Backpacking Philippines: Tour of Singapore (Guided and DIY)

Tour of Singapore (Guided and DIY)

Singapore is one city so easy to tour with various options of guided tours and easy do-it-yourself tours for the more adventurous (or financially-challenged) individuals.

The Singapore skyline is picturesque and can be seen in breathtaking photos at night with brightly colored lights of buildings particularly those lining the bay.

Problem only was that Tutubi has this chronic "dysfunctional motor system syndrome" made him too lazy to lug along his sturdy tripod to take night photos of this modern metropolis.

singapore skyline from marina bay with the esplanade and marina mandarin in sight. taken near the Merlion with camera firmly held against the steel railings of the park

The night before, Tutubi met college friends, now living and working in Singapore, in Suntec before deciding to chill out at Zuk's, a trendy club quite popular that one of his classmates even saw former PM Lee Kuan Yew inside the washroom urinating. (imagine how much a photo of Mr Lee peeing would cost for a paparazzi :)

The last day of Tutubi, after two days of attending a conference, was the free half-day tour of the Lion City that took him to many touristy places, passing through Singapore's surprisingly clean roads, as narrated through pictures below:

Thian Hock Keng Temple, the oldest Taoist temple dedicated to Matsu, the Taoist goddess of the sea; a smaller temple at the back is a Buddhist one dedicated to Kuan Yin.

a visit to Chinatown, with it's pastel-colored victorian inspired houses with chinese merchants. (Warning by the tour guide: be careful since some merchants take advantage of tourists.

Tutubi noticed, however, the rudeness of some shopkeepers when they notice he's not going to buy (because they give you astronomical price they thought a penny-pinching tourist like Tutubi can afford)

After looking around and finding out most goods are too pricey, just walk up to the end of the street taking pictures of shops, buildings, and an Indian temple-- the Sri Mariamman temple.

Leaving Chinatown, next stop's Mt. Faber that offers a breathtaking view of Sentosa Island; can be reached via a cable car.

Such a nice toilet/washroom/CR/water closet they have!

The last, as ubiquitous as it may seem for city tours, was a visit to a jewelry shop where they're try to sell you über-expensive jewelries and works of art. )Of course, Tutubi, again, won't let his guard down by buying; candidly took pictures of some items on display)

After the tour, Tutubi asked to be dropped in front of Funan Digitalife Mall, instead of the hotel, to ask for the price of a nifty fifty lens (Canon 50mm f1.8 II).

Funan Digitalife Mall is reputed to be friendlier than full-of-tourist-traps and rude shopkeepers Sim Lim Square where Tutubi went to earlier where he was treated rudely for asking the price of the same lens two days before.

From Funan, Tutubi walked quite a distance again towards St. Andrew Cathedral, the Cricket Club, Capitol Building and other landmarks before the durian-looking, but not durian-smelling, Esplanade Mall.

St Andrew Cathedral, with Filipino markers, and with children catching tutubi (dragonflies) unmindful that a Tutubi is taking their picture to document the "massacre."

I wonder what this little boy's doing at the back of the cathedral

Esplanade Mall

Next: Experience India in Singapore

Tags: 新加坡, >シンガポール, 싱가포르, Singapour, Singapur

Labels: Singapore

posted by GingGoy @ 10:12 PM,

23 Comments:

At Jul 17, 2007, 12:29:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I enjoyed this post a lot and I felt as if I was there in Singapore myself!

;)
At Jul 17, 2007, 12:52:00 PM, Anonymous said...: hi. thanks! na-spoil na ang excitement kc you got there na pala. pero kung okay pa din sau, email mo ako here: addlesky@yahoo.com
So ayun, friends na tayo?
-Adel
At Jul 17, 2007, 4:31:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Singapore is a pretty place. I would like to work there.
At Jul 17, 2007, 4:32:00 PM, Citizen of the World said...: Ha ha ha! Ayos sa comment re tutubi massacre, ah!
At Jul 17, 2007, 5:32:00 PM, kegler747 said...: Because of this post namimiss ko na uli ang singapore. I have been to singapore 5x pero gustong gusto ko uli bumalik. Great pix!
At Jul 17, 2007, 7:04:00 PM, Anonymous said...: as usual, your photos are wonderful! I like the marina night shot the most :)

I agree with you re: rude storekeepers..most of them really are, especially if they smell you're pinoy (kasi uber barat daw tayo ...totoo naman he he)

so how much was the Canon lens, btw?
At Jul 17, 2007, 7:50:00 PM, Nick Ballesteros said...: Some things never change, eh? There is still lots of rudeness with Singapore vendors. I was a regular visitor to Singapore and Hongkong for training in the 90s and the rudeness of the vendors there are a major turn-off. Sabi nga ng iba, kung hindi ka bibili, hwag ka na lang magtanong. Haaay.
At Jul 17, 2007, 11:46:00 PM, Ronnie said...: i have been wanting to visit singapore.. and if possible, to work there as well.

sana magkaroon ako ng chance. great photos!
At Jul 18, 2007, 5:39:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Maraming salamat sa dalaw sa aking ekubo tutubi!I like this nick tutubi a lot, so cute aliw:)

BTW awesome shots you've got here & will surely be back for more;)
At Jul 18, 2007, 9:24:00 AM, Anonymous said...: parang nakapunta narin ako sa singapore sa entry mo. saya talaga ng diy tour no? salamat din pala sa warning tungkol sa mga rude shopkeepers.
At Jul 18, 2007, 12:32:00 PM, Gypsy said...: Great photos! Especially like the Singapore skyline at night...tried that from the roofdeck of the Esplanade but since I didnt have a tripod and my camera didnt have IS--my shot came out like an impressionist painting..haay!
At Jul 18, 2007, 3:53:00 PM, Mari said...: As usual, great photos. You need not say much, just looking at them tells a story already.

Thanks for sharing those awesome photos.
At Jul 19, 2007, 3:34:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Gawd! You gotta love the washroom. And the giant durian! Ack! Haha. Good luck sa pagbalik. :)
At Jul 23, 2007, 12:17:00 AM, -= dave =- said...: the sight of mr. lee peeing, now that is priceless :)
At Apr 21, 2009, 3:50:00 PM, Work and Live Abroad said...: Love your article, I feel like I've been in Singapore with your pics. i always wanna travel but don't have the money to sustain my dreams as of the moment. Singapore is a nice place to work and live in, minus the fact that the cost of living is enormous. Singapore care a lot for its people, they provide good quality of life.
At May 20, 2010, 12:44:00 PM, Anonymous said...: hi im going to singapore this july..is it safe there for tourist?will be just doing our own tour since we are "financially challeged"
At May 20, 2010, 1:37:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, of course it's safe there :P
At Mar 7, 2011, 6:47:00 PM, Jim said...: I need travel guide po.. :(
At Sep 22, 2011, 7:54:00 PM, leadership and team building said...: Because the Himalayas, home of the snow, is the most impressive system of mountains on the earth, and for centuries the setting for epic feats of exploration and mountain climbing / treks, are a world into themselves. Ascending the heights and being a part of the Himalayan landscape is an experience beyond comparison. Above all Treks in Himalayas is often a mix of adventure, pleasure and self realisation.
At Sep 22, 2011, 8:32:00 PM, camping sleeping bags said...: High Adventure Equipment manufacture trekking equipment and outdoor camping gear, which are needed, and helps you to accomplish your task in the mountain terrain at inhospitable surroundings.
At Oct 8, 2011, 3:19:00 PM, LAKBAY LAGUNA said...: i missed singapore.... through your post i remembered singapore when i was there...

wish to go back and roam the city..........
At Dec 7, 2011, 11:30:00 AM, Anonymous said...: for seven days tour, is 25000 enough? additional of credit card...
At Sep 21, 2012, 3:45:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I want to work in SIngapore. if there somebody please help me to find job. Im here in Philippines..

Tour of Singapore (Guided and DIY)

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