A WEEKDAY GETAWAY TO SINGAPORE

To celebrate our graduation, me and my best friend, Usha, decided to go to Singapore. However, to evade sea of tourists and expensive accomodation, we booked our flight to the land of Merlion for weekdays trip. Here's what we did during 4D3N trip..

First Day

We put our bags in the hostel, stopped by Imam Banana Leaf to ate Cheese Prata plus Teh Tarik, and we're ready to roam the city.

• Arab Street

The famous Arab Streets weren't as busy as I've imagined, maybe because we went there early.
Most of the shops in Kampong Glam were still closed - not that we want to shop anyway - so we were just looking around, taking photos of the insta-worthy surroundings, including mural that stretches over Haji Lane.

How to get there: 5 min walk from Bugis MRT Station

Sultan Mosque

(credits to Usha)

• ION Sky

Usha has been craving for Popeyes, so we had their Cajun Rice first before elevating to ION Sky observatory in 56th storey of ION Orchard - opens daily from 3pm and admission is free.
Through vast window, the landscape of skyscrapers got my eyes glued for quite some time.

How to get there: Alight at Orchard MRT Station, take exit E

An ongoing exhibition called "Things Aren't Always Black and White" by artists all over South East Asia

showcased in the 4th storey of ION Orchard.

(left) by Foo Kwee Horng (right) the exhibition's poster

We didn't have anything left in our itinerary for day one so we spent the afternoon walking aimlessly in Orchard, commuted to Kallang, and ate Mutton Biryani at Imam Banana Leaf (again, because the restaurant is only 5mins walk from the hostel) before heading back to get some sleep.

Imam's Mutton Biryani is the b o m b

Second Day
Knowing there will be many discounts or even free admission to some museum on Singapore's Independence Day, me and Usha went on museum hopping.

• ArtScience Museum

Thank God it was national day, so I bought an all-access tickets to three exhibitions (Future World, Big Bang Data, and Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and Science of Gems) for only $14.7!

How to get there: 5 min walk from Marina Bay MRT Station

Crystal Universe by teamLab (Future World Exhibition) 

Light Ball Orchestra by teamLab (Future World Exhibition)

Light Globe Installation (Big Bang Data Exhibition)

Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry Collection

Tiger's Eye Marra Mamba - this circa 2.6 billion years rock is
related to the first forms of life (oceanic). (Van Cleef & Arpels Exhibition)

• National Museum of Singapore

We Built A Nation exhibits the early years of Singapore's Independence, whilst Singapore History Gallery offered a more detailed history about the country's development over the centuries.
I did take some pictures but I don't know why only this left on my phone..

How to get there: Take bus 972 / 64 / 65 /139 or alight at Bras Basah MRT Station, take Exit C

• Singapore Art Museum (SAM at 8Q)

Fishes and creatures of watery realms adorned Imaginarium: Over The Ocean, Under The Sea exhibition. Beyond colourful and eye pleasing works, they are reminders that the beauty of nature, especially sea, could vanish if we don't protect them.

 How to get there: Alight at Bras Basah MRT Station

Dimana Mogus? by Mulyana

Bryde's Fountain (After Michael Duchamp) by Krit Ngamson

Plastic Ocean by Tan Zi Xi

• Red Dot Design Museum

We thought Red Dot will give discount or even free admission for visitors on national day (like National Museum of Singapore and SAM). Unfortunately, they still charged normal entrance fee ($8), which is expensive for their limited amout of collection. Thus, we just walked by the museum.

How to get there: 5 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station

Literal red establishment

• Independence Day Firework

Despite not going to Singapore National Stadium to see the parade, we didn't miss the festivities!
We saw the fireworks that was blasted from the stadium, just by walking across our hostel.

Screen shot from a blurry video

Third Day

• Gardens by The Bay

We started the day by wandering around Gardens by The Bay, the home of beautiful floras.

How to get there: Alight at Bayfront MRT Station, take Exit B

Sun-bathed plants

• Books Actually

It is a tiny bookshop with plenty of interesting books and unique stuffs inside.

After a thorough book-browsing, I picked up a poetry book by a Singaporean author.

How to get there: 8 min walk from Exit A Tiong Bahru MRT Station

The view from the outside

Fourth Day

• Airport (lol)

Time to flew back home. I enjoyed the weekday getaway and I think you should try it too!

Bonus: I found a cute Gudetama putitto in the airport!