“Indulge in the Uniquely Singapore experience”.
Posted by pat on Oct 12, 2009 in Nuffnang, Travel | 8 comments
I’ve been to Singapore twice. The first time was my graduation gift from my mom. That was May 2006. Being one with itchy feet (I love to travel), naturally, I was very excited – A new place, new culture, something new to experience, new sights to see… and of course, one of my favourite reasons to travel, new cuisine.
I was there for 3 days. I toured the city via the Singapore Airlines Hop-on-hop-off bus one day, Sentosa the next, and on the last day, Jurong Bird Park and the Night Safari. For my city tour, I kept missing the bus at the bus stops so what I did was walk from one stop to the other. Basically, I toured the city on foot! It wasn’t so bad. I think it was even a lot more enjoyable that way. Singapore shouldn’t be toured in a hurry. One must take the time to stop at the little spots to really appreciate each place for what it uniquely offers because every stop had something to offer. None was ever the same.
What you get in Little India is different from what you get from China town. What you find in China town is different from what you’ll discover in Raffles hotel. What you’ll discover in Raffles hotel, you won’t see in (one of my favourites), Clark Quay. Throw in Sentosa, Jurong Bird Park, and the Night Safari and you have a whole medley of experiences to keep you smiling and remember for months… even years (I still remember looking like a dufus as I walked barefoot in a part of Clark Quay just to have that picture amongst the fountains. Or screaming my head off before the G-Max reverse bungee took off)
There is just so much to do and see. Three days was not enough to drink it all in. The sad part of this though was… I toured Singapore, alone.
Singapore is a place to be enjoyed with friends because an experience in Singapore is 100X better when you are in good company. I’d love to visit Singapore with my barkada (Filipino for “group of close friends”) or my three best friends – Joan, April, and Alex.
Luckily this time around, I’m going with an awesome group of people! No, not my barkada or my best friends but really awesome people nonetheless – Nuffies and Nuffnangners at the very first Regional Blog Awards! I’m really excited because aside from meeting the other Nuffies and Nuffnangers from around Asia Pacific, I get to spend a day with them touring Singapore! This time, I’m lonely no more.
I’m so excited, I’m already dreaming up my own itinerary. If I had it my way though, this is what a perfect day in Singapore would be like this:
1) Wake up in Raffles Hotel and have a hearty buffet breakfast. It’s too early for Singapore Slings at the Long Bar but what the heck, if its open, I’ll go have one to start the day
Why Raffles? Not only is it the oldest hotel in Singapore, it probably one of the most expensive! But I would imagine, staying there is a an experience in itself. The old British architecture has a charm different from you usual 5-star hotel. It’s a historical building with a lot of stories to tell. Just living there, even for a few nights, would an experience I dream of having.
2) After breakfast, I’ll go have a nice chill morning. First on the morning agenda would be a ride on the Singapore River. From Raffles, I’ll go over to Boat Quay to meet my ‘friend’. We’ll go for a boat ride. I enjoy boat rides and would like to see Singapore from the river vantage point. I would like to “float along” the city that used to be a fishing village that transformed into an economic giant that never stops expanding. The development that IS Singapore is inspiring.
3) After the boat ride, I want to go over to Little India and shop for a good camera, some sari cloth and Indian stuff. I am a sucker for Indian Bangles and Sari cloth. I have a collection of Bindhi’s that I don’t use because I have yet to find the occasion to do so (I know I’ll get weird looks from Filipinos if I walk around the mall with a Bindhi on my forehead). After having my fill of Sari cloth (ooh, I’ll need to put it down sometime soon!), and buying a Olympus EP-2 (haha) I know my tummy will be growling. It’ll be time for lunch.
4) Because I want to do something unique in this city, and because I totally love Laksa, I’ll head over to Katong laksa to try the much talked about different Laksas! Make it extra spicy please. This girl can handle her chilli! I’ve tried Laksa and I fell inlove with it when I first tired it (that and Hainanese Chicken Rice). I would like to experience for myself this much talked about nook.
5) After lunch, I would want to relax and recharge a bit. The perfect break would be a trip to a SPA! There a lot of SPAs to choose from.. i wouldn’t know which one to try but I’ll definitely go for a full body massage and a body scrub.
6) The rest of the afternoon would be left for sight-seeing and strolling…. and waiting for the evening because there’s a whole different side to Singapore at night.
7) Dinner will be at Clark Quay. I’ll have Chilli Crab and Red Wine by the Singapore River. Of course, this wil be with my ‘friend’. A nice romantic dinner with the Clark Quay lights… then go for a ride on the Singapore Flyer. Now wouldn’t that be the perfect end wouldn’t it? But because the night is young, it doesn’t end there.
I’m a sucker for a good party and awesome house music, but at the same time, I love checking out the local band scence. Where to go!? MOS or Wala Wala?! To party or to rock out. Choices choices…. why do there have to be so many awesome choices…
If I find myself in MOS, it surely going to be an alcohol and bass pumped night with ‘friend’ and other friends that I have in Singapore.
If I find myself in Wala wala, I’ll rock out to the local bands. I’d like to shout to “I am David Sparkle!” I like Electrico but I totally dig “I am David Sparkle”. Probably one of the best shoegaze bands in Asia-Pacific. I was them here in Manila during the A-fest earlier this year. I was blown away and would love to see them again. If they play at Wala Wala, then that’s where I want to be.
I am David Sparkle in Manila
Oh, then maybe MOS would be a “go” after some Indie.
After a night of rocking out and partying hard, before I head back, I gotta grab me a bottle of Tiger Beer.
Then I’ll head back to Raffles and plop down on the expensive hotel bed. It was an awesome day. Too bad its too late for the F1 Night race or Hari Raya. Its also too early for Deepavali! I’d love to see them all.
Indulge in the Uniquely Singapore experience. It’s a experience you’ll be looking back at with a smile and the thought – I want to go back!!!.
Miss patty!! Thank you sooo much for your patience in accommodating us. Makulit ba kami? hihihihi. First time namin sa SG and we're very thankful to Nuffnang.
Heya Miss Krabby Patty i finally found yer blog
I had so much fun @ Cingapura! See u soon!
Makulit? haha. Fun is more like it. It was fun having everyone there. It was tiring, yes, because we Nuffies were on the job it was a good kind of tired. Glad to know you guys had fun!
Nuffnang is thankful that you guys are part of our network! Baka you know people who are not yet Nuffnangers! We would love to have them join in.
LOL @ “Miss Patty.”
I was the one who took that I Am David Sparkle photo at saGuijo right? Paaaaaaaaaaaaat. There’s another A-Fest coming up this March. I read it on MySpace.
Wait. I Am David Sparkle is Post Rock. Shoegaze is diff. I asked one of the guitar instructors here yesterday to differentiate. Shoegaze is “distortion”. And Post Rock is slower, ambient-y? *toink* Nerd attack. Visit me in SG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ooooh, thanks for the music lesson. lol. I’ll visit soon! Ipon pa ng konti!
Yup, you were the one who took it!
Oh yeah? huhu, wala ka dito! Who’ll be my gig buddy?