Visiting The Jurong Birds, Series One

After smitten and awed by the beauty of the Philippine wild birds from Romy Ocon’s blog site, I decided to post my recent photographs taken from a past visit to Jurong Bird Park (Bus 194 or 251 from Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Boon Lay MRT Station - green line).

Jurong Bird Park is one of the animal related attractions that Singapore offers (besides Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari) to tourists, visitors, and even locals who wants to get away with family and friends from the hectic city life they have. Even the OFWs like me can spend some time to relax and admire the wondrous nature of different species of birds such as the first group I’m introducing below.

The following are some the African wetlands birds I encountered near the entrance of the park.

The big ones, such as the odd Saddle-billed stork above with bright red and yellow beak, can’t be easily missed out as most of them seem to stop and gamely pose before enthusiastic photographers like me.

Maybe you would like to have a staring match against this large, grumpy looking Shoebill (c’mon punk, make my day). Honestly, it really looks menacing at it seems to eye visitors from a distance as they stand motionless. This bird is also known as the Whalehead.

One of the small birds (above) that I commonly see silently passing through the grasses. I don’t know exactly the name of this fowl, but this is one of my favorite photographs I took from this section of the park. I saw this silently perched and minding something from afar.

I also like the photograph above of a Blue Crane in a stance as if daydreaming. Its head and long slender neck complement well with the surrounding tall grasses.

I moved out towards the next area nearest to the African wetlands - the cove of the flamingos. The species of flamingos gathered here are the Caribbean Flamingos with pink and dark orange-red plumage. The following images are two of the best photographs I took of the flamingos.

Below is a Crowned Pigeon. Crowned Pigeons are the largest members of the pigeon family. When they sit, they look more like bluish plump turkeys instead of a usual pigeon. And look, they have blood red eyes. I would always find one sitting on top of the wooden fence inside the cages where these birds were enclosed. Visitors can enter the cages and watch these big pigeons at a closer distance.

Tags: African birds, birds, flamingos, Jurong Bird Park, pigeons

13.May.08 Interesting Places, Photo Series Comments (0)

Haw Par Villa - Going To The West And Tigers!

To finish off this series on the trip to Haw Par Villa, I present some pictures I took while trekking towards the section of the park known as Going To The West:

This looks like a fried, crispy fish on a bed of fresh leafy vegetables! I saw this pond filled with weeds and other water plants where this fish statue floats along with two other fish icon friends.

Right next to the pond are the dioramas that make up the section of the Going To The West mythological theme where statues like the legendary holy man Tang Seng and other popular Chinese characters are on display.

The cigarette between the lips of this monkey statue looks too real. I took a closer look. Lo, somebody must have thought to put a cigarette stub in this statue’s mouth.

This statue is in a duel with another warlord or soldier (female one). Another statue wrapped around his arms around the monkey man’s waist in an apparent attempt to stop the monkey. I did not have time to stop and read the story line written on the sign tablet before the diorama as I kept on taking pictures and switching from one diorama scene to another.

A holy man, named Tang Seng, came across a village begging for alms. Somehow he is trapped and is being seduced by beautiful women which are actually spider spirits disguising in such forms. These creatures believe that if they eat Tang Seng’s flesh, they will become immortal. Or so they say.

As someone said, do not judge them… they are not books! Hehehe. I mean do not judge the books by their covers.

I’m not sure if the very young kids accompanied by their parents would not frightened by this violent scene of a woman hacked bloodily at her neck by her attacker. A nearby statue of a man cries out in desperation to save the woman.

I came across the serene beauty of the Chinese pagodas in middle of a lotus-filled pond where schools of koi fishes can be found. Concrete foot bridges connect the pagodas together and to the surrounding walkways. A statue of Buddha sits in the middle adorned with garlands. Food and lighted incense sticks are offered before the statue.

Each pagoda is hexagonal in shape. On each column decked one of these oddly-looking lizard-like statues painted gaudily in bright colors. They look more comical than menacing creatures in their appearances.

Since this park is formerly known as the Tiger Balm Gardens, I see many statues of tigers in different poses (mostly roaring towards passersby as if ready to pounce to their next meal).

If you don’t like wild tigers, how about meeting some smiling tiger balm friends such as this guy…

…or this pair of tiger balm characters offering, what else, but more tiger balm medicated products!

Finally, meet the tiger car, complete with cat whiskers an all!

Tags: Chinese mythology, Haw Par Villa, legends, mythology, park, statues, Tiger Balm, tigers

25.Apr.08 Interesting Places Comments (3)

Haw Par Villa - Diorama Statues

One long section of the park was reserved for the fascinating displays of dioramas featuring statues of Chinese mythological characters, everyday modern life, legends (such as the Journey To The West area), and situational settings that impart lessons in life like having a good education, having courage, and being responsible in life (the Virtues and Vices Tableau).

This is one of those dioramas of statues located near the Virtues and Vices Tableau area of the park. This is a hodgepodge of fantasy characters, warriors, legends, and deity statues clashing in one big battle scene. The details of the statues are remarkable, including the headgears and costumes each figure are garbed in. Though many of these figures are in dire need of maintenance and repair as most have chipping paints, faded colors, and some crumbling arms and legs.

A soldier falling down.

We go to the Virtues and Vices Tableau area. There are hundreds of meticulously crafted figurines of people illustrating the desirable virtues each person should strive to have along with situations where human vices become the downfall of people. Lessons can be learned from each scene, like wise use of time and money, debts and gambling ruins life, being a true loyal friend, and others.

Some of the expressions and actions of statues here are almost life-like, such as…

…fear (like this one, fear of being mugged by authority)…

…awareness and sense of danger (this one from an oncoming fist from an attacker)…

…and even a sneak attack (look out from behind you).

Here’s a fascinating, very, very thin statue of Buddha (far from the common statues depicting a healthy or a plump person).

Above picture is a part of a large sea tragedy scene of a sinking ship wherein a woman and a kid tries desperately to save a man (might be the woman’s husband and the kid’s father)…

…from being eaten alive by a hungry shark. Ouch.

This one is from the scene that imparts the lesson of being a loyal friend (the boy is being carried away by a white animal creature while his coward friend left him, scampered away, and climbed the nearest tree to save himself).

Next post: The Journey To The West section and rest of Haw Par Villa.

Tags: Chinese mythology, Haw Par Villa, legends, mythology, park, statues, Virtues and Vices Tableau

07.Apr.08 Interesting Places Comments (2)