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SG-MY Tour Day 1 - City Tour

 

Arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 4 approximately 9:10 a.m. There's no time difference between Manila and SG. After going through airport security and immigration, we met up with our guide at the airport lobby. Made use of the fast airport WiFi to make my first post and freshened up in their beautiful clean bathrooms. 4 others were joining us for the van ride to the hotel.


While waiting, we inquired at a mobile stall about mobile Internet. A tourist SIM that you can also use in Malaysia costs 38SGD. You can also get pocket WiFi for 10SGD / day plus a refundable deposit of 200SGD (credit card only). We decided it's too expensive. Our guide told us we could buy SIM at shops near the hotel.

Arrived at the Fragrance Crystal Hotel in 50 Lor 18 Geylang at around 10:30 a.m. Check-in is at 3:00 p.m. but they'll do early check-in for 45SGD. Lolwut

We decided to walk around and find a restaurant to eat lunch and just come back after. The hotel front desk staff said he can check us in at 1:30 p.m. at the earliest with no extra charge. The hotel is little more than a pension house and does not have a restaurant.

We had lunch at this roadside restaurant that offers Chinese, Thai and Indian food. I ordered cashew nut, chicken with egg and rice and iced coffee. The meal is 5SGD and the coffee is 1.86SGD. I had 2 coffee because it's so good.



Then we checked out some nearby shops and bought a Singtel tourist SIM card with 100GB data for 15SGD. The shop attendant was a little snappy at first but after some chatting up (I asked if I could use the SIM in Malaysia and he said its a different country lmao), he warmed a little and told us he's from KL, Malaysia. Then he warned us about being careful with our things in KL. Thanks for the warning. The SIM card can be used in Malaysia BTW. I checked the card (and tested it later for the Malaysia part of the tour).

Then back to the hotel where we waited about 30 mins. to get checked in.


THE HOTEL



The room is small, clean and modest. It will do for 2 nights. There's only one trash can, which we dragged for use in the bathroom. The fridge is not stocked, but there's complimentary bottles of water, coffee and the usual. After a relaxing shower, we rested a bit before stepping out again to check out the city proper and to meet up with some Singapore-based friends.

Grabcar to Marina Bay Sands is a Mercedes Benz lol for 7SGD and an extra 1SGD for toll. Hmmkay. Spent a few minutes taking pictures at The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands while waiting for a friend from college. When she arrived with her kid, she showed us around the Merlion Park and other sights around the area before heading to the Lau Pasat for dinner at the heart of Singapore's financial district. Our friend left just before another friend arrived to buy us dinner. By this time, it's 7:00 p.m. but the sun is still out.

The famous Merlion statue with Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the background

Inside The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands




Lau Pasat at the heart of Singapore's bustling financial district

After a sumptuous dinner of an assortment of seafoods and chicken satay, we took the MRT (a trip is 1.50SGD) to Gardens by the Bay just in time for the Supertree Grove Light Show. What a feast for the eyes. My only complaint is that it's a little crowded.

Under the Supertree Grove, Garden by the Bay



Sands SkyPark Observation Deck

From there, we went into the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, took pics of the financial district at night, then took a Grabcar for 14SGD back to our hotel. It was past 10:00 p.m.

DAY 1 EXPENSES:

Lunch - 5SGD
Coffee - 3.72SGD
SIM card - 15SGD
Grabcar to Marina Bay Sands Hotel - 8SGD
MRT trip - 1.50SGD
Grabcar to hotel - 14SGD

TOTAL - 47.22SGD
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