Wow Singapore!
Singapore oozes its modernity right after you experience it. Its imposing infrastructure including immaculate roads, skyscrapers, imposing vehicles, cutting edge architecture in midst of a river grabbed my attention after I landed in Changi airport and suddenly I could relate to everything which I have read, while planning this trip.
The country is actually miniscule and can be literally compared with an Indian state in terms of area. However, beauty lies in the rapid development that it has witnessed in spite of its scarce natural resources. Today, its economy is considered one of the strongest and it serves as a role model to many countries in the world.
I have tried placing some important things for your consideration if you are planning to visit this wonderful country-town.
Land in Jewel Changi Airport:
Simply Wow! This is the worldβs best airport because of a number of reasons like a theme park, movie theatre, hotel, gardens and delicious food serving restaurants. Most bloggers call it as the best stopover destination. I wish that I could get some more time to spend here but because of paucity of time, I forced myself to collect my baggage and rushed to avail my pre- booked taxi. I must say that this is the best transit destination!
Getting around in Singapore:
All prominent places are well connected through Metro and other public transport with regular Hop on Hop off buses. I chose cabs because they were affordable and more convenient.
Where to stay in Singapore:
There are multiple options available ranging from pocket friendly hostels to luxurious hotels. I would recommend to stay near Little India/Mustafa (if you are an Indian) as you may avail Indian eating joints in the vicinity. If you want to stay near Clark quay or Marina Bay then be prepared to shell out extra bucks.
We stayed at Ibis Singapore which is located at a stone throws distance from Bugis and Little India. It sounded the right option after much research but to our disappointment, rooms were extremely small. Breakfast was nothing great and we could only get bread and fruits. The worst thing was no room serviceβΉ
There are some decent hotels in Little India, if you are looking for an economical option but if you are looking for luxury then choose a hotel in Marina Bay, Orchard Road or Clark Quay.
What to wear:
Tropical climate will force you wear shorts, T-shirts, comfortable slippers/shoes. Be prepared for a drizzle anytime so please carry an umbrella/ raincoat or just enjoy little showers. You can carry a light jacket as it can get really cold in flights, malls or closed spaces.
Shopping:
Singapore is a preferred shopping destination for many. While Bugis is a street shopping paradise, Orchard Road is known for its branded stuff. I, however didnβt find Bugis cheap but the quality is really good (unlike many other street shopping venues). Do taste some local food, try its famous fruit smoothies and the iconic ice-cream, when you are in Bugis.
First day:
We checked in by afternoon and rested for a while before heading to our pre-booked Night Safari.
Night Safari:
On the day of your arrival you can opt for an evening activity like visiting Jurong Bird Park or Night Safari. Our evening got awesome as we started our tram ride in the wilderness of forest where we could spot some rare animals lazing around. Make sure that your camera is on night mode for some wonderful clicks but donβt get off your ride as you will find animals on both sides of your tram.
It is the worldβs first nocturnal zoo with animals in their natural setting and is a treat for eye. Donβt miss the Creatures of night show after your tram ride. There were limited eating joints nearby so we decided to take a light meal at our hotel before calling it a day
Second day:
It was a beautiful day with an early morning shower putting an end to last dayβs dry weather.
Singapore City Tour:
You can either take the tour on your own or opt for a guided tour which will include Singapore flyer (Asiaβs largest observation wheel) where you can get a fantastic view of the entire city. Each wheel is shared by 6-7 people and is perfectly safe. Sharing the view which we got from the flyer.
Post this, you can visitΒ MerlionΒ which is the official Mascot of Singapore. Donβt forget to make the iconic poses which you practiced much before you planned your tripπ
This is the pose where we literally laughed a lot while trying. There were a lot of tourists doing much better than us even with umbrella and bottlesπ
You can head for a river cruise in aΒ Clark quayΒ like we did. It boasts of some of the best fine dining options which canβt be missed.
The city tour ended there. We had enough time after our tour so we went for Gardens by the Bay which again is a must visit.
Gardens by the Bay:
The 2 domes, cloud forest and flower dome are the biggest attractions where you will find some rare hybrid plants along with a huge man-made waterfall which prompts you to climb to the top and make your way down while circling around. There is an entrance fee for both the domes but you can stroll in the outside garden area absolutely free.
This is the light and music show which starts at 8 in the night free of cost, and which canβt be missed.
After watching this show, we took a cab and went to Little India for dinner where there are many options for a gourmet. We walked our way to the hotel for a good sleep as we had universal studios planned for the next day.
Third and penultimate day:
We packed our breakfast and took a cab to start early for this tour.
Universal Studios:
As all of you would be aware, Universal studios is a huge entertainment area with lots of rides, waterpark, theatre shows and street-shows. Try and reach as early as 9 am in the morning to avoid rush and do not visit on a weekend. It is very crowded and you may have to queue for every ride.
Get an express pass from the counter if you wish to do all the rides and waste no time. Must do ride is Battlestar Galactica where you can either do Human or Cylon. Our favourite list of other rides are Transformers, Jurassic Park Rapid adventure, Canopy Flyer and Revenge of Mummy. Some of the rides which kids will definitely enjoy would be Sesame Street, Spaghetti Space Chase, Dino Soarin, Enchanted Airways and Madagascar ride.
Do not miss the street shows where your favourite cartoon characters come alive and you can click pictures to make your friends jealous at home. Look at our picture with Minions which occupies our favourite corner of bedroom now.
There are many eating stalls which serve popcorn and drinks as it can get really warm in the afternoon. There is a food court right in the middle of the studio which serves a tasty Indian Thali. There are other options since Sentosa is on the opposite side but do not waste time while searching. Also recommended is to take the flyer from the entry gate and check the timings of the stage and street shows to plan everything in advance so that you finish everything by 5:00 pm which is the closing time for the studios.
Since Sentosa is adjacent to Universal Studios, you can do Sentosa in evening the same day only if you have energy left to do so which we donβt recommend. We headed to Clark Quay after our fun in studios and had a relaxing dinner there before crashing at our hotel.
Fourth and final day:
We could not leave the place without shopping so we had kept half day to explore the street area. We walked to Bugis, tried fruit smoothies and shopped till we had only a few dollars left to spend. It is fun strolling in the streets as people are very welcoming and you find a lot of things to do.
We returned to our hotel and booked our cab for Sentosa after this.
Sentosa Island Tour:
I will recommend you to go toΒ SentosaΒ for some more fun in the evening. If you want to explore the beach then opt for a full day at Sentosa since there are many more things to be done. There are different activities like sky and luge ride, Sea Aquarium, 4d Magix, Trick Eye Museum and Wings of time. You have to buy tickets for every activity so choose wisely.
A) Sea AquariumΒ has some rare species of aquatic animals which looks magical.Β 
Β You would be fascinated to see the real marine life with the sharks floating right in front of you separated from a thin layer of a glass panel. Here we tried clicking picture with a shark but every-time shark tricked us.
B) If you love creativity and magic thenΒ Trick Eye MuseumΒ is your find. You can enjoy the paintings coming alive right before your eyes by downloading an app which turns a 2D artwork into 3D using optical illusion. It was fun spending 2 hours in the museum and clicking numerous pictures.
c) There is no better way to end your evening watching the spectacular laser projection showΒ βWings of timeβ. It is an evening show for 30 m which uses sea as a natural backdrop. You can get tickets from your travel agent or you can buy at the entrance. It is an award winning show which depicts a wonderful story about friendship taking you through adventures of Shahbaz. Highly recommended for all age groups.
This was our last day in Singapore and we had to catch our flight next day so we did some last minute packing and slept like a baby.
Singapore is a beautiful country with tons of things to do. A few days are not enough to explore the entire place but I have tried putting the most of it in the few days which I could. It is way beyond the magnificent infrastructure which attracts you in the beginning and slowly takes you to a journey of diversity and rich culture as you stroll in Little India, Arab street, China Town and Orchard Road where the locals share their stories and experiences.
I would love to travel here again to know about it a little more.
My Recommendations:
There are some recommendations which will help you make the most of you trip:
- Try the local street food especially the local bread ice cream and the smoothies which are served fresh
- Carry Singapore dollars as you will do transactions mostly in cash. Though there are currency exchangers but the best exchange rate you will get is at Airport/Mustafa.
- Do not over pack and keep it very light with only essentials like your medicines
- If you are stuck anywhere and have a medical emergency then there are counters where you can get help. For instance you can get baby prams/strollers/wheel chairs/lockers at the counter on the right as you enter Universal Studios. If you are on your periods and you require a sanitary pad then you can get it in 1 SGD from the washroom adjacent to the counter.
- Country is generally expensive but as far as food is concerned, you may save your pockets if you avail street options. You will find Indian restaurants everywhere.
- Last but not the least, carry masks, sanitizers and maintain social distancing everywhere. Please follow governmentβs guidelines everywhere and behave like a responsible traveller.
Happy hitchhiking!
