Singapore’s East Coast Park

One of the first things anyone who goes to Singapore will notice is East Coast Park simply because every form of transport leaving the airport drives by it on the way to the city.  It seemed very peaceful as you could see the aqua blue water and white sand beaches with a nearby canopy of tall trees.

East Coast Park was on my to do list as soon as I saw it but I purposely decided to wait until early the next week because I had a premonition of big weekend crowds.  I went on a Monday afternoon and the crowds were pretty tame.  My plans were to check out the beaches and go for a bicycle ride.

My primary objective was to get a good physical workout with a nice bike ride but I took some time to take some pictures and check out Singapore’s coast.  I inspected some of the many beaches in East Coast park and they ranged from small to medium sized white sand beaches to artificial jetty-like structures which showed that all the beaches were probably man made.

Cement on the Left - Beach on the Right - Singapore City in Background

Bicycle  Rental

I stupidly went to the first bike rental shop I saw which was right next to the eatery complex complete with McDonalds, Burger King a couple Chinese restaurants and more.  Without thinking I plucked down 10 Singapore dollars ($7 USD) and my ID (I used my California’s driver’s license) to get my bike.

Their “best bike” was a hybrid of some kind.  In the first 10 seconds I tried to ride it became evident that there was not a chance in hell I would make it more than a mile in this bike.  I’m used to nice bikes, not Lance Armstrong quality road bikes, but bikes that can ‘get on it.’  As I was riding down the bike path around 100 meters towards Changi Airport I saw another bike shop.

I went to the other bike shop and asked them what their best bike was.  They showed me a few nice hybrid bikes, road bikes and mountain bikes.  The higher end bikes cost a bit more, I chose a Cannondale hybrid which cost 20 Singapore dollars ($14.30 USD) but it was well worth it.  I immediately returned the crap bike to the first bike shop, without asking for a refund and was on my way.

Beachfront Bicycle Shop with Crappy Bikes

Bicycle Ride

Bike Path with Marked Pedestiran Crossing

The bike path was very nice and wide, free from potholes with more than enough signs to tell you everything you want to know.  There were red and white pedestrian crossings throughout as well.

This was my first time at East Coast park so I had no idea how far the bicycle path went but the plan was to go all the way to the airport.  I started riding and stopped a few times but ride as far as the path went.   East Coast Park actually ends in a few kilometers from the bike shop but there are numerous “connector” parks and other parks connected.  Yet again, a Singapore dot gov website details all the parks and connections.

I ended up riding all the way past Changi (Singapore International) airport to land’s end where there was a culdesac (pictured below).  Luckily for me or anyone who decides to go on this bike ride there are 3 or 4 little areas with shops and/or restaurants for refreshments and most importantly bottles of cold drinking water.

Interestingly, I noticed quite a few people which looked to be Malay from their head scars camping throughout the parks towards the end of the bike path.  I got some refreshments at the end of the path found an empty park bench and drank some fruit juice before I readied myself for the ride back.

End of the Road Land's End: Pasir Ris park

Overall Impression

On the way back the time was nearing 4pm and I could tell as the park was getting more crowded.  More bicyclists, rollerbladers and joggers were crowding the park which gave me the impression that it would be pretty crowded on the weekends.  Bicycling as far as I could figure out you could go from East Coast Park I could see dozens of empty small beaches.

East Coast Park is about as natural as you’re going to get on Singapore and anyone who wants to cool off in the calm aqua waters, relax on the beach, get physically active with bicycling, rollerblading, jogging, snorkeling East Park is worth a trip.  There is even a golf course and yes, Singapore’s First Cable Ski Park, and surely some surprises for a first time visitor.  I would recommend anyone who finds themselves in Singapore for an extended period of time, get a tube of sunblock, your favorite book and head to East Coast Park for a peaceful ocean breeze and a variety of physical activity if you choose to be active.

Getting to Singapore Botanic Gardens

I saw Singapore Botanic Gardens in one of the Singapore tourist maps so I decided to check it out.  It is open every day from 5am until midnight and the admission is free with the exception of the National Orchid Garden within the park that charges 5 Singapore dollars ($3.57 USD).

I took a taxi to Singapore Botanic Gardens as there is currently no nearby MRT station.  There is an MRT station being built nearby which should be done some time in 2010.  You can get specific directions and information about Singapore Botanic Gardens on the official dot sg website like most of Singapore’s attractions have.

There are two main entrances to Singapore Botanic Gardens.  You can see the view from one of the entrances below (I apologize for not knowing the name).  Upon arrival and through the gate there was a square with some waterfalls, plants and of course a little cafe/restaurant.  I was very hungry at the time so I ordered some pasta and a salad which were both very good although overpriced a bit.  I remember the salad being especially delicious.  After I satisfied my hunger it was time to explore.

Entrance to Singapore Botanic Gardens, Restaurant & Food

Singapore Botanic Gardens

I thought I was going to a rose garden but it turned out Singapore Botanic Gardens is simply a large park.  Symphony Lake (photo at top of post) was one of the first things to see after eating at the cafe.  There was a small amphitheater on the lake as well as grassy hills with school classes on field trips.

Throughout Singapore Botanic Gardens there are little placards with information next to all the various plants, flowers and trees.  There was a large section under construction when I was there but I still had a chance to check out the National Orchid Garden.  After paying the 5 Singapore dollar admission there are numerous paths with various plants, waterfalls and art.

I spent a little over an hour in Singapore Botanic Gardens so I can hardly do it justice.  It would take a few hours to thoroughly explore the whole park so if you find yourself in Singapore and want to explore and/or relax, Singapore Botanic Gardens is a place than can occupy quite a bit of your time.

There are a few bathrooms throughout were really nice along with vending machines with cold refreshments.  PLEASE NOTE:  Always carry 1 Singapore dollar coins with you because very few vending machines in Singapore had working paper money slots and believe me, cold refreshments are a must have when you’re walking around directly on the equator.

Moss covered Planter in the National Orchid Garden

The Cool House

The Cool House was one of many things to see in Singapore Botanic Gardens but I single it out because it was so ‘cool’ at the time.  Not unlike the rest of my trip to Singapore as I was walking around packing 10 pounds of camera equipment I got extremely hot and sweaty.  I don’t know if it was me, all the plants, the hills or being directly on the equator, but it felt like I was deep in the Amazon rain forest jungle.

Out of nowhere I saw a sign for the Cool House.  I didn’t know if it was a cafe or some sort of exhibit and I soon found it was the latter.  The Cool House was a small, climate controlled greenhouse with a cool weather ecosystem.  It was only about 20 meters long but the cool misty controlled environment felt so nice that I just stayed in there for about 16 minutes.  Inside the Cool House was an assortment of plants as well as a running stream and waterfall.

Entrance to the Refreshing 'Cool House'

Overall Impression

Singapore Botanic Gardens is much more than what it sounds like.  Similar to Central Park in New York or Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Singapore Botanic Gardens is a rather large city park with a multitude of things to do whether it is sitting down and relaxing, looking at flowers and plant life or playing a game of Frisbee with friends.

Singapore Botanic Gardens also has a lot of things to take pictures of for you photography lovers out there.  If you’re in Singapore on a rushed business trip and don’t have time to relax Singapore Botanic Gardens can probably wait until your next visit.  I would recommend a trip to Singapore Botanic Gardens for anyone who happens to find themselves in Singapore with a few spare hours.

View the Complete Singapore Photo Set at tourismPICS.com

Singapore’s Accommodations

I’m sure there is a way to classify hotels as high-end, mid-range and budget but it is a little different in Singapore.  It seemed to me that Singapore is sorely lacking mid-range hotels.  Searching for hotels on Hotels.com I could find a bunch of very affordable hostels and more than enough high end hotels but no many mid-range priced $40-80 USD hotels.

I was seriously considering Novotel which has a perfect location and all the luxury amenities for around $200 USD per night when I thought about the price difference.  The Fragrance Hotel prices were around $40 per night which I figured to be 5 nights for the price of 1 when compared to Novotel.  I decided that saving major cash would be a better choice so I booked a room at Fragrance Hotel Pearl off Geylang Road.

Somewhere along Geylang Road, Singapore

Typical "Point at what you Want" hawker stall on Geylang Road

Fragrance Hotel Pearl

First off, there are numerous ‘Fragrance Hotels.’  They are mostly centered in Singapore’s red light district off Geylang Road.  “Red Light District” may have negative connotations to some but to me it also usually means lively and cheap.

I was concerned about the location but Fragrance Hotel Pearl actually had a great location.  It was a 10 minute walk to the Kallang MRT station which was 3 stops from City Hall, and 5 stops to either Little India or Chinatown.  Geylang road was renowned for its street food and it took me about 10 minutes before I was getting some delicious Malay/Indian/Chinese Singaporean food which was located on every corner of Geylang Road.

If you’re not staying near Geylang road it is certainly one of Singapore’s tourist attractions in itself as to me it felt like Bangkok more than Singapore, not because of the abundance of karaoke bars and ladies walking on the street but because it was a little dirty and rough, not clean and organized like most of Singapore.

The hotel room at Fragrance Hotel Pearl was just what you would expect for $40 a night.  There was a bed, a desk, a small wardrobe along with an attached bathroom which was the typical tropical style mixed toilet/shower.  Although there was a TV with cable there was no mini fridge, microwave or safe.  NOTE:  Wireless internet was available but at a price.  A 24 hour internet access card cost a whopping 18 Singapore Dollars ($12.87 USD) which I think is quite ridiculous even though I paid it.

Room in Fragrance Hotel Pearl, Singapore

Typical Tropical Style Shower/Toilet in Fragrance Hotel

Overall Impression

I will admit there were a couple times where I wished I had all the extra amenities of a Novatel but in hindsight if money is at all a concern, I’d rather have 5 nights at a fully comfortable although lacking hotel room than an overkill hotel room.  I would recommend staying in Singapore at Fragrance Hotel Pearl to anyone with the same attitude which I just mentioned.  If you spend more time out of the hotel room than inside, why spend 5x more for luxury accommodations?

Even though soliciting prostitution is illegal in public in Singapore there were ladies with umbrellas standing on the sidewalk across from Fragrance Hotel Pearl from 9am (earliest I woke up) until 4am (latest I went to bed).  It didn’t bother me, but if it is a concern to you, keep this in mind if you decide to choose a hotel anywhere near Geylang Road.  If this doesn’t bother you and want to spend $40USD per night staying in Singapore at a convenient location with great food, Fragrance Hotel Pearl is the place to stay in Singapore.

Common Sight along Geylang Road 24 hours a day

Perfect way to See Singapore

Upon arriving in Singapore I took the SMRT directly from my hotel off Geylang Road 4 stops to City Hall station from a friend’s recommendations.  From the City Hall MRT station I walked to Marina  Bay which is what I would consider THE spot in Singapore for any visitors to visit.

Marina Bay has many sights and things to do including everything from cheap food hawkers to a newly built high-end hotel and casino to Singapore’s spiky looking performing arts venue the Esplanade and of course its mascot, the Merlion.  Marina Bay goes on up Singapore River past Singapore’s classy night life and dining areas Boat Quay (pronounced “key”) and Clarke Quay.

The “30 minute tour” ticket was only $15 Singapore ($10.70USD) but I wanted to do the boat tour at dusk so I could get photos of Singapore in the light as well city light photos in the dark.  I didn’t take the Singapore river boat tour on my first day because I wanted to get the Singapore Zoo and night safari out of the way so I left.  In hindsight I wish I went on the boat tour on the first day.

River Boat and Ticket Office at Merlion

Boat from the Merlion

I came back 2 days later and bought a “30 minute tour” ticket from the ticket stand right next to the Merlion (pictured above).  The river boat was not very crowded on a weekday in between 6 and 7.  It took off and I sat in the very back to take some photos.  There was a pre-recorded voice which tells a brief history about everything passed during the boat tour.

The boat tour is actually a taxi which stops at 4-5 places along Singapore River.  The nightlife/dining areas Boat Quay and Clarke Quay were very close to the central business district.  Towards the end of the river boat tour I was able to see the Novotel Hotel which I was going to splurge to stay at and I realized that the location was very prime which also probably justified the price.

View from Boat

Overall Impression

Singapore River Boat tour, isn’t really a ‘tour’ it’s more like a taxi which give you a nice breezy lift from Marina Bay to anywhere along Singapore River. I consider the river boat tour is an immediate essential “thing to do” for anyone who visiting Singapore.  Just feeling the vibe of Singapore is worth the price of admission.  I was able to get some good photos with my Nikon D700 digital SLR and Nikkor 14-24mm F/2.8 which you can see below.

View More Photos from Singapore River Boat Tour on tourismPICS.com

I did NOT go on Singapore Flyer

I usually wouldn’t blog about something I didn’t do but since the Singapore Flyer is a very prominent landmark in Singapore I thought I’d give a quick blog rundown.  Singapore Flyer is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel (Described by its operators as an observation wheel).  It reaches 42 stories high, with a total height of 541 ft (165 m).

The Singapore Flyer is located near the shore of Singapore’s Marina Bay at an area of Marina Centre known as Marina Promenade.  The Singapore Flyer also offers a great view of the Marina Bay Street Circuit of the Singapore Grand Prix as it is located just beside the straight between turns 21 and 22 of the circuit and near the pit stops.  Although I didn’t go on it, I got some great photos of it.

Singapore Flyer from a Nearby Bridge

Admission Information

From talking to taxi drivers I got the impression that every capsule was set up like the sample capsules (below) which were nearby.  Since I was traveling alone I didn’t really feel like sitting in a capsule for 37 minutes as I remember being bored in the giant Ferris wheel in Yokohama, Japan.  In hindsight I now wish I did for the sake of photography and to be able to say I did.  I got the following from another website.

“There are 4 options for going on the Singapore Flyer First, a basic Singapore Flight at one rotation of about 30 minutes cost 29.50 SGD ($21 USD) for adults, 20.65 SGD for children (3-12 years old; 0-3 years old are free) and 23.60 SGD for Seniors (60 years old onwards).

Second, the Express Boarding contains the basic Singapore Flight and bypasses the ticket boarding queue for and exclusive check-in and in-flight guide. It costs 52 SGD for adults, 36.40 SGD for children and 41.60 SGD for Seniors.

Third option is the Singapore Cocktail Flight which includes the express boarding plus a glass of specially concocted cocktail drink to sip while taking in spectacular foods. (Note that no food and beverage aside from this are allowed inside the capsule.)  It costs 69 SGD ($49 USD)  for adults, 48.30 SGD for children and 55.20 SGD for Seniors.”

Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel Capsule

Preview Inside the Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel Capsule

Experience Singapore Flyer

If I was with a group of friends or had a date I would have probably went on the Singapore Flyer but I was alone so I just photographed it from various locations around Marina Bay.  I would recommend anyone in Singapore who wants to see the city from multiple vantage points and possibly grab a drink or bite to eat to check out the Singapore Flyer.  Like I said before in hindsight I should have went on the somewhat overpriced “observation wheel” but I didn’t so the memories I have now are pretty much what’s in the following photos.

View the Full Singapore Flyer Photo Archive at tourismPICS.com

Mount Faber is Definitely No Everest

Mount Faber Park Map (click to enlarge)

For some reason Mount Faber sounds like a grand peak somewhere in the European Alps when in fact it is more of a hill in Singapore.  To put the size of Mount Faber in perspective consider the highest natural point in San Francisco, Mount Davidson.  Mount Davidson is 928 feet (283 m) above sea level while Mount Faber in Singapore is about a thrid of that at 344 feet (105m) .

I was told by my friend who happens to be from Singapore that Mount Faber was a great place to visit for anyone who likes to take pictures as there are some of the best views of Singapore.  Mount Faber is actually a entire park which you can view the map to the right.

I wanted to get some good day, dusk and night photographs of Singapore so I decided to head to Mount Faber around 4pm on a Monday.  It was on the other side of Singapore from Geylang where I was staying.

Mount Faber Park (in between groups of tourist busses)

Getting to Mount Faber

Mount Faber is accessible from the HarborFront MRT station but I took the taxi from my hotel.  My taxi driver gave me a heart stopping moment as he floored the beater taxi up the steep and curvy road to Mount Faber causing the car to lose control.  The taxi fistailed in 3 big curves before he gained control about 10 meters from hitting an oncoming tourist bus.

The taxi driver dropped me off at the Jewel Box which is a Singapore Cable Car Station / restaurant / bar.  I went in and talked to a couple of the ladies working there and took a couple of photos.  I was offered a drink at the outdoor restaurant/bar but I was ready to explore Mount Faber park while it was still light.

I found a good viewpoint to shoot some shots at the time and later then I carried on upwards.  Amidst several tourist buses with Japanese and Chinese tourists I found some relaxing areas.  The path pictured above is next to a very steep drop off looked like it was set up for a view of the harbor bay but the only view was the dense vegetation.  The sun was going down fast so I decided to climb up to the peak.

Steps going up to Mount Faber's Peak

Mount Faber Peak

I was profusely sweating in the very humid weather as I hiked further up Mount Faber to get to the peak.  It was around 5pm and the tourist groups were filtering out so I was almost by myself which was nice just to hear the birds and sounds of what’s left of the rain forest.  Up the steps pictured above was the peak of Mount Faber which had a surprise for me.

There was a outdoor hall area with a couple dozen plaques showing Singapore’s past in pictures as well as words.  I thought it was pretty interesting as you could walk around and go through the history of Singapore.

Just when I thought I had learned some knowledge I got to the very top where there was a cool illuminated, compass-like display on the ground.  You can see in the photo on the top of this post.  The arrows are actually pointing to other countries and cities.  On the ground close to each arrow is a name of the city or country the arrow is pointing to.  The views on the top are great although there are a few obstructions from getting perfect shots.

I took a bunch of photos of Singapore and the surround Harbor Bay before I left to find some air conditioning and some cold water.  There were no cabs on the peak as it was pretty much dark after I was done shooting photos so I decided to walk down.  On the way down I saw numerous joggers and couples going on relaxing walks.  There was a mixture of paths and steps going down towards a residential looking area of Singapore which had the Central Business District in the background.

View the Full Mount Faber Photo Archive at tourismPICS.com

Singapore History Plaques towards the Peak of Mount Faber

Overall Impression

Mount Faber is what it is.  The human made as well as natural highest point of any city is always going to be a place I want to check out.  There are a lot of relaxing areas with tables and chairs throughout the parts of Mount Faber Park that I saw.  I enjoyed the mini-history and geography lessons that the peak offered.  In addition to the large “Jewel Box” restaurant there was a smaller outdoor restaurant which would be a nice, quiet place for a meal with a great view.  Anyone visiting Singapore will find Mount Faber a good place to spend a couple hours whether it be sight seeing, dining or exercising.

View the Full Mount Faber Photo Archive at tourismPICS.com

Fleeing Bangkok

I had just got back to Bangkok from San Francisco where I had visited Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon to extend my student Visa and re-start my Thai Language classes when I heard that the “red shirts” were at it again.  Without getting into details, tens of thousands and possibly millions of (mostly rural) Thai people unhappy with the current government were planning on converging on Bangkok for a huge protest.

Mass gatherings are not my cup of tea especially ones that could bring bombings or violent military responses.  I’d probably feel most comfortable in a large crowd of Thai people than any other but that’s not saying much.  My dislike for being in large crowds culminated as I was getting squashed and pickpocket during New Years on Copacabana Beach in Brazil and I have no desire to experience that again.

I felt that I needed stability in the midst of the political instability of Bangkok so why not head to one of the purported safest and most stable countries in the world?  I booked a one way Jetstar Asia flight to Singapore for Thursday the day before I heard there was to be a big red shirt rally in Bangkok on March 12, 2010.

Seeing Red on the Streets of Bangkok

Finding a Hotel in Singapore

I booked my flight to Singapore with a relatively short notice so as usual I had to scramble to find a hotel.  I used sites such as Hotels.com and AsiaRooms.com to get the general range of places to stay in Singapore and I discovered that there is not much as far as mid-range hotels go.

The cheap prices that came up in searches were usually hostels and budget hotels without basic amenities while the expensive hotels cost an arm and a leg.  I was debating a night at Novotel which is located directly on the scenic, vibrant Clarke Quay dining and night life area but the cost came up to around $200 a night which was too much for the 6 hours I’d be spending there sleeping.  I ended up staying at the same hotel for my entire stay which was located in the Geylang area.

Places to Stay in Singapore:  Fragrance Hotel Pearl

Colorful Singapore Police Station

Getting Around in Singapore

Often times the subway is the best way to get around in large cities.  When a subway is convenient I will always take the subway as the first method of getting around when traveling to new cities.  My hotel was located a 10 minute walk from the nearest MRT station.

About 10 minutes after getting the hotel room I strapped on my camera bag and began walking toward the MRT station.  It was Thursday afternoon around 1 or 2pm so as I arrived to the MRT station profusely sweating.  There were multiple lines at this station so I asked the MRT workers for help.

Upon arriving to the ticket machine you will see a rather large LCD display with the entire Singapore MRT system on it.  There are 6 options on the left one which is “buy single trip ticket.”  After choosing single trip ticket you are asked to select your destination by touching the map on the LCD display.  I believe the maximum cost was $2 Singapore which is around $1.40 USD which I found to be quite a bargain as some trips were well over a dozen stops.

My first trip on SMRT was only 4 stops and I was expecting a light load on the subways being it was mid-day on a normal week day.  Upon entering the train I was rather shocked to see how crowded the subway was.  I asked a student in the subway if it was always this crowded and he told me it was.  I was only going 4 stops to the City Hall MRT to see the harbor so it didn’t bother me too much.

Singapore City Hall MRT Station - 3:20pm Thursday

Things to Do in Singapore

I had an open ended itinerary in Singapore so my plan was to play it by ear.  Other than the few ideas for things to do in Singapore I got from my old client and friend Alvin which I wrote on a note card and put in my wallet upon arriving I really had no idea what I’d be doing.

Along with my friend’s recommendations I picked up 2 or 3 Singapore tourist maps at the airport.  I didn’t notice it until the end of my trip but each map was for something different.  There was a ‘medical’ map which listed all the hospitals and spas, a ‘night life’ map as well as a general tourism map.  I used the tourism map as a basic guide as I did some of the following:

Singapore River Boat Tour

Singapore Zoo / Night Safari

Jurong Bird Park

Singapore Botanic Gardens

East Coast Park Bicycle Ride

Singapore Flyer

Mount Faber Hike – Sight Seeing

Singapore Cable Car

The cable car was out of service when I was in Singapore.  It is actually a “bi-cable gondola lift” which is a cable suspended air trolley with glass bottoms for sight seeing.  Singapore cable car has 3 stations originating from 300m above sea level at the top of Mount Faber to the Harbour front station located on the edge of as well as Singapore’s resort island, Sentosa.  The fair cost of the cable car ride is 19 Singapore dollars ($13.40 USD) which would make worth doing, especially if you like taking photos and/or want to get to Sentosa in style.

Sentosa

Sentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay, is Singapore’s mega popular island resort, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two five-star hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa, featuring the new theme park Universal Studios Singapore.  Since I was traveling alone and was heading to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, Thailand after Singapore so I decided to skip my trip to Sentosa as I would rather spend less in Thailand and experience natural beauty than what I perceive as an artificial paradise.

Sentosa Island Montage (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Shopping

As with most large Asian cities, you can’t cram in 5 million people on a small area without having tremendous amounts of shopping centers and Singapore is no exception.  Places to shop range from small knock off clothes vendors to high-end luxury stores such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton. This paragraph blurb hardly does Singapore’s shopping scene justice.  If you are into shopping and find yourself in Singapore you will find everything you need and then some.

The prices seemed to be fair unlike Tokyo but probably more than places such as Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur where many Singaporeans go looking for deals.  As usual I didn’t spend much shopping for stuff but I did pick up a new Kata 123-Go 30 camera bag at Funan Digital Life mall, one of the 2 highly recommended electronic shopping areas by everyone along with Sim Lim Square which I didn’t have a chance to get to.

Ground Floor of Funan Digital Life Mall - Singapore

Places to Eat in Singapore:  Everywhere!

I was very impressed with the food in Singapore.  First off, I love Indian food and I had a chance to try numerous types of Indian food I had never eaten before in Singapore.  The convergence between Chinese, Indian, Malay and even Japanese people seemed to make Singapore a culinary paradise.

Geylang Road

I ate off hawker stands for almost every meal and was never dissatisfied.  Along with cheap food all over the city/country there is a large assortment of fine dining options as well.

Delicious Muslim Indian Food along Singapore's Geylang Road

Little India

To be honest I expected a lot more from Little India.  I expected it to be a huge section of Singapore when in fact it seemed to be more like a couple blocks.  The Indian food I had in Little India was definitely not a disappointment though.  For a very cheap price I got a huge square grass-like plate of some of the most delicious Indian Food I’ve ever had and Indian Food is my favorite!  I could have probably explored Little India in Singapore a little bit more but I’ll leave that up to you.

Typical Narrow Colorful Streets of Singapore's Little India

Chinatown

Chinatown was even less impressive than Little India.  Since the population of Singapore consists 70% ethnic Chinese I didn’t really expect too much from Chinatown and I was not surprised when it turned out to be a small shopping center with some small shops as well as food stalls.  I got a couple pork buns and was on my way as there is a Chinatown MRT station right in the center of Singapore’s Chinatown.

View from the Edge of Singapore's Chinatown

Overall Impression

After the initial “cool” factor of visiting a new place I always think about whether I’d ever live there and Singapore immediately received my seal of approval.  When thinking about it, it took me a while to come up with some reasons why I wouldn’t want to live in Singapore and one was the slight sterile feeling.

I would recommend anyone visiting Southeast Asia to check out Singapore for at least 3 days.  If anything it will give you a stark contrast from some of the less developed countries as although Singapore is still classified as a “developing country” it is just as developed as any city in the USA along with being safer, cleaner and friendlier.

View the full Singapore Photo Archive at tourismPICS.com

Marina Bay, Esplanade & Singapore's Central Business District

View the full Singapore Photo Archive at tourismPICS.com

Getting to Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park was not at all close to where I was staying off Geylang Road. The flyer I picked up my hotel, Fragrance Hotel Pearl gave rather simple 5 step directions via car which it said would take 30 minutes and MRT which would take 60 min.

I had basically given up the MRT by day 1 so I quickly hailed a cab outside of my hotel. I know it would probably cost at least 10x what the MRT would cost but my flight to Koh Samui was leaving later in the night so I didn’t want to waste any of my time. Little did I know that my taxi driver would do that for me.

Even though I gave my driver the bird park flyer with the map his driving was disastrous at best. He took the wrong turn at least 3 times, one almost to the Malaysian border checkpoint, stopped and asked for directions 4 separate occasions before getting me there. The fare on the meter was $36 Singapore but he only charged me $20 ($14 USD) because of his mishaps.

At Jurong Bird Park

As I expended, similar to the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari there was a little square with souvenirs and eateries right at the entrance to the bird park. There was a place selling Asian food and Ben & Jerry’s as well as a place called Bongo Burger. I had been eating Asian foods the entire time in Singapore to this point so I decided to eat at Bongo Burger.

Bongo burger was your typical cheesy theme fast food restaurant. The employees were wearing safari outfits and all the furniture and decorations were safari themed. The burger and fries were pretty good although cost around 15 Singapore dollars ($10 USD).  After 15 minutes in the fan cooled restaurant I was ready to explore Jurong Bird Park

Bongo Burger & Animal Chairs

Stained Glass Dome on way into Jurong Bird Park

Touring Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park was set up very similar to the Sinapore Zoo or all zoos for that matter.  There are wooden signs which tell which areas of the park have which kind of birds.  The different groups of birds ranged from penguins, to flightless birds to birds of prey. TAKE NOTE:  There are vending machines all over Jurong Bird Park but none of them take bills.  If you have a propensity to overheat, make sure you bring some $1 coins to get some chilling refreshments along the way or else you may be sweating buckets walking up the hills and steps throughout the park.

Just like the Singapore Zoo some of the bird exhibits were very camouflaged.  As you may imagine there was no shortage of birds in the park.
More than a couple exhibits had me wondering how the birds don’t escape as most of the park is open air.  This makes Jurong Bird Park a great place to take photos.

Everyone from professional photographers, to amateur photo enthusiasts, to kids with their cell phone cameras can enjoy taking photos of birds in Jurong Bird Park.  Consider that if you wanted to shoot photos of all the birds in the park you’d have to travel all over the world and get lucky in their natural habitat.  Below is a slide show with a small fraction of the birds at Jurong Bird Park.

Live Bird Show

Just as I was about to leave Jurong Bird Park to head straight to the Airport for my flight to Koh Samui, Thailand I heard a crowd of people buzzing.  I knew I had about an hour of leeway before my flight was to leave so I decided to check out and I’m glad I did.

The bird show featured some very, very trained birds.  To my surprise vultures were a main feature performing some pretty mind boggling feats of intelligence.  At one point I didn’t realize the handler was directly behind me and was buzzed by a giant vulture 6 inches above my head.  It caused me to miss the chance of some great shots with my Nikon D700 Digital SLR and monstrous Nikkor 70-200mm VR lens.  If you decide to visit Jurong Bird Park, make sure you check out the schedule so you won’t miss this fun and sometimes hair raising experience.

Everyone and their Mother Enjoying the Live Show at Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Overall Impression

Balaniceps Rex aka Shoebill

Although the initial thoughts of visiting Jurong Bird Park didn’t really excite me and I essentially attended as a last minute time killer I had a great time.  I thought the presentation and content was excellent with a nice layout of the “bird zoo” along with a wide variety of birds from all over the world.

As well as the birds themselves there was a good amount of interesting information and exhibits all over the park which really interested me.  There were many locations that showed the close relationship which today’s birds have with the ancient dinosaurs and if you don’t believe me, check out the moment I caught the shoebill yawning (on the right).

I would highly recommend Jurong Bird park for anyone traveling with the family.  I saw numerous kids having a blast.  I was able to get much of the park in even though I had a flight all the way across Singapore in a couple hours.  I would guess at least 2, preferably 3-4 hours would be enough time to enjoy the park, have a bite to eat as well as check out the live show.

Again, I thought Jurong Bird Park was pretty cool and is included with the 3-for-1 pass you buy with admissions for the Singapore Zoo and night safari.  The $45 Singapore dollar ($32 USD) is good for up to 30 days so whether you love or hate birds, Jurong Bird Park should be on your Singapore:  Things to do list.

STRONGLY Suggests you Visit Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Read about the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari

One of Singapore’s Most Popular Tourist Attractions

When I mentioned Singapore to family and friends one of the first things many of them said was, “I heard they have a great zoo” or something to that effect.  I’m not the biggest fan of zoos and wouldn’t usually go but I had to see what makes Singapore Zoo so special.  I was chatting with the cab driver on the way back from the airport and he told me that the zoo and night safari were literally next to each other so I thought it would be a good idea to go there on my first night in Singapore.

Getting to the Singapore Zoo

I saw that the zoo lied in what seemed to be the north central area of Singapore according to the Singapore tourist map I got at the airport.  I  just had explored the area around the Esplinade and was near the City Hall MRT stop so I thought the MRT would be the best and cheapest method of transport to the zoo.  I was right about cheap, but MRT was not the best way.

In addition to buses which as usual I was too lazy to try to figure out a taxi would have been a smarter way to get to the zoo.  I figured if I take the MRT for $2 to Marsling I could save money and time as opposed to the taxi especially if there was traffic.  It turned out that even after the 17 stop, 30+ minute MRT I still had to take a taxi from Marsiling to the zoo so I wasted valuable time.  If you are traveling in Singapore and have to budget your time more than money, taking a taxi is the by far the best way to go, especially if you are with a group.

Singapore City Hall MRT Station - 3:20pm Thursday

Arriving at Singapore Zoo

Upon arriving at Singapore Zoo you are greeted with a few food and souvenir options before the ticket counter.  I was very hungry so I grabbed a slice of pizza and a Tiger Beer.  The pizza was a very tasty tandoori chicken pizza which really hit the spot.  After the brief sit-down meal and relaxation I was ready to get a ticket for the zoo.

As advertised in the Singapore tourism map there was a 3-for-1 deal for the zoo, night safari, and Jurong Bird Park.  I thought it was a pretty sweet deal because it was valid for 30 days from the date of purchase and only cost $45 Singapore Dollars ($32.29 USD).  I also found out that the night safari was literally right next to the zoo and only required about a 2 minute walk.

Tandoori Chicken Pizza from Singapore Zoo

Exploring Singapore Zoo

I wondered how Singapore zoo set itself apart from other zoos and it was apparent in the first few minutes why.  Walking a walk in Singapore Zoo is like walking around in any other zoo as there are cement paths and signs with information about the animals.  What makes Singapore Zoo so special is the design of the animal habitats.

For most of the zoo, animal exhibits blend in with the surroundings.  You don’t see many pronounced cages and/or totally artificial looking things in and around the animal exhibits.   I have never been to the Bangkok zoo but I heard that some animals are basically in small cages with their arms hanging out one side.  The Singapore zoo had me wondering many times how the animals don’t escape as it seems you are in there with them.

I walked around for around an hour snapping some photos.  After I was there for an hour I knew it was close to closing time because I only saw maybe 1 or 2 people walking around.  Little did I know the zoo closed at 6pm which gave me only an hour to explore it.  Again, the ticket was good for 30 days but I really wanted to finish both zoo and night safari on the same day being so far from my hotel.

Momma and Baby Chimp at Singapore Zoo

Off to the Night Safari

I escaped the zoo around 6:30 ish and headed directly over the the night safari which was very close.  I had just went to the Chiang Mai, Thailand Night Safari a few months earlier so I expected more of the same.  People seemed very excited to be there as there was a sort of night club atmosphere complete with a couple restaurant/bars in addition to the standard souvenir shops.

I should have read the fine print because the tram ride was actually not included in the 3-for-1 ticket I purchased.  There were 2 walking exhibits as well as the fire show but what’s a safari without riding in a vehicle?  The tram ride ticket was another $15 Singapore ($10.70 USD) but I felt compelled to at least compare to the Chiang Mai night safari.

Since I already had my beer and pizza I was not hungry but I didn’t really want to wait in line so I went over to the left where a worker was sitting at a booth with a couple of glass cases.  I started talking to a young lady named Cassandra who was overseeing the tarantula and scorpion cases.  I chatted with her about an hour inhaling fumes from the fire dancers (photo at top of post) as I was waiting for it to get dark because it’s a night safari, not a dusk safari although the tram line was packed even when it wasn’t dark out.

About to enter the Singapore Night Safari Tram

Night Safari

The tram ride part of the night safari was a bit of a disappointment.  I could tell they were rushing due to the pressure of having so many people and tram rides every 15 minutes or so as opposed  to the Chiang Mai night safari where there was only a single tram ride.

Even though I had better, top-of-the-line camera gear than the previous night safari I barely got any good shots.  Even with the Nikon D700 and the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR & Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D two great low light lenses, I couldn’t keep pace with the driver who never let the tram come to a complete stop.  In hindsight, if getting some good shots was a priority I should have probably went on the tram when there was more light.

The tram ride seemed like it was over before it began but I still had 2 walking exhibits to attend.  I ended up skipping the walking exhibits as I noticed the 9pm fire show was beginning.  They had dancers going crazy on the stage as well as a crazy Japanese tourist which they brought up.  The Japanese tourist became part of the show which was pretty interesting so I pushed my way past 100 or so onlookers so I could get some photo opportunities.

After the fire show I went to check the live animal show.  It was hosted by this talkative Indian woman and included a wolf, boa constrictor, serval, and some amazing recycling otters, YES, recycling otters.  Although the show was mildly entertaining and the animals were well trained, it was a bit disorganized and again, seemed rushed like the tram ride.

Fire Dancers (Find Crazy Japanese Tourist)

Overall Impression

I’m sure my experience at the Chiang Mai, Thailand Night Safari caused the Singapore Night Safari to lose some of its luster.  I’d be willing to bet that the people who created the night safari in Chiang Mai, used Singapore’s as a model.  The night safari was a good experience and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who hasn’t been to one before.  If you have been to a “canned” night safari before or have been on a real safari, you may want to skip the tram ride and just go to the zoo.

Below you can see a slide show with some of the animals I had a chance to photograph during my brief tour of Singapore Zoo and the photos that came out halfway decent during the very dark and camera flash prohibited night safari.  I went on another day to the third related Singapore wildlife place which was included in the 3-in-1 ticket which you can read about as well.

Places to Visit in Singapore:  Jurong Bird Park – Coming Soon