Before my beautiful memory expires, here I list the places in Singapura I’ve visited at least once.
by Ai Macalintal
Universal Studios Singapore
Let’s start with Sentosa, dubbed as “Asia’s favourite playground”. Our side of Asia clearly knows how to have fun with world-famous amusement parks today and in the years to come (Malaysia will open its Legoland in 2012 and China is to open the Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016).
Universal Studios Singapore is Sentosa’s main attraction. Film sets and characters under Universal Studios come alive here: Shrek, Jurassic Park, and The Mummy among others.
My favorite is Lights! Camera! Action! hosted by Steven Spielberg–we entered a sound studio where special effects are real, as if we were on the set itself and we hear the directors giving instructions. Waterworld is like this, but ten times awesome. Imagine the action-packed’ film live. It’s a 20-minute stunt show of gun fires, explosions, high dive, and neck-speed chase. Some jet-ski actions actually splash waves of water to the audience seated at the “Soak Zone”.
Sentosa Boardwalk
The Boardwalk is a canopy-covered way to the “island” of Sentosa. You can either walk or use the travelators (horizontal escalators, so to speak) while looking at Harbour Front (bay) lined with commercial buildings, bars and restaurants. This gateway is garden-themed. When some new friends and I had a stroll here one night under the stars, we sat on a corner, listened to a friend sing, had a nice chat and laugh and a relaxing time together.
Vivo City
Sir Gene’s treat: dinner at an Indonesian restaurant at Vivo City, the mall that holds the gates to Sentosa. Then: where do Filipinos go after a get-together dinner? Starbucks.
Cove, Punggol
How can I not spend many days here. I live here. Surrounded by tall residential buildings are the playground, fitness area and badminton court.
Esplanade
I like going to the Esplanade because of its art galleries, shows and exhibits.
Outside is a long walk to the Merlion overlooking the Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum that looks like a giant lotus flower, the Flyer, the Singapore River, and Theatres by the Bay.
Suntec
and World’s biggest fountain/wishing well
Because I love my friends to the death, I wished for an ever-lasting love for them. After this mission I toured Suntec City. It’s not really a City but a huge building where international conferences and conventions are held. FACT: Conferences and similar events are a huge business here since many international companies are based in Singapore.
Its escalators are not for the weak of heart, I tell you. On the ground level is my favorite Food Republic. Its wall design is shelves of books (look at the photo, they look real!). Light is dim. Local food is served in many stalls. It feels like I’m in a different era.
Makansutra Gluttons Bay
Together with my sister’s flatmates, I had a blast at the Makansutra and felt like a glutton as we feasted over these:
It was my first time to see Esplanade at night. Everything was sparkling by the Bay. Makansutra is brimming with tourists who have a wide variety of choices. Food stalls sit side by side. Barbecue smoke fill the air, adding an exotic effect to the experience while Chinese, Italian, Malay, Indonesian and Filipino dishes make them tables multi-cultural.
Giant Supermarket and Ikea, Tampines
This is weird but I always look forward to grocery days at Giant. It is a giant supermarket and our former flatmates fill up two to three giant carts loaded with food and stuff good for only a couple of weeks. Fascinating are the products which can’t be found in my hometown. My favorite section is Fruits and Vegetables because of interesting names and colors:
Purple Potatoes. China Fragrant Pear. Carrot of Australia. China Navel Oranges. Italy Ambrosia Apples. Vietnam Dragon Fruit. Thailand Honey Mango.
Across the block is Ikea, where (as I mentioned in a previous post, you can horse around). Chilli wings and meat balls at Ikea’s restaurant, by the way, are a must-try. 
East Coast Park
Nothing beats my lakwatcha with my sister’s former flatmates. They’re the kindest and funniest people I’ve ever met. They’ve been here in Singapore for
more than a year, working as professionals, coming from different universities in the Philippines. Their idea of relaxation is divine.
One time, we went to East Coast to see some water sports (cable ski is cool), then rented bikes (SGD7 each) despite gray skies. East Coast has been reported as one of the top places for street photography in SG. The place is beautiful and kicking with all sort of action.
It rained after our lunch feast, but we went on biking from the park to the fishing bay, to the gardens, and along the whole stretch of East Coast–probably my best experience in Singapore.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
My second most wonderful experience is probably the Botanic Gardens
One, because it has beautiful secret corners that unfold before my eyes, and that time there were not so many people around so I felt like I’m alone in a fantasy world of the supernatural. It’s eerie. Like Alice in Wonderland eerie.
Recently I came across an article by Rizal scholar Ambeth Ocampo and he said Philippine national hero Jose Rizal has visited Singapore Botanic Gardens twice. Perhaps the people of the past who have walked the garden’s earth gave it the eerie feeling?
Singapore Art Museum, National Museum, School of the Arts in Bras Basah
photo from TimeOut Singapore
Another place that gives me the creeps sometimes is Singapore Art Museum (SAM) which houses Southeast Asian art. I was happy to see some Filipino paintings there. SAM used to be a school and it has been standing for a century and a half, like the National Museum which has been around since the British colonial period.
Moving on to a modern structure, we have SOTA. School of the Arts. It’s overwhelming, it’s chic, it’s a monumental work of art.
Orchard Road
Whenever I pass by Orchard Road, I never fail to see these:
1. Filipinos lost in the subway
2. Filipinos counting their dollars left
3. Filipinos taking pictures along the road
Tourists must have thought Orchard Road is Singapore because everybody seems to be in Orchard Road especially on weekends. Why not? High end shopping malls and boutiques are located in Orchard and nearby Somerset. There are tiny Merlions near Lucky Plaza, an old mall where many Filipino stores and establishments are located (LBC for instance).
Kinokuniya at Takashimaya
This one is also on Orchard. An entire floor of Takashimaya Mall is Kinokuniya Bookstore, which has a special section for Japanese manga and literature. I was looking for a book on French when I came here for the second time, and found out to my heart’s content, shelves of beautiful French books (note to self: learn to read French now!) while a soothing classical music was on and a French guy was standing near (note to self: you should really learn French).
Otaku House at Iluma
Another interesting store I visited is the Otaku House near Bugis. This is where I bought the Death Note. I wanted to buy a samurai and a costume, but I’m not even a cosplayer, and of course, they’re over the top expensive.
Dhoby Ghaut pole dancing school
& Plaza Singapura
On a more wholesome level, my sister took me to a pole dancing school in Dhoby Ghaut once. In Singapore, people are damn workaholic, but they find time to play because of their work-life balance. I had culture shock at first when I saw scantily clad women romancing the poles, then I decided to like it at the end of the show. I remember it was a happy night because of this:
A platter of Chicken Italian Sausage Pasta at Cafe Cartel, Plaza Singapura.
Singapore Management University
Because of my talent in getting lost, I found myself walking in the campus of SMU one afternoon. From the subway I walked straight (without knowing) to the underground part of their University where I saw benches and college “tambayan” (hangout). I had an uncontrollable longing for college.
And for pasta when I saw Aglio Olio in the cafeteria.
Bugis
Shabu-shabu is one of my favorite food trips in the Philippines with the boyfriend, so when the flatmates thought of dining at a hotpot resto in Bugis called Steamboat, I took 50 dollars from my savings just to experience shabu-shabu, Singapore style. We paid around SGD30 each, same as the price in PH, but it’s a lot better in the Philippines, with this price, because Shabu-Shabu MegaMall for instance has 3x more food variety.
I have to say, though, that the Bugis experience is unforgettable because of the people I went with (plus the challenge of hailing cabs for seven people on the way home was challenging and funny).
McDo, Anson Road
What makes this experience unique, eating at McDonalds, is that the store is in front of Yahoo! Southeast Asia headquarters and other international offices with lots of IT people in it (I still can’t understand why I have a thing for IT people). I was actually hoping that I sit across Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin who’s in Singapore.
Next reason why it’s unique: it was my first time to see an elderly person at the counter, as perky as the young crew, while taking my order. It was cute. Then as I ate my meal, it was my first time to see a Muslim crew. She was wearing a veil under her McDonald’s cap. Cool.
Etc.
There’s more. I’ve been to the Ministry of Manpower at Clarke Quay, overlooking the boat quays of Singapore River. I’ve roamed Little India when dear friend Raymond stayed in a backpacker’s hostel there.
common lounge, The InnCrowd Backpackers Inn @Little India
Raymond and I have been to the Millenial Walk near Esplanade. I’ve been to almost all the streets of Tanjong Pagar. I’ve reached and explored Chinatown on my way to Neil Road.
I’ve hang out at the Raffles Place, Marina Square (thanks to Tita Helen for the KFC treat!), Ion Orchard, Pan Pacific Hotel, Stereo Lounge in Pan Pacific, Sengkang swimming pools, malls in Clementi, NEX mall at Serangoon, some condominium at Woodlands, Yio Chu Kang, Ang Mo Kio (thanks to my boyfriend’s friends Peng and Mark for the Wendys treat!), Yishun (thanks to Svet and Celes for the ice cream treat!). I’ve seen the great temples (Buddhist and Muslim) at MacPherson and Lavender St.
All these made possible because I’ve learnt my way around the MRT and LRTS, the purple line, circle line, green line, red line, and the buses.
But, yes, I still get lost.
***
This was written in the light of my recent interrogation at Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. I was asked a couple of times where I have been in Singapore, and my memory failed me.
Post Published: 02 July 2011
Author: Lakwatcha Editor-in-chief
Found in section: Lakwatcha, Travel
Tags: amusement parks asia, amusement parks singapore, asia backpacking, backpackers inn singapore, backpacking in asia, backpacking singapore, budget travel singapore, bugis, cheap hotel singapore, east coast park, hotpot singapore, makansutra singapore, neil road, orchard road, tanjong pagar, tourist spots singapore, travel tips singapore, traveling in singapore, universal studios singapore
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
