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Singapore
  • Vander Wonders
  • Vander Wonders

Singapore

A short but fine adventure by Vander Wonders Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 6, 2017
    Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Almost stayed in the wrong country

    March 6, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    As we arrive in Manila from El Nido Isabel shifts her focus to Singapore and she checks on google maps how to get from the airport to our Airbnb. At that moment she says "Ek het 'n foutjie gemaak"/ I made a mistake.

    Then she said the Airbnb I booked is 5 minutes across the border in Malaysia. I double check and yes we are about to board a plane to Singapore but we only have a place to stay in Malaysia.

    After overcoming the shock of this I spring into action and try to cancel our Airbnb and get our money back, while Isabel started looking for new accommodation in Singapore.

    Although Airbnb has a very strict cancellation policy (or at least this one) I still try as Isabel did search for Singapore when the listing came up, plus Isabel even said to the host we are looking forward to come to Singapore and she did not tell us that the place is not in Singapore. I am not sure what happened behind the scenes between Airbnb and the host but the host came back and said its fine she will refund us, so thats great.

    Isabel looked at Airbnb and there was nothing available thats cheaper than any hotel she could find and at the end of the day she booked us into the Dorsett Singapore, which cost about the same per night than our whole previous Airbnb booking did. Singapore is just much more expensive than Malaysia. I am glad we caught this in time and was able to book this nice hotel.

    {Roedolf}

    Hierdie foutjie het vir my uitgewerk! 😜

    {Isabel}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    SMRT

    March 7, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The train system and other public transport contribute to the lack of traffic in the city. The train system is excellent and so clean.

    I really hope the Gautrain can turn into a complete system like this one!

    {Roedolf}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Hop on hop off Singapore

    March 7, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Much like the first time we visited NYC we got ourselves some hop on hop off tickets for a little orientation of the city and to learn some cool facts.

    Cool fact #1 - there is no traffic congestion even in peak time. This is due to the high cost of owning a car, there is a high import duty on cars plus a limited number of car licenses available, the cost of these licenses can be as much as $50,000 and lastly ERP or toll roads everywhere.

    Cool fact #2 - the city is one of the cleanest places I have every seen where humans operate. This is due to heavy fines imposed on things like chewing gum and littering.

    Cool fact #3 - the city is also referred to as "the fine city" not due to the fact that its fine but because there are so many things you can get fined for.

    Cool fact #4 - Singapore has 4 main ethnic groups: Chinese, Indian, Malayan and Eurasians as they are referred to here (European and other asian minority's).

    The Island is pretty small so after finishing the first of 7 routes; we pretty much had a good idea whats where in the city.

    One of the things that I keep doing is comparing our hop on hop off bus experience here to the one in NYC. The one in NYC was very cool as there is so much history and the place has so much character (this is coming from someone who did not really like NYC), while Singapores history constitutes basically the arrival of Indians, the Chinese and Japanese takeover during the world wars. The city itself does not have much character in my opinion as its so clinical and modern that it all just looks the some. The only two places with some character is little india and chinatown but its not much different from similar areas in other world cities. The cool thing here is that there are trees and greeneries everywhere.

    Don't get me wrong this would be an awesome place to live as everything just works like a well oiled machine, to the point where its almost boring.

    If you think that 30 years ago this place was very similar to the rest of Asia its really incredible what money and focus in the right place can do to turn things around. This place could not be more different from the rest of Asia that we have seen.

    {Roedolf}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Hop on hop off or stay on

    March 7, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    I have to be honest this is not my favorite or preferred way of exploring, I find it boring to sit on a bus and the humidity in Singapore is not exactly pleasant. I also do not like to talk to other noisy tourists about where U am from ( because A I am a world citizen, B currently a a homeless nomad and C I am over small talk and answering questions) the other downfall is the bus limits epic picture opportunities. However I do find it informative and always agree to do this as Roedolf never reads up on places and he loves all the facts and jokes. Roedolf will hate me if I make him run or walk all the loops so this is still a win.

    Note how boring the pictures of city hall is.
    {Issy}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Flight at Sky on 57

    March 7, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    This is our new trick in big cities, have a drink in the highest rooftop bar instead of going to the equivalent observation deck with a million of other tourists.

    I need alcohol to be able to be comfortable this high up anyway.

    {Roedolf}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Botanical gardens

    March 8, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We kicked off the day with a run in the botanical gardens a world heritage site, the only tropical garden that made it to Unesco's list. In the middle of the city, this is gem even has a rainforest inside. I am amazed by all the individual gardens and the how incredibly well kept it is. It was a great way to explore the park and enjoy nature. This place is beautiful and every nature lover, fitness fanatic and yogi's playground.
    Again Singapore impress, a world class city that just knows how to roll.

    {Issy}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Trick eye museum

    March 8, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Trick Eye is short for ‘Trick of the eye’, which refers to an art technique that turns two-dimensional paintings into three-dimensional images through the use of optical illusions. With that, 2D paintings on the museum walls, floors and ceilings appear to pop out of the surface and come to life. We had lots of fun and it was really something unique and very different on what we have done before, I think it would be even more fun with a family or friends because you can create even better tricks. Here and there we teamed up with other groups to take a couple of couple shots.

    A really fun museum.

    {Issy}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Sentosa island

    March 8, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We walked over the boardwalk to enjoy the views and have lunch, we browsed around and after a taster of the chefs vermicelli, it didn't take a lot of convincing to eat at this Michelin star restaurant. The food was divine.

    {Issy}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    City longrun

    March 9, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Clocked a long run around this run-friendly super clean city! Hierdie Singaporeans maak uit !! Ja dis amper hospitaal klinies maar daar is oral n gevoel van beheer en orde, als loop soos stroop. Leierskap en visie verander alles, die ekstreme boete kultuur dra verseker meriete. Ek bly net verstom oor hoe dit 'n 360 kontras met die res van Asië is. Chinatown, Riverside , Marina bay, Jubileee bridge en Cbd ek het gewrap voor ons 7 ure vlug. 'n Perfekte amper moeitelose manier om die stad te groet... ek twyfel of Roedolf weer hier sal kry.

    {Issy}    Read more

  • Vander WondersSingaporeTraveler

    Merlion Park

    March 9, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Our tourist Singapore pass train tickets expired at midnight last night and the hop on hop off busses start running too late, the last bit of Singapore exploring had to be done by foot.

    I did a little 5km run to the weird fish lion thing and back and Isabel did a 16km run which basically covered almost the whole city 😜.

    {Roedolf}    Read more

    Trip end
    March 9, 2017
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