Background: Singapore is a state island, located southern of Malaysia and to some extent the north of Indonesia. It is a city, an island and a country all rolled into one. The size of Singapore is about 25km running North-South and 48.2km running East-West.
Despite its tiny size, Singapore is one of the most progressive country in the region. Speaking from a cultural point of view, the sights and sound may be pretty much the same to us Malaysians, as we originated from the same roots. Yet these attractions seem to entice the many tourists stopping by. To add to that, there are relatively many expatriates residing there who also contribute to the mass culture.
How's the weather: Pretty much, or should I say exactly like Malaysia. Placed very near to the Equator, Singapore experiences sunshine, rainfall and humidity all year long.
How to get there: From all around the world, it should be by flight landing on Changi International Airport (SIN). But if you're coming from Malaysia it could either be by air, or crossing Johor (Malaysian southern state) by car, bus, taxi and train. Another entry point is from Indonesia's Pulau Bintan which is by boat.
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| Arrival at Changi Airport |
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| Tanjong Pagar Railway Station before it's closed |
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| CIQ at JB before crossing the Causeway |
Where to stay: Singapore has many accommodation to offer ranging from backpackers hostels to mid-range and 5-star hotels. It all depends on location, location, location. To be right in the smack of the city, look for places around Orchard Road. Otherwise, the budget corners would be around Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Bugis Street.
An alternative option would be to stay in Johor Bahru and cross the Tambak Johor (Johor-Singapore Causeway) in the morning. It could be cheaper that way.
How to get around: It's not difficult to move about, since everywhere is a town in Singapore. The public transportation: either taxi, bus or the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) are notably efficient. The routes cover almost every nook and corner of the island. Driving is not so favourable as the tolls and parking fees are not cheap. Even the locals don't drive that much.
What to say: English will get you places. Locals can also converse in Mandarin (or other Chinese dialects), Malay and Tamil.
The Journey
Considering the distance and the history between Malaysia and Singapore, many citizens from both countries cross the border every day. In fact, some considerable amount of Malaysians commute to work in Singapore and return home to Johor by the end of the day, daily. As for my friends and I, we've been making annual trips to Singapore, you know, just for fun, just because we can, and just because we want to.
I'll be updating this page as I try out the attractions available there. At the moment, just bear with me as I add up the posts, one at a time kay...
For shopping spree: Orchard Road, Bugis Street, Arab Street, Marina Bay
For sightseeing: Colonial District, CBD and the Quays, Kampong Glam, Chinatown
Stay tuned...
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