With your mind at rest, you can truly enjoy your holiday. Yet if you’re an animal addict like me, you may find yourself gravitating towards a certain kind of activity. “Our pet dog, Sandy, is very much our child,” said Loong Lim, a finance executive. “Unfortunately she’s slightly too large to fly in-cabin, so spending time with animals when travelling helps to fill the Sandy-shaped hole she leaves!
Loong seeks out animal experiences that are primarily outdoors – like safaris, farms, and rescue sanctuaries – while on holiday. “It offers a very different type of experience to a city-centric holiday, and a chance to reconnect with nature in a way we struggle to in Singapore,” he said.
Recently returned from a trip to New Zealand, Loong can recommend a double-species experience that’s truly special: A dolphin-watching boat ride. Each boat comes ‘equipped’ with a dog trained to sniff out dolphins. Though on Loong’s visit, the dogs “failed at finding any Hector Dolphins that day but made up for it with an abundance of love and cuddles,” he laughed. Which is the kind of review that will definitely add doggy-led dolphin watching on my bucket list.
You could also pick a travel destination known for its furry (or feathered) inhabitants. Yuen Po Street Bird Garden in Hong Kong, for one, is a gem for bird aficionados, as it’s wall-to-wall with songbirds, parrots and local craftsmen who have been crafting bamboo or teak cages for generations. While that chirpy hotspot is on my list, I’ll have to stroll that road alone (my wife is terrified of birds).