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the-best-singapore · 1 year ago

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Hidden Gems of Singapore: Uncovering Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions

When you think of Singapore, you might envision iconic landmarks like Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, or Sentosa Island. While these popular attractions are undoubtedly worth a visit, Singapore has a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. In this Singapore travel guide, we’ll take you on a journey to uncover some of the city-state’s most enchanting off-the-beaten-path attractions.

1.Haw Par Villa: The Mythical Wonderland

Nestled in the heart of Singapore, Haw Par Villa is a truly unique attraction. Built by the creators of the famous Tiger Balm, this park is a showcase of Chinese mythology and folklore. You’ll find a surreal world filled with colorful sculptures depicting scenes from classic tales like “Journey to the West” and “The Eight Immortals.” It’s a fascinating journey into the world of Chinese legends and a great spot for some quirky Instagram photos.

2. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: A Green Oasis

Escape the bustling city and head to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a hidden oasis for nature enthusiasts. It’s home to one of the city’s highest peaks and a variety of hiking trails suitable for all levels. The lush rainforest and diverse wildlife offer a refreshing change of scenery, and you can even spot Singapore’s native long-tailed macaques during your hike.

3. Changi Chapel and Museum: Remembering WWII

History buffs will appreciate a visit to Changi Chapel and Museum, located in the east of Singapore. This museum pays homage to the prisoners of war who were held captive during World War II. It’s a moving experience that sheds light on Singapore’s wartime history and the resilience of those who lived through it.

4. Kranji Marshes: A Birder’s Paradise

If you’re a bird-watching enthusiast, Kranji Marshes is a hidden gem you don’t want to miss. This wetland reserve is teeming with diverse bird species and offers a serene escape from the urban environment. You can explore the extensive network of boardwalks and spot rare migratory birds while surrounded by the natural beauty of Singapore’s countryside.

5. Gillman Barracks: An Art Enclave

For art aficionados, Gillman Barracks offers a unique cultural experience. This former military barracks has been transformed into an art enclave featuring contemporary art galleries and exhibitions. It’s the perfect place to discover emerging artists and explore the world of modern art in a historic setting.

6. Pulau Ubin: A Step Back in Time

Pulau Ubin is a small island off Singapore’s northeast coast that feels like a world away from the city’s skyscrapers. You can take a bumboat from Changi Point and step back in time to a simpler way of life. The island is home to rustic villages, lush forests, and charming bicycle trails. Rent a bike and explore the island’s serene beaches, old granite quarries, and abundant wildlife.

7. Haji Lane: The Hipster Haven

Nestled in the heart of Kampong Glam, Haji Lane is a narrow alley teeming with vibrant street art, quirky boutiques, and trendy cafes. It’s a haven for those seeking unique fashion finds, vintage treasures, and a relaxed atmosphere. Don’t forget to snap a few photos of the colorful street murals that adorn the buildings, and while you’re in the area, you can also explore the vibrant digital marketing scene in Singapore, with numerous top-notch digital marketing agencies in Singapore to assist businesses in this dynamic city.

8.MacRitchie Treetop Walk: Walk Amongst the Canopy

For an unforgettable adventure, head to MacRitchie Reservoir and experience the Treetop Walk. Suspended 25 meters above the forest floor, this 250-meter-long walkway offers breathtaking views of the lush rainforest. The journey to the treetop walk is an adventure in itself, with well-maintained hiking trails that lead you through the reserve.

9. Pulau Serangoon: The Hidden Island

Also known as Coney Island, Pulau Serangoon is a serene, undeveloped island located off the northeastern coast of Singapore. It’s a haven for nature lovers, with its unspoiled beaches, lush greenery, and a variety of flora and fauna. Explore the island’s picturesque trails and perhaps spot the resident Brahminy kites soaring above.

10. Southern Ridges: A Walk Through Nature

For a scenic escape with a twist, explore the Southern Ridges, a network of lush, interconnected parks and trails. The highlight of this journey is the Henderson Waves Bridge, a striking architectural marvel that provides panoramic views of the surrounding forests & the city skyline. It’s a perfect spot for an evening stroll as the city lights begin to twinkle.

Conclusion

Singapore is a destination with an abundance of hidden gems just waiting to be explored. From the mythical wonderland of Haw Par Villa to the tranquil nature of Pulau Ubin, there’s something for every traveler seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure.

As you plan your journey to uncover these enchanting attractions, remember to visit The Best Singapore. Our platform is your one-stop resource for discovering the finest services and experiences in Singapore. Whether you need an electrician Singapore, are looking for digital marketing agenciesto boost your online presence, or simply want a comprehensive travel guide, we’ve got you covered.

The Best Singapore is committed to helping you make the most of your time in this incredible city-state. So, don’t forget to explore our website and access a wealth of information and recommendations to enhance your Singapore experience. Your journey to uncover the hidden gems of Singapore starts here.

#digitalamarketingagenciesinsingapore #electricansingapore #singaporetravelguide #thebestsingapore

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akosimaren11 · 4 years ago

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TRAVEL BLOG: Admiring the Land of Unexpected Treasures

When I was a kid, I always dreamt of traveling around the world exploring every countries and admiring its wonders. That’s why my happiness was overflowing when my mother surprised me for my 13th birthday. She bought me a ticket together with my grandma to this crazy magical place once nicknamed as the ‘Fine City’, Singapore.

I was very excited that I packed my things a week before our trip; I was very excited that I didn’t even slept properly the night before it. We will spend the next 4 days in Singapore and those were one of the greatest days of my life.

[Day 1] Flawless

When we arrived at the Changi Airport, I couldn’t help to be fascinated with every details and features it has. Once we got out of the plane, the cool and moderate weather of the city hugs me. While we were walking at the aisle of the airport, I couldn’t take my eyes of the signboards featuring the things that the airport can offer. Those include the movie theatre, swimming pool, arcade, the garden, the tallest slide in the world that is located in an airport, and the fitness oasis. Unfortunately, we were in a hurry so didn’t got the chance to explore all of those spots. But at least I got to see the famous butterfly garden where over 40 species of butterfly is located, I remember how I named one of them ‘Mariposa’ because of its wings that is similar to my favorite fairy character at that time. The airport simply an art, with its flawless construction, sculptures, paintings, photo galleries, the music that fits the vibe of the place, and the cool kinetic chandeliers that moves synchronously.

The first day was spent with us spending most of our time resting in the hotel and planning for the next day’s destination and all. We stay at the ‘The Hotel Boss’, the place was very accommodating and neat. We got a nice view from the glass windows which were the Arab street, the lake, the museum and the mosques/churches that surround the place.

[Day 2] Taste of Heavens

In the morning, we decided to explore the place and we found the spa, which my grandmother enjoyed so much, the hidden garden and of course the hotel’s indoor pool. Swimming was not a very good idea at that time because the water was very cold but we still did. The manager told us that there is a free breakfast buffet for the entire guest so after swimming, we went straight into the hotel’s restaurant. I remember how embarrass I was when we walked In. We are still wet, wearing bathrobes with just our swimming suits inside and the slippers that were provided by the hotel. People there are all wearing either their casual attires or office attires. They all looked very formal and classy, though they didn’t seem to be bothered by us. I went in the buffet table and there are loads and loads of mouthwatering foods. There are multicultural foods but I am not very familiar with everything so instead, I got myself three bowls of different cereals, and topped them with a lot of whipped cream flavored strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. There is also a station for DIY sandwiches so I made myself one with a ham, chicken cuts, tomato and mayonnaise. I also drowned myself with sweets; the restaurant was very kind that he let me take home some candies, so I did. I took sour candies, lollipops, sweat candies, gummy candies and many more.

That day, we decided to go to the ‘Bugis Street Market’ where many shops, café, bars, and food stalls are located. I was craving over every food that I see as we were walking down the street. We decided to buy some souvenirs and chocolates for my friends and family. My mom treats us with street foods that are famous in the city like the fish-shaped bread filled with either chocolate, read beans or ice cream and the fresh fruit juices. For lunch, we went to the Landmark City (Restaurant) which is managed by my mama’s boyfriend at that time. The restaurant is offering halal foods from different cuisines across the region. I tried a Hainanese delicacy like the chicken rice that has a tender chicken meat that is boiled, over white rice and a sauce of your choice. I also tried Indian spicy egg omelet which I didn’t like so much because of its strong taste coming from its different ingredients and seasonings, the Arabian shawarma which I loved because of the reach taste of the beef and the sauce together with some vegies, and of course the ‘Milo Dino’. I will never forget that giant beverage because I really enjoyed it the most. It consist of milo shake as the bottom layer, followed by a layer of milo ice cream, milo cookie crumb at the top of it, milo choco powder over it and the milo syrup for its final touch. I will never forget how it tastes like a dream, it was very sweet though. One thing that I noticed in Singapore was there were milo products and advertisements everywhere and it was very cheap, some stores even give milo chocolate drinks for free.

[Day 3] No regrets

Our last day to have a tour around the city. In the morning, we went at a place called ‘Lucky Plaza’ which is nicknamed as the ‘Philippines of Singapore’. We ate our breakfast in a Filipino restaurant and I was surprise by the amount of ‘kababayans’ in there. It feels like home, hearing strangers speak your language in a different country. After eating we just walked around the place and bought some gifts to take home. We also went in the notable places in Singapore like the Marina Bay in which tourist spots like the Manila Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, and Singapore Flyers are located. We rode the bumboat through the Singapore River up to the famous Merlion. And then after that, we went in a station where we rode a cable car which was the first time that I’ve experienced in my life. Almost everything was made from glass so you can have a 360 view of the whole city. We stopped in the station near Resort’s World Singapore where the well-known Universal Studios Singapore is located. The place was indeed great! There are many themes in each side of the area. We rode different rides including The Mummy, Madagascar, Transformers (3D), and Jurassic Park. My mama’s boyfriend bought us a smoked turkey’s leg while waiting in queue which tastes really great! It was my first time to try that too. We got a VIP ticket but it was such a waste for me because we didn’t use much of it. Most of the rides are closed and reconditioned. Our last stop for the day was the water show in Sentosa, they featured the movie ‘Frozen’ that night so I really enjoyed it.

[Day 4] Every Little Thing

Our last day in Singapore was mostly checking out the hotel and spending the day at the airport. It was very comfortable to hang around the lounges with free snacks and even buffet and enjoying every little thing that the airport can offer.

Our overall trip in Singapore was very memorable. I can say that it is a perfect place for those people who love arts, cool architectures, multicultural cuisine, and those who like to spend cheap. I will definitely go back if given a chance. Lastly, I recommend bringing extra batteries for your cameras, and charge your phone full. There are many available charging spots in Singapore but you won’t like to spend your time waiting for your device than just walking around and enjoying the place’ wonders.

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lasagnachronicles · 5 years ago

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50 ZINES

collection of cool zines i found

1 - Book Your Own Fuckin’ Life 3

by Maximum RocknRoll + Rocco Publishing 1994

a diy resource guide into booking your life like a musician. laid out like a phonebook pretty neat

2 - bOING bOING Issue 02

by Mark Frauenfelder and Carla Sinclair 1988

influence in the development of the cyberpunk subculture. It reached a maximum circulation of 17,500 copies

themes include technology, futurism, science fiction, gadgets, intellectual property, Disney and left-wing politics

3 - Nightly Walk

by Joseph Park 2018

about inspiration and creation

12 x 16.1 cm, 28pages / 3-color Riso Print, limited edition of 333

4 - incompleteness of the moment

by Olya Andrushchenko 2019

consists of my personal photos, mostly random photos of places I've been to during my summer vacation in my hometown

5 - Anathema

by Hector Kimura 2015

inspired by philosophical concepts and their creators

Launched by Olho Vivo at the Feira Plana + risography at Meli-Melo Press

6 - All The Pieces Fit Together

by Kristina Alijošiūtė 2018

consisting of paper collages and their visual explanations, revealing details usually left unnoticed inside the final composition

Risograph print in crimson, flat gold & black by Drucken3000 Risografie, Berlin

7 - Round Hours

by Yeji Yun 2018

printed by Knust Press, Extrapool in Netherlands

just about some cats

8 - Pale Blue Dot

by Meli-Melo Press, São Paulo 2019

Blue Dot is a photograph of the Earth taken on February 14, 1990, by the Voyager 1 spacecraft

9 - Zine of Mouse

by Bobby Bao 2020

exactly what you think it would be

10 - Rain Drops & Broken Hearts

by Leanna Perry 2018

Complex illustrated patterns weave in and out of stark black and white supergraphics

Nostalgia for early 2000’s Myspace emo graphics bleeds out of heavily adorned diamonds, butterflies, razorblades and traditional black metal lettering

11 - Flash Zine

by Jake Foreman 2017

Rubber band bound Risograph prints

200x280mm 28 pages 100gsm Kaskad Curlew Cream paper

Limited edition of 50. Signed and numbered

12 - Tohoku Zine Travelogue

by Ryan Len

made for The Workbench

documents topics and travels of interest, with the inaugural issue about Ryan's life changing trip to Tohoku, an area badly hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami

features a french fold binding, allowing readers to peek between the pages and beneath the surface, uncovering his thoughts

13 - Countries and Cities #02

by Paul Katterl

made for Sketchbox

a series of zines displaying pictures from foreign places

all photographs shot in 35mm film

14 - GON Comic Zine

by Kosco Kosco 2018

15 - OPIO Zine Second Edition

by a collection of artists 2019

printed magazine about latin american art and design

16 - DISC GOLF IS NOT GOLF

by Galya Dautova 2018

one page zine about differences between disc golf and golf

17 - Overprint Zine

by Anna Linder 2015

Self-initiated project Since I learned the screenprinting technique, I have been very fascinated by the result you get from reusing the same paper for test prints, with a totally random combination of images layered on each other.

cut down to a4 and created handbound zines

18 - The Darknet Zine

by Kasia Wieteska 2017

made for Be Polska

19 - Sudario

by Atto 2014

Design and Risograph-print of Sudario. A photographic fanzine curated by The View From Lucania.

20 - GODVERDOMME

by Marie Schelkens 2017

zine about cursing. 'Godverdomme' means 'God damn it'

It contains some articles and stories about cursing, swear words in different languages, little games and puzzles and a poster at the end

booklet is completely transparant so the text is not readable and you would be swearing because of it

there is an orange paper that you can put behind every page, if you would want to read it

21 - WARSZAWA - STUTTGART ZINE

by Kamila Staniszewska

collaborative zine created during 3-days workshop between Klasse Thomas and Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw

22 - A NEW ZINE ABOUT RICARD

by Bobby Bao 2020

23 - BOYS ZINE

by Kris Andrew Small 2020

24 - meiauns zine

by Pianofuzz Design Studio 2015

collaborative zine with the professionals who were part of the team

proposal of this work was to make a relation of the space / individual / studio, seeking to answer the question of the exchange between the human (singular) and the studio (collective)

25 - Ruins.

by Once Were Pop 2018

describes an open-minded surreal walk between temples,

columns and all the relics of the Roman Empire

collection of 10 pieces

digitally printed with an old HP 5200 Laserjet

26 - Bauhaus Zine

by Ellie Liew 2019

a zine dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus

27 - American Dream

by Harry Diaz 2014

self published zine that dives into my perception of what it is to pursue the American Dream

24 pages, printed on a risograph with purple soy based ink

28 - Undressing

by Tina Siuda

using silkscreen to print all the elements, including the color of the cover

there are only 30 copies

29 - Nightnight

by Hyunjung Huh 2018

a one page zine

30 - Fears & Loathing

by Ren 2015

5 color Risograph zine printed by Victory Press

explores personal fears and anxieties

31 - Filth.

by Erin Rimmer 2015

about sexual objectification of women in media

32 - Y2K Survival Guide

by Jackson Green 1999

a guide to help people navigate the chaos that was surely to befall us as soon as January 1, 2000

made entirely by hand, from scraps of articles relating to Japanese reactor meltdowns, NASA documents, as well as period-correct tabloid newspapers

33 - chaos vs order

by Dennis Zorn and Jonas Mollenbeck 2016

apart of the 3h zine project - creating a zine in just 3 hours

looking at a new way of designing without restriction

34 - Lithography Zine

by Karolina Krol 2017

35 - RetroGAY

Pedro Nekoi 2019

36 - RedBlue

by Boynova Maria 2019

37 - Deconstruction in history of art as a tool.

by Vasilisa Aristarkhova 2019

contains typographical experiments' catalogue, quotes about deconstruction and self-reflection on the topic

38 - Boat Man

by Aysha Jumari 2019

illustrated fictional narrative, told in an 8-page zine, about the fate of a bumboat operator from the sleepy, coastal district of Changi in Singapore

39 - Shifting Self & Self Shifters

by Owi Liunic 2019

40 - Dog Zine

by Susannah Garden and WES 2018

A5, 26 page zine printed on a risograph with 2 colors

donated 20% to local dog shelters

41 - Disorder Zine

by Daniela Efe 2019

42 - Paper Empty

by rengally 2019

43 - Photo Zine 01

by Nabila Paramita 2019

44 - Snakeskin Zine

by Eugenio Cara 2019

45 - Rally 2U

by Annu Kilpelainen 2019

published by Tan&Loose

24 pages, 4 color risograph

46 - el futuro

by Sartorio Pedro 2019

20 page fanzine printed on inkjet

47 - Part Shoes

by Hannah Ferguson 2020

a short fold out zine

printed on letterpress

48 - Question Zine

by Agata Chudzik 2020

49 - Sun Valley

by Justin Uy 2020

inspired by Japanese Street Fashion

50 - Wired

by Tasha Campbell 2014

hand stitched typography zine on how technology effects society

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kazlifeadventures · 6 years ago

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Red dot ...tiger city, sing on Singapore!

There's nothing worse than arriving in a new city only to be hit by some sort of tummy bug! In fairness it was brewing since London. The day I was due to leave the hotel guy was so lovely to me as i had been ill all morning - made me coffee, got me water and a croissant and just let me sit and (hopefully) settle. I actually thought it was a hangover after my catch up with Gabi thr night before...but obviously no, here I am in beautiful Singapore, stuck in my room.😖

My first impression as I came in on the airport transfer bus (bargain!) was what a pretty and green city. It struck me that even the traffic guardrails that line the freeway are covered in very neatly trimmed and hedged bougainvillea. It reminds me alot of Darwin mixed with Dubai, relaxed multicultural city (Darwin) but awesome architecture (Dubai - but not as OTT, a much nicer building landscape). For the amount of people who live here, there is surprisingly little traffic. Until I learnt that the government has limited car ownership with a licencing system that requires you to have a permit before you can own a car, this system can see the cost of the permit near to 50000 USD before you've even stepped into a car showroom! Instead the government invests heavily in public transport. I'd have to say their buses and trains are spot on - very easy to use and cheap!

Once I started feeling a bit better I caught up with Eve and Mary the sisters I'd met on the German Christmas lights tour that I'd done oh so long ago now! The food in Singapore is amazing, with such an array if choices. Due to my persistent tummy bug I was unfortunately limited to plain food no chilli crab for me! I was gutted as it is my favourite, and it would have been awesome to eat it in the place it originated from. Still great to see the girls, and get some tips on what to see and do from locals.

Lack of energy saw me front up for the hop on off bus. Not the cheapest option, but in my present state, the easiest. It was a good way of orienting myself with the city. One thing I hadn't known was that Singapore had been 'reclaiming' land from the ocean and as such had 'grown' itself over the years by a whopping 25 %, importing sand and building on it.

The Worlds largest fountain is located poking up out of the ground, in the middle of a traffic roundabout at the Suntec convention centre. An interesting thing to note is the water flows inward. This apparently signifies wealth - eg money flowing into ones palm. It was very pretty all done up for Spring and Chinese New Year.. did I mention I'd somehow worked it to be here for lunar new year, good bye year of the dog and hello year of the pig! Gong xi fa cai!

I got up to the 56/57th floor of the MBS (Marina Bay Sands) building. A huge landmark that dominates the skyline of the city. As the worlds most expensive casino/hotel/resort development, (8 billion Singapore dollars building and land), with the largest rooftop and infinity pool area. It was designed to resemble decks of cards, and some say integrates many Fung Shui elements in its design. The views from the skydeck are amazing, and I overcame the butt tingles to get to all the view points to take it all in on a beautiful sunny day. Visiting the bar would have been fun, but my stomach bug says 'no'. I chose to do the skywalk over the flyer purely because it got me higher than the giant wheel..

I then headed into the gardens by the bay, to give the treetop walk a go, cause you know I hadn't had enough of that butt tingling sensation! Lol. It was beautiful. So nice to walk above the ground through the magical tree structures across a series of suspension bridges. The gardens were spectacular and the area so well thought out. I found my spirit animal (the dragonfly) sitting in the enormous lake under its namesake, the dragonfly bridge..

I didn't make it to the botanic gardens, with its orchid house, but I guess that leaves something to do on my next visit! I did however jump on a bumboat for a cruise along the Singapore river, viewing the city from the water always wins! It was awesome to learn how much work went into cleaning up and rehabilitating the river. It is now more of a lake after the city dammed the sea wall, and is also the city's water reservoir!

Shopping and eating seem to be the major past times in this city. Lucky I was staying on Orchard Rd, the shopping precinct, giving me perfect opportunity to do some window shopping. I also got to go to some local supermarkets, something I love to do when travelling, as they can be so different to what I'm used to, and an education in themselves! Was not disappointed by the Japanese Iseton supermarket 😀.

I've learnt - if you fly Singapore airlines keep your boarding pass!! It gets you discounts for things. There are some weird laws here - eg you can be in trouble if you don't flush a toilet.😆. and if you're a smoker, there are designated smoking areas in areas of the city (Orchard rd is one), that are tiny yellow painted rectangles. Made me laugh to see all the people crammed into the tiny space just to have a ciggie!

Bye Singapore, I will Chope! - (save the table by leaving a pack tissues/umbrella on it), I'm coming back for some chilli crab and cocktails!

Will post more photos soon!

Off to Sydney today, for a couple nights, then back to Brisbane... then who knows - still got time, and there's more I want to do! Stay tuned!!

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shots-n-scribbles · 8 years ago

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Changi Village - two rows of old single storey wooden shop houses with zinc roofs lining the main road, a bus terminus, street market and bumboat jetty. The shops catered to the servicemen and families from the nearby airbase - tailors, newsagents, antique shops, restaurants.... I especially remember a second-hand bookshop where we purchased a large number of Peanuts paperbacks, and a newsagent from which we bought comics and magazines. We made a habit of buying Valiant and Shoot on a weekly basis, and I started collecting American comics with my first copy of DC's "Phantom Stranger" from there. Our bicycles were purchased from from the very friendly man who ran the village's only bicycle shop. These bicycles led to wonderful outings of exploration, and we had endless fun dismantling, cleaning and customizing them. Across the road from the newsagent was the A1 bakery, from which we bought raisin buns and apple pie. When Changi Village was torn down to make way for blocks of HDB flats, the bakery moved to Chai Chee estate and we lost touch with them. There was a Roti Prata shop next to the bakery, and I found a serviceman's photo of it while browsing the web for old pictures of the village.

Behind that row of shophouses, along a small road leading to the jetty and a footpath bridge that spanned Sungei (river) Changi, were market stall holders, with pushcarts or canvas sheets on which they placed their wares. During the weekends when we first visited the Changi house to clean it up before moving in, we bought lunch from the market, and I especially remember a very tasty sugar cane juice that came with it.

Part of the main road nearer the end of the village was used as a bus terminus, and it was fascinating to watch the bus drivers expertly reverse their large and long vehicles into what seemed like narrow spaces in comparison. The buses that went past our home in Toh Crescent (#1 and #2) ended and began their journeys here. Bus #3, which travelled along the beach via Nicoll Drive and Tanah Merah Besar road, also ended its journey here.

#madewithpaper / fiftythree.com

#paperbyfiftythree #madewithpaper #fiftythree

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la-thailande-et-l-asie · 5 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pulau Ubin est une île située au nord-est de la principale île de Singapour. L’occasion de remonter le temps puisque Pulau Ubin représente vraiment la dernière zone de Singapour restant au plus près de ce qu’était ce petit pays péninsulaire, il y a 60 ans, avant que ce dernier ne prenne son élan vers la route de la modernité.

C’est-à-dire un pays composé majoritairement de jungle tropicale, de villages avec maisons traditionnelles chinoises qu’on nomme Kampong (même si différentes des Kampong malaisiennes).

Pulau Ubin est particulièrement adaptée pour une balade à vélo puisque celle-ci comporte plusieurs pistes cyclables, mais aussi des sentiers pédestres, sillonnant dans la jungle, parsemée de petits lacs formés par les restes des carrières de granits qui étaient exploités sur l’île.

Après vous avoir emmené au sud de Singapour dans les îles St John et Kusu, je continue donc mon périple dans les îles autour de Pulau Ujong, l’île principale composant la cité-État de Singapour. L’occasion encore une fois de se mettre au vert et d’illustrer que Singapour ne résume pas ni à une jungle urbaine ni qu’à ces seuls jardins comme Gardens by the Bay, aussi populaire soient-ils.

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Petit tour à vélo sur Pulau Ubin

Je faisais la transition entre la Marina, d’où je venais, après mon tour sur les îles St John et Kusu, et arrivais au quai de Changi pour Pulau Ubin alors que l’après-midi est déjà bien entamé.

Pas le choix, faut faire avec ! La différence sur le transport entre cette île et celle de la matinée est flagrante. Ici, on emprunte un bateau local appelé bumboat, tout en bois et d’une capacité dépassant à peine les 10 personnes.

En arrivant sur l’île, je suis un peu inquiet niveau météo car j’aperçois au loin ce gros nuage noir menaçant, mais qu’à cela ne tienne, j’y suis j’y reste et me voilà à louer un vélo pour partir à la découverte de l’île.

L’extérieur de l’accès au quai Changi Ferry Point.

Les quelques passagers se rendant à Pulau Ubin en même temps que moi.

À l’arrivée sur l’île.

Un rare bout de ciel bleu auquel j’aurais droit sur Pulau Ubin.

Des fermes à poissons flottent dans la zone.

Un aperçu du village principal de Pulau Ubin.

Une carte de l’île affiché publiquement à côté du village.

Difficile de se croire à Singapour.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” message_box_color=”orange” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-bicycle”]Pour un VTT de base, comptez 7 $S la journée. Les horaires d’ouvertures des loueurs étant généralement 9h-18h en semaine et 8h-18h les week-ends et jours fériés.

Il faut en revanche ramener le vélo un peu avant de toute façon (on m’avait dit de revenir pour 17h30). Il y a l’embarras du choix puisque pratiquement toutes les maisons du village à côté du quai louent des vélos (VTT, tandem, vélos pour enfants etc.)[/vc_message][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]En prenant le vélo, on me brief vite fait sur ce qu’il y a à voir et on me file une carte pour me repérer. De toute façon, vu le temps qu’il me reste, je vais surtout me concentrer sur une zone de l’île, en l’occurrence la partie Sud-est, vers laquelle je suis arrivé.

Et c’est vers la zone indiquée “Beach n’ mangrove” de ma carte que je me dirigeais en premier.

La carte de Pulau UBin qu’on me refilait au loueur de vélo.

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Sensory Trail

Comme son nom le suggère, ce sentier se veut un parcours “sensoriel”. Bon perso, je n’ai pas particulièrement ressenti d’odeur ou d’autres sens particulièrement mis en avant autre que ma vue, mais c’est une bonne introduction sur la nature sauvage de l’île. Contrairement �� ce qu’on pourrait croire, les poules qu’on voit là sont normalement des poules sauvages, qui ont la particularité de pouvoir voler.

C’est une promenade facile qui peut se faire à pied si vous avez le temps et prend environ 1 heure à compléter. Cela vous mènera à travers la plantation du village de Pulau Ubin, où sont plantés des arbres fruitiers (papaye, banane, ramboutan, fruit à pain, etc.).

Pour ma part, je ne m’attardais pas trop là et poursuivais vers le bord de mer. Alors que je passe ces cocotiers et cette jungle tropicale, j’ai encore du mal à réaliser qu’on est bien à Singapour.

Les cocotiers de Pulau Ubin.

Un singe croisé là.

Après quelques minutes seulement, j’arrive vers un petit bout de plage ou quelques vélos stationnaient déjà. La marée est haute, donc difficile d’imaginer une “plage” en tant que tel, mais j’ai cru comprendre que c’est un spot pour pique-niquer au bord de l’eau.

Le temps de faire 2-3 photos et j’enfourchais de nouveau mon vélo déglingué, en pensant faire une petite boucle dans la zone, je commençais à longer le même chemin en suivant le bord de l’eau, tout comme un autre vélo juste devant moi. Mais en commençant à le voir descendre, prendre le vélo et passer par-dessus un tronc d’arbre, puis un groupe de rochers et galérer à poursuivre sans pouvoir monter sur le vélo, j’ai vite fait demi-tour pour aller voir une autre zone.

Teck Seng’s Place

Je revenais donc vers le chemin principal puis sur la route goudronnée. Bordant le Sensory Trail, vous croiserez là un joli étang rempli de fleurs de lotus au bord duquel je prenais le temps de faire quelques photos, là encore.

Mon objectif d’alors est de rejoindre la maison n°1, qui fait simplement référence au numéro de son adresse postale. Se faisant, je passais devant quelques maisons locales, faites en bois et qui sont censés représenter le style Kampong.

Je passais d’ailleurs sans m’en rendre compte devant l’une d’elle, la maison 363B, aussi appelé Teck Seng’s Place. Cette dernière se trouve sur le côté gauche de la route (en se rendant vers Chek Jawa), en hauteur par rapport à celle-ci.

Bassin aux fleurs de lotus en face de la maison.

Elle appartenait à M. Chew Teck Seng, un commerçant local qui y habita de 1970 à 2005, date à laquelle ce dernier s’est relogé sur Pulau Ujong (l’île principale). La maison a depuis été conservée et rénovée en tant que maison modèle de kampong chinois en gardant l’architecture d’origine pour conserver son charme rustique.

Elle sert maintenant de “musée” immersif qui retrace la vie de Pulau Ubin dans les années 1970. À savoir qu’à l’époque, l’île est exploitée pour ses mines de granit, le nom même de l’île “Pulau Ubin” signifiant l’île de granit !

La famille Chew dirigeait ce magasin d’approvisionnement qui fournissait les ouvriers situés autour des diverses carrières situées autour de Pulau Ubin. La maison est uniquement ouverte les 2e et 4e week-ends du mois et les jours fériés de 10h00 à 14h00.

Autre maison croisé sur l’île.

House n°1

C’est en arrivant vers Chek Jawa, la zone humide de l’île que vous trouverez la maison n°1, une maison de style Tudor construite dans les années 1930, qui fait aujourd’hui office de centre d’accueil des visiteurs. La maison, bordant la mer, a été restaurée avec soin.

En arrivant au centre d’accueil (House n°1) de Chek Jawa.

L’intérieur de la maison et sa cheminée.

L’une des caractéristiques unique de la maison est sa cheminée d’origine, qui est probablement la seule de Singapour (pour rappel, on est pratiquement à hauteur de l’équateur, autant dire qu’un foyer de cheminée, c’est vraiment folklore sous cette latitude !).

Le rez-de-chaussée de la maison du centre d’accueil présente des panneaux d’information illustrant l’histoire et les caractéristiques du patrimoine naturel de Chek Jawa. En contrebas de la maison, je rejoignais la jetée sur la mer, alors que le ciel se fait toujours plus menaçant (j’aperçois d’ailleurs de la pluie tombant au loin).

D’ici, on a une belle vue sur la maison et le bord marécageux de cette partie de l’île.

Chek Jawa

J’entre alors à Chek Jawa, où je serais accueilli par un cochon sauvage vaquant là à ces occupations (c’est-à-dire chercher à manger pour résumer), ce qui est assez commun sur cette partie de l’île, où la faune locale est particulièrement visible.

Pour info, Chek Jawa ne se visite qu’à pied, j’avais donc laissé le vélo sur le parking approprié à côté du centre d’accueil.

La promenade en bois de Chek Jawa.

La tour Jejawi au milieu de la forêt de Check Jawa.

Chek Jawa est une zone marécageuse composée de 7 écosystèmes interdépendants comprenant notamment une forêt côtière, de la mangrove et différents type de rivages. Chacun des écosystèmes apporte son lot de plantes rares, d’oiseaux locaux et migrateurs.

Pour avoir une vue dominant la forêt, rien de mieux que la tour d’observation (Jejawi Tower), vers laquelle je me dirigeais en premier avant que le ciel ne me tombe sur la tête. C’est le seul endroit où je croisais d’ailleurs du monde puisqu’une classe en sortie en revenait et quittait la promenade côtière le long de laquelle se trouve la tour (nommée Mangrove and Coastal Loops).

Vu l’heure tardive, je ne m’attardais malheureusement pas trop, mais la balade complète en journée peut être vraiment sympa pour y observer la faune locale (on peut y voir quelques oiseaux exotiques comme des calaos pie, et, en plus des cochons sauvages, des singes, varans etc).

La vue depuis la tour.

Que du vert. Dommage que le ciel était aussi chargé.

Pekan Quarry

En guise de dernière petite visite express avant de ramener le vélo et rentrer en centre-ville, j’allais jeter un œil à l’une des anciennes carrières de l’île. Ces dernières sont aujourd’hui toutes remplies d’eau et forment autant de lacs artificiels qui sont un refuge pour les oiseaux comme les hérons.

Je me rendais à Pekan Quarry, car c’est la plus proche du village où se trouve le quai par lequel j’arrivais.

Le lac de l’ancienne carrière de Pekan.

Autres visites sur l’île

En poursuivant plus vers l’ouest de Pulau Ubin, vous pourrez visiter quelques autres petites attractions locales. À commencer par le “sommet” de l’île, Bukit Puaka, qui culmine à 74 m. Ce dernier domine un autre lac.

À côté, se trouve un petit temple chinois, Wei Tuo Fa Gong Temple. En vous dirigeant vers le Ketam Mountain Bike Park, un parc de 45 hectares récemment aménagé (en 2008) qui comprend 10 km de pistes de vélo de montagne, vous passerez devant le sanctuaire dit “de la fille allemande” (German Girl Shrine).

Le sanctuaire de “la fille allemande”. Crédit photo : Kars Alfrink (photo flickr sous license commons creative 2.0)

Pour résumer l’histoire de ce sanctuaire, cela remonte à la Première Guerre mondiale. Il y avait alors sur Pulau Ubin un terrain sur lequel s’était implanté une famille allemande qui possédait une plantation de café. Si les propriétaires sont identifiés comme étant Daniel Brandt et Hermann Muhlingan, l’identité de leur fille est restée inconnue.

Lorsque la guerre a éclaté, l’armée britannique a rassemblé le propriétaire de la plantation allemande et sa famille. Sa fille, effrayée (âgée d’environ 18 ans à l’époque), s’est enfuie dans les bois. Le reste de sa famille a été envoyé dans un centre de détention à Singapour. Quelques jours plus tard, le corps de la jeune fille a été retrouvé sans vie par les ouvriers de la plantation.

Si au début, les ouvriers ont simplement recouvert son corps avec du sable et lui offrait des fleurs et de l’encens à chaque passage devant, un groupe de travailleurs chinois sur l’île a finit par transporter sa dépouille jusqu’au sommet de la carrière et l’a enterrée comme il se doit.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]

Pulau Ubin, un coin préservé, mais jusqu’à quand…

Pour résumer mes impressions, Pulau Ubin est particulièrement atypique, j’aime beaucoup cette impression d’être complètement ailleurs, tout en étant bien à Singapour.

C’est une île parfaite pour se relaxer le temps d’une journée et passer du temps entouré d’une nature encore préservée. Il faut noter que Pulau Ubin est le dernier endroit de Singapour comportant une côte rocheuse naturelle.

Toutes les autres îles étant massivement transformées dans le cadre de plan de remblaiement pour gagner du terrain sur la mer. Un projet était d’ailleurs prévu pour Pulau Ubin, pour l’instant mis en suspens tant que ce n’est pas absolument nécessaire d’être agrandi. Mais avec l’expansion de l’urbanisme galopant, Pulau Ubin ne devrait malheureusement pas faire exception et voir son paysage radicalement changer si ces terre-pleins venaient à être aménagés.

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Comment se rendre sur Pulau Ubin

Vous avez un quai dédié au nord de Singapour, non loin de l’aéroport. S’il y a plusieurs quais d’accès sur l’île, c’est normalement le seul qui est tout public. Il existe en effet 2 autres quais au nord de l’île pour accéder au Outward Bound Singapore, des centres pour la jeunesse (sorte de camp pour des activités s’approchant du scoutisme).

Depuis le quai de Changi, comptez 15 à 20 minutes pour vous rendre sur l’île de Pulau Ubin.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” message_box_color=”juicy_pink” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-subway”]Le ferry pour se rendre à Pulau Ubin est au Changi Point Ferry Terminal, près d’une zone appelée Changi Village hôtel, elle-même non loin de l’aéroport international.

Pour m’y rendre, sachant que je venais de la Marina, je prenais la ligne [mkdf_highlight background_color=”#d52d12″ color=”#ffffff”]North South Line[/mkdf_highlight] depuis la station Marina South Pier (NS28). Je changeais à la station suivante Marina Bay MRT Station (NS27) et rejoignais la correspondance avec la ligne [mkdf_highlight background_color=”#035fc6″ color=”#ffffff”]Downtown Line[/mkdf_highlight] à la station Downtown (DT17) jusqu’à la station Tampines East MRT Station (DT33).[/vc_message][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” message_box_color=”purple” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-bus”]De là, je marchais jusqu’à l’arrêt de bus Blk 497D, se trouvant à 500 du MRT le long du boulevard Tampines Avenue 7. De là, je prenais le bus de la ligne 29 jusqu’à l’arrêt “Changi village Hotel”, où se trouve le quai. Un parcours qui me prenait une bonne heure jusque là.[/vc_message][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” message_box_color=”sky” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-ship”]Sur place, j’étais sur le moment un peu confus sur où me rendre car il est pas évident aux premiers abords de savoir où se trouvent les dits bateaux et où payer les tickets… car il n’y a pas d’accueil en tant que tel et personne en particulier pour diriger le personnes…

Mais une fois qu’on m’a orienté (il suffit de descendre les escaliers puis à se rendre sur la gauche). J’embarque alors sur un bumboat, petit bateau local d’une capacité réduite à une douzaine de personne. Ces derniers font la jonction entre Pulau Ujong et la petite île de Pulau Ubin.[/vc_message][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

Tarifs et horaires

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” message_box_color=”chino” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-usd”]Le ticket se paye sur place et coûte 3 $S l’aller.[/vc_message][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” message_box_color=”chino” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-clock-o”]Les départs sont réguliers donc pas d’horaires précis si ce n’est les horaires d’ouverture du quai : de 7h à 19h tous les jours.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Pulau Ubin – une autre facette de Singapour Pulau Ubin est une île située au nord-est de la principale île de Singapour. L'occasion de remonter le temps puisque Pulau Ubin représente vraiment la dernière zone de Singapour restant au plus près de ce qu'était ce petit pays péninsulaire, il y a 60 ans, avant que ce dernier ne prenne son élan vers la route de la modernité.

#île #nature

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abigailtan · 6 years ago

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Ubin Hike

Okay... So. I haven’t been back to Ubin for the last 10 months, and the last time I was there, it was for Red Cross first aid cover.

Chantal and I agreed to meet at 6am, and we were both equally surprised that we could wake up at the sound of our alarm. Even before the break of dawn; to which Ellie said “It’s way too early to be up.”

6am: met at the train station

Me... overly-ambitious with time management, happily thought that we would take probably 90 minutes give or take to Changi Village Terminal. It took us almost 2 hours.

BREAKFAST!

(image credit: google images)

NASI LEMAK! - Coconut rice with fried chicken wing, deep fried anchovies and peanuts, cucumber and a fried egg. oh and CHILLI!

With a cup of refreshing sugar cane juice.

(image credit: google images)

Walked over to Changi Ferry Terminal after we were done eating and it was about 9am at that point.

They usually wait till there’s 12 people before they depart so there’s really no schedule. It’s $3/person/ride. And it took no longer than 10 or 15 minutes to get there.

(image credit: google images)

Bumboat. We just took whichever boat that was available.

The jetty.

We’re here!!!

Okay, so my plan. The island is roughly 4km end to end. But the area is pretty huge. Our first stop was Chek Jawa, which is located on the East side of the island, so naturally I thought to turn right. But noooooooooo. We had to make a left instead.

Where we reached the main village, that pretty much looks like Singpaore in the Fifties.

(image credit: google images)

Pretty much similar, minus the human crowd.

We kept walking and we were lucky to have the map of the island with us.

So we walked and we walked and we walked. Until... ...

We reached what seems to be a pond?

And then we saw this little critter.

Seems to be a slug of some kind.

Took photos to my hearts content and left.

Then something happened. Well, it’s more like an encounter than anything else. So Chantal was walking right beside me and she saw this twig on the road so she decided to jump over it. Except that it moved.

Yeah. It moved. She screamed. I screamed. And it froze.

there it is!

At first I thought it was a python. Because if the patterns on it’s back and head.

But dad saw the pictures and he said that its head is pointed, so it’s most likely poisonous. So I’m confused right now.

And we carried on walking.

So Chantal and I were talking about how Singapore is practically a city in every way and unlike the UK there isn’t the countryside. And she said that Ubin is kind of like our countryside. Which is true. It’s away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Nature everywhere and everything simple.

It was so great until we saw a family? of monkeys. Macaques! But I was quite wary because they’re known to grab bags from people and steal their food.

One monkey actually followed us... oh my. I was quite fearful. The only thing going through my mind was rabies immunoglobulin shot and rabies vaccine plus acyclovir prophylaxis. “Just please don’t bite or scratch me”

Thankfully it didn’t after I told it that I had no food on me.

Mud crab? I think.

Haaaaa. Funny conversation between Chantal and I.

Me: LOOK! CRAB!!!!!!!

Chantal: yeahhhh. haven’t we seen a lot of that already?!

Me: did we?!

Chantal: Yeah, tons of crap along the way innit?

Me: not CRAP! CRAB! (and I said it in mandarin)

And we continued walking.

Until...

This undeniably adorable frog that stopped hopping when it sensed us.

Hoppity hop!

“Uh-oh. Two-legged non-hoppity creatures approaching. Do I look like food? Maybe if I stay still it would go away.”

“Just keep still... You’re alright Roger, you’re alright.”

“What’s that black thing its holding? Is it a frog catcher? Oh... may be this one wants to kiss me and we’ll live happily ever after.”

“ribbit”

(image credit: google images)

I forgot to take a picture of this. We were far too excited to have arrived after an hour long hike.

We decided to walk through the mangrove first. And we came upon the tower.

And we finally got to the top!

Just keep climbing, climbing, climbing, climbing.

Here’s an incredibly unflattering picture of me. Okay, I know I look like I’m on a 10-day hike. The waist bag was my first aid kit, just in case.

And down we go!

I have no idea what crab this is.

Wild boar.

This looked like one of the Tudor houses that I saw in Southampton.

So. This is Chek Jawa House no. 1.

(From the NParks website)

Located at the entrance of Chek Jawa, the visitor centre was converted from a Tudor-style house built in the 1930s. Fondly known as House No. 1 (its postal address in Ubin), the building was awarded conservation status by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in December 2003, and was carefully restored.

One of the unique features of the house is its original fireplace, which is probably the only one left in Singapore. The fireplace is no longer in use and is closed off as a family of Pouched Tomb bats currently reside in the chimney of the house. Another rare species of Malayan False Vampire bats can also be found in an old water tower just beside the house. The water tower and the bats were not disturbed, and a new water tank was constructed for use instead. The ground level of the visitor centre houses showcase information panels and interpretive displays that depict the history and beauty of the natural heritage in Chek Jawa.

The view from the back.

Time to walk back!

We took the longer way back so that we could see more and of course, more time to talk.

So we were walking and talking and then I heard rustling... Something was moving.

MONITOR LIZARD

So we took a little over an hour to walk up and about 50 minutes to walk down despite taking the longer route.

We had intended to island hop to Kusu Island, but we missed the boat.

BYE UBIN! Till next time.

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danielliebeck · 6 years ago

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Singapore Day 3

Woke up a bit late, fiddled with some photos and uploaded to Facebook and Instagram. Took the MRT to Orchard road and had a look around there, but my ear and nose were still playing up something shocking, so I felt like absolute crap the whole time. I managed to find Panadol at a chemist in the shopping centre where the MRT station is (I think it was called ION on Orchard or something similar). The weirdest thing about the Panadol was it has English on one side of the box and mandarin or something on the other – that plus I didn’t actually expect to find Panadol outside of Australia! I also found a Boost Juice as well – again, hadn’t expected to see one of those outside of Australia! After I found my way out of the shopping centre, I walked down Orchard Road (which is one of the busiest shopping strips in all of Asia) and my head felt worse the further I walked so I bypassed to the next nearest MRT station and caught the train back to the hostel where I had a sleep for 2 hours.

I woke up and felt heaps better! I don’t know why but I’m not complaining! I decided to go back to Clarke Quay because I went on Monday nothing was open and it was dead quiet. I took the train back to the station (my ear popped on the way to Outram Park and it was amazing to be able to hear properly again) and ended up getting lost trying to get out of the shopping centre there, but I found a Subway and had a real late lunch or early dinner, so it was all good!

Eventually, I found my way out of the centre and back on to Clarke Quay. I walked around to the other side of it and booked myself a Singapore River Cruise ($25SGD) which took me from Clarke Quay all the way down to Marina Bay and back. The bumboat looked fairly new, and I was surprised to find out its actually electric so its ultra-quiet. The tour was also guided (it was a recording played through speakers, but it was still really useful) and it lasted about 40 minutes. It was quite interesting in part of the tour because it shows you a lot of old shops that have been in relatively the same position since Singapore’s founding, but right next to it are the ultra-modern glass and steel skyscrapers! I don’t think it was worth $25 to be honest, but it was definitely worth doing.

After I got back I walked all the way from Clarke Quay down to the Merlion Statue (it’s a half lion half fish/mermaid statue that used to be the symbolic protector of the harbour for about 30 years. Its 8 meters tall and weighs about 70 tonnes according to the River Cruise guide. I sat next to the statue for about half an hour and just relaxed, took some photos across the river and people watched. I got a Cookies and Cream ice cream from the ice cream place just behind the statue (well it’s actually a park, but the shop is almost directly behind the statue). It was $6SGD for a single scoop, but luckily it was pretty good but because its Singapore and was 32degrees it melted just as quick as I could eat it.

I walked all the way around to Marina Bay Sands (from Clarke Quay to MBS is either 3 or 6km (it said on the River Cruise, but I can’t remember if it was 6km there and back or one way).

Marina Bay Sands was an interesting experience (for those of you that don’t know, it’s a hotel resort that has 3 towers that are all 50+ stories tall and they’re all connected across the top by something that looks like a boat – it’s meant to be a throwback to the nautical history of Singapore). It has its own shopping centre (we’re talking Louis Vuitton, Prada, Armani etc etc) and the shopping centre has a river in it that you can go in a gondola on (imagine Venice in Italy) but its inside the shopping centre and a casino catered to foreigners only – apparently if you’re Singaporean you have to pay $100SGD to go in but if you’re a foreigner its free and you get free food and drink.

If you go up the escalators, there’s a garden/walkway that takes you towards Gardens by the Bay but from a higher level. Have to say, the super trees look so much better at night when they’re all lit up – I just wish I had a tripod to take some good photos – might need to go invest in a cheap one for a few days.

After that, I walked back down to the Bayfront MRT station and took the MRT back to where I’m staying. End of day 3!

16.96km walked 22,465 steps (FitBit Blaze)

Photos T-B

Well, they're all the Singapore skyline. The day ones are from the boat on the river cruise, the night ones are from just walking and then there’s the super trees. I wish I had my tripod though.

#singapore #travel #luxury

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