-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by dawgbyte » Thu, 08 Jan 2009 6:03 pm
When you reach singapore airport, first thing you do is grab as much maps and fliers as you can. And study the map so you can have some ideas where to go.
For visits, I highly recommend you bring a camera too. If it can be set to manual, set it with shutter-drag (meaning you use flash but shutter is at 1/20s or slower).
Raffles hotel is in city hall area right? Then you can walk (or take a taxi but you will deprive yourself of the experience) towards "funan", that is one of the mall that caters to electronics. On its left is peninsula that caters to photography. Behind it is peninsula too, that caters to guitars. Just in case you are interested. Best time to come at daytime.
Then walk further until you reach the singapore river. Maybe 15min walk.
On your left is called boat quay. Mostly pubs and bars which caters to older crowds but be careful of the "tourist traps" like overpriced seafood restaurants along the river (at least its overpriced for cheapskates like me). Further up is raffles MRT (so you can also take MRT to reach this area). Best time to come at night.
From here, you can walk further up and you will reach esplanade. Here you will find the Singapore merlion, and the esplanade building (shape like durian or the face of an adolescent boy).
On your right is clark quay, where younger crowds (or peter pans like me) go. More colorful and rowdy. Colorful for your camera to snap. You can also take bumboats and ride along the river (but its mostly for tourist). Across the river is a mall (only one) and inside is the clark quay MRT (so you can also take). There are like 10++ bars and restaurants and pubs here. Brewerks (they make their own beer and food is yummy) and beside it is mexican (forgot the name), lunar (chinese bar), arena (bar with live band), pump room (they make their own beer and do try the spicy squid), zirco.. new bar i havent tried, clinic (you sit on the wheelchair and sip from an iv drip), etc etc. Best time to come at night. With all these food, you will be glad you walked a lot.
You can take clark quay MRT and next stop is china town MRT.. if you wanna get the feel of CNY here.. But be prepared to the crowd. Great time to mingle with locals. Best at daytime. Or another stop and its little india.
Or take that MRT and go all the way to Harbourfront MRT. Here you exit at Vivocity. So far the biggest mall. Check out the food court, with the old town motif. And on the 2nd floor cinema side, there is an exit that will lead you to St James. It's an old firestation that is now converted into a group of bars. You pay once and you can get into all of them. Popular is dragonfly, if you want to experience cheena music. Or movida for some latin music. Best at daytime.
*** Sorry. correction. vivocity best at daytime. bars and clubs at night time, of course. If daytime, take the train and go to sentosa (15min) instead.
From vivocity, go to 3rd floor. You can take a small train towards sentosa. I suppose no need to explain sentosa. You can also try to check out cafe del mar for a beach-bar (10min walk so be prepared, but in my humble opinion I think this place is a little over-rated). Stop at the 4th station (i think beach stn but please double check). Best at daytime.
Hmm.. i have to stop bec its 6PM in singapore and i wanna go home. I know its information overload but I do hope it helps.
Ducktour is nice but I feel its too expensive and you don't really get to feel like a local.
Other places you might wanna visit is singapore zoo and bird park (you need 1/2 to 1 day so I do not recommend). You can also try night safari but I also do not recommend because of your short trip and its location means you only do 1 thing for the night (unless you die-die wanna see it). Sommerset Orchard area for serious shopping. Stop at sommerset MRT and walk all the way to orchard, or vice versa. Bugis for some cheap shopping.
