The free birds

"Welcome to the prison where every prisoner is innocent" .. I was stunned by these words. Life's deeper lessons can be very hard to digest.   

Welcome to the prison where every prisoner is innocent!

For a moment I thought this was the worst welcome one could ever have. Luckily we were visitors ... visiting the place as a tourist attraction, without realizing that it could be something different. 

We were at the Singapore Bird Paradise, Asia's largest bird park. Call it a paradise, park or a zoo, it was still a prison, for the birds. And for us, tourists, it was a Bird Paradise.

Indeed, truth, like diamond, has many faces!

It all started last year when Smita and I decided it was time to visit a modern destination during our vacation. A place people generally know and visit as tourists. In recent years, we've visited places like Jibhi, Shangarh, Ketty Valley, Kelshi, Awas, and Ganeshgudi ... destinations so obscure that people often ask if they even exist, and if so, why anyone would visit such unknown places.

Smita and I prefer destinations closer to nature and far from civilization. Each of these places offered us incredible experiences. But this time, we wanted something different. We wanted to experience one of the world's most modern cities, and Singapore was the obvious choice.

As we explored the available experiences, a visit to Bird Paradise quickly became our unanimous choice. Located within Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Bird Paradise spans 17 hectares and is home to 3,500 birds from 400 species, 24% of which are threatened. The park immerses guests in naturalistic, mixed-species habitats across eight large walk-through aviaries, reflecting different biomes of the world, from dense African rainforests to Australian dry eucalypt landscapes.

We took an MRT ride to Khatib on the North South Line, followed by a shuttle to Bird Paradise, and arrived at the entrance to the paradise... or was it a prison?

The entrance was contactless, with the usual QR scanning process, and while I was scanning, I heard it ... my inner voice.

There's something about the inner voice that I both love and hate. It's one of those things to be treasured, perhaps just next to true love. And that's why I cherish it.

But why does the inner voice have to be so harsh? Prison? Really?

My relationship with my inner voice has been a long one. Whenever it surfaces, which isn't often, it turns into a learning experience. Today was going to be one of those days. I smiled at the thought. The gatekeeper at the entrance smiled back, assuming my smile was a welcoming gesture. If only AI could detect why someone is smiling, half the misunderstandings in life might just disappear. A thought for my startup-driven friends to think about.

As we entered the paradise, the world felt different. The air was filled with a symphony of chirps, tweets, and calls—a chorus of avian voices that transported us to distant lands. The lush greenery and carefully crafted habitats created the illusion of being in the wild, yet the invisible barriers reminded us of the true nature of this place.

We wandered through the various aviaries, each one a microcosm of a different part of the world. The Waterfall Aviary, with its 35-meter high waterfall, left us in awe. The mist from the cascading water created an ethereal atmosphere, perfect for the tropical birds that called it home.

As we observed the colorful lorikeets in the Australian Walkthrough, my inner voice spoke up again. "Look at how they flit from branch to branch, always within the same confined space." I tried to push the thought away, focusing instead on the beauty of their vibrant plumage.

The Penguin Cove brought smiles to our faces as we watched the adorable birds waddle and swim. Yet, I couldn't help but think about the vast oceans they would never see. The inner voice was relentless, wasn't it?

Throughout our visit, I found myself torn between amazement at the diversity of bird life and a nagging sense of unease. The Birds of Paradise, with their elaborate courtship dances, were a sight to behold. But did their intricate rituals hold the same meaning in this artificial environment?

As we exited through the gift shop, my eyes fell on a beautiful painting of birds in flight against an open sky. The irony wasn't lost on me. Here we were, leaving a place called paradise, yet the truest paradise for these creatures lay beyond its walls.

On our way back, Smita noticed my silence. "What are you thinking about?" she asked. I shared with her the conflicting thoughts that had been plaguing me throughout our visit. To my surprise, she nodded in understanding.

"It's a complex issue, isn't it?" she mused. "On one hand, places like these help in conservation and educate people about biodiversity. On the other hand..."

Her voice trailed off, but I knew we were on the same page. We spent the rest of our journey discussing the ethics of zoos and wildlife parks, the importance of conservation, and our responsibility towards other species.

As we reached our hotel, I realized that our visit to Bird Paradise had given us more than just a tourist experience. It had sparked important conversations and forced us to confront uncomfortable truths about our relationship with nature.

The inner voice, harsh as it may be, had once again led me to a deeper understanding. Perhaps that's why I treasure it, despite its occasional inconvenience. It reminds me to look beyond the surface, to question, and to seek a more profound connection with the world around me.

As I drifted off to sleep that night, my dreams were filled with images of birds soaring across limitless skies, truly free. And I found myself hoping that one day, the only paradise these magnificent creatures would know would be the vast, open world that is rightfully theirs.

Dear Readers, if you are still with me, many thanks ! Feel free to share this blog with those who may be interested, and do add your comments !