Port80's Guide to Singapore

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Here is what I did for 7 days in Singapore: (Note: I was mostly travelling alone on this trip as my bf was attending a seminar. I tried to visit all the must-sees, commuting via MRT or bus.)

Sunday - After checking-in at the hotel, went straight to the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari. Ang galing ng zoos nila! We bought the Parkhoppers Special at $30 (good for the 3 parks) but were not able to use the one for Jurong Birdpark as I got sick :(

Monday - Orchard Orchard Orchard! Unfortunately, I found stuff really expensive even if they were on sale so I wasn't able to do much shopping here.

Tuesday - Joined the Original Singapore Walks in Chinatown. No pre-registration needed, just show up at the designated MRT station and look for the person holding their famous red brochure! Costs $18 and it was worth every penny. Our tour guide, Helena, was very good! I highly-recommend this to all those going to Singapore, especially if it's Helena doing the tour. It will make you appreciate Singapore more.

After the tour (which took about 3.5 hours), I just went around Chinatown. This is where I found reasonably-priced pasalubongs: Chinese purses / silk bags selling for 3 for $10. Basta maraming 3 for $10. But my best find in Chinatown is this factory outlet in Pagoda St. which sells overruns of imported clothes made in Singapore. They have GAP, J. Crew, Old Navy, Tommy Hilfiger, etc. The shirts sell for 2 for $10. That's slightly more expensive than the "overruns" you'd find here but I know they're the real thing (they're exactly the same as the ones I have from the US) so I hoarded!

Wednesday - I so enjoyed the previous day's tour that I joined the Original Singapore Walk again, this time for Little India. It was not as interesting as the walk in Chinatown. Maybe because it was raining cats & dogs and the tour guide was not as good. They had me model an Indian sari though :) mahirap pala magsuot ng ganun hehehe...

We had lunch at this famous food stall at the Tekka wet market called Alauddin's Briyani. The chicken briyani was sooo good! For $3.50, it's well worth it! Just look for the stall with long lines -- we had to wait in line for a good 20 minutes before we were able to order.

I wasn't too keen on going around Little India for shopping so I went to Bugis. I liked Seiyu department store and was able to find bags there. Mahal pa rin kung tutuusin pero maganda naman so puede na. I went around Bugis Village which is like their Greenhills. The locals would refer you here if you want "cheap clothes". Compared to their department stores, this is where you'd find unbranded, "cheap" clothes. Jeans go for $23 apiece. Lots of messenger bags for boys and girls at $23-25. This is Singapore street fashion

For girls, I found this great bag designer house called Blackeyes at the 2nd floor. They were on sale at 50% off and I found a couple of nice bags for my sister at $20 each. Ang ganda ng bags, a lot of them multi-purpose or at the least very practical. All are handwashable and they only make 10 pieces per design. Great buys talaga.

Thursday - Joined the Original Singapore Walk for Kampong Glam, the Malay quarters. Very educational. I was able to go inside a mosque and was able to learn a lot about Islam.

For lack of anything better to do, I looked for Holland Village and nearly got lost. Brochures would say this about Toa Payoh and Holland Village: "Discover how Singaporeans truly live, eat and shop.". I was disappointed to find out that Holland Village, which is supposedly a truly bohemian enclave, is a community of tenements -- truly how Singaporeans live. Land is so scarce in Singapore, they are reclaiming until this very minute and so people live in residential buildings. Puro tenements. As in. Kung lasing ka sa gabi, magkamali ka ng liko, maliligaw ka sa dami ng tenements -- pare-pareho pa itsura niya!

Friday - Sick already but still found the energy to go to Sentosa where I went straight to Underwater World which was truly fascinating! Try to catch the Bird Show and the Dolphin Show :)

Saturday - Rested and just went around Orchard for some last-minute shopping then flew back home in the afternoon. Unfortunately, we lost my paper bag in the airport containing my brand new Charles & Keith shoes and bag kakainis! Uso din pala sa kanila ang nangdadampot ng hindi kanila. Sa airport pa ha.

Anyway, it was a busy but very, very interesting week in Singapore. I'd go back in a heartbeat given the chance :)

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