Artificially Uniquely Singapore part II

Still a posting bout my traveling experience to Singapore. At 3rd day, we went to Singapore Botanic Garden. No direct way to this place by MRT, so at first we took MRT to Queenstown station. Actually, Commonwealth station is closer to the place than Queenstown, we just didn't know yet, eh :D

Then we took a bus, twice (forget the number) and got the closest bus stop with the Botanic Garden. It was at morning, but the temperature was quite hot already. We entered the garden, walked along the road and stopped near the swan lake. Then we walked again among the trees crossing the Ginger Garden to the Orchid Garden.


We saw the souvenirs shop, just sightseeing cos we can't afford to buy those expensive souvenirs (very low budget traveler we are :D). There are many Risis Orchid. The Risis orchid is a handcrafted model of Singapore's national flower. Real orchids are dipped in 24K gold and made into pins, brooches, earrings and pendants.

I myself like the orchid garden cos i could see lots of orchid and took the pics of many species that i've never seen before. But i had one question after saw those orchids. How do they keep it all bloom? Then the answer was coming right in front of my eyes. There are gardeners who brought fresh flowery orchid plants. Those flowery orchids then being arranged in some spot. Well yeah, so the curiosity was closed.


Then we continued to the museums. There are Singapore Philatelic Museum and Singapore National Museum on our list, but we didn't enter them cos they aren't free (again, low budget traveler mode on).


We just walked along the street, saw some directions in bus stop's plank. Then we found the Chijmes, which is not in our itinerary. Hell yeah, it is a chic place so we entered it.


Chijmes, was a Catholic convent and now a multifunction complex used for dining, entertainment and also shopping. The architecture is gothic style. According to wikipedia, it won a Merit Award in the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2002.

From Chijmes we continued walking around the street (yeah walking) to Bugis street. While we were walking we passed the National Library of Singapore. And we decided to enter it. Fortunately there was an exhibition held, named Rihlah. It's an exhibition of Arabs in Southeast Asia. So their origin is Hadramaut, somewhere in Yemen. First they came to Southeast Asia as merchant. They were spread to several city (as i remember, in Indonesia they came to Batavia and Malang, just that two city i could remember ^_^). Instead of merchandising, they also spread Islam to the local people.


After ate lunch at Bugis street, we went to Kampong Glam to look for mosque. Took the bus, we stopped by near the Bussorah pedestrian. And Sultan Mosque is right ahead the pedestrian. After had a pray, we walked along Kampong Glam area.


Many shophouses here, along Arab street, Baghdad street and Bussorah street. Souvenirs such as keyholders,T-shirts and many more are sold here. Textiles, carpets and Muslim's religious items are sold too. They blend with shophouses for crafts, art galleries, curious shops and restaurants. The whole atmosphere is pampering my sense.

A couple minutes after, the hard rain poured. We stayed at front of a shop terrace to wait the rain stop. As we were sitting, i watched people still walk away under the rain (using umbrella of course). What surprised me is the Singapore citizen seems not afraid of thunder and lightning. Unlike me, they just keep walking. I'm kinda afraid of the lightning and thunder (heard some stories bout people who were hit by lightning). Maybe, no one here in Singapore ever been hit by the lightning :D

Well then, we followed them. We walked under the hard rain till bus stop and then we went to Harbourfront station. My next destination is Henderson Waves actually. But it was night already when we got Mount Faber. It was dark too. So we canceled and went back to Harbourfront station. But there's still one place to go, the Chinatown.


I was pretty tired and hungry when i got here, so i couldn't enjoy the warm atmosphere. Le rouge est partout. I was dizzy to see that red color all around @_@. And my legs, felt like they need to be bandaged. In hunger, we were trying to find some food here, but all i saw around are pork and lard menu. Hopeless, we went back to Bugis, but even KFC was already closed.

Finally, we decided to buy something in supermarket. We found instant cup noodle, and they are halal (thank God). So each of us bought two cup noodles, for dinner and breakfast T_T

The morning after, i woke up late. My legs still felt painful. Plan of the day was just went to Bugis to find some souvenirs. This moment we went to Bugis on foot. Our Singapore Tourist Pass was just for 3 days use, and it was the 4th day we were in Singapore. Moreover, Lavender to Bugis street ain't too far, just a couple blocks right ahead.

After bought some things we went back, on foot again, in hurry. Cos our check out time is 12 o'clock and we finished shopping at about 11.45 :D
Luckily our backpack were already been packed, and so we check out from hostel then took MRT to Changi. By the way when we were boarding, i saw a beautiful creature God ever made :"> *hyperbolic*
A goodlooking man named Faisal, a Fly Emirates' employee (i saw it from his id :D). Unfortunately i didn't take his picture T_T

*tips:
- don't forget to return ur Singapore Tourist Pass card to get SGD10 deposit return
- after buying a single ticket for MRT you could also return the ticket and get SGD1
- muscular pain reliever is a MUST! i use Counterpain balm *ngiklan mode on*
- some museums are closed on Monday