Random Photos @ Singapore Zoo

Updated 8 Oct 2013: More random photos of creatures taken recently

I was trying to categorise the interesting photos that I have of the Singapore Zoo's animals and sad to say, I have to give up because they are really too random. However, they are still interesting so I'm going to take the lazy way out and create a post aptly named Random Photos of the Singapore Zoo. :) You can refer to this post here for more information on the Singapore Zoo.

Anyway, below are the random photos that I've taken here and there. :)

A single task warthog looking for its other task. :p

A warthog having its meal

Crocodiles in disguise. :p

A goat making full use of its horns. :)

A barking deer taking a rest from all the barking. :)

Darn. No idea what creature this is. :(

Deer? Looks like it.

Greater Kudu getting away from the limelight

White Rhino eating away

Malayan tapir taking a rest

White Tiger taking a rest from all the patrolling. :)

Zebra having its lunch.

Fishes kissing the Pygmy Hippo

Komodo dragon deciding if it should move or not. :)

Lazy kangaroo lazing around after its meal

No idea what creature is this but it's beautiful

Inuka entertaining the visitors

Curious baby white rhino

Desert Warthog

Rattlesnake

Giant Tortise

Sea lion

Jackals

Pigmy Hippo

Monkeys & Orangutans @ Singapore Zoo

Updated 8 Oct 2013: More pictures of monkeys/orangutans and related animals taken recently

The highlight of the Singapore Zoo seems to be Monkeys (I include Chimpanzees too) & Orangutans. There are a wide variety of species there and it seems to me that everywhere I turn, I'll see them. :) They are quite an interesting lot to watch, and even more interesting when they are at play. The games that their young play looks not much different from the games babies play when they are small. The Orangutans as always, were lazing around. :) You can refer to this post here for more information on the Singapore Zoo.

Anyway, below are some of the pictures of these interesting creatures.

Orangutan lying down and stretching its arm at the same time. :)

Orangutan grabbing a snack

Cotton Top Tamarins playing around

A mother Cotton Top Tamarin with 2 young ones on top

A white-faced Saki Monkey on top of a signboard

The agile Gibbon wondering where to go next

Howler Monkey howling along

Not sure what monkey this is but it looks very cute. :)

A Baboon giving you an arrogant look. :)

Baboon senior getting some grooming from junior. :)

Brown Capuchin (heard someone called it cappuccino) :)

Chimpanzee (i think) eating roots.

Proboscis Monkey looking around

Baby baboon wondering what to do with the stick

Baby baboons @ play. :)

A baby lion-tailed Macaque looking lost. :)

Orangutans having fun with a gunny sack

Baby Chimp playing with a piece of wood

Baby proboscis monkey looking at the mother

The mother baboon holding on to the little one

Glee's Defying Gravity

Updated 6 Aug 2010: Changed Youtube link as it was removed by Sony. This Duet is not as good as the one I heard.
Updated 2 Sep 2010:  Added another Defying Gravity's video link

Just watched Glee and I think that this song, Defying Gravity is amazing. When I saw both Kurt and Rachel singing, I was thinking how well they sang together. Imagine my surprise when I heard this in Youtube. The song is amazing, but surprisingly short.

Enjoy.

Small Creatures @ Singapore Zoo

Updated 8 Oct 2013: Added more photos of small creatures

The Singapore Zoo also have some small creatures hidden away in the many corners and many of them are quite cute, especially the Leopard cat. If you're quiet enough, you can see some of the interesting things that they do when they are not scared half to death by us. :p You can refer to this post here for more information on the Singapore Zoo.

Anyway, below are some of the pictures I've taken of these cute small creatures.

Meerkat on the watch. :)

Mongoose wondering what to do

Iguana (I think) lazing around

Squirrel nibbling its food

Small goat wondering what to do

My favourite. The Leopard Cat. :)

Otters

Raccoon Dog

Meerkat on a watch

Baby naked mole rats

Mousedeer

Birds and Penguins @ Singapore Zoo

Updated 8 Oct 2013: Added more photos of the birds and penguins that I recently took

Do not think that all the birds belong to the Jurong Bird Park. The Singapore Zoo also has some interesting birds together with the other animals, especially the penguins. Yes, those cute penguins. :) You can refer to this post here for more information on the Singapore Zoo.

Anyway, below are the photos of some of the interesting birds and penguins in the zoo.

Flamingo scratching its back. :)

Curious blue bird.

African Crowned Crane with an interesting hair style. :)

Curious Ostrich

African Penguin looking around

African Penguin swimming

African Penguin getting out after a swim

Flamingo looking at a monitor lizard

Parakeet?

Not sure which red bird this is

African penguin after a swim

Back to the Singapore Zoo

I thought I would start a new topic on attractions in Singapore. After all, they are in my own backyard and I should know about them right? :)

Anyway, my wife suddenly had a crazy idea to visit the zoo. Yes, pretty random but that's her. It has been some time since I visited it so I did a little research, with a little help from the Singapore zoo website. This is a good place to start planning, especially if you want to catch all the shows.

First, how to get there. If you look under the Visiters' Info, there are instructions on how to get there. If you're going there by public transport, go down to the AMK Bus Interchange and catch Bus 138 (stops directly at the zoo). For Singaporeans, you should have your EzLink card and for DIY Tourists, why not get The Singapore Tourist Pass which gives you unlimited rides on our public transport system which includes the MRT, LRT and basic bus services for 5 days. You can find more information in the website and how to purchase it.

There are now quite a few packages that are available which you can refer to from the zoo's website. Just like to highlight some of the optionals  for the zoo's package:

• Unlimited tram rides: Good if you're not into walking. The tram brings you just about to every attraction in the zoo. However, it's not a place where you can relax, sit down and snap away on your camera. It's basically a mini transport system within the zoo with a little commentary on the attractions along the way.
• Boat ride: Basically, it's just a boat ride and that's it. I guess after going to the Wildlife cruise at New Zealand, I was kinda disappointed with the boat ride as I thought they would bring me to a place where I can see some wildlife in action. I guess Singapore is too urbanised.

For those who are into photography, it is recommended to get a lens with at least 105mm - 200mm as the animals are not exactly near. There are only a few exhibits where you can get very close to the animals but the lighting there is usually not that ideal. I mainly took my photos using a 75mm - 300mm lens. The lighting is not that good in some areas so it would be good if you have a Monopod to keep your heads steady.

Basically if you're not there for the shows, you can finish touring the zoo in about 3 hours (on foot). That's what I did as my wife and I were more interested in the animals. However, I would suggest the following itinerary if you wish to catch all the shows in the zoo (as of the date of this post):

• 1330: Rainforest fights back
• 1430: Splash Safari
• 1530: Elephants at Work & Play
• 1630: Animal Friends Show

Do try to go to the show at least 15mins before the show starts. I didn't get to watch any of the shows because the more popular shows are usually packed to the brim 5mins before it starts. (e.g. Splash Safari).

I will post some animal photos later on. Watching those animals play can sometimes be so funny and interesting. :)

Hotline for cracking down illegal subletting of HDB flat

There have always been cases of flat owners who try to circumvent HDB's rules by locking up one room and subletting the rest of the flat without physically staying in the flat. HDB has clarified that such cases will be treated as unauthorised subletting of flats if home owners did not meet the minimum occupation period and did not seek HDB's approval to sublet their flats. Even if the rooms are sublet out, they must also register their sub-tenants.

The funny thing is I do not recall that there was a hotline where members of the public can report these cases. The HDB's hotline is 1800-555-6370 for reporting any suspected cases of unauthorised subletting.