#mandai

Scan your e-ticket at the gate and you will be at the Orchid Garden. Work your way to the air-conditioned Penguin Cove to watch the King, Gentoo, Northern Rockhopper and Humboldt penguins flying underwater. In the area where the penguins are housed, the water and air temperature are maintained at a low of 8°C with special lighting that mimics the changes in day length in the different seasons - all to simulate the natural habitat of the penguins. Also remember to watch documentaries on the penguins at the Theater.

The Amazonian Jewel aviary has this orange coloured Andean Cock-of-the rock which I spotted from afar but my lousy point and shoot camera could not afforded a decent closeup shot. So you have to settle for this Toucan (or maybe not) and Hyacinth Macaw which was actually found in the Crimson Wetlands avairy.

The Crimson Wetlands has two separated wetland areas, one reserved for the American Flamingo and the other for Scarlet Ibis. If you looked at the photos closely, you would see there is a grey flamingo chick all by itself. I wonder where its parent is.

As I made my way to the top of rice terraces, there is a Stone Dragon standing guard at the peak. Looking down, there are many water birds in the water or on the shore. Spied a male Pied Imperial Pigeon trying to impress the girl among the trees.

In the Mysterious Papua walk in aviary, a Nicobar Pigeon or dove was nesting right next to the walkway just out of reach to the human hand. A few of its feathery friends are pecking at plates of what look like fresh salad.

Next up, Songs of the Forest where you listen out for the melodious songs of the beautiful songbirds of Southeast Asia. There are quite a few species of them in here but all I heard are their calls as they are pretty elusive having grown wary to humans poaching them for the bird trade in the wild.

It is almost noon as I made it to the Wings of Asia aviary. Here, you see Bali’s tranquil bamboo groves and serene rice terraces replicated as the birds adapted to live in man-made habitats. Spotted a pair of Southern Rufous Hornbill perched high up in the tree canopy.