I visited Singapore towards the last quarter of 2014 so yes, this is a long overdue post. Better late than never. My first trip to Singapore was back in 2012 and I promised myself I would return to visit the places I missed and do the things I wasn’t able to. As a general rule, I make it a point to visit the same destination at least twice because let’s face it, once is never enough.
Little India Next to Universal Studios, this is my favorite place in Singapore because it’s such a feast for the eyes. I totally forgot that diwali was just around the corner so I missed it. Little India was bustling more than ever though because of the preparations for diwali.
Marina Bay Home to Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, The Helix, Merlion Park and many other attractions. Marina Bay is full of architectural wonders. The whole area is great during the day but more amazing at night. For people who love lights like me, Marina Bay at night is a must-see.
Chinatown So… I don’t have that much pictures of Chinatown which is weird since that’s where we stayed during our trip. There are a bunch of hawker centers in the area and budget places to stay near the train station exits.For a backpacker like me, this was such a convenient place to stay in Singapore.
HajiLane This area houses local shops and cafes. If you’re planning to visit Haji Lane, visit during late afternoon where the shops and cafes are more alive. Shops here open a little before noon. There are bargain hunts but most of the stuff here are pretty pricey. However, this place is a personal favorite — it is just so quirky and there are too many places and things to shoot even in a small area (just be careful and respectful of shops who don’t want pictures of their merchandise taken – you’d know by the signs inside their shops). Sentosa Amusement park lovers, here we go. This is where you’ll find Resorts World, Universal Studios and many other attractions including the beach. You will have to take a train going to the island and if you prefer, you can take a cable car ride back to the city. The island is divided into many areas catering to different interests — all of which are fun! If it’s your first time here, I suggest riding the luge, segway and trying iFly in Sentosa. iFly is generally indoor skydiving so if you’ve always wanted to try skydiving but you’re afraid of a thousand feet drop, this is a must.
For the kids and kids-at-heart who enjoy theme parks, you have the Universal Studios just waiting for you. My friends and I really enjoyed The Mummy and The Transformers so if you’re pressed for time, I suggest getting in line for these ones first. We actually rode these attractions twice! We found it best to visit Universal Studios on weekdays which are not holidays (we went on a Monday) when there are less people. Less people = shorter lines. Shorter lines = more fun!
The Trick Eye Museum is a fairly new addition to the area. This is an interactive museum filled with paintings and props which don’t look much at first but when you stand at a certain spot to take a picture, it looks like you are actually doing incredible things like levitating. It is an awesome place to get creative and take fun pictures.
Night Safari
I do not enjoy going to the zoo. Any zoo. Why? Well, mostly because all the zoos I have visited are full of animals cooped up in itty bitty cages. BUT the night safari in Singapore is an exception. The trip to this place is worth the long bus ride.
The animals roam around the area. You might even meet some of them along the way. Don’t worry though because you’re safe as long as you don’t do anything stupid and follow the park guidelines.
This is the end of this entry and these are the places we went to on our trip (I failed to mention Bugis, Orchard Road and Clarke Quay — feel free to explore!). There are a lot more places to visit in Singapore and it will take forever to write a post about them all so why don’t you check the map, take the train, walk around, see where the roads will lead you.
*pictures are taken by yours truly, please credit if you’re going to use them