Urban Greenscape
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One of Tokyo’s largest inner city greenscapes lies between Shinanomachi station and Aoyama Itchome station.
Starting from the green wall at Shinanomachi station, the walk down Gaien Higashi dori towards Aoyama Itchome quickly takes you a way from the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.
Vertical gardens, or ‘green walls’, are cropping up all over cities these days, transforming drab urban facades into vibrant jungles of color.
In a city with endless greenery, Mount Faber Park in Singapore was the first destination on our SE Asia Greenscape Tour. Park of the South Ridges park system which stretches for 9 kilometers, this is definitely a fantastic start to the trip!
A short ride on the MRT NE line to Harbor Front station and I popped out to nothing but greenery in front of me. We’re off to a good start here, I thought to myself.
With a mango shake in hand, I set off through the jungle. I’m just a few hours from arriving at Changi airport from Tokyo and now surrounded by tropical jungle with urbanism growing all around me.
So, off I go!
Making my way up the path, giant leaves greet me along my way. The sound of nature is all around, yet the faint sound of the city hums in the background.
By the time I reach the top of the trail, I’m pouring with sweat from the humid, tropical air.
Walking along the road atop the ridge, views of downtown Singapore framed in greenery abound. You truly feel as though you are in a city within a garden.
A stop by the Faber Hill Bistro for a cold drink and a light snack is a great place to take in the view.
After a refreshing drink at the bistro, a bit further along the path is the Henderson Waves, a 274 meter long pedestrian bridge stretching 36 meters above Henderson Road below. This impressive architectural structure is one of the most unique features in the park.
Beyond the waves is Telok Blangah Hill Park.
More so than Mount Faber Park, this park seems to be more catered towards fitness enthusiasts. Many joggers and work-out areas throughout the park (forest) make for an ideal place to take in some greenery and get the blood moving.
As the day comes to an end, I find myself utterly amazed already within the first 8 hours of being in Singapore, just how much greenery is here.
Beyond just the usual highlights of Orchard Road, Clark Quay, and Marina Bay, take some time to spend at least half a day at the South Ridges and Mount Faber Park. Already one of my favorite urban greenscapes.
Check out the full gallery of photos from Mount Faber Park on our Facebook page.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, TEK Building comes in to play!
Sala Prabang Mekong Riverside Hotel sits quietly along the Souvanbaniang Road in Luang Prabang, Laos.
The first thing that caught my eye was the distinct, zig zagged shaped green wall along the right-hand side of the building.
Much like man other buildings along this street, leafy foliage is draped along the balcony.
A small, fenced in garden in the back of the hotel makes for a relaxing spot to read a book or update your latest travel journal entry.
Taking a walk down Souvanbaniang Road in Luang Prabang, Laos will reveal a number of French Colonial meets SE Asia style architecture covered in greenery. You can’t help but to have a calming feeling from the foliage covering the face of the buildings.
Waterfront road in Vientiane, Laos.
Gotta love the preservation of the grand tree in the road!
A newly constructed park along the Mekong river gives Vientiane a new communal greenscape to exercise, relax, or enjoy a magnificent Laos sunset.
The memorial monument, Patuxai, is perhaps the most prominent landmark in the city and one of the more beautiful urban greenscapes we’ve come about in our tour of SE Asia..
Wow, what a gem!
The V Garden Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is a very unique boutique guesthouse located on the south side of the city near the Maluri LRT Station.
Just as the name indicates, this hotel boasts a very unique feature, an indoor/outdoor garden located just past the lobby next to the rooms on the ground floor.
The hotel has brilliantly incorporated this garden in to a very tight space. Not only does the garden bring in natural lighting and a zen like feeling as soon as you step in to the garden, but greenhouse like encasement protects the gardens from the elements. The encasement is so seamless, I honestly didn’t even notice it until it started to pour one afternoon.
Being there just before Chinese New Year was a treat as the staff prepared a buffet dinner on the house for us guests on the night before Chinese New Year Eve. We enjoyed getting to know the rest of the guests in the garden and had a great time.
Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park was a pleasant, unexpected surprise when visiting the might Petronas Towers.
A walk along Jala P Ramlee Street in Kuala Lumpur from the Bukit Nanas Forest to the Petronas Towers is covered by greenery all around.
During my visit in January just before the Chinese New Years, red lanterns hung from the trees presenting a fantastic contrast of greens and reds.
Bukit Nanas botanical forest in central Kuala Lumpur is as true of an urban greenscape as you’ll find.
Right after getting off the Bukit Nanas station, I had lunch at a Hard Rock Cafe and soon after, was walking through a jungle. Talk about having the best of both worlds!
There are more groomed trails leading through the forest, but I opted for the more adventures paths, lined with roots and covered by gigantic leaves larger than my head.
While in the forest, the city buildings just outside the park make for a very interesting contrast of nature and urban development.
View the full gallery of photos at Bukit Nanas botanical gardens.
A collection of the magnificent Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur framed by trees.
Taken in January 2012 during the Urban Greenscape SE Asia tour.
