Tag: travelling

N9 In Straya Series: Walking Around MELBOURNE Part 1 – Parks, Gardens & Heritage Sites

Last August 2018, I went to Australia for a week-long trip with my N9 friends, Shane & Leng. We spent days around Sydney’s heritage sites & country icons, tried the extreme rides in Scenic World Blue Mountains, toured Hunter Valley & had a taste of the best wines in the region & walked along the beautiful Bondi & Coogee Beaches. I also had the chance to spend a few days with my relatives in Brisbane. It was the perfect dry winter trip, away from the humid & rainy Manila.

We all got multiple entry visas on our 1st application (find out here how we did it) & we agreed to fly to Australia again before our visas expire. Fast forward to April 2019, we all flew back to Australia for another week of adventure.. But this time, in Melbourne! Yes, we went around Melbourne & Victoria in general for 8 days & oh boy, we had a great time. I cannot wait to share everything in this platform. This trip to Melbourne also means I’ll be reviving the N9 In Straya Series which started last year.

We were joined by my good friend, Lord of LordAroundTheWorld, for the first 4 days in Melbourne. Lord was the one who invited me to go to Its The Ship 2018 last November. We had the best party nights on board a cruise ship – good times. Anyway, I will be dividing the trip write-ups into 6 or 7 sections & I’ll try to remember as much details as I can.

FLIGHTS

Last year, I paid around ₱11,500 all-in for a return ticket to Australia. Yes, that cheap! We flew with Cebu Pacific Air, a low-cost carrier, for 8-hour trips to & from Sydney. The experience was alright, though nothing beats flying with a full-service airline. Given our planned dates fall on the high (Holy Week) season, we decided to fly with the same airline in their Melbourne route.

This time, I paid around ₱15,000 for a round-trip ticket to Melbourne, Australia. The ticket only included shared baggage with my friends, no in-flight entertainment or food. Both flights were on time which were good. However, the experience was terrible. The flight was full, we had no space to change seats & have a row of seats to ourselves. The cabin was noisy in general & the service was a bit slow. The crew were fantastic, there were just around 400+ passengers on board.

This Melbourne ticket is amazingly cheap considering higher fuel prices & taxes. I’d still take the same flights but not during peak seasons.

ACCOMMODATION

My friends & I stayed in Flinders Backpackers in the center of Melbourne. We got a 3-bed dormitory room (perfect for us 3 – Lord got his own bed in another dormitory room) for 8 days & 7 nights. I will talk more about the hostel, its location & our experience in my upcoming hostel of the day feature. Watch out for that.

WALKING AROUND MELBOURNE

Last year, my friends & I joined the I’m Free Tours in Sydney & we had a nice experience. We opted not to take the I’m Free Tours Melbourne because we already know about the history of Australia. It would’ve been nice to know more about Melbourne in that walking tour but my friends didn’t want to take it again. Instead, we explored the city on our own. Trams are free within the central business district plus everything in the area can be reached by foot. Today, allow me to share with you the list of heritage & historical sites, parks & gardens we went to in the city.

Flinders Street Station

Flinders Street Station is Melbourne’s main train station. It was built in the 1850s & then transform into what it is now in the early 1900s. It is Australia’s first railway station. The station serves the whole Victorian metropolitan network. Flinders Street Station also has one of the world’s longest train platform at 708 m long.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Located opposite Flinders Station & Federation Square, St Paul’s Cathedral is another heritage structure built in the late 1800’s. It is an Anglican cathedral in Melbourne, the cathedral church of the Diocese of Melbourne & the seat of the Anglican Primate of Australia.

Royal Exhibition Building

Royal Exhibition Building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Carlton Gardens, Victoria. It was built in the late 1800’s & has been used for events & exhibitions in the city. Up to now, the place is used for those types of functions. Note that this building is undergoing a multi-million renovation & is expected to be completed by 2020.

Carlton Gardens

Carlton Gardens is a 26-hectare site located a few streets from the main city. This massive open space has the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum & IMAX Cinema in it. Just like the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is a war memorial that is dedicated to all Victorians who served in the war, particularly during the World War 1. The shrine is located outside the Central Business District, but is only a few tram stops from Flinders Street Station.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is a 36-hectare botanic garden located at the south of the Yarra River. This botanic garden is home to thousands of plant species located along slopes, garden beds, lakes & lawns. This botanic garden serves as a breakout space & a bonding place for people who wanted to take a break from the busy city life. Entry to the garden is free of charge.

Fitzroy Gardens

Fitzroy Gardens is another 26-hectare block of greens at the back of the Parliament Square. This massive parkland is another park that is located within the Melbourne CBD. The Cook’s Cottage can also be found in this park.

Parliament House of Victoria

The Parliament House of Victoria is the house or meeting building of the Victorian Parliament. This historical & heritage landmark is located along Spring Street, beside the Old Treasury Building. The building was under renovation during our visit last April.

Old Treasury Building

From the name itself, the Old Treasury Building used to house the Treasury Department of the Government of Victoria. This old but beautiful building has then been transformed into a museum of Melbourne History.

St Patrick’s Cathedral

St Patrick’s Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Melbourne. The church was built in the 1850s but took a while to be completed. The cathedral is located in Cathedral Place, right at the back of the Parliament Building.

Old Melbourne Gaol

The Old Melbourne Gaol used to be a prison that held the country’s notorious criminals. It also had records of people being executed & hanged. It stopped operating as a prison after the world war & has then become a museum. Entrance fee to the museum is at AUD 28 per person, quite expensive to be honest. My friends & I decided not to go inside because it was out of our budget.

Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market, locally known as the QVM, is one of Victoria’s famous landmarks. It is an open air market that serves as the main trading hall for Victorians & for visitors. We visited the QVM on a Wednesday night & it was also the 2nd night of the Europa Night Market. This night market showcased different food, delicacies & drinks from selected European countries.

State Library of Victoria

The State Library of Victoria is the state’s central library. Built in the 1850s, it is Australia’s oldest public library & at the same time world’s first free libraries in the world. The library has various reading & collections room where locals & visitors can have a look. I’ve been to this library twice last April, 1st one with Lord & the 2nd time with my N9 friends. This is by far one of my favorite places in Melbourne. The view from the topmost floor of The Dome is just stunning.

This ends the list of parks, gardens & heritage sites we’ve been to in Melbourne. I’m sure we’ve been to more but I can’t remember the other ones. Melbourne is such a nice city. Its buildings are combinations of heritage listed brick ones & modern & contemporary ones. Its one of those cities where you won’t get tired of walking around.

Have you been to Melbourne in the past? What is the most interesting building you’ve been to? How was your visit? Feel free to send your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the matters above? You can also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for more Melbourne content in the future! Thank you for reading.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: KYOTO – Japan’s Ancient Capital In One Day

The whole 9-day Japan trip is starting to take its full shape. My first 36 hours was spent in Tokyo with my family. Then, I took the off-beaten path & spent 48 hours in the mountainous area of Nagano. After my stay in Nagano, I headed to Osaka to be reunited with my sisters for a few days. Our 1st day in Osaka together was spent being ‘kids’ again at Universal Studios Japan.

After spending a fun day in USJ, my sisters & I allotted one day to visit Japan’s ancient capital, Kyoto. It was their 1st time in the country so a visit to Kyoto (at least the highlights) was on our list. I already wrote a few articles about Kyoto in the past in this website. I’ve been to Kyoto in 2015 & 2016 so I was their tour guide for that day. We only had a day here so we only chose the major sights & carefully planned our route.

Kyoto Route

In my past visits, my friends & I decided to stay in Kyoto during our visit. This time, my sisters & I decided to base in Osaka. From our accommodation, we started our Kyoto journey by taking the train to Hankyu-Arashiyama Station. We walked around Arashiyama & then took the local railway from Randen Arashiyama Station to Kitano Hakubaicho Station. Then we walked for about 15 minutes to reach Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion. From there, we took the local bus to Kyoto Station for lunch.

After lunch, we went to the nearby Higashihonganji Temple. We walked back to Kyoto Station & took the local train to Fushimi Inari Taisha. After going up (or at least half of the mountain), we walked down to Fushimi-Inari Station of the Keihan Main Line & took the express train back to Osaka.

We planned our route well up to the point where we won’t go back & forth certain places. We started off in Arashiyama & finished our Kyoto visit in Inari area with a short stop in the center.

Let me share to you the specifics of each area we visited.

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Arashiyama

  • Katsura River
  • Random street in Arashiyama

My recent Arashiyama visit was different from my previous trips. This trip started off in Hankyu-Arashiyama Station where we walked along Arashiyama Park, Togetsukyo Bridge & Katsura River. We then headed to Tenryu-ji, Arashiyama’st most important zen temple. The temple features a landscaped garden with a central pond surrounded by rocks & trees. An entrance fee of ¥600 is collected from each visitor. My sisters & I bailed out knowing there’s an entrance fee.

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

We continued walking to Arashiyama’s main attraction, the Bamboo Forest / Grove. This must-see scenic place stretches through an easy uphill path. We went up to the very end of the way thinking there will be lesser people. Unfortunately, there were even more people in that part. Luckily, we found some spots where there were close to no people.

  • More of the Bamboo Grove
  • Local Randen Railway

Kinkaku-ji

After about 1.5 hours around Arashiyama, my sisters & I went to Kinkaku-ji via the local Randen railway & a few minutes walk. Kinkaku-ji, commonly known as the Golden Pavilion Temple, is Kyoto’s most beautiful & famous temple. This temple is the number 1 attraction in Kyoto & is flocked by millions of tourists every year. It has a pond in front & a garden at the rear. We were there during a cloudy day but we still saw a reflection of the temple in the pond. [Entrance fee: ¥400]

Kyoto Center

Right after a short visit in Kinkaku-ji, we took the local bus to Kyoto Station. We first had lunch at Sukiya, a local restaurant chain in Japan. I got my favorite gyudon dish topped with melting cheese. I ate it with their signature pickled radish & cold Japanese tea.

After lunch, we walked to the nearby Higashihonganji Temple. This temple served as the center of Buddhism in Kyoto. Admission to the temple is free. We leisurely walked back to Kyoto Station & went to our next destination.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

From Kyoto Station, we took the JR Nara Line to Inari Station, then to Fushimi Inari Taisha, the temple famous for the thousands of orange torii gates. This shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. We went up to half of Mount Inari, to where there were more torii gates & less people & took photos of ourselves. Entry to the shrine & up Mount Inari is free of charge.

We then made our way back down & headed to Fushimi-Inari Station of the Keihan Main Line. We took the next express train back to Osaka, had dinner in Shinsaibashi & went back to our accommodation.

It was a day full of walking & sort-of hiking around Kyoto. We may not have been to as many places as we can but we surely covered the highlights of Japan’s ancient capital.

Have you been to Kyoto in the past? How did you find the city? Are there other places that I need to visit when I go back? I’ve been to this city 3 times & I feel like I still need to go back & to explore more. Don’t be shy & share your suggestions in the comment section below. You can also send those suggestions to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  Arigatou. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back To Being A ‘Kid’ Just For A Day

After spending 48 hours in cold Nagano, I made my way to Osaka where I met my sisters. We spent a few days around Osaka & Universal Studios Japan was the 1st in our to-do list. I’ve been to Universal Studios Japan in 2015 but hey, nothing wrong in going back for the 2nd time.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is 1 of the 4 Universal theme parks in the world & the only one in East Asia. This theme park has different areas patterned to shows created by NBCUniversal. Two of the most famous ‘lands’ of Universal Studios Japan are Minion Park & The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. USJ has become a popular destination for Filipinos (& other nationalities) coming to Japan for holiday. This is the same reason why my sisters & I decided to visit this theme park during our Japan visit last February.

Access & Operating Hours

Universal Studios Japan is very accessible via public transportation. The nearest station to the theme park is Universal City Station on the Yumesaki Line. This train line can be accessed by changing in Nishikujo Station of the Osaka Loop & Hanshin-Namba Lines. If you are coming to Tokyo, there are express buses that go directly to the theme park. These buses run on a daily basis. The theme park is also connected by buses coming from Kansai & Itami Airports.

The theme park is open everyday from 9:00 in the morning to 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening. The closing times vary depending on season & weather. Feel free to check the Universal Studios Japan official website for the update operating hours on your preferred date.

Park Tickets

Tickets are required for every person to enter the theme park. As of April 2018, an adult day pass which includes access to all rides & attractions cost from ¥7,400 including tax. If you want to spend 2 days in the park, a 2-day adult day pass costs ¥14,700 including tax. Children aged 4 to 11 years old pay ¥5,100 including tax for a day pass & ¥10,000 for a 2-day pass. Senior citizens only pay ¥6,700 for a day pass. 2-day passes are not available for senior citizens. Kids below 4 years old can enter the park for free. These tickets can be purchased in the ticket booths outside the theme park. For the updated ticket prices, feel free to check the official theme park website.

Alternatively, tickets are available for advance purchase via authorized online platforms such as Klook, KKDay, TripAdvisor, Voyagin & Traveloka. These platforms sometimes offer entry tickets for a lower price. These online tickets need not to be exchanged into physical tickets. They offer direct entry to the theme park via a unique printed or digital QR code. We booked our tickets via Traveloka & even got a discount for our ticket.

Universal Express Pass

The Universal Express Pass is a special pass that allows one to skip the long queues & to have a shorter waiting time for selected attractions. This pass also guarantees the pass holder a viewing spot in the parade. The express pass cost varies on the number & selected attractions included in the pass. This pass can be purchased on the day of visit at the park or in selected online platforms. Daily express pass allocations are limited & easily get sold out. For more details & prices about the Universal Express Pass, feel free to check the official theme park website.

My sisters & I didn’t avail the express pass during our visit. We only chose a handful of attractions to try that day.

Rides We Tried & Attractions We Visited

Universal Studios Japan is a very big theme park with different sections – Holywood, New York City, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Minion Park, Universal Wonderland, WaterWorld, Amity Island, The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter & Super Nintendo World. Even with a Universal Express Pass, it is impossible for someone to try all rides or attractions in one day. My sisters & I went to every corner of the theme park but only tried few rides. Most of our time were spent lining up to these attractions.

Hollywood Dream

Hollywood Dream is a steel roller coaster that allows the riders to choose their own music from a pre-selected list. This open air roller coaster goes around the Hollywood section of the theme park.

The Flying Dinosaur

The Flying Dinosaur is another steel roller coaster but is located in Jurrasic Park. This ride puts the guests into a flying position & openly roams around the theme park. This ride is one that must not be missed when visiting Universal Studios Japan. Believe me, it’s worth the wait.

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

One unique section that can be found in Universal Studios Japan is The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. This Harry Potter-themed section of the park has its own Hogsmeade, Hogwards Express & Hogwards Castle. This section also has attractions to try & shops to visit. The famous Butterbeer can only be purchased here.

Note that there are days when this section requires a timed-entry ticket. These timed-entry tickets can be redeemed somewhere near the Hollywood section. Make sure to check this as soon as you enter the theme park. We were there on a weekday & the park administration didn’t issue timed-entry tickets to the Harry Potter World.

Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey

The Harry Potter & Forbidden Journey is Universal Studios Japan’s top attraction. This motion-based ride takes guests to some of the scenes from the movie & the book around Hogwarts Castle. You get to face the dementors & even join a Quidditch match in this attraction. This attraction has one of the longest queues in USJ but I tell you, it’s worth queuing up. Don’t ever miss this ride during your visit.

Minion Park

One of the relatively new sections of Universal Studios Japan is the Minion Park. It is an area dedicated to the Despicable Me movie series, particularly to the world-famous Minions. Everything in this park is so cute & delightful to see. Its main attraction is Minion Mayhem. Unfortunately, we ran out of time in this area. We chose the winter illuminations of the Harry Potter World over this ride.

Food & Souvenir Shops

There are a number of restaurants, canteens & food halls inside the theme park. In fact, every section has a food hall. Food may be a little more expensive than a usual Japanese meal but it’s just alright. There are also food carts located around the theme park for random nibbles & snacks. Don’t forget to try the famous turkey leg. Outside food is not allowed inside the park (at least as per the guidelines) but they really don’t check the guests’ bags.

Souvenir shops & stalls are scattered throughout the theme park. These shops sell anything you can think of that is related to characters under Universal. You can find Harry Potter wands, Minion goodies & candies, Spiderman items in these shops.

This basically made up our day in Universal Studios Japan. We were not able to try a lot of attractions but at least we’ve been to the major & exciting ones. My sister was able to try the Butterbeer for the first time! It was a perfect break from the usual sightseeing day; a perfect day to be like a ‘kid’ again just like the old times.

We left the theme park close to 8:00 in the evening (closing time that day) & dropped by the Gap Factory Outlet (I went shopping) before going to Ichiran Ramen in Tennoji for dinner. Nothing beats having the best ramen in the world after a long, tiring but fun day at Universal Studios Japan.

Have you been to Universal Studios Japan? Were you able to try the Minion Mayhem? Which was your favorite section or attraction? Feel free to share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about the theme park? You can send those questions to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll respond as soon as I can. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

Thanks for reading today’s post. Watch out for the article about our 1-day Kyoto adventure!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

PENANG in 36 Hours – A Walk Around Heritage Sites

Happy new year everyone! I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday break. I went home to my hometown & spent the festive season with my family & relatives. It’s also the reason why I’ve been very quiet the past weeks. I’m very happy to be back! I have a long list of stories, tips & content to post. I can’t wait to share all of them with you!

Let’s get down to business. Today, I will bring you to Penang, Malaysia. Last November 2018, I got to explore Penang. I was supposed to stay for a few days but I had to cut short my trip to 36 hours for another exciting engagement in Singapore. I will talk about that experience in an upcoming post. Back to Penang, I spent most of my time around the island’s capital – Georgetown. This colorful & multicultural capital became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Georgetown is like a living museum; the buildings & shop houses have retained their historic form through the years.

I will make this post somewhat informal & basically share my itinerary by date & time. Check out the turnout of events in Penang below.

Day 1 – Hello Penang!

22:00 – I arrived at Penang International Airport from Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines. Flight was delayed for an hour due to bad weather at the airport vicinity. I got some cash from the ATM & booked a Grab ride to my hostel.

23:00 – I arrived at The Frame Guesthouse in Georgetown & checked in to my room. I went to the nearest convenience center & grabbed something to eat & drink. I had freshened up & went to bed.

I wrote about my stay at The Frame Guesthouse. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Day 2 – Kek Lok Si Temple & Around Georgetown

07:00 – I woke up & immediately took a shower. I went downstairs to avail the hostel’s free breakfast. I had some toast, fresh fruits & a glass of milk. I went to reception & asked for advice on what to do for the day.

08:00 – I left the hostel & walked to Komtar Bus Terminal. I took Bus 203 or 204 to Ayer Itam. The fare costs RM2 per person & takes about 30 minutes. It is the bus line’s last stop so the driver will advise you to get off the bus. The temple is only a short walk up the hill.

09:00 – I arrived at Kek Lok Si Temple. The Buddhist temple was built way back in the late 19th century. This temple played a big role in building Penang’s religious heritage.

I went around the different temple buildings & pagodas. The complex has millions of Buddha images & hundreds of physical statues. I also took the inclined lift up to the giant Buddha. It took me 2.5 hours to go around the whole temple complex.

11:30 – I went down to Ayer Itam & had lunch. I went to the small hawker center & bought curry mee for lunch. After lunch, I walked around the different shops in the area. I was a bit tired so I booked a Grab car back to the hostel.

12:30 – I arrived back to The Frame Guesthouse & decided to rest for a while.

14:00 – I left the hostel & started my walkathon around Georgetown. I walked around Love Lane & saw some interesting murals.

14:15 – I went to Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Also known as the Mansion of the Babas & Nyonyas, this mansion was once owned by the rich Chinese who migrated to Penang. The Chinese family adopted to the local Malaysian & colonial British cultures & still managed to create a unique lifestyle & customs. This way of life left a big collection of antiques which are on display in the mansion. The mansion has a RM20 entrance fee per person. They also offer English tours (takes about an hour) around the house daily. I joined the 14:30 tour.

15:30 – I left Pinang Peranakan Mansion & continued my walkathon to Penang Town Hall & The Esplanade. This public open space by the sea is a popular recreation area for the locals. People go here for leisure walks & relaxation. I planned to visit the nearby Fort Cornawallis but the fort was closed to the public on that specific day.

16:00 – I went to Padang Kota Lama, a hawker center beside Fort Cornwallis, to try the famous mee sotong goreng. This sweet & spicy noodles are only sold by Hameed Pata Special Mee. I waited in line for a few minutes before it was finally my turn to buy. The regular plate costs RM5 & the big plate costs RM7. You can choose from the goreng (fried noodles) or the rebus (boiled noodles). I also tried the coconut shake in the nearby stall for RM4.

16:45 – I resumed my walkathon around Georgetown. This time, I went back to Lebuh Chulia & continued to Lebuh Armenian to check out the famous Penang murals. I went around the main & small streets to see as many murals as I can. Luckily, there were only few tourists checking out the murals.

17:30 – I went back to the hostel to rest before heading out for dinner.

19:30 – 2 hours after, I went out to have dinner with a Filipino I met in the mansion tour. We ate in a local restaurant along Lebuh Chulia. I had wan tan mee (Malaysian wonton noodles), char koay teow (stir-fried noodles) & hot teh tarik (hot milk tea) for dinner. Yes, I was that hungry.

20:30 – We went to this local liquor store named Antarabangsa Enterprise to have drinks. This shop is located along Lorong Stewart (Stewart Lane). Every day, the store staff sets up tables & chairs in the street for their customers. We stayed for a while here & met interesting people from Penang (locals), Iran & Norway. It was a fun night exchanging stories about anything under the sun.

23:45 – After a few bottles & hours of drinking, I headed back to my hostel to rest. I took a shower & went to bed.

Day 3 – Goodbye Penang!

06:00 – I woke up & fixed my stuff. I took a shower & got ready for check out.

07:15 – I booked a Grab car & went to Penang International Airport for my international flight to Singapore.

07:45 – I arrived at the airport & went straight to check in. I had breakfast at KFC after check in then I headed to the boarding gate.

09:30 – Boarding for Singapore commenced.

10:05 – My Scoot flight to Singapore departed Penang International Airport on time.

This pretty much is all about my quick stop at Penang. I wish I stayed longer but I guess I made the most out of that 36-hour stay. I know I missed a lot of interesting places like Batu Ferringhi, Clan Jetties, Penang Hill & the Blue Mansion. That gives me another reason to go back in visit Penang in the future.

Have you been to Penang? Where else did you go that you find very interesting & unique? Feel free to share these places in the comments below. I’ll check ’em out when I fly back to Penang. You can also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Please help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for the next post about Penang. You’ll surely love it! Ciao. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

SINGAPORE Stopover: Quick & Packed 24 Hours In The Lion City

Two weeks ago, I had a quick 24-hour in Singapore. I’ve been in this country a few times in the past, so there was no rush exploring a lot of places. The last time I was in Singapore was when our family welcomed the New Year in the Lion City. I already wrote about that trip & you can check it out again here.

This stopover was planned last minute. A Singapore-based friend, Lord from LordAroundTheWorld, invited me to once-in-a-lifetime trip so I had to be in the country at least a day before the big day. You’ll know about that trip in the coming weeks. I flew to Singapore from Penang last 3 November & arrived the country around lunch time. I went straight to my hostel to check in & leave my things. I went around the area right away & I managed to visit these places.

Flying to Singapore soon? Check out my tips on how you can travel cheap in such expensive country!

Haji Lane

Haji Lane’s famous mural

Haji Lane is the ‘hippie area’ of Singapore. This famous lane is characterized by colorful murals, specialty shops, cafes, restaurants & bars which youngsters enjoy visiting. The street is very quiet in the morning up until lunch time & transform into a busy area by late afternoon until midnight. It’s also one of the best places to have your ‘Instagram-worthy’ shot.

Colorful but very quiet Haji Lane

BUGIS

Bugis is probably my favorite shopping area in Singapore. I don’t know why, but I always end up in this area every time I’m in Singapore. You can find the famous Bugis Street Market, one of the best places to buy souvenirs in Singapore, here. Bugis Junction Shopping Mall is another place to buy clothes & all good stuff. This is one place which you should not miss when visiting & shopping in Singapore.

ARAB STREET

Arab Street in the morning

Located a few meters from my hostel, Arab St is Singapore’s historic Muslim center. Singapore’s national mosque, the Masjid Sultan Mosque, is located in this area. Aside from its rich history, Arab Street is also famous for its boutique cafes, restaurants & shops. This street transforms into a lively entertainment precinct every night. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to explore more of the neighborhood due to limited time.

Arab Street at night

ATLAS BAR SINGAPORE

Atlas Bar’s Gin & Champagne Collection 😍

The visit to Atlas Bar in Parkview Square was probably the highlight of my 24-hour stop in Singapore. This grand lobby & bar has become a go-to destination of visitors because of its beautiful interiors. Atlas Bar has one of Asia’s longest list of champagne collection (around 250+ champagnes). It also houses the world’s largest physical gin collection (with over 1,000 gins in all). The bar has a grand central structure where the bottles are stored & displayed.

Atlas Bar’s Classic Gin Tonic 🍸

My friends & I went here to see the place & also to have an afternoon drink. A normal drink costs about SGD 20 – SGD 30 + service charge, depending on the type of drink you get. I tried their classic gin tonic; it was the best gin tonic I had to date. They also have an extensive food menu which we were not able to try. Make sure to book your tables early because the place is always full. Take note that the place observes a strict dress code after 5:00 pm – so no shorts, slippers & active wear.

View from the Atlas Bar’s VIP area

Marina Bay Sands

The iconic Marina Bay Sands

A trip to Singapore will never be complete without a visit to Marina Bay Sands. I didn’t stay in the hotel, but I passed by this area again for the nth time. Marina Bay Sands is now one of the country’s landmarks. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel sports a unique boat-like structure on top of 3 tall buildings – this structure has the infinity pool & sky park. Marina Bay Sands also has a large shopping center called The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands where you can see all kinds of local & international brands.

Gardens By The Bay

Inside Gardens By The Bay’s Flower Dome

Gardens By The Bay is a 100+ hectare man-made nature park located at the back of Marina Bay Sands. The park itself has a lot of attractions to see & discover. I first went around the famous Supertree Grove that are lit up every night. I purchased a Klook entry ticket to both the Flower Dome & the Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome features various gardens with flowers found from all over the world. It also features a central flower display, which changes from time to time. The theme during my visit was Floral Christmas. On the other hand, the Cloud Forest features leaves & plants that grow in tropical mountain regions. This place is famous for the big man-made waterfall & the cloud mountain.

Man made waterfall inside the Cloud Forest

Beautiful tropical feature inside the Cloud Forest

I went to this place at night, about 1.5 hours before last admission, so everything was a bit rushed. I suggest going there for at least half a day to appreciate everything. Go to the Cloud Forest & Flower Dome while there’s still sunlight, then wait for the supetrees to light up at night.

Beautiful supertrees 😍

Zouk Singapore

Right before entering Zouk Singapore 🎉

This 24-hour stop in stopover was very hectic. After going around a few areas in the afternoon & night time, my friend Lord met up with me in Zouk Singapore for the pre-event party. Zouk Singapore is the country’s most famous & also one of the world’s best night clubs. The American electronic music group, Cash Cash, was there to play a set. It was a good night, an amazing preparatory party for the big event the following day. I also got to experience Singapore night life in the world-standard night club. Cool stuff.

Sam & Alex of Cash Cash played at the pre-event party 🙌

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Inside the church right after the Sunday mass 🙏

I woke up too early despite sleeping at 3:00 in the morning. I took the chance to go to the nearby Catholic Church – Our Lady of Lourdes Church – for the Sunday English mass. I attended the 7:30 am mass then had, breakfast after before going back to the hostel. I’ve been to this church in 2016 & was so happy to be there again.

Albert Street Hawker Centre

Local Singaporean food for breakfast 😋

There weren’t many restaurants open after the mass. I decided to have breakfast in the nearby hawker centre. I ordered rice with chicken, egg, noodles & side dishes for SGD 3.80. Albert Street Hawker Centre is in Albert St, right across Bugis Street Market. The food here is authentic & very affordable.

Changi Airport Terminal 4

Inside Changi Airport Terminal 4, after immigration & security check

The visit to Changi Airport Terminal 4 was not until after the trip, but I felt like I need to include it here. Changi Airport opened their newest terminal last year & I was lucky my flight home departs from this terminal. Everyone knows that Changi Airport has been the world’s best airport for a number of years now, but oh boy, the new Terminal 4 is out of this world. I was blown away by everything about this terminal. All facilities are still new (after a year of operation) & well-maintained. Everything is modern, efficient & well organized. I can’t wait to fly to Singapore again to see Terminal 4 again.

To the boarding gate – what a beautiful airport terminal 😍

This pretty much sums up my quick & very busy stopover in Singapore. I arrived there with only Gardens By The Bay on my plans. I love how spontaneous my itinerary was. Singapore is a country I’ll never get tired of going back. I’ve been there a few times in the past & I still look forward to visiting it again no matter how expensive the country is.

A close up photo of a supertree in Supertree Grove 😍

Have you been to Singapore? What were your favorite places to visit? How did you manage to explore such expensive country? Share your experiences in the comments below.   Got questions about Singapore or travel in general? Feel free to send them to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Check out my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Thank you for reading! Until the next post. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.