"Singapore" a Singapore Travel Page by just_chill

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Day 1 [08 Sep 2006] Chinatown-Raffles-Little India

After 7 hours' flight from Narita, I finally landed on Changi Airport. I had heard so much about this airport, so obviously I was very excited just to see it. However, I must say that I was a bit disappointed not to find my expectations met. Maybe that was because of the off-time of my arrival (01:10 a.m.) during which most of the shops were closed, and most of the foods in the menu (at few restaurants that were open) had disappeared.

The first train to the city center was at around 6 a.m. I was already out of transit hall (I shouldn't have come out). So plastic chairs and few hours to kill. And ya, one restaurant had "nasi lemak"-my first Singaporean food.

The Changi Airport MRT station was amazingly clean and shining with pride. Later I found that all MRT stations were similar. And the ez-link card was just too easy and convenient to use. With first train, I went to Chinese Garden. Unfortunately, it was closed for maintenance. There was no notice put in the Chinese Garden MRT station, but ironically there was one notice just outside the station. Anyway, one can have a good view of the Chinese tower (?) from the station itself.

My next stop was at Chinatown- an interesting place. A hub of people and their religions. A "Chinese" place where Hindu temple and Muslim mosque stand at close proximity. Obviously a good place to eat, but I chose one with Indian food- my fav.

Singapore, a Sanskrit word, combines singha (lion) and pur (place). But I don't know the logic behind merlion- the icon of S'pore. A powerful masuline top with a feminine bottom. But I had to see it and take some pics with it as a proof that I 've been to S'pore! So I got off at Raffles MRT, took a bumboat, little expensive, but worth it. A mosaic of views including Raffles Hotel, Merlion Park, Esplanade, Raffles- the statue, Boat Quay etc.

Hmmm, hungry again! No other place to satisfy my everlasting craving for Indian food, so I headed towards Little India. Crowded, dirty, whatever it may be, but I am familiar with that environment. It felt as if I was in India, literally.

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Pulau Ubin island

Day 3 [10 Sep 2006] Changi Village- Pulau Ubin

[Day 3, not 2, because I spent day 2 in Kuala Lumpur.]

Early morning. One SRT bus took me to Changi Village. So convenient that ez-link card was, it could be used in buses also. No need to worry about fares.

A travel booklet described Changi Village as a sleepish village. But when I reached there, it was well awaken. So many food hawkers. With one heavy breakfast, I looked for the ferry terminal. A bumboat to Pulau Ubin. Pulau Ubin was a significant place, only in the sense that it was different from the mainland S'pore.

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Siloso beach, Sentosa

Day 4 [11 Sept 2006] Sentosa Island

Love it or hate it, but certainly u can't ignore Sentosa Island- an island park. Cable car from HarbourFront is probably the best way to enter. Once u r there, free roaming buses take you to different places of interest. For me it was a beach. Artificial or natural, don't care, but Siloso beach was a perfect place to "cool" me. Day was hot, water was warm. But I cared less.

Sentosa is a park. So it should be taken that way only. Another merlion, a big one. One orchid garden- good for u if u missed the more famous garden in the mainland S'pore. Carlsberg tower to get a panaromic view ( no need if u take the cable car).