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The first things that come to mind when I think of Singapore are the skyscrapers, the panorama of a big city and the Raffles Hotel.
Before I arrived, I did not know that Singapore was actually the greenest city in Asia. It is full of parks and green spaces and is strongly committed to reducing waste, planting trees and promoting sustainability.
This became pretty obvious as soon as we landed and started our journey from the airport to downtown.
The roads are lined with palm trees, frangipani, ferns and orchids, and everywhere you look, you see green. The buildings are covered with flora, the bridges shelter superb plants; Singapore is undoubtedly green.
And it does not stop there. The government's strategy is to transform Singapore from a "garden city" into a "city in a garden" and improve the quality of life by improving greenery and flora.
During our trip, we decided to explore the parks, gardens and green spaces of the city, as well as discover the city in this "garden".
Although we are now greener in Singapore, we have driven Norwegian – the most fuel-efficient transatlantic airline – in extremely comfortable premium seats.
The first thing on the agenda was Gardens by the Bay.
Since its opening in 2012, images of this beautiful park cover Instagram and social media.
Gardens by the Bay is today one of Singapore's most popular attractions and has welcomed more than 20 million visitors since it opened.
It can not be denied that this is an impressive and beautiful space. .
This 101-hectare park includes lush gardens, two huge atriums with plants from around the world, and artistic 'super trees'.
These last tree-shaped structures measure 25 to 50 meters in height and present vines, flowers and exotic ferns that grow along the 'trunks'.
In addition to being visually pleasing, they also fulfill a function; create solar energy and collect rainwater for use in other areas of the park.
OCBC Skyway is a walkway that connects two of these beautiful trees and offers spectacular views of the gardens and the beautiful neighboring Marina Bay Sands.
Do not miss the evening light and the music show that takes place twice a day at sunset.
Gardens by the Bay costs £ 16 (SGD 28.00) per adult and £ 8.50 (SGD 15.00) per child (standard admission, including Flower Dome and Cloud Forest).
The next step was the botanical gardens. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is older than Singapore!
The 82-hectare gardens contain more than 10,000 species of flora and provide an oasis of tranquility from the noise of the city.
The national garden of orchids is a real asset. Botanical gardens began breeding orchids in 1928 and are now at the forefront of orchid studies.
The garden contains more than 1,000 species of orchids and 2,000 hybrids, including those that have been named and named in honor of celebrities, dignitaries and state leaders who have visited the gardens.
You will also see a lot of Vanda Miss Joaquim, a climbing hybrid orchid and a Singapore national flower.
Entry to the Botanical Gardens is free and entry to the National Orchid Garden costs £ 3 (USD 5).
On our last day, we headed to the Southern Ridges.
It is a chain of 10 km of green spaces and trails. You can choose to browse all this or just one section.
After a short drive out of the city center, we climbed Mount Faber to our starting point: Henderson Waves.
Henderson Waves is a bridge connecting Mount Faber to Telok Blangah Hill Park. It is Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge.
Its unusual design is eye-catching and offers a visual explanation to the name.
From there we crossed the forest, the gardens and an impressive elevated passage.
It did not feel like being in the city and we spotted beautiful wild birds, as well as beautiful flowers and trees along the way.
We ended our walk in another beautiful place – Hort Park.
This is not your usual park and is touted as the first service center for one-stop gardening in Asia.
In addition to enjoying the beautiful landscaped gardens, you can participate in workshops, tours and discussions to learn more about gardening.
Even after five days, we barely scratched the surface of Singapore's many green spaces, which is becoming a city in a garden.
Other things to do in Singapore:
You can not visit Singapore without eating in one of the many hawker centers.
The food is cheap and delicious, with a plethora of cuisines and options available.
You can even eat staghorn food at the Hawker Chan restaurant, whose soy chicken and rice received a star in 2016!
If the budget does not bother you, go for a meal in a high-end Michelin-starred restaurant.
We went to Candlenut at Dempsey Hill, near the Botanic Gardens.
This Peranakan restaurant offers a delicious tasting menu called "ah-ma-kase", which offers traditional Straits cuisine with a contemporary twist. The "ah-ma-kase" menu costs from £ 48.60 (US $ 88) per person.
Stroll around Kampong Glam, a beautiful neighborhood in the east of the city, with its colorful houses and unusual bars and cafes.
Finally, take a city tour with a local guide who will show you the monuments of the city and the best stalls of peddlers.
Where to stay in Singapore and how to get there:
The magnificent Mandarin Oriental hotel, in the form of a fan, has one of the most beautiful pools and suites in Singapore. Double rooms start at £ 223 (SGD 399) including breakfast.
Also try the Oasia Hotel Downtown, a striking plant-covered building with an incredible rooftop pool.
Superior room from £ 134 (USD 240) including breakfast.
Fly with Norwegian from London Gatwick to Singapore in Premium from £ 559.90 (one way), which includes over a meter of legroom and access to the lounge.
Economy fares start from £ 159.90 one way.
(Top photo: Hayley Lewis)
Hayley Lewis is a writer, blogger and travel producer. To learn more about food in Singapore, visit alovelyplanet.com or follow Hayley on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter or Facebook.
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