Waking Up in Sunny Singapore

Waking up in Sunny Singapore (Part 2 of 2)

After almost  9 hours of energy-boosting beauty sleep, I got up bright and ready for another sunny Singapore tour. Hands down to Orchard Road’s  Ngee Ann City, Ion and Paragon which boast the chain of  branded boutiques and famous brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Gucci, Prada and Chanel.  The Orchard Road is truly a shopper’s paradise.

Getting off the City Hall Station, it’s a long walk to endure from the Raffle’s Place to the famed theatre destination.  A modern architectural fascination of durian- like theatres called The Esplanade fronting the view of the stunning Central Business District’s skyline and dramatic Singapore River. It also showcases the premier Fullerton Hotel which used to be the country’s general post office. Across the Esplanade is the Merlion Park which features the half-lion and half-fish representation of the Lion City. The $1 ice cream sandwiched in chocolate wafers is a must-try. It’s the best way to beat the heat while walking across the Esplanade Bridge and gazing the view of Marina Bay.

                Barely couple of hours left to discover Sentosa Island which features not only Universal Studios but also home of one of its biggest casinos, Resorts World, and Singapore’s ultimate beach destination. From a taxi ride in City Hall to Vivo City Mall, it’s a hot afternoon trip via Sentosa train to the Beach Station. With the summer-like heat, it’s a perfect time for beach bumming! It is Singapore’s island getaway. It brags the infamous Siloso Beach, where you can sit by the beach with your towel and  sunnies or hop in the stretch of restaurants in the beachfront  like Café del Mar which is also a night spot at sundown. Also, a 10-minute stroll at the beach takes you to Palawan Beach, another spot for sports, swimming, sunbathing or  chilling and strutting one’s stuff.

                From Sentosa’s Carrot Land, head on back to Imbiah Station to witness amazingly beautiful landscape and another Merlion symbol. This features the Merlion Walk, Merlion Plaza, Imbiah Terrace and the Resort’s World Singapore Festive Walk.

               Ending the humid day with a cup of Frappucino in Starbucks at Dhoby Ghaut Mall. It was a journey of sweet memories--- a speedy yet fulfilling tour in a nearly perfect city with the nicest people. With great friends and welcoming company, Singapore is truly a home.  The trip, which was supposed to be a solo tour bound to be indulged by myself turned to be one of the most fulfilling trips in my life and was worthy of every cent. It was traveling with self-indulgence and independence and rekindling the bond. Definitely, I’d come back!

In a nutshell/ Next time:

1.                 Despite the hectic schedule, manage to have some shoe shopping. Some shoe brands are at least 30% cheaper in Singapore, I grabbed the opportunity to get a pair as my travel souvenir. Next time, I would purchase some more.

2.                 Because Singapore uses BS1363 three-pin rectangular socket, don’t forget to bring adaptor plug or purchase it at the nearest hardware store.

3.                  Due to all walking, it’s nice to wear flats at day and reserve stilettos for the night.Be ready for an unanticipated rain some time of the day.  Equip oneself with bottled water and map when traveling solo.

4.                 If you have the luxury of time, there are still a lot of places of interest like Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands Skypark, Fort Siloso, Underwater World,

5.                 The next time I go to Singapore, I won’t miss throwing a coin to the Fountain of Wealth to attract more prosperity, just for fun and good luck.

6.                 Catch the 7:40 PM/8:40 PM shows at the Songs of the Sea, an extravaganza with art of singing, dancing, lasers, and pyrotechnics then proceed to Café del Mar to dance the night away

7.                 Visit Chinatown for foodtrips, sidetrips in Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and souvenir shopping.

8.                 Dine and spot the lights in 3 Quays: Boat, Clarke and Robertson. Catch the happy hour and party till dawn.  Try Singapore’s best: Chili crab

9.                 Save up for that much desired gadget in Funan IT Mall. Don’t forget the GST Refund.

10.               Visit Singapore during Great Singapore Sale where famous brands drop their prices.

The Tourist: Singapore

Singapore is one of the friendliest and undeniably safest cities a solo tourist can visit and explore. Although thrice more expensive than its Asian neighbors, The Lion City is modernized, impeccable and well thought-out.  With Singaporeans’ eloquence in English language (with the renowned “lah” )and warm reception, it is effortless for the one who is traveling alone to get around.

Singapore and Solo (Part 1 of 2)

Arriving independently in Singapore from Malaysia via Tiger Airways early morning inclined me to walk around the organized and pleasant Changi Airport. From Budget Terminal, a free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 basement is readily available. First stop is McCafé to compose self, review the itinerary, perk up with a  classic Mocha frappé and make use of the free 10-minute internet to get in touch with my SG friends. My Blackberry was running low battery so I asked around for a charging station. The Coffee Bean Café has the only single outlet for charging, so I hurriedly seized a spot, ordered chocolate cupcake and precious bottled water, only to find out the café did not have the plug adaptor for British three-pin rectangular socket (230V/50Hz) for my charger.

From Changi Airport, I decided to take the Skytrain and change trains at Tarah Menah going to Orchard Station. Thanks to that gracious Singaporean guy who taught me how to dispense Single-trip tickets. The 30-minute trip costs almost $2 plus a refundable deposit of $1.  When staying in the city for longer period, obtaining an EZ-link card is wise for a hassle-free hop around the city.  It is similar with Hongkong’s Octopus card where it can be topped up in MRT stations, buses and convenience stores. Riding the MRT and blending in like the locals is preferred since it’s fast, convenient and easy on the pocket.

Orchard Road Shopping, Vivo City Dining and Universal Studios at Night

The Ion Orchard welcomed the shopaholic vibes in me as I get off from the train station. Topshop, Zara, Charles and Keith and many others became my best friends as I hang around and pass the time.  Shopping, people watching in Orchard Road, changing of outfits and food tripping kept me preoccupied. I was lucky to be joined by High School pals for kind company and enjoyed the rainy afternoon packed with good stories and sumptuous foods in stylish The King Louis restaurant in Vivo City.

               Later that night, we were joined by the nicest High School friend I know. It was indeed a mini-reunion.   We headed to Sentosa Island to visit Universal Studios for awesome fireworks display. The Sentosa Ticket Counter is located in the 3rd level of Vivo City Mall and ticket costs around $3.  A One Day Weekend Pass ticket to infamous Universal Studios is a$72 rip-off.  However, Hollywood After Hours with Lake Hollywood Spectacular show that charges $5 would suffice and just perfect for the night which is available only during Fridays and Saturdays.

        Aside from fantastic pyrotechnics display, the sight-seeing tour was incredible. Meeting USS characters, hopping around sights: Broadway and Hollywood, dining and USS shopping while the night is young is just fabulous. Better yet, sharing the enthusiasm of Universal Studios with great friends just got it even more enjoyable!