This is the start of another adventure starting off with 5 nights in Singapore then 3 months in Thailand. This is our 8th holiday in Singapore and I have to say it is my most favourite capital city.
We left Australia with Singapore Airlines and had also booked our hotel through the Singapore Stopover Holidays. Same hotel as last year Royal@Queens except this year it was $100 cheaper due to the promotion of first night for $1. We were even in the same room as last year on the 16th floor, fantastic views!
So our 5 nights cost us $505 which also includes lots of bonuses such as free transfers, 50% discount on meals at the hotel, free entry into various attractions such as Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park etc.
Royal@Queens is a good hotel in a great location; the room is nice with a huge flat screen TV, DVD player, iron and ironing board, tea & coffee making facilities, big in room safe. It use to be part of the Allyson Hotel and is still connected by a walkway.
The hotel is a 5 min walk to Bugis Street, Raffles, Chijmes, City Hall MRT, there is a 7/11 next door, atms and a food court. It also took us about 15 minutes to walk to Little India.
We really did not do much while we were there. Went to the Chinese Gardens which are very beautiful, admission is free; there is also a huge Bonsai garden and Japanese gardens.
There is also a turtle museum/display which will cost you $5 admission. It is in the Guinness book of world records for the most amount of turtles in captivity and has some of the ugliest turtles I have ever seen ha-ha.
Just go there by MRT and get off at the Chinese Gardens Station, very easy and will only cost you $2.40 (then you cash your card in and get a dollar back!!)
We went back to the Singapore Zoo as its been a few years since our last visit, admission was free with our stopover package and then we paid $5 for the tram ride around the zoo, this was a waste as we walked the whole zoo but is great if you have little kids. Normal price admission for adults is $18.
Just a little warning, if you have lots of kids stay away from the ice cream place just before you go into the zoo, we bought 2 indulgences there and it cost us $26!! It was nice but not worth that.
Singapore Zoo is fantastic and we spent ages watching the baby baboons, some were so little they could hardly walk. I took lots of photos and they are on my link below.
Once again it’s so easy to get there, hop on the MRT and get off at Ang Moi Koi ($2.60) and takes about 30 mins. Then walk over to the bus interchange and take bus 138 to the zoo ($1.60) this is also about a 30 min ride.
This year I plucked up the courage to go on the Singapore Flyer which cost us $29.50 each, if you have your Singapore Airlines boarding pass with you it is only $23. The views were sensational and it takes 30 minutes to go around once.
By the time we were at the top I was starting to think what is it breaks down or something so then all I wanted to do was get off!!! But I did it and it was fantastic.
Now for eating out. Twice we went to the Food Republic at Vivocity, it is such good value and the food was delicious.
First visit we had claypot chicken laksa and claypot seafood laksa which cost $6.90 each, the serves are huge and soft drinks were $1.80.
Next meal there was a chicken and mutton murtubah, we have never had such big murtubah and they were perfect and cost $5.50 each.
Had a meal at Breko restaurant on Victoria Street next to the Bugis street markets, they have a special of a burger, salad, fries, soup and a soft drink for $12 and small bottle of Tiger is $7.90 but if you buy 2 its only $12.
This place is ok and we have been here a few times over the years, it’s good for people watching!
Another favourite is Basil Alcove, we also ate here twice, and they are on the corner of Bencoolen and Middle Rd. It is a tiny place with a few tables and chairs inside and then more out on the footpath. The owner is such a lovely friendly lady.
The food is good and reasonable priced, a chicken ceaser salad is $12, garlic bread $4, Rib eye and braised mushrooms $24. Soft drinks are $1.50 and a mug of Tiger $6.50.
Lau Pau Sat was good, the satays are still 60 cents each so we ordered 30, the only problem here was Gary ordered a jug of beer and reminded them 3 times, it never did turn up!!
Now for the Great Singapore Sale, I had no intentions of buying anything ha-ha but of course I had to visit my favourite department store – Tangs at Vivocity.
As soon as we walked in I saw a dress that begged me to try it on, the price tag was $200. I was so disappointed when it didn’t fit, but not to worry the sales assistant came back with a bigger size and it was perfect, the sale price was $89.
Then she said I have another dress you will like, when I saw it I thought no way would I ever wear that!! But I didn’t want to offend her so I tried it on, well I loved it hahaha. Price tag was $150 and sale price $69.
Then I was trying to decide which one to buy and Gary said get them both so of course I did. (Plus I bought a little handbag there for $23)
Ok off to look at some more shops, Vivocity is massive and it has the biggest Espirit shop I have ever been in, bought a great skirt there which was reduced from $129.90 to $69.90.
Then went into Aldo’s which is a small costume jewellery shop and bought a set of 10 bangles for $17.
We did a quick trip to the Guess shop on Orchard road and bought a couple of purses, they were $60 reduced to $35.90, I also bough a couple more for the same price at OG department store.
Time for a drink so off we go to IndoChine, we only stayed for one as a small Tiger beer was $14!!
Then it’s into Ngee Ann City to the Swarovski crystal shop. I saw the most beautiful pair of earrings and was going to buy them when Gary found a matching necklace and said to buy that as well. What a good husband he is ha-ha.
All up they cost $505 and if you spend over $350 they also give you a beautiful crystal pen which comes in its own little dust bag!!
Now the main shop I go to every visit to Singapore is Raaikash Fashions on Serengoon Rd in Little India. They have the most beautiful leather sandals and they fit my big size 10 feet!!
I already have 3 pairs of their sandals and they look so nice and are extremely comfortable. So I bought a nice pair of black with silver diamantes toe sandals for $46 and a dressy silver pair of sandals for $58.
So that was the end of my shopping, I just love bargains.
So that’s out 5 nights in Singapore, the weather was perfect and I think it must be the first time we have been there and it never rained!
Now we are in Phuket so there will be more reports on that forum – eventually.
The link below is to our Singapore Photos.
…google.com/CathyandGary/2009Singapore
Cathy
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