Forget The Zoo – Make Some New Animal Friends At These Lesser Known Farms In S’pore

If your idea of paradise is to be surrounded by animals of all kinds, this one’s for you.

We all know the Zoo, the Bird Park, the Night Safari, and the River Safari. Let’s be honest, you can only visit these places so many times before you get bored of it.

Here are 7 lesser-known places in Singapore for you animal lovers to get up close and personal with some cute (and some less cute) critters. From rabbits to goats, to tortoises, you’re sure to find your spirit animal in one of these animal enclaves.

A word of warning though: some of these critters aren’t as cute and fluffy as the ones you may have in mind…

1. The Animal Resort

It seems like gone are the days when animals could run and roam freely around our homes.

The Animal Resort brings a taste of that back with its little zoo with a kampong twist!

[caption id="attachment_25431" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image Credit: T81 Seletar West Farmway 5, Singapore 798061
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm daily
Admission: Free
Contact no.: 64821160 / 91271323
Make friends with goats at Hay Dairies!

Walking down the enclosures, these amicable and curious animals will poke their noses through the bars to nudge your hand, as if to say “hello”. 

[caption id="attachment_25433" align="aligncenter" width="5472"] Image Credit:
No. 3 Lim Chu Kang, Agrotech Park Lane 4, Singapore 718859
Opening Hours: Mon, Wed, Sun: 9am – 4pm; Farm is closed on Tuesdays
Admission: Free
Contact no.: 6792 0931
These slow and chill guys are our spirit animal for sure.

The Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum lets you enter a rare world of turtles and tortoises.

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Image Credit: Wikimedia[/caption]

You’ll be surrounded by 200 turtles and tortoises of more than 60 different species.

Be entertained by the funny antics of the Terrapins and Soft Shells roaming freely through the park. You can also pet and hand feed some of them! If you are in luck, you might even witness eggs hatching.

The founders of this museum rescue and rehabilitate the rarer species. These include “Double Happiness”, a two-headed, six-legged turtle that was nursed back to health after she was found in critical condition.

It is a common Chinese belief that turtles and tortoises represent longevity. So come soak up the good fortune with these zen creatures!

The Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum
Address: 1 Chinese Garden Road, Singapore 619795
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm daily
Contact no.: 6268 5363
For a nature paradise and getaway from the hectic city life, try Farmart Centre!

Their simple setup and rest-and-relax activities will give you a glimpse of the kampung spirit.

[caption id="attachment_25427" align="aligncenter" width="3000"] Image Credit: Adrian Video Image[/caption]

Its “Weekend Animal Corner” lets everyone interact with the small animals. Experience the feeding of goats, rabbits, bullfrogs, tortoises, and many more.

You can also sign up for one of their interesting and educational farm tours. You’ll be taken around and introduced to all the different farm animals around the Kranji area!

Don’t leave before having a good lunch of Traditional hot wok Zi Char, Hot Grilled BBQ Chicken Wings, Otah Otah and Malay Satay!

Farmart Centre
Address: 67 Sungei Tengah Road, Singapore 699008
Opening Hours: Food Outlets: Sun – Thu: 10am – 10pm; Fri, Sun, PH: 10am – 12am
Admission: Free
Contact no.: 67670070
If calming sea creatures are more your thing, the endless rows of koi ponds at Mainland Tropical Fish Farm will be a treat.

It’s a great place to indulge in a bit of fishing or fish feeding!

[caption id="attachment_25423" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image Credit: Andrew, Shuhua, Claire[/caption]

Buy a pack of fish food from the shop and watch the pretty koi gather eagerly for a bite. Or try your hand at longkang fishing and prawn fishing.

Dip your feet at the fish spa for a ticklish, yet relaxing experience. Or simply gaze at the scores of ornamental fish on display and admire nature’s handiwork.

Should you decide to take home a finned friend, you’ll find everything you need for its well-being right here!

Mainland Tropical Fish Farm
Address: No.1 Pasir Ris Farmway 1, Singapore 519352
Opening hours: 8.30am – 7pm daily
Admission: Free
Contact no.: 62873883, 65843643, 65812550
You’ll hear them before you see them.

These outspoken creatures at Jurong Frog Farm are sure to greet you as you enter their home!

[caption id="attachment_26862" align="alignnone" width="1000"]
Image Credit: 51 (Plot 56) Lim Chu Kang Lane 6 Singapore 718864
Opening Hours: Tue – Fri: 9am – 6pm (reserved for booked tours and pick up of purchases); Sat, Sun, PH: 9am – 5.30pm
Admission: Free
Contact no.: 6791 7229
Don’t forget that insects are animals too!

Butterfly lovers will love Oh’ Farms Butterfly Lodge, a place that houses around 20 local butterfly species.

[caption id="attachment_25426" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Image Credit: Butterflies of Singapore[/caption]

This butterfly-friendly flight cage allows visitors to observe and enjoy the butterflies in a landscaped garden environment.

The habitats are carefully designed to allow the butterflies to fly freely and go about their daily business with as little interference as possible. Nectar collecting and flower pollinating is all very important stuff.

You’ll also learn about the ecology and conservation of butterflies, and appreciate the diversity and beauty of Singapore’s butterfly fauna.

Come marvel at the beauty of these flying jewels as they flit just by your ear!

Oh’ Farms
Address: 14A, Bah Soon Pah Road, Singapore 769970
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 8am – 5pm; Closed on Sundays & PH
Contact no.: 67538011
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The Projector: How An Abandoned Theatre Became An Artsy Alternative Cinema

If you’ve heard of The Projector, you’ll know it is a completely alternative cinema concept.

Far from screening mainstream blockbusters, here you’ll find indie, foreign, cult favourite, classic, arthouse and local flicks.

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But how did the fifth floor of the slightly crummy Golden Mile Tower come to house this artsy two-screen cinema?

Seems like its vintage appeal isn’t constructed at all, but stems from a long history we think you film buffs should know about…

The Golden Theatre

Once upon a time, there was the The Golden Theatre.

Situated in said Golden Mile Tower along Beach Road, it was once the largest cinema in all of Singapore and Malaysia.

Think: an impressive 1,500 stall and circle seats, all inside one massive movie theatre.

[caption id="attachment_26312" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image Credit: Mapio[/caption]

For those born before 1973, you may know its constructor, Chong Gay Theatres, who are also the ones behind the homely Kallang Theatre.

Back in the day, The Golden Theatre was well-patronised for its Mandarin films, ‘adult’ artistic films, and even Bollywood hits.

Sadly, with sparkly new shopping malls sprouting up through the ‘90s, its popularity slowly waned.

The majestic theatre split up into smaller, separate halls–Golden 1 and Golden 2, both of which then sunk into disrepair.

The Fixer Uppers

Enter creative development company Pocket Projects, and design and architectural firm FARM.

This group of passionate cinephiles banded together to breathe new life into this old, derelict, but also historic space.

And so restoration works began, in the form of The Projector.

[caption id="attachment_26319" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Image Credit: The Projector[/caption]

The two halls also received new names, along with their new lease of life.

Golden 1 became the Green Room, and Golden 2, the Redrum–a nod to Stanley Kubrick’s classic ‘The Shining’.

Fast Forward

Today, the halls are once again as bustling as they were in the good old days.

Each of the two rooms at The Projector seats nearly 200 people, and are fitted with digital projectors.

The chairs in the front section of the Green Room have even been replaced with comfy bean bags.

[caption id="attachment_26316" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image Credit: Pocket Projects[/caption]

They’ve also roped in Luna Films, the people in charge of curating local film festivals, to help select and bring in films to be screened.

Finally, to complete the movie-going experience, came the addition of a café to the cinema’s foyer, manned by Group Therapy Coffee. It sells classic movie snacks like popcorn, alongside burgers, pies, and cake, along with sodas, juices and their own coffee blends.

[caption id="attachment_26315" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Image Credit: The Projector[/caption]

If you’ve ever lamented the limited range of films in Singapore, you now know where to find a great independent cinema.

For all its history, The Projector itself is definitely as fascinating as the movies it screens, and is well worth a visit.

The Projector
Address: 6001 Beach Road, Golden Mile Tower #05-00, Singapore 199589
Opening Hours: Tue – Fri: 6.30pm – 9pm; Sat, Sun, PH: 1.00pm – 9pm; Closed on Mondays
Website

(Top Image Credit: SINdie & Pocket Projects)

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