Regardless the level of photographer, one of the question I received the most about nature photography no other than type of lens to buy or to carry. Before I can answer this question, I always ask back "What do you intend to take then?". Types of lenses to bring very much depend on what we intend to take. Landscape, insects, birds or simply portrait. Each subject require a different lens as the distance between the subject and the camera is different. By identify the subjects, it helps to decide what lens to buy or to carry.
Usually I will carry two lens with me, one zoom lens & one standard lens (that can act as macro too). However, if you intend to buy a Nikon camera, you can consider the new lens that just launched last month AFS-Nikkor 28-300mm / 3.5-5.6G ED VR. After years of feedback finally Nikon came out this lens that cover from landscape/portrait to even birds photography! You can use this lens as your travel lens or standard lens!
These are the photos I took using my this new travel companion without tripod as I wanted to try how good it is if I wanted to travel light.
Since this lens can zoom up to 300mm, I use it to shoot birds. I have no problem shooting both Mynas!
Since this is a travel lens, very high chance that I will see something small and beautiful.... so I use this lens to shoot as macro. First this caterpillar. 
I then give it a more challenging task. The lens didn't fail me, look at the details of the photo above! 
So as this tissue paper like flower that just about 1.5cm wide. 
More macro shots! 
Since this lens can zoom up to 300mm, I use it to shoot birds. I have no problem shooting both Mynas!Since this is a travel lens, very high chance that I will see something small and beautiful.... so I use this lens to shoot as macro. First this caterpillar. I then give it a more challenging task. The lens didn't fail me, look at the details of the photo above! So as this tissue paper like flower that just about 1.5cm wide. More macro shots! I then use it for landscape. I first shoot it with F22 with shuttle speed of 1/15sec. 
I then lower it to 1/2 sec to test the optical stabiliser (VR). Without tripod & filter I managed to create the effect as above.
Taking night shots is a breeze with the VR stabiliser. So if you are looking for a travel lens or simply want a 'multi-purpose' lens. Get this new lens from Nikon (if you are using Nikon camera...) This is my first choice of lens whenever I wanted to travel light.
I then lower it to 1/2 sec to test the optical stabiliser (VR). Without tripod & filter I managed to create the effect as above. 
Taking night shots is a breeze with the VR stabiliser. So if you are looking for a travel lens or simply want a 'multi-purpose' lens. Get this new lens from Nikon (if you are using Nikon camera...) This is my first choice of lens whenever I wanted to travel light.
It happens that it was a full dress rehearsal for NDP, we got to see some of the actions from Semakau too! 
Besides the NDP show, we have beautiful sun-set, clear blue sky with the moon in sight too! A nice & cooling sea breeze, wow is one of the best venue to have BBQ! 
When the sky get darker, some even starts to dance under the beautiful moonlight. With naked eye, the moon appear like a crescent. Using my camera with some zoom, the whole moon can be seen! 
The darker part (covered by the earth) can be seen clearly when I took this shot with longer exposure.
With minimum light pollution, star trails photography is possible too. The photo above was taken with 4 mins exposure. Once the exposure are extended to at least 30 mins, you will have really nice star trails photo! I also taken some shots on 
Well, from the expression of these people... Semakau Rocks!!!