Destination Diary: Singapore

I look at Singapore as a model city-state, because of its consciousness in preserving its land and resources, integrating nature as a garden-city against its highly urban setting. Safety, fairness and convenience are the themes that regulations bring to all of its people. One needs to know the city very well to determine the balance between save and splurge, luxury versus being content with the common choices there are. Plus, it may be a bit pricey to do everything at once in SG, but we keep talking about going back and doing what we missed.

For someone who has a long weekend and can endure a four-hour midnight flight to SG, here’s what you can do in metropolitan Singapura:

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a popular complex for both young and old to explore and learn about various species of plants. My favorite spots are easily the cacti and succulents. Obviously, my mother’s favorites are the orchid displays. The waterfalls inside the Cloud Forest is refreshing too. The complex is divided into two: The Cloud Forest features a waterfall with many jungle plants, rainforest species and a stalagtite display. The Flower Dome is also a very beautiful place to experience different flower species cleverly arranged inside the largest indoor garden. For this particular Sunday, there were so many visitors, must also be because of the long weekend. 

The waterfalls inside Cloud Forest and display of Lego structures by the pond

Venus Flytraps growing in a terrarium

The terrarium collection in the Cloud Forest

Marina Bay Sands from the Cloud Forest canopy walk 

The stalactite display in the Cloud Forest 

Inside the Flower Dome with succulent displays 

Collection of  colorful tin canisters in the Flower Dome

Garden display in the Flower Dome

 Marina Bay Sands Roof Deck 56^th Floor

Yes, that’s the 56th Floor of the most luxurious hotel and mall in SG. For an entrance fee, we were able to go to the highest viewing deck and café and see the city from a tall vantage point. I also got to see a glimpse of the seaport that has interested me. Here in the deck, I realized that although we share the same time zone with SG, the sun at 5:00 PM is like 3:00 PM heat, and that it sets late in the evening and rises late in the morning. Unlike in the Philippines, by the time 8:00 AM rolls in, the sun is up already.

View from Marina Bay Sands 56th Floor Deck and Cafe and Seaport

Sentosa Island + Universal Studios

No visit to Singapore is complete without going to Sentosa and Universal Studios. Sentosa is an island destination filled with amusement parks and resorts, it’s really a family getaway. We took the cable car from Faber Peak just across Vivo City to Sentosa and from the Merlion Station in Sentosa, took the short tram ride to Universal Studios.

Universal Studios features a lot of studio sets, from Jurassic World, to Waterworld, Transformers, Far Far Away and Madagascar. My personal favorite is The Mummy and the studio set where we visited offered a really cool experience of seeing how it all works behind the cameras. Steven Spielberg’s walk-in Lights, Camera, Action is a must-visit. There are a lot of shows to enjoy, but queuing up for the rides can take a up a lot of time, not to mention that some faster rides don’t allow people with high cholesterol and heart disease to ride them, so it’s better to turn around while it’s still early. I regret not getting the express pass for all rides and shows to beat the queues. Lesson learned for another day then. 

The round trip cable car to Sentosa Island from Faber Peak

Universal Studios Gate, Sentosa Island

The Mummy set in Universal Studios

Far Far Away, Universal Studios, Sentosa Island

Waterworld Show, Universal Studios, Sentosa Island

The Popcorn Truck, Universal Studios 

Palawan Beach, Sentosa Island

Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park was my idea, so it took us a couple of bus rides from the condo where we were staying to take the buses to Jurong District.

Lorry Loft, Jurong Bird Park

It’s a good attraction for both young and old, and the one-way tram ride is enough to let you encircle the whole park. Different stops also mean different shows. Lorry Loft allows you to feed lorries so that you can get up close and personal with them while you feed them. Waterfall Aviary lets you experience different birds that dwell near bodies of waters, from waterfalls to ponds. There’s also the Pelican Show nearby. The High Flyers show is in the amphitheater and it’s all about colorful macaws, with various talents. Of course, the show isn’t complete with games and a show of dancing flamingoes because …. Piiiiiiiiink…

Pelican Cove, Jurong Bird Park

Flamingo Pool, Jurong Bird Park

Lastly, there’s a show of predator birds, from hawks, eagles and (gulp) vultures. Even one white vulture named Kevin has a story of his own, flying from the Himalayas in search of food, he arrived in downtown Singapore so exhausted. Staff from the Bird Park took him in and helped to rehabilitate him back to health. 

Botanical Gardens, Singapore

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are for you if you love growing orchids and enjoy Old English gardens, and if you have the energy to walk around. Admission is cheap, at only SG$5 per person, but during our visit, it poured so we scurried to the top of the hill. It’s really a relaxing place to walk around in, plus it’s therapeutic with various landscaping all over the place, there are a lot of zen gardens you can find in the sprawling area. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site and great for weekend walks and just recharging with the help of nature. 

The Botanical Gardens Clock Tower 

It said photo spot so......

Chinatown

As anybody knows, Chinatown is the place for food and pasalubong so here’s where one is allowed to splurge. And because mooncake season is up, anybody who’s exposed to Chinese culture know that they can just keep showing up before Autumn Festival in all shapes and sizes, for example we found the piggy shaped and merlion mooncake.

Getting off the crossing to Chinatown, (you know you're in Chinatown because of the lanterns)

I'm curious as to how long these structures have been here and how many generations have passed through

Merlion mooncake

Piggy shaped mooncake

There are endless shops in Chinatown, so many shops, not enough SG$ lol

Chinatown square

Looking back at our quick escape, a week is not enough in Singapore. There are still so many things to do and see. We did agree to ourselves that we can always come back one way or another. In the meantime, here’s an interesting mural to conclude our Singapura trip. Ciao! 

Mural in Chinatown

My Quick Guide to Singapore

You Know You're in Singapore When....