Chinatown Singapore - shopping & dining

Initially, I was confused with the SMRT station name as Chinatown due to its Chinese translated name is called 'Bullock Carts Water - 牛车水'. After checked it out through the websites, then only I realized that this area is named after the bullock carts that used to supply fresh water to its residents in 19th century.

Entrance and Exit of SMRT Chinatown

Upon stepped out from the SMRT station, I was attracted by the shop-houses at the both side, which are the Chinese traditional architecture. 

In Chinatown, we could find various type of unique item that could serve as souvenir which is sell in cheaper price compare to some other tourism areas. 3 watches or 4 round neck t-shirts or 3 shopping bags only sell for SGD 10!!! Yes, only 10 dollars. If you are looking for item that full with cultural sense, you may also have chance to find it here.

Besides shopping, Chinatown also full with the variety of delicious food. I love to eat the duck tongue, duck liver and duck gizzard in mild spicy taste. If you do eat this kind of food, give it a try. The store name is '九九王精武鸭脖' (Don't know how to translate). Besides, the '绝味拌菜' at the same location is also attracted many people to taste it. We could choose our own combination from vege to pork to kelp and etc. All these stores are located at People's Park Complex.

After walking for few hours, we felt bit hungry and moving towards to the Chinatown Food Street-Smith Street. We were there around 5-6pm and the food stores were started to set up to receive their customer.

  

We took a bowl of dessert - 'peanut dumpling soup 花生汤圆', it was tasty. Besides, we ordered a mini seafood steamboat with two rice for our dinner. If I'm not mistaken, it was only SGD 10.00. When the day turn into night, the store owner started to arrange the table and chairs on the road to gather more visitors for their dining.

Anyway, known from the website that this food street is closed for renovations till late of 2013. 

In overall, I love to visit the Chinatown and for sure would come back again for my next trip. It worth for a visit!

where to stay in Singapore for budget traveller?

We had visited Singapore twice and hotel stay was always our concern. As a budget traveller, we won't expect for a luxury facility but the hotel should be minimum in clean condition. In order to save some taxi fares, we always looked for hotel near to SMRT station. As a result, hotel in Geylang was pop up to match the criteria. 

Understand from website that Geylang is a red-light district, but the cheaper hotel stay was attracting us to explore it. After survey the hotel reviews include Agoda and TripAdvisor, Fragrance Hotel Emerald and Hotel 81 Orchid were preferred. These two hotels are quite near, just in different lane.

We took SMRT East West Line to Kallang station. You could take a cab, an easier way to the hotel but we preferred to walk. It took us 10-15 mins to reach the hotel. By following the direction from Google Maps, we could easily find the location. Due to the road from Kallang SMRT station to hotel is in one way design, there is no bus fetching you directly to the destination. However, we could take bus near to hotel to Kallang station. Why? It is one way road design.. The bus stop near to hotel is with ID:80069 (Opp Mohd Salleh Mque). The nearest bus stop to Kallang station is with ID:80101 (Opp Blk 2C). Bus with no. 21 or 26 is running this route. Bus fare is around SGD 0.73. 

Both hotels that we stayed were clean and tidy. The room is relatively small but it served the purpose for us to take a rest after whole day trip. Each room is consisted of individual bathroom. Of course, no breakfast served nor room service provided but bottle drinks and coffee sachet was giving away complimentary. Both hotels do provide luggage storage for guests with early arrival and late departure.

There are many food stores around the hotels, covering from Chinese noodle soup to Indian roti canai. We used to take our breakfast in the coffee shop, a plate of mee or chicken rice around SGD 3.00 while a cup of coffee only around SGD 1.00. At night, the food variety even wider, we could easily get seafood or even frog clay pot rice within walking distance.

In overall, we quite satisfy staying in  Fragrance Hotel Emerald and Hotel 81 Orchid at Geylang. If you are budget traveller, do consider these hotels. In case your group consists of all lady, perhaps not to go back hotel at late night, safety is always top priority.

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by KTM train Singapore-Kulai and to Legoland Malaysia

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from Senai Airport to Singapore by Sky Shuttle

by KTM train Singapore-Kulai and to Legoland Malaysia

After walk around Singapore, our next destination is to Legoland, Johor Bahru. This time we decided to take KTM (Malaysia Railway) back from Singapore to Malaysia.

We took SMRT to Marsling station and cross over the road to the opposite bus station (Opp Marsling Station, ID 46529). We hop into bus no. 856 and arrived Woodlands Train Checkpoints after 3 stops. Bus fare around SGD 1.10.

By following the road sign, we walked towards the train ticketing counter and luckily got 2 tickets to Kulai, Johor. We made our stop at Kulai station because we already booked a hotel room in Kulai City Inn Hotel. The train fare from Woodlands to Kulai is SGD 7.00 per pax. Please check the KTM website for the train schedule to avoid disappointment. The ticket to Kulai could only be purchased over the counter on travelling date and could not booked on line. By the way, we glad to take train because the cross border immigration process is fast due to the counter only cater for the train passengers. This is our first experience with KTM train. The journey to Kulai took us roughly an hour's time.

Upon reach Kulai KTM station, walk towards the main road and turn left. The Kulai City Inn hotel would be   at 5 minutes walk along the way. It is located in a complex at level 3 and 4. We stay 2 nights for only RM 234. This hotel is newly built with clean and big room. Free breakfast is included in the package and surprisingly the  breakfast is provided by Old Town White Coffee shop at ground floor. We book the hotel transport to Legoland. It is a Toyota Innova and the single trip cost us RM50 for 2 pax. The journey would be around 45 mins from the hotel.

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Legoland Malaysia 2013 Part I
Legoland Malaysia 2013 Part II
Legoland Malaysia 2013 Part III
Legoland Malaysia 2013 Part IV
walk around Singapore....Garden by the Bay
from Senai Airport to Singapore by Sky Shuttle

walk around Singapore....Garden by the Bay

I was impressed by the night view of Garden by the Bay shared by someone in their websites. Hence, this garden was listed as our 'must visit' attraction of this Singapore trip. 

We took SMRT to Bayfront station and walked to Garden by the Bay, followed the clear signboard along the way. Don't worry, just around 5-10 minutes walking distance.

For non local resident, the standard rate of adult will be S$28 for two conservatories. I would like to share a tip here for a budget traveller...since this Garden is quite attractive, there will be some promotion/ package offer by the group purchase voucher (i.e. Groupon in Malaysia). Check it out and you might be able to grab the ticket with cheaper price. This is the way how we save our budget :)

We made ourselves in the garden around 4pm to ensure we able to enjoy both day and night view of the garden.

We hop onto the Garden Cruiser tram (S$5 per adult) and follow the ride within garden before enter the conservatories.

Flower Dome

It was my first experience to enjoy walking around in the garden that fully air-conditioned. So great! We could slowly took the photo without sweating. Various attractive flowers were waiting for our camera flashing.

Cloud Forest

The second conservatory is Cloud Forest. Upon entry, we were amazed by the indoor waterfall.

Experienced the 'lost world' in this conservatory...

In overall, this Garden by the Bay is worth to give a visit, we have an enjoyable moment there. The souvenir shop is also offering unique items in reasonable price. 

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from Senai Airport to Singapore by Sky Shuttle

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from Senai Airport to Singapore by Sky Shuttle

Lets have short break in Singapore.... few tips for those go for budget trip..

We grab a free seat by Air Asia and travel to Johor Senai Airport in April 2013. Now AirAsia and Causewaylink had provided free Sky Shuttle Bus from Senai Airport to Singapore. Book your  free Sky Shuttle in Causewaylink website by only key in flight confirmation number. Once e-ticket ready, print it out and show to the Causewaylink counter at Senai Airport for verification. Present it to Sky Shuttle driver and you could enjoy the service. After CIQ Johor Bahru, present e-ticket to the Causewaylink bus CW1 or CW2. Take either one bus to CIQ Woodlands, Singapore. After go through the immigration, then take the right Causewaylink bus to your destination, CW1 to Kranji MRT Station and CW2 to Queen Street.

In case you book the round trip flight ticket to Senai Airport, the Sky Shuttle Bus service is covering both ways to and from Singapore. Travelling process is same, just in opposite way.

Please visit this link : http://causewaylink.com.my/skyshuttle

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Singapore Chinatown - shopping and dining