Whimsical Wednesday: My SG Top Picks

Whimsical Wednesday shows my fancy in a myriad of beautiful things.  

There are places that once I see and experience, I would not want to go back again.  It's either I don't like it or I really made most of my time there that I already had my fill.  But there are also places that once I see and experience, I would want to go back again and again!  It's either I super like it or I really just couldn't get enough of it.  And one of my most fave places on earth is none other than SG!

For my nth time visit in Singapore, I could say that it is now a place I frequent.  It is not that I'm boasting here or what.  It is just that I am so privileged enough to have had an aunt who gifted me with my first SG tour, cousins who invited us for company, and of course, a sister who would just summon us for sleep-overs!  Since 2005, it has been la dolce vita ala SG!  

So what's with SG that keeps me coming back?  For years of SG-ing, I've come up with these SG top picks of eat, pray, and love!

EAT

Laksa - still nothing beats Katong laksa for my taste buds!  There is nowhere in the Philippines that I can find something like this.  Even me, I once tried out a simple laksa recipe courtesy of Del Monte Philippines' Kitchenomics but never did I taste something like the Singaporean laksa does.  Its playful flavors are just so perfect that I keep on missing 'coz I can only taste it there!

PRAY

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - I maybe a Christian but I do believe that there is no religion that can save us!  For me, salvation comes with a proper relationship between you and your Creator.  So no matter what god (Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or Shiva) you are believing in, you yourself is the one liable for your salvation.  

In my case, I'm getting fond of visiting this Buddhism temple in SG.  Why?  It's because they have these Buddha paper prayers and wishes kind of thing.  I tested it the first time I went there and my wish got granted!  For my second time, I wished for guidance on what to do with my life then I got Fascino!  Then there came my third wish, fourth,  and so on.  Maybe for my next visit, I'm gonna wish for my love life.  Am I already ready for that?  Jeez!!!

LOVE

Light and Fountain Shows - may it be in Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands, or Suntec City.  SG has the most magnificent and spectacular fountain shows ever!  Every time I go there, there is always something new!  These never bore me and these still surprise me until this matured age of mine.  I can fall in love with them over and over again for they tell about life and living it to the fullest!  They bring to life all my wishful thinking of appreciating the beauty of life despite the odds its giving!

Indeed, I can consider SG as my second home.  I'm even more acquainted with all the corners there than our capital city, Manila!  Not to mention, I also feel confident in walking there than walking down the streets of Manila.  It's not just I don't love our own country.  It's just that, I wish that our country can also be as clean, as peaceful, and as disciplined as Singapore!

For those who did not know that I just came from SG, there ain't no pasalubong for you but you may win these SG trinkets!  

Just

1.  click the Tweet and Like buttons below
2. send name, address, and contact number to maryrosalieo@yahoo.com on or before September 13, 2013.

The 10th person to send will be rewarded as the winner and will be notified by mail.

Related Posts:

SG Parks

Singapore by Feet

 Uniquely Singapore

Treating the Tastebuds at Jalan Makanan

Braving a Historical Journey at Fort Siloso

Cute Little Somethings Along Haji Lane

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

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Singapore by Feet

*This post was written last 2011 in My Adventures.  :)

Photos Taken by Mark Rimmon Sila

“Going for a walk is an invitation for surprise.” – William Wordsworth

I always love walking!  I started to love it when I was in college as I tried to lose some weight (see Home – Fitness First).  It was an exercise for me and now, it is a recreation!  I prefer walking than just sitting in the pedicab or motorcab.  Well, it just depends on how far the distance is and the weather condition.  But all in all, I just walk and walk and walk.

So, I didn’t have a hard time keeping up with the busy streets of Singapore.  I already had so much training that my feet won’t easily give up with their toils.  Much more, walking in Singapore is just like walking through a postcard.  It has plenty of picturesque sights to see, shops to hoard, foods to taste, noises to hear, and people to watch!  As promised in My Adventures – Uniquely Singapore, it is my honor to take you to a tour to this Lion City of Asia.

Public transportation in Singapore is very good.  It covers a variety of transport modes such as the air-conditioned MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), air-conditioned bus, and air-conditioned taxi.  It is so easy to go around the city for all transport modes are really accessible.  The EZ Link Card is used as a means to pay for your fare so you need not worry carrying coins or getting your change back.  Unlike here in the Philippines, you must give the exact amount of money for Filipino drivers’ technique is walang barya meaning, “no change”.  Aside from that, the card can also be used in Singapore’s #1 fast food chain, McDonald’s.

Though Singapore has accessible public transport, you cannot be delivered door-to-door just like here in Ozamiz.  So, you need to walk some distances in order for you to reach your destination.  But you cannot feel the stress of walking for there are fast walkalators and escalators in the city’s streets.  You can’t also have your feet dirty for the city is not dusty.  In fact, a big part of it is also air-conditioned for you pass by department stores.  That’s how modern the city is.  Now let’s start walking at the very heart of Singapore – the Singapore River where the country’s civilization started!

Singapore River flows from the Central Area of the southern part of Singapore to the Marina Channel then to Singapore Strait.  There are two classic bridges over the river – the Anderson Bridge and the Eldin Bridge.

North of the mouth of the river lies the Esplanade–Theatres on the Bay which is the main venue of performing arts in the country.    

Just a few meters away from the Esplanade is the Merlion Park and One Fullerton, a host of offices and restaurants that have the terminal for the river taxis which cruise the Singapore River to-and-fro Clarke Quay or Riverside Point, another host of restaurants.

As I’ve said, Singapore River empties to the Marina Channel.  The reclaimed area of the Marina Bay houses the newly-built Marina Bay Sands, an integrated resort.  It has the mall, hotel, and casino in three towering buildings with a ship’s replica on top connecting them!  You can get there by feet from the Esplanade through the ingeniously-engineered Helix Bridge wherein you can also pass by the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel! 

And once you get to the Marina Bay Sands, don’t forget to drop by the ArtScience Museum that showcases major international touring exhibits from the most renowned collections in the world.  Moreover, there’s also a mesmerizing light and fountain show to entertain the tourists for free every night!

From modern to ancient.  The country has the National Museum of Singapore which is its oldest and the Asian Civilisations Museum that specializes in pan-Asian cultures.  Material history of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia from which the diverse ethnic groups of Singapore trace their ancestry are being exhibited in the museum.

A little distance from the National Museum of Singapore is the Istana Park that serves as a landmark for the Presidential Residence, the Istana.  It is a gateway to Singapore’s Civic District Trail which aims to educate visitors of the rich history of Singapore.

Speaking of rich history, there’s also the Civilian War Memorial that was built in memory of the civilians who were killed and massacred during the Japanese Occupation of World War II in the country.

The Supreme Court also has its British-inspired building wherein lawsuits and hearings are held.

Done with the tour?  Now let’s go shopping!  Singapore is famed for its mid-year Great Singapore Sale when prices come down heftily in all precincts!  Designer shops are along Orchard Road but only the well-off ones can afford here.

For those on a budget, there are plenty of good bargains at Bugis Street anyway! 

Aside from Orchard and Bugis, the Suntec City Mall that has the Fountain of Wealth, the world’s largest fountain is also a very good place to shop! 

The country is also famous for its cheap jewelries.  You can get luxurious items at factory-price at the Singapore Gems and Metals Co. 

Of course, don’t miss the night markets along selected streets that are also so inviting for a visit!

Already hungry because of the walk?  No worries!  Singapore has hawkers everywhere!  Hawkers are food stalls that serve foods ranging from 1.90 SGD to 5 SGD only!  Among the country’s signature dishes are the laksa and hokkein mee (Correct spelling.  Spelling in photo is incorrect.  Sorry...).  I so love the laksa!  It has noodles, coco milk, seafoods, chili, mongo sprouts, and squid rolls.

Laksa is Katong’s signature dish.  Katong is a residential area in the east of Singapore that was the location of many villas and mansions of the wealthy elite in the late 19^th century.  Because of that, the country’s oldest bakery is located here which was the Katong Bakery and Confectionery Co.

And to quench your thirst a bit, ice cream carts are also camping in selected corners of Singapore.  They serve ice cream sandwich – a block of ice cream sandwiched in wafers.

If you’re tired of walking already, there are coi ponds everywhere that could relax you while watching the fishes swim!

For a good rest, you may check-in at hotels.  There are 7 stars and 5 stars hotels.  But for those who are in a budget again, there are backpacker hotels.  Just be careful on what street you’re in ‘coz you might be mistaken as a call-girl.        

It is best to visit Singapore during the Happy Ghost Festival for the whole month of August and Chinese New Year on late January or early February depending on the Chinese calendar. 

Visit Singapore and also experience walking around the country for great surprises!

Related Posts:

SG Parks

 Uniquely Singapore

My SG Top Picks

Treating the Tastebuds at Jalan Makanan

Braving a Historical Journey at Fort Siloso

Cute Little Somethings Along Haji Lane

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Tweet

Uniquely Singapore

*This post was written last 2011 in My Adventures.  :)

Singapore is derived from the Malay words Singa meaning lion and pura meaning city.  It was a Srivijayan prince, Sang Nila Utama from Palembang, Indonesia who named the land for he saw a beast that looked like a lion when he landed at the mouth of the Singapore River in 1324.  Thus, the Merlion was designed as the state symbol of Singapore.  It is half lion that represents Singapore’s name and half fish that represents Singapore’s origin as a fishing village.

In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore.  He founded a trading post of the East India Company with permission from the Sultanate of Johor (see My Adventures – Johor Bahru Side Trip).  Eventually, the British obtained full sovereignty over the land that changed the destiny of the country from an obscure fishing village to a great seaport and modern metropolis.

As only a dot at the end of the Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore is among the 20 smallest countries in the world.  Yet as the saying goes “small is terrible”, it has bagged a long list of superlatives – no. 1 airport, world’s busiest transshipment port, world’s first night safari, world’s largest fountain, etc. 

Now, Singapore has become one of the most visited countries in the world.  It is a dynamic country rich in contrast and color where you can find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts, and architecture.  It is because there are four races in the country – the Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Filipino. 

With that, Singapore also has diverse languages and religion – Buddhism for the Chinese, Hinduism for the Indians, Islam for the Malays, and Christianity for the Filipinos.  Being the majority group, there are plenty of Chinese temples in the country.  Second in number are the Hindu temples and third are the mosques.  And being the minority group, Christian churches are only a few.  I was given the chance to visit these various houses of worship and witness an assortment of tradition!

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Even an Indian Prays Inside a Chinese Temple

Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple

Jamae Mosque

Singapore's Tallest Hindu Temple

Additionally, there are two villages of culture concentration in Singapore.  There’s the Chinatown for the Chinese wherein there are plenty of bazaars that sell cheap Chinese goods and food centers that serve Chinese cuisine.  There’s also Little India for the Indians wherein there are shops that sell Indian goods as well as little restaurants that serve pure Indian cuisine.  Aside from that, the Malays also have their share of the land by having big fairs during Ras as-Sanah al-Hijriyah or the Islamic New Year.

Common people in Singapore live in Housing Development Board flats (HDB’s).  With the country’s high cost of living, these are the most affordable ones.  Those who have higher salaries live in condominiums.  These condos are just the same as HDB’s but they have additional facilities like swimming pools, gym, playground, etc.  But for the millionaires, they can have the landed houses with garage.  These are just like the townhouses in the Philippines that have limited space.  Moreover, there are also shophouses in the business districts wherein the ground floor is used as a shop and the second floor is used as a house.

I had experienced living in Singapore for a while.  I was surprised with their sunrise at 7am and sunset at 7pm.  I had also observed that it rains continuously for long hours but rain doesn’t pour heavily.  All people are always in a hurry but the youngsters are so respectfully that they always give way to the elderly.  Even the government prioritizes the elderly by providing them jobs and health care. 

Singapore is a very clean country – clean for no corruption, no pollution, and no crimes.  There are plenty of rules and all people living there are so disciplined.  I love being there because I feel so safe even at the most isolated and darkest corner of the country for it has CCTV’s everywhere that I fondly call it as the Big Brother Country.

With that, Singapore is very unique not just with its diverse people, culture, and religion but also with its good governance and lifestyle.  Know more about Singapore as I will take you to a tour around the country in my next post! 

For My Third Visit in Singapore

Related Posts:

SG Parks

Singapore by Feet

My SG Top Picks

Treating the Tastebuds at Jalan Makanan

Braving a Historical Journey at Fort Siloso

Cute Little Somethings Along Haji Lane

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

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