The Pavilion and Pagoda zone at Haw Par Villa is a brief respite from the terrors of the Ten Courts of Hell. It is a small but open area, with a large pond being the key highlight – the Pagoda and Pavilion in the middle. A series of faded ornamental bridges link different parts of the pool together.
The Ten Courts of Hell is the hallmark attraction at Haw Par Villa. World famous for depicting all sorts of gruesome punishments for sins in one’s life, this harrowing journey to the netherworld is a short walkthrough within a dark tunnel.
Although similar to Hell Houses and some “Haunted” attractions, this attraction is not a Haunted House (well, not in the usual sense) and does not use effects as part of the experience. Rather, it is a glimpse into the beliefs of afterlife in Chinese culture and folklore, both modern and traditional. I’d say the purpose of this attraction is more of a cautionary tale than entertainment.
Haw Par Villa is a theme park lost in time. Originally called the Tiger Balm Gardens, this quaint park was built by the founders of Tiger Balm – the Aw brothers. It is filled with thousands of statues and dioramas to depicting Chinese mythology, history and traditional values. Under new management in the late 80s, the gardens evolved into a theme park – Haw Par Villa Dragon World, complete with shows and rides.
The Amazon Flooded Forest is the last area of River Safari. It has the largest aquarium in the park which can be viewed from different levels.
It’s been a while, but now we’re back with more River Safari photos!
The Giant Panda Forest is a large air-conditioned complex to house the giant pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, along with some friends – Red Pandas and Golden Pheasants.
Our journey around the Rivers of the World continues. This is part two, covering Murray River, Mekong River and Yangtze River. Start from Part One here.
I’m sure you’re all pretty excited to explore River Safari – the first and only River-themed wildlife park in the region. Part one of the Rivers of the World Photo Tour will cover Mississippi River, Congo River, River Nile, Ganges River.
Highlights in this May 2013 Universal Studios Singapore Park Update
River Safari, Asia’s first and only river-themed wildlife park, soft-opened in April 2013. The park’s key attractions include Rivers of the World – a series of exhibits based on iconic rivers around the world; Giant Panda Forest – which houses celebrity pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia; Amazon River Quest – a boat ride through habitats of the wild Amazonian river; and finally Amazon Flooded Forest – the largest freshwater aquarium in the region.
This is a short entry covering general information about the River Safari park as well as my review. The River Safari Photo Tour, with pictures of exhibits, will be up next.
