Singapore World's First

Was bored one day and just googling about Singapore. I was quite amazed to see certain facts that I did not know about a country which I have stayed in the past 20+ years! Yes, I am not that old, I am still in my mid twenties. :)

• The Guinnes Book of Records named the old Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital as the hospital where most babies were born in a year. In 1966, 39,835 babies were delivered.

Well, I was born in Malaysia (Johor Bahru) but I know that many of my elementary school classmates are born in KK Hospital. I guess since Singapore has one of the highest population density in the world, it is not all that surprising. 

• World’s Highest Man-Made Waterfall - With a fall of 30m, Singapore houses the world’s highest man-made waterfall. This is located within the aviary at the Jurong Bird Park which was opened in January 1971.

I just went to the Jurong Bird Park 4 days ago and saw the waterfall. Well, I will say that there is nothing very special about it. No much comments on this.

• World’s First Night Zoo – Found in the north western part of Singapore, The Night Safari is the world’s first night zoo, spreading over 40 hectares of land. It was opened in May 1994 and entertains about 900,000 visitors a year.

The Night Safari is actually quite interesting. Basically it is like a night zoo but some of the animals are more active because they are nocturnal. However, it really depends on luck because if the animals do not stand where the spot lights are, you basically cannot see anything. The Creature of the night show is a must see if you go to the Night Safari!

• World’s Largest Orchid Display - The National Orchid garden within theSingapore Botanic Gardens has the world’s largest orchid display with more than 60,000 plants.

The Orchard Garden in the Singapore Botanical Gardens also has an area where they showcase plants in temperate climate. After walking around for a couple of hours in the heat, it is really refreshing to go into the greenhouse where it is air-conditioned! :)

• Worlds Largest Fountain - The Fountain of Wealth at Suntec Cityentered in the Guinnes Book of Records in 1998 as the World’s Largest Fountain. It has a base area of 1,690 sq m and from this base is a four-legged bronze frame that weighs 85,000kg. Water from the fountain shoots up to as high as 30m.

This fountain has laser display on certain nights (can't seem to find out which nights they have the display). Have been there during the display a couple of years ago and remember it as being quite beautiful. Apparently, it also brings you good luck to walk 1 round around the fountain while touching the water.

• World’s Fastest “SMSer” - Kimberly Yeo, a 23-year-old Business Administration student, took only 43.24 seconds to sms “The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrsaalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.” That earned her a spot in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s fastest SMSer.

This is a bit weird. I know that Singaporeans love to text message more than anything else. We will rather spend 20 smses than talking on the phone for 5 minutes. Kids in Singapore also start getting handphones when they are still in elementary school.  Maybe Ms Yeo got lots of training!