SG in JPEG

Singapore is a tourist-friendly country. There are a lot of tour packages available online for the busy tourist. However, for budget tourists like me who can do away with a tour guide and prefer a flexible schedule, you can always DIY!

HOW TO GET AROUND SINGAPORE

It's easy to travel around Singapore because most of Singapore is connected via buses and trains. Cabs are also available 24/7 (with an additional fee for night trips). Tourist maps are available in some areas and signs are posted everywhere in English, Hindi and Chinese. There's also a very efficient online map of Singapore: www.gothere.sg which contains not only a map but directions (both for commuters and car drivers) and actual images of the street. This makes it very easy for OC tourists like me to prepare for the entire trip experience, as it gives me an idea of how much money and time I am going to spend to get to and from a certain destination. It also lessens the fear of getting lost (as stated in my previous post) since you already have an idea of how a certain street will look like and which exit to take when you get off the train.

Speaking of trains, their Mass Rail Transit (MRT) has 4 lines (red/green/yellow/purple) and there are more than a hundred routes taken by their public buses. Train and bus stops are scheduled at Singapore, so if you miss the bus/train by a few seconds, you just have to wait for a couple of minutes before the next trip arrives. But wherever you are going, there's a way to get there via bus or train for sure! GM got me an EZLink card which can be used on buses and trains. I wish we have the same system here in the Philippines: efficient card scheme, interconnecting trains, well-maintained stations, scheduled spacious bus/train trips and most of all, disciplined commuters. That would be heaven!

PINOYS IN SINGAPORE

Singapore population is composed of Malays, Chinese and Indians, among others. It's a destination for Filipinos too, as tourists and workers. There are good job opportunities for IT consultants in Singapore, which Filipino job seekers enjoy and take advantage of. Because of this, you won't really feel that much away from home when you're in SG. Hawker centers have stalls that sell Filipino food, Tapa King even! And though the jolly orange bee hasn't flown his way to the lion city yet, there's a similar food stall called Happy-V to fill the space in the lion-city residing pinoy's heart. There's also Lucky Plaza, a unique gem in the middle of the mall-infested Orchard Road, famously known to be the Pinoys' mall. This is where you can find Filipino goods (care for a chocnut?) as well as plenty of remittance centers that cater to the working Pinoy. Best of all, most pinoys agree that Lucky Plaza houses the best money changers in Singapore. It truly is a Pinoys' mall!

SEE/SMELL/TASTE SINGAPORE

Enough of the chitchat, everybody knows the real reason why you are reading this blog, so here it is: the sights, scents and tastes of Singapore in JPEG format. Enjoy!

chinatown temple| snake wine,
the famous hainanese chicken | tian tian hawker stall (maxwell food court)

lei store | a street view of little india

makansutra hawker center | kaillang
chicken wings | ex-aub peeps SG chapter

Marina Bay Sands | Fullerton Hotel
Esplanade | Merlion Park

Frankenstein | Puss in Boots from Shrek
Baby Dino from Jurassic Park | Sci-Fi City entertainer

Alex from Madagascar | Fiona's dad who turned into a frog
T-Rex from Jurassic Park | Po from Kung Fu Panda

Swiss Rosti | Grilled Sea Bass
Spanish Paella | AMC - SG chapter

Prawn Mee | Mee Goreng
Bah Kut Teh | Tiger Beer

Toast Box Vivo City | Soft boiled eggs
Kaya Toast | Kopi

sentosa wavehouse flowrider | skyride
GM's flowrider shot | luge

I was only given a few days to enjoy Singapore and I surely did. I loved this trip not only because of the beautiful sights of SG but mainly because of two F's, namely food and friends. I was able to visit most of my SG-based friends and try most of the native dishes that were on my list. All of these would not have been possible if not for this one guy who made my SG trip so special: the best friend whom I would be willing to travel a lotta miles for:

You made my Singapore experience truly memorable. I can't thank you enough!
POTONG PASIR! =)