Introducing my travel partners, Hui Yee and Huey Li.
Caught a glimpse of the first ray of sunlight. It's the start of a brand new day!
Arrived at Singapore Changi Airport. This national airport won itself the World's Best Airport Award 2010, while KLIA is placed at No.5. However I personally think that KLIA is far more beautiful in terms of its interior design.
Changi Airport has got something which you can never find in KLIA, a 3-storeys (approx.) high escalator.
It's still early in the morning so we took some snapshots with the landscape in the compound of Changi Airport.
In Singapore, you can rely greatly on the public transport, operated by SMRT. With its slogan "Moving People, Enhancing Lives", the transportation system indeed is smart, well-developed, extensive, efficient, and hassle-free. Way better than RapidKL and KTM in Malaysia! SMRT provides convenience to the citizens and travelers, connecting people between destinations at a much more rapid pace. And the truth is, the MRT train is always on time.
For travelers, it's advisable to get a Singapore Tourist Pass which allows you an unlimited usage of the train and bus services. The pass is available at one-day, two-day, and three-day versions. Each day costs S$8, plus a refundable rental deposit of S$10. For example, a standard trip usually lasts 3 days 2 nights, so get a three-day pass @ S$34 (S$10 refundable). The Singapore Tourist Card can be purchased at City Hall station or other stations. (For more info, please visit here.)
Unless you don't travel much on public transport, you can choose to buy single trip ticket each time.
So what's to see in early morning while nothing really opens for business yet? How are you going to kill time while you still can't check into the hotel? You wouldn't believe this but we went to this place where tourists don't normally go - Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The garden is open daily from 5am to midnight. To get here, alight at the Commonwealth station, take bus transit no.105 and alight along Napier Road.
This is the Tanglin gate. You're more likely to access the Gardens through this entrance if you travel by bus.
Admission is FREE. And you'll be surprised as it's unlike any other ordinary garden. The national garden has plenty to offer in the heart of the city, a great place for photography too. A stroll in the garden is definitely pleasing and mind-rejuvenating.
Tip: Drop your bulky luggage at Botany Centre, near Tanglin gate. They're willing to help keeping them for you. You won't want to travel around with it.
The extensive growth of the branches and leaves casting a sun-shielding sanctuary.
Feeling hot and sweaty? Head out to the food court near Tanglin Gate for a drink or breakfast.
The Man Who Planted Trees.
You never know each path where it's leading to...
There are a few sculptures located in the garden.
Girl on a Swing
Girl on a Bicycle
The Bandstand
A bandstand was erected in the early 1860s as a focal point of the original landscape design of Singapore Botanic Gardens. The present octagonal structure was built in 1930 and staged early evening performances by military bands for many years. Though no longer used for music, the Bandstand continues to be one of the best-known features of the Gardens.
Joy
The Swan Lake
Waiting for the bus transit back to Commonwealth MRT station. This was also where I accidentally left my luggage unattended. I hastily traveled back here to claim it back and thank God that no one took my luggage away! It wouldn't be the same scenario if it's in Malaysia though. Such an unforgettable experience!
Koufu Food Court @ near Commonwealth Station
Mango Longan @ S$ 2.50.
Ice Jelly Cocktail @ S$ 1.50
Basically, the foods at food court in Singapore are cheap! Well of course if you don't convert it into MYR. I'm talking about the value. If you're living in Singapore rest assured you won't spend a great deal of money on foods!
Check-in @ Fragrance Emerald Hotel, Geylang. It is one of the cheapest budget hotels in Singapore with reasonable standards of quality and service. We booked a family room @ S$170 nett for 2 nights stay. However, it is also located in red light district area, so girls beware of your safety. You may not want to be distinguished as prostitutes.
Planned to visit Singapore Science Centre, but due to some minor incidents which had caused delays, we only watched IMAX movie, the Beavers @ Omni Theatre. The movie was educational but it was also dull enough to put us into a sleep.
To get here, alight at Jurong East station on the East-West line, and transfer to bus no. 335.
Planetarium. The experiment sets on astronomy brought back the memory of my last visit during graduation trip, back in 2002.
Heading to Promenade station of Circle Line, which provides a 5-minute walk to the ferris wheel, The Singapore Flyer. We thought we could make it there at dusk because we thought the view would be terrific with the sunset, however, delays happened (due to human faults anyway, not blaming the MRT. Oh by the way, the crowd was scary in the late afternoon!).
So we had a brisk tour @ Millenia Walk. Bought some chocolates @ Candy Empire. The candies and chocolates are rare! I mean, you can't find any of them in Malaysia.
Yes, the Singapore Flyer. We did not intend to hitch a ride anyway. S$ 29.50 is a lot of money to pay for a 30-minute ride. Plus, I think the pictures would look better if taken from far, not from the ride itself.
A snapshot of Singapore Flyer: FREE.
My dinner. Kimchi Fried Rice with Egg
0 comments:
Post a Comment