lots of collections to enjoy. The airport is surrounded with it but they have specific area in Departure Transit Lounge, Level 2 solely for orchids and kois. The garden itself is complete with benches where in you can stay as much as you could. From dendrobium to vanda species they have it here. May not be a complete assemblage but by just seeing these conspicuous flower is a wonder in itself. You can buy some finger foods in the nearby restaurants and you can have it in here. Just don’t forget to throw your garbage properly or else you’ll pay the consequences (ahahaha!). Singapore is known for imposing fines if you violate the law too you know, which is perfectly fair for everybody to be prim and proper (hehehe!).

Fern Garden

2. Fern Garden and Koi Pond ~ the presence of such garden inside the airport fells like you’re entering a tropical rainforest. Why I said so? Because in South Cotabato, Philippines where I grew up, there are still varieties of ferns like these grew in abundance. There is even one species which we fond of serving, locally named ‘pako’. It is edible as you can blanch it and make into green salad with tomatoes, onions, vinegar and sprinkle it with salt and pepper, voila it’s ready to serve (sarap ~ ahahaha!). Salivating aside, there are various ferns species here where you can only see in the jungle. They have class like Rabbit-foot Fern, Bird’s Nest Fern, and the famous Tasmanian Tree Ferns which is probably a survivor of the dinosaur era (roooaaarrr! ~ ahahaha!). Kudus to the one who made this concept because it gives information to people the importance of rainforest to mankind (bravura!!!)

3. Butterfly Garden ~ Don’t be fooled by the small dot part that Singapore only have in the map because I assure you it maybe petite in terms of size but it is known with trademarks like world’s largest, world’s best, and world’s first to offer to its tourist guest. Well, add to the list of world’s first is the presence of first butterfly garden inside the airport. Personally, this is the most popular garden located in Terminal 3 Departure and Transit Mall. This open air, butterfly habitat is complete with tropical plants and a 6-metre cascading waterfall. Aside from tropical butterflies, what’s makes this sanctuary interesting, they also have wide collection of different species of carnivorous and insectivorous plants of Southeast Asia. Each corner is also composed of several educational information for everybody to be aware of and for guest to have a deeper understanding about butterflies and exotic plants.

'Maligayang Pagdating' one of the welcoming messages when you arrive in Changi Airport.

We supposed to visit the Cactus Garden in Terminal 1 and Sunflower Garden in Terminal 2 but we forgot it all along as we spent few hours in Starbucks Café watching a movie (ahahaha!). I don’t know may be we are quite exhausted of the long flight or The Avengers movie is quite hard to resist (ahahaha!).

The Balinese themed swimming pool in Terminal 1 roof top.

Well anyway, after trekking the nature trail, it’s time to take a dip and refresh your tired body. No need for you to get out of the airport because there is an outdoor swimming pool atop Terminal 1. By the way, it’s not free but if you are one of the guest of Ambassador Transit Hotel then you can use as you please (ahahaha!). The best way to locate the outdooor pool is to ask one of the airport ground staff as there are only few signs that will direct you here. The entrance fee is only SGD 13.91 per head equivalent to PHP 450 pesos or USD 11 that includes a towel, basic toiletries, use of shower facilities and a complimentary non-alcoholic drink from the bar. It’s complete with little cabana beds, a pool side bar, tables with paperback books and magazines and what’s interesting? You have the view over a portion of the tarmac while you’re showering in an open space (ahahaha!).

'Coming Home' sculpture of Han Meilin will welcome you in Immigration Terminal 3.

One of the 5 sculptures of Han Meilin, 'Mother and Child'.

If you love art pieces then it’s a perfect place to hang out with. There are series of sculptures by Han Meilin that interest me and one of his masterpiece is the giant sculpture of ‘Coming Home’ in Terminal 3 near Immigration Hall. Such figure makes you feel welcome just by seeing the two huge human like figures with lots of birds in it. It is one of the most beautiful piece of art i’ve seen. In addition, the five other sculptures is located just outside of Skytrain in Terminal 3 that expresses the various aspects of motherly love by capturing the body language between a mother and a child.

View of Changi Airport Tower inside the Sky Train to Terminal 3.

Changi Aviation Gallery located in Terminal 2. There is another gallery in Terminal 3 but we haven't visited it yet.

Another gallery to enjoy for free and one of the must stop is the Changi Aviation Gallery. It’s an open gallery located in Terminal 2 that provides information about the history of aviation in Singapore. It’s interesting because it’s a multi-sensory zones with interactive displays for everybody to enjoy like aircraft landing and takeoff, baggage handling, horticulture, ground operations like staff working at the airport and lot more. There are lots of interesting information to discover in here, like how the food is prepared and how to handle in case of emergency and rescue operations. By the way, there are plenty of fact pamphlets in here, you can get one and bring it home as souvenirs (hehehe!).

Wanna shops for discounts? Then in each corner there are ads that will lead you to specific fashion boutique outlet.

Signage Information in Terminal 3.

If you like shopping till you drop then hundreds of retail and dine shops can be splurged in here from local and international trade name. If you’re fond of luxury items then a visit to Hermes, Hugo Boss, Miu Miu, Bally and Bottega Veneta is worth to check out. I wanted to buy some ‘luxury stuff’ but it’s out of our budget, thus better keep on dreaming though (ahahaha!).

You'll see information desk like this in every corner of the airport.

Hungry? At Changi Airport, there are wide selection of dining establishments offering a diverse range of cuisines and dining concepts to suit every taste. While waiting for your flight then better check out the dining establishments in their public areas. What I fond the most is the 24Hr Food Gallery that offers local cuisines. If you want to try the all-time signature favorite dish, the Hainanese Steamed Chicken Rice which I love the most, then a visit to this place is a MUST. Actually, there are tens of restaurants in here to dine in with but it will occupy the whole entry post if I have to elaborate all (hehehe!). But I firmly say this, whatever your palates tells you to eat then they have plenty of restaurants and food courts in here (wink wink ~ hehehe!).

Hmmmmm Hello Mr. McDonald (hehehe!)

BFF Lemwuel at Starnucks Cafe just right after we took our dinner in McDonald.

Once done your meal and if you have more time to visit some of the interesting places in the mainland Singapore then it’s just a piece of cake. The convenience of travelling from Changi Airport to the mainland is very accessible as there is an MRT link connection within the vicinity of the airport. It’s the first time we used the MRT because before, me and Balong took a taxi from the airport to our hotel. We don’t hire taxi usually because it’s quite expensive but  since we have plenty of baggage with us then we have no choice but to get one.

Ticketing Area to buy the EZ link card to Singapore City Center.

Waiting for our train to Harbourfront Station.

When you travel, please don’t forget to buy EZ link multi card in the counter for practicality. It’s like the octopus card in Hong Kong where you can hop-on and hop-off the train anywhere you wanted to. Just don’t forget to tap it though and keep it with you as always as you can reimburse it later after you surrender the card (hehehe!). You can use it in most government transportation like bus and taxis and in selected grocery stores too just in case you’er out of cash. Hmmmmmmmm that is what we called CONVENIENCE!!!! (awesome, ayt? ~ hehehehe!).

The kiosk of the free two-hour cultural heritage tour around Singapore.

Actually, there is a free two-hour tour around Singapore if you wanted to try. When I went to Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3, I’ve seen their kiosk near the internet station. I asked one of the staff about their offer and she narrates gladly that the sightsee consist of Heritage Tour that brings to the most prime attractions in Singapore such as the colonial district, the Chinatown, the Little India, a 15-minute stopover at the Merlion in Marina Bay and lot more. However, please note that you should have at least 5 hours before your flight because if it is less than that then am afraid better explore the whole Changi Airport instead. Besides, there is no need for you to get out of the airport unless you have too. Please be reminded that aside from what I mentioned above, there are still tons of free attractions that the airport have. I assure you, your stay here is a memorable one and the only thing left when you leave Changi Airport is a gigantic SMILE.

So there you go, that’s what change airport all about. Did I mentioned that they have free candies named ‘Changi’ too? (cool, ayt? ~ ahahaha!)

Free Candies in most post of Immigration Officer.

Truly, Changi Airport deserves all the accolades it has been receiving as one of the best airport in the world.

Have a great day/night everyone.

Cheersssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!

Enan signing off.

SMILE.

:)