Here’s a first timer tourist’s guide to Singapore from another first timer tourist. This contains the walking, shopping, sight seeing and eating that I’ve done the first time I was in Singapore last December. I went back soon on March for the Indigo Girls concert.

Essential:

First thing that you need to do is be familiar with the MRT stations. The MRT can take you to most of the places you need to go to.

Here’s a hi-res map:

The trains are always on time and the stations are easy to navigate because of the numerous signage that point you to your destination. MRT rides cost .80 to 1.90 SGD, quite affordable for its efficiency.

Here’s our itinerary (click on linked items to see related article/s):

The First Day

1. Vivo City
- Food Republic – Toast Box and Java Kitchen

2. Sentosa
- Islander Card
- Sentosa Express
- Skyride and Luge Car
- Underwater World
- Dolphin Show
- 4D Magix Show
- Songs of the Sea

3. Clarke Quay

The Second Day:

1. Ikea

2. Suntec City Mall
- Fountain of Wealth

3. The Merlion

4. Hawker Center / Hawkers, Esplanade

5. Orchard Road

The Third Day:

1. Singapore Cable Car

2. Museums
- National Museum of Singapore
- Singapore Art Museum
- 8Q SAM

3. Bugis

4. Night Safari

5. Mustafa – 24 hour mall

The Fourth Day

1. Funan / Funan DigitaLife Mall

2. Chinatown

3. Marina Square

4. Ikea

—
Other useful tips:

If you’re a smoker, prepare to be watchful, most places are smoke-free and there are only small smoking areas which you have to spot while strolling. Don’t worry too much, if you’re mindful about it, you’ll find these smoking areas.

Transportation

Go to ticketing offices in the MRT stations to inquire about the Tourist Pass – an all day transportation tap card – if you think you will be heavily relying on public transportation. There are also the standard card (enter – exit MRT card with 1 SGD deposit) and a prepaid card for MRT and buses.

I’ve seen two types of taxis – Comfort Taxi and Silvercab. Comfort is blue and dominant in the streets and looks like a mini cooper. Silvercab is white, seldom and intimidating. Its cabs are Mercedes Benzes! Really. Don’t get intimidated (like I did), I heard that the fare is the same.

Food

Rice is about .50 SGD a cup at the Hawkers, Coke in can at vendo machines is 1.60 t0 1.80 SGD. A decent meal is at 4 to 7 SGD the cheapest. Airport food is ok, at 7 to 15 SGD. We tried the Hor Fun, Mui Fun and another food when we get there. Milkshakes are nice too, it’s got a faint taste of tea.

I have yet to update this once I’ve posted the write ups about the other destinations. :)

Oh My Gulay! is an art space and vegetarian restaurant in Baguio City. It is owned by independent filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik. His artistry is very visible in the restaurant. Oh My Gulay!’s structure is made up of different wood species, stones and other natural materials. It’s got a small pond with koi, a mini bridge, mosaic walls/floors, sculptures everywhere, portraits, paintings, weaved cloths and other stuff to tinker like a hardwood bench with djembe at one end. It’s got a stage that lights up at night for some intimate performances.

I was even able to witness a group of kids practicing percussion instruments when I went there on a week of Panagbenga 2007. And met some local artists who were there for a month-long exhibit. They were friendly and accommodating too.  They even invited me to join the jamming at night. Too bad the place closes at 10PM, so if you want to catch a happening at night, ask the staff for schedule and be there early.

I was in awe the first time I went there because I was really surprised that Oh My Gulay!, a very artistic and comfortable space, has been hiding from public view in one of Session Road’s most famous buildings. It is located on the top floor of the La Azotea Building. Most locals refer to the place as VOCAS which stands for Victor Oteyza Community Art Space, and this is also why the place is boasting with arts and crafts. It is home to local artists and musicians, hence the performance stage.

Being a vegetarian restaurant in Baguio City, a vacation place that holds the title of Summer Capital of the Philippines, which is very close to the Mountain Province, it only serves the freshest harvests and mountain coffee. And being on the penthouse of the five-storey building, it also has a good view of Baguio City. So go there, sweat a little to get to the top floor and experience Baguio City’s artistry and freshness in one place.

Related Post:
Ukay Ukay in Baguio City

Sanctuaryo was a very artsy bar in Marikina Riverpark. The bar was owned by an artist M.G. Chavez, art director and layout artist of the book Pinoy Pop Culture. Mr. Chavez designed and decorated the place himself. Aside from graphic design, he is also specifically good at working with capiz and sculpting metal, filling the place with capiz lamps, sculptures and decorations that the he made himself.

Mr. Chavez is also exporting bags and purses made of different metals. The wall behind the bar was decorated with purses. It had a very Filipino feel with a lot of artworks to appreciate. It has a rooftop that overlooked the River. It’s full of warm lights and candle lamps. It was a very cozy place with a wonderful staff. Mr. Chavez himself, and his son Kuya Oax, were always there to mingle with guests and make them feel comfortable. Too bad it’s gone now. Me and my college friends used to go to Marikina from our school in Diliman to go to Sanctuaryo. Kuya Oax became our friend and he particularly remembered my name, and Beema’s, because we were the loud ones in the group. I miss everything about this very beautiful place.

I have always loved traveling.

When I was younger, I wished I was I Traveler, remember that show on Discovery Channel?

And now that I am older, I work my arse off in OTs, save up, and well, travel. I thought I’ve been to a lot of places. But hey, the Philippines has more than 7000 beautiful islands. Who am I to say that I have traveled?