Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Wandering Around (Part III)

Second day
So, more than half of my second day in Singapore was filled with Universal Studio experience. Although this theme park is not super huge, but the themed attractions are all really worth exploring until you will forget how much time you've spend on it. For a little brief introduction, this Universal Studio Singapore (USS) is consist of seven zones, which are Hollywood, New york, Sci-fi City, Ancient Egypt, Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar. For more complete info, of course you can visit its website HERE.

Me and my friends went to USS by taking a monorel called Sentosa Express from Vivo City costs SGD3 for all access through Sentosa Island. Well, actually you could also take a cable car to go to Sentosa, but it costs much and luckily I have ever took that cable car on my 2008 student exchange to Singapore :P





Top (H&M), Jeans (Cheap Monday), Sandals (Unbranded), Bag (Guess)


So, right after entering the entrance gate of USS, you will be in Hollywood zone. You will find Hollywood Walk of Fame, Cafe and Bakery, Candy Store, and USS merchandise store. Of course, all of them are located in a great exterior which you could never get enough of!






It was a rainy day, so we had to wear raincoat when entering outdoor area

If you turn right, the next zone is New York. Yes, as what the movie shows us, you will find famous landmark of New York in this zone, like New York Public Library and New York's Apartment. I can't get enough of taking pictures in this zone! But aside from that, the great attraction in this zone is called "Light, Camera, Action" by Steven Spielberg. Right after I entered this attraction, there is this 3D stage which become a setting of major hurricane that happen in New York. Too bad I couldn't catch the attraction on my camera since it includes waters that can harm electronic devices.


Next, we were at Sci-fi City zone where you could find this oh-so-famous Battlestar Galactica and Transformer The Ride! One thing I adore about USS is that this theme park has a really good technology. The attractions are actually quite simple, but nevertheless it tooks a great technology to make it works. 

The next zone is Ancient Egypt and it turns out I didn't capture any photos in this zone, pardon me, please? :P


At The Lost World zone, I watch a theatrical attraction called Water World. In this attraction, you will see a real mini helicopter fly! Sounds really interesting, right?


Far Far Away zone is magical. You will find this beautiful castle and other attractions with Shrek as its theme. A fan of Shrek? There is a merchandise shop in this zone and all is about Shrek, hurrah!



Madagascar zone is fun! Me and my friends join on its crate adventure on a river boat and meet Madagascar character along the way. This attraction contains bubble soap and fog, well it's all about fun!


After finished with USS, we ate at Vivo City Moslem Canteen and I found my favorite dish in Singapore: Yong Tau Foo with Laksa


And finally, as this second day closing, we went to Marina Bay Sands Skypark (costs SGD20) to soothe ourselves with this magnificent view of Singapore city light. Everywhere I go, I could never be able to resist enjoying city light. There is always something soothing about watching city light. It feels like even when you're enjoying this view in a solitude, you actually are not alone. 

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Wandering Around (Part II)

To read the previous post, Wandering Around (Part I), you may click HERE.

On my last short yet meaningful traveling trip, me and my friends did try to explore as much as we could within the budget we could afford. And actually these are how we ended up:

First day
After safely landed in Changi International Airport, we went straight to our booked apartment at Pacific Mansion, River Valley Close. Surprisingly, just like what my fellow friend, Hana Anjani, the one who helped me found the apartment said, this apartment is really close to Orchard Road. Took only about 15 minutes walk to reach Orchard Road yay! Then after having a short break, we went to Merlion Park just to enjoy the sunshine along this well known tourist spot.




Then we bought a one way ticket of the boat that available just beside the merlion statue, with Clarke Quay as our destination (quite affordable, costs SGD 3 each). We choose Clarke Quay because it was a quite far destination so then we could enjoy our journey along The Singapore River, just to take a look at its surrounding. Anyway, Clarke Quay is a historical riverside quay where you could find a lot of night clubs and restaurants with great architecture and interior, my favorite spot of course!



What we found along our journey at Singapore River


Arrived at Clarke Quay


Me in front of a restaurant
I'm wearing: Dress (Unbranded), Jeans Jacket (Unbranded), Bag (Guess), Sandals (Unbranded)



Bunch of colorful and beautiful windows as the restaurant's exterior

After wandering around Clarke Quay for quite long time, we decided to walk where our feet take us. Then we found this Fort Canning Park near Clarke Quay.



In front of Design Singapore Council

We walk and walk along River Valley Road, enjoying our surroundings, capturing the beautiful architecture until we accidentally found gallery and church at Hill St and Coleman St.



Civil Defence Heritage Gallery


Armenian Church of St Gregory The Illuminator

So, after got tired walking and wandering around, we took a taxi to Orchard Road to just do a little window shopping. And for me, I want to got my favorite bubble tea at KOI (you could find KOI store at Lucky Plaza) and of course, everybody's favorite SGD 1 ice cream on bread!


Honey Bubble Milk Tea


I know, this one is ice cream on wafer hehe, I was too full to eat bread


We spent like five hours at Orchard Road. Walking from one mall to another, just do a little window shopping and of course breathing in my favorite Kinokuniya book store at Takashimaya. Lots and lots books are always able to take my breath away! After we broke and did the last shopping at H&M, we walked to Killiney Road and found this Vietnamese restaurant and it turns out to be quite affordable and delicious! Too bad I forgot the exact price, but I remember each of three of us had to pay for about SGD 19 for our shared food.



73 Killiney Road


Some kind of grilled fish, tofu, and soup

And, that was my first day at my last Singapore trip. Not a fancy holiday, I know. But it was quite satisfying and unforgettable. To travel alone without parents, without enough money, we're forced to make the best decision about where to go, how to go somewhere, what to eat, and what to buy. Well, travel not only teaches us how to see, it does teach us a bunch of other lesson we could never get in school.