Mactan Airport - Changi Airport - Joyfor Hostel - City Tour - Woodlands Train Station
Singapore
Singapore, also known as The Lion City, is one of Asia's front liners. This territory is so progressive it is considered one of the most expensive places to live at. But, we're not here to stay, my bro and I are here to explore what this country has to offer. Being the Lion City should mean something, right?
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| Here we come! |
Boarding a Cebu Pacific Flight from Cebu, we were expected to arrive in Changi International Airport at 12:50 am.
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| Touchdown! |
Upon passing through immigration, I opened a sheet of paper I've been preparing for months. Haha. My itinerary's something I could not live without in my travels, ya know. Haha
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My view opposite the 24-hr Ground Transportatio Desk
We proceeded to the Ground Transportation Desk and inquired if their transpo service includes our hostel, and viola! We just found ourselves (only my bro and I) in a coaster, below bright skyscrapers and finally, to Joyfor Backpackers' Hostel.
Don't worry, unlike in the Philippines, they don't wait for the coaster to be full. You can feel royalty if you're specially by yourself and transported to your hotel. :)
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We checked in and found ourselves in a dormitory room with a Muslim roommate who was busy preparing for the Eid'l al Fitr. We talked for a moment and called it a day.
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| Our beds for the night |
I woke up around 7 in the morning with a kinda dark surrounding. The sun rises late in this fast-paced country though there's no time difference between the former and the Philippines.
We started the day with the hostel's free breakfast - unlimited bread and spread as well!
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| Breakfast! |
We then checked out but left our bags in their storage room.
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| Going to the train station |
Our itinerary for the first half of the day is a walking tour. Exiting the Chinatown Station, we went inside Sri Mariamman Temple, a Hindu Temple. The carving's really interesting!)
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| Chinatown! |
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| Sri Mariamman Temple |
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| Inside the temple |
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| colorful interiors! |
A few more blocks will lead you to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, a Buddhist Temple. Such color!
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| outside the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple |
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| inside the temple |
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| temple exterior |
Then went back and stopped by the Food Center and bought waffles for snacks. It was a hot day actually.
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| Al fresco dining at the Food Street! |
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| Singapore waffles! |
A block away is the Jamae Mosque. It's for the Muslims this time.
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| The entrance |
We walked farther and farther. Passing by various buildings with really good architecture and found the Hong Lim Park.
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| Singapore road |
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| Park Royal Hotel |
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| Hong Lim Park |
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| Still at Hong Lim Park |
It's refreshing to see a park at the center of the city. We rested for a while and continued our journey to a mall and walked farther more to Clark Quay.
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| creative underpass |
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| clark quay! |
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| cute! |
Then crossed the Bridge to see this police station.
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| the colors! |
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| inside the building |
We crossed another block again through an underpass below the bridge. There, we walked more and felt really small compared to the very tall buildings surrounding us.
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| skyscrapers! |
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| Going to the museum |
And we found ourselves inside the Asian Civilization Museum and passed by the Parliament House.
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| To the past! |
We crossed this very historical suspension bridge, Cavenach Bridge.
..and went farther and passed through this amazingly designed hotel.
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| Fullerton Hotel! |
We went up the skyway to cross the street and found ourselves along the river and in front of the Marina Bay Sands. What a journey right? But the view will help you remember why you're in Singapore and took that trip. It is a jaw-dropping sight. This hotel you thought you would only see in TV?
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| it's the Marina Bay, baby! |
You can even enter! We had that planned already! Haha
Well, the walking tour actually did not end there but to the famous of them all, the Merlion. Yes. THE Merlion. We were just soooo happy to be there and see it in person that we eventually had lunch in one of the Al Fresco restaurants facing THE Merlion! Haha
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| THE Merlion! |
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| Lunch! |
It was a dream-come-true to see this.
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| THE Merlion again! |
After lunch, we walked near the Theater in Esplanade or the Giant Durian. We crossed the street and went to the nearest MRT station. We are now heading to the famous Arab Street!
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| Chilling after lunch |
We first went to the Mosque. The lower level is the praying platform for men and the upper level is for women.
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| Ramadan |
There was a Ramadan Festival. Isn't it amaziing!!!
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| So, there is such thing? haha |
And the quirkiest narrowest street, one of the places I looked forward to visiting, the Haji Lane!
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| Haji Lane, baby! |
We had a quick snack and moved to Little India!
Welcome to the colorful world of India! :)
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| So India! |
We then tried their Shopper's Haven, Orchard Road. Yes. Indeed. It's a shopping district. With a super duper lot of malls around you, you will surely leave with a paper bag. Haha. We actually didn't explore much of this place as we happened to see a building famous for the Pinoys, the Lucky Plaza! Indeed! So many Filipinos in this side of Singapore you could even see branches of Philippine remittance centers and the much-loved Jollibee!
We actually tried their version of Jollibee here. Happy us!
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| Bida ang sarap sa Singapore! |
After having snacks, we boarded a train to the Marina Bay station.
As we were going out the station, we never expected to walk up under the Marina Bay Sands Hotel itself! It was soooo huge and soooo perfectly-designed I literally sat in one of the walkways and just stared at it. As in!
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| ohhh! that sight! |
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| getting nearer! |
We started our tour up the viewing deck where we can see the Garden in front and the giant Marina Bay Hotel behind us. Walking towards the hotel is totally free. Moreso, walking inside it. You get to see the lobby that's soo full of people and the lower level rooms. Amazing!
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| can I sit here forever? |
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| have a look inside the hotel! |
We did not stay long as we have to go to the Garden. Gardens by the Bay is famous for its collection of supertrees! This is a must-see specially at night. One great mind out there.
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| that view |
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| supertrees! |
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| supertrees and the marina bay sands hotel! |
After all the picture-taking, we went back the hostel and got our bags and proceeded to the Woodlands Train Station.
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| 2 days short of the Sea Games. Too bad. :( |
We're headed to Malaysia! And wait. This was not actually THE station yet. We boarded a bus to take us to the Woodlands Terminal. This is the border of Malaysia and Singapore. We had our train tickets booked beforehand and we're ready to go!
BUT! Yes. Another but! We were lost. We ended passing through SG immigration only to later find out its for bus passengers to Malaysia. OMG! I asked the Security Personnel who was so serious checking all the people going out of SG. Thank God he was sooo helpful. He voided the stamps in our passports, let us in and turned us over to another personnel who then guided us to enter SG back after the scanning of course! Haha. We ended up going back to the place where we entered from the bus and felt really frustrated when I saw a glass door on the side saying KTM. My gosh. It's the train line that we were looking for. We went inside and confirmed. Since it was too early to wait and.we had not had dinner yet, we went to the building opposite the terminal and feasted on indian food.
We went back and just waited for the signal to go up the immigration. When we passed through it, I was surprised to see a kinda vintage train. But I was even amazed of what's inside. It has double-deckers! Another experience to be crushed out from my bucket list - overnight sleeper train! Yay!
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| one of my dreams came true! It's an overnight sleeper train! |
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| my bro's really tired already |
It was my very first time to board one and was not really able to sleep soundly. Haha. I just wanted to see everything outside even though its dark. And the breaks as well as some bumps along the way, suddenly woke me up. Haha.
I eventually adjusted and slept deeply. I woke up with the announcements of next stations. It's already 6 am and we are almost there. See you Kuala Lumpur! ;)
Part 1 - Singapore (Mactan Airport - Changi Airport - Joyfor Hostel - City Tour - Woodlands Train Station)
Part 2 - Malaysia (Irsia BnB - Petronas Tower - Batu Caves - City Tour - Petros Tower - Bukit Bintang)
Part 3 - Malaysia (Legoland - Singapore Coziee Lodge - Bugis Street)
Part 4 - Singapore (Universal Studios - Changi Airport)
