From November to January, the rain pours in Singapore. In the summer months, brief but intense rain showers, courtesy of monsoonal winds, bring more precipitation to this tropical city. What might be a nuisance for commuters who forgot their umbrellas, is a boon for the city’s many green spaces. More so than any other city in Southeast Asia, perhaps all of Asia, Singapore is a city of green. The forward-thinking, slightly authoritarian leadership of Singapore decided that the city’s growth could not go unchecked. Parks and public spaces needed to be included in the city’s planning, no matter how fast expansion was taking place. The result? Numerous parks, tree lined roads, and a level of pollution that is acceptable even to the World Health Organization. All this despite the area’s four million inhabitants being crowded onto a small island 250 square miles in size.

Singapore’s National Parks Board keeps its thumb on the pulse of the city’s wildlife sanctuaries, parks, and public gardens. There are also numerous green areas that are privately owned.

The well known Singapore Botanical Gardens is one of the biggest “green attractions” in the city. The plants include roses, spices, and banana trees, all surrounded by tropical vegetation. There are also several lakes inside the gardens. The entrance to this park is on Holland Road.

There are also several parks that are designated as wildlife refuges. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is right in the middle of the city. The is the only place to see Singapore as it was before urbanization. There are numerous species of tropical plants and trees as well as small animals once native to the region.

Bird lovers will not be at a loss in Singapore either. In fact, the accessibility of the nature preserves makes birding easier than in larger forests in Malaysia or Thailand. Sungei Buloh Nature Park is a stopping off point for migrating birds. Herons and woodpeckers, migrating from northern regions enjoy the mangrove swamps and the muddy plain. Sungei Buloh is on Singapore’s northern coast.

Singapore’s tree-lined streets and many smaller public places create an atmosphere that is unique among Southeast Asian metropolises. While Singapore is undeniably urban, it greenery helps to maintain this laid back tropical atmosphere. At the same time, many visitors accuse Singapore of lacking personality and missing the unpredictability and energy that are trademarks of the regions other cities. Still, if you want green, (or just want to give your lungs a rest) Singapore is the place to visit.