Weekend: Saturday in the park*

A swan in Singapore Botanic Gardens’ swan lake. In the few times I’ve been to the Botanic Gardens, this was the first time I’ve seen swans on the lake!

Went on a “just-because” picnic with friends at the Botanic Gardens last Saturday. “Just because” it was a beautiful day and we needed a break from the usual malls and cafes (and also, it has to be told, we were lacking in funds). Turned out, it was a great way to just relax and feel the balmy breeze out in the open. As my mom used to tell me when I was a kid and holed up in my room reading a book, it’s good for the earth to get to know you. Sure, in Singapore it’s well-manicured grasses and well-tended shrubbery and plants, but it’s still nice to actually touch the ground and lie on the grass.

It sounds like hippie-dippy philosophy, but studies have shown that actually touching dirt/ground has positive health benefits and explain why walking barefoot on grass or the earth makes you happier. Experts call this “grounding” and it operates on the principle that the earth maintains a negative electrical potential on its surface. When you are in direct contact with the ground (walking, sitting, laying down, even immersing your hands in the earth, as when you’re gardening), the earth’s electrons are conducted to your body, bringing with it the same electrical potential. It grounds your body, bringing with it physiological health benefits. Of course, we weren’t really into it for the health benefits. We just wanted to be out and about. Who knew that we were imbibing some heavy duty electrical benefits? 😉

Another view of swan lake with the “Flight of the Swans” sculpture in the middle of the lake

The Bandstand. There were musical performances here during the 1930s. I’m imagining gentlemen in suits and ladies in flapper attire wandering around while the music played

The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage where we usually watch performances, with the Symphony Lake beyond. We picked a spot here, amidst other picnickers with the same idea

I lack practice in selfie-ing, haha! That’s Karen doing her Miley Cyrus impression

There was a shoot going on that afternoon. The model had blue hair and this pretty photogenic gown. There was also a nurse (why? We don’t know!). We were undecided if this was an actual magazine shoot, or was a cosplay thing. Whatever it was, it was interesting to speculate about

Basic food groups for a picnic: Soda, chips, wine, cheese, sausages and fruit

Me, taking photos of the trees, and doing the grounding thing at the same time

One last pic before we called it a day. Me with Karen, Chiquit and Inna

So how was your weekend?
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A note on the Singapore Botanic Gardens: I’ve been here going in five years and I’ve never quite explored the whole of this massive park. I really should one day, but here’s the thing. Just walking from the entrance on Cluny Road to where we finally set up our stuff tired us out! Sure, our fitness levels are partly to blame, but it’s a huge property — 74 hectares, encompassing several gardens. It was laid out in 1859 in the English Landscape Movement-style with a series of Kew Gardens-trained botanists overseeing its development over the years before it was turned over to the Singapore Government.

There are lots of interesting places to spread out your picnic, but if you’re there on the weekend, check if there are free performances at the Shaw stage, you might be in luck.

Hours: 5am – midnight
Entrance: Free, except to the Orchid Garden

*With apologies to Chicago (the band) for using the title