Backpacking around the world on a budget Part 3: Singapore

In 2008, we embarked on our RtW trip. After visiting our first country on our list, China, we then sauntered off to Singapore, off southern Malaysia. With day trips to Sentosa or the blue lagoons, the country is a little hub of attractions with breath-taking skyline views

Singapore was humid, not like England at all. The Hive Hostel was much better place than we had stayed at in Hong Kong. We were still opting for the private room with double bed, but we knew we had to take the plunge and stay in a dorm to make the money last! A decent room makes all the difference, as we were going to find out later.

Our hostel was in the Kallang district near the Boon Keng MRT station. We decided to get off at Farrer Park and walk to the hostel via Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, which was worth it.

One of our days was filled with getting the cable car out to Sentosa Island and enjoying the water displays and beaches.

A hub of energy, the city was full of people basking in the sun along side the Singapore River.

Singapore was vibrant and colourful and due to the past involvement of the English, the language barrier wasn’t an issue. Like Hong Kong we could get by easily.

In search of a lagoon for Catherine, we ventured out to another one of the cities islands, Kusu Island with the lovely Kusu Island Da Bogong Temple. After that short stop off, we laid foot onto St John’s Island where a beautiful lagoon sat.

No visit to Singapore can go without visiting the zoo, day and night. With elephant rides and tribal shows, it is well worth the trek over to the other side of the island.

After a quick duck river tour around the marina and then back through the city we ended up near the National Gallery where a huge festival parade was happening. Big floats and costumes floated down the streets it was a really site.

What made it even better was there was a Red Bull Racing F1 car with Mark Webber doing donuts right in front of us! The noise was immense, and the crowd loved it. This was pre-inaugural 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and so the promotion wagon was in full flow.

With an hour’s ride on the no.36 to Singapore International Airport, we were next heading for Darwin, Australia.

I would like to go back to Singapore as it has changed a lot since we were last there. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands are all new additions that I would like to see.

For more info on what to see in the city, click here.

Click here for part 4.

Trip details:

Transport:
Hong Kong International Airport to Changi Airport Singapore (around 4hrs)

Accommodation:
The Hive Hostel

Things we did:
Sentosa
Night Zoo
St Johns Island
Kusu Island Chinese Temple
Merlion Park
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Currency:
SGD

Getting around:
Singapore Tourist Pass ($30 for three days)