Orchid Gardens, Singapore

About a kilometer away from the Singapore Zoo, you can actually stroll there after a visit to the Zoo.

Avid orchid lovers will be delighted to see the blooms. Otherwise, it's quite a small garden and can be covered very quickly.

There is an entrance fee to the garden which is slightly discounted for large groups.

I'm still on my mission to find off-the-beaten-path spots for VTers.

Last Saturday we went down to the Mandai Orchid Gardens to check out the best orchid growers in the west (of Singapore, that is). Yes, this is the place where they grow the lovely orchid sprays that you find down at the florists on Orchard Road as well as the neighbourhood HDB market.

But things are brewing over at this garden... they now have a little cafe on the hillside with the best plant collection. The view is just FANTASTIC! We arrived after the tropical storm has passed, and were rewarded with beautiful sounds of gushing streams flowing down the hillock.

To reward yourself, order satay at the cafe. They've got the satay recipe from the old Batik Inn. Big juicy chunks of well marinated meat. Quite different from those found downtown.

So the next time, you visit the Singapore Zoo or the Night Safari, stop for an hour at the very very lovely Mandai Orchid Gardens.

I'll be back again for this little 'paradise' in Singapore.