tips – Page 3 – The Wknd Travel

P’s List: 5 Must Try Belgian Treats

Hello & welcome to the second installment of P’s List! Last week, I introduced this section to everyone which will list random stuff I miss or I enjoyed in a certain city or country. I’ve been missing everything about Japan over the last few days so I decided to divert my attention by writing about my 6 budget-friendly & favorite to-do’s while in the country.

I mostly talked about food in that Japan-related post & I plan to continue that in this list. One of the things I really enjoyed while going around Belgium was their ‘famous’ delicacies. Apart from the beautiful buildings & houses, Belgium also boasts tasty & iconic food which one should try when exploring the country.

Join me in today’s P’s List as I tell you the 5 food & drinks one shouldn’t miss when in Belgium.

Fries

One snack which Belgians take pride on is Belgian Fries, locally called frites. I know most people call it French Fries but the Belgian people refused to do so. They call it Belgian fries & they still have an ongoing battle with the French people on who discovered it, where it came from & who has the better product. I haven’t tried the ‘real’ French fries but the ‘legit’ Belgian fries are damn good. Our guide, Tom, from the Brussels walking tour told us that locals cook the potatoes twice in animal fat.

Tip: Don’t forget to mix your Belgian fries with the famous Andalouse sauce.

Where to get the best Belgian fries: Fritland (near the Brussels Stock Exchange Building) & Café Georgette (near Delirium Café)

Waffles

Aside from fries, Belgium is also famous for its waffles. I came to Belgium to try the famous Belgian waffle only to find out that the waffle has 2 kinds – the Brussels Waffle & the Liege Waffle. Brussels waffles are made from yeast-leavened batter. It is rectangular in size & has more defined edges & deeper pockets. It is commonly served with powdered sugar. On the other hand, Liege waffles are made from thicker batter & has sugar in the ingredients. This type of waffle is thicker, has uneven edges & has a caramelized taste (because of the sugar) & texture. I’ve tried both waffles – both were good & tasty. I don’t mind having both of them again.

Tip: Belgian waffles aren’t served with butter & syrup. They’re not breakfast food; they’re a staple snack. Both Brussels & Liege waffles are best enjoyed without any add-on – no fruits, no toppings & no syrup.

House of Waffle’s best-selling Brussels Waffles – this waffle place is found in Bruges, Belgium. 🇧🇪

Plain Liege waffle from Koffiehuis 3,14 in Ghent, Belgium. Too bad I didn’t try Maison Dandoy’s.

Where to get the best Belgian waffles: Maison Dandoy in Brussels (street off Grand Place) for both kinds, Koffiehuis 3,14 in Ghent for Liege Waffle, House of Waffles in Bruges for both kinds (Liege waffles are offered only for takeaway while Brussels waffles are only available for dine-in)

Chocolates

Belgium is also famous for its chocolates – both as pralines & truffles. The industry started in the 1600s when chocolate was brought to Europe. Since then, it has been part of the people’s lives – from morning chocolate drinks, desserts to gifts. Belgium has produced world-renowned chocolate companies such as Godiva, Côte d’Or, Neuhaus, Corné Port-Royal & Leonidas. I had the chance to visit both the high-class chocolate shops & those local chocolate shops & I prefer the latter one. The handmade chocolates sold in these small & local businesses have the best & unique taste, more than a factory-made chocolate can have.

Tip: Ask for free taste in chocolate shops, they’ll surely offer you one. Handmade Belgian chocolates quality only last for 3 weeks – these chocolates are for immediate consumption.

Personal favorite – handmade Belgian chocolates from Chocolaterie De Burg in Bruges, Belgium.

Where to get the best-valued Belgian chocolates: Mary Chocolatier in Brussels (along Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert or near Manneken Pis) & Chocolaterie De Burg in Bruges (near Burg Square & beside the Basilica of the Holy Blood)

Flemish Beef Stew

Belgium is also famous for its Flemish beef stew. Cooking the beef with a Belgian beer makes this dish even more special. The meat is cooked for 2-3.5 hours until the flavors simmer, until the meat is tender. This dish is usually served with mashed potato. The meal is commonly called Carbonnades a la Biere or Carbonnade Flamande.

Tip: This dish is best partnered with a glass of local beer.

Where to get the best Flemish beef stew: Fin de Siècle – a local restaurant a few minutes by foot from the Brussels Stock Exchange Building. FYI – this restaurant doesn’t take reservations & only accepts cash.

Beer

Belgian beer is something one must not miss when in Belgium. The country has hundreds of active breweries from the big companies to the small trappist monasteries. Yes, monks brew beers in Belgium. The Belgian’s love for beer started centuries ago when beer was offered as an alternative to drinking water. It eventually became part of their daily lives which is still true up to the present times. Belgians drink more liters of beer per year than any other nationality in the world.

Believe it or not, most beers in Belgium are served in bottles & not in cans. Most of these beers even have their own crafted glasses when served. There are hundreds of kinds of beers available in Belgium. I suggest that you try as much as you can.

Fun fact: There’s a brewery in Bruges (De Halve Maan who brews Brugse Zot beers) who brews their beers in the city & allows the beer to travel 2 miles to the bottling plant outside the city through an underground pipeline.

Tip: Belgian beers are available everywhere. There are a lot of beers to try. Make sure to at least try a beer in every restaurant or bar you are in.

Where to get the best Belgian beer: Delirium Café in Brussels – it is a bar that serves 2,004 kinds of beers – both Belgian & non-Belgian ones. Don’t forget to try Delirium Tremens & Brugse Zot | De Garre in Bruges (found in a small alley by the Bruges Provincial Court) – try their signature De Garre Beer.

And that’s it. I hope I didn’t make you crave for some food. Belgium surely has a lot more dishes, snacks & drinks to try but these were the ones that stood out to me during my trip. In case you want to know more about my Europe trip last 2019, feel free to check out the posts in the Going Solo in Europe Series in this blog.

One more photo of these authentic & handmade Belgian chocolates from Chocolaterie de Burg 🇧🇪

Have you tried some of the treats mentioned above? Which one do you like most? Are you planning to go to Belgium soon & to try the food & beers above? Which one do you look forward to trying in the future? Post your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I will try my best to answer.

Thank you for joining me in today’s P’s List! Please don’t forget to follow my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series: Walking Around MELBOURNE Part 2 – Hipster Laneways, Communal Spaces & Modern Areas

Last month, I revived the N9 In Straya Series & started talking about our 8 days & 7 nights adventure in Melbourne last April. First, I shared with you the list of parks, gardens & heritage places we visited during the trip. I also gave you some details about Flinders Backpackers, our cheap but super cool hostel in downtown Melbourne. I still have a lot about Melbourne to share & allow me to share some with you today. Let me talk about the laneways, communal spaces & modern areas we visited during the trip.

Note: As mentioned in the previous blog, tram rides within Melbourne CBD are free of charge. Also, the city is very accessible by foot.

Melbourne is known for its hipster laneways, coffee shops & everything artsy. I may not be a coffee-drinker but this city is full of small artsy shops offering special coffee, avocado toasts & pastries. My friends didn’t go to many coffee shops (we went to milk tea shops instead lol) but surely went to some of these laneways & alleys. Let me share with you some of these places below.

DEGREAVES STREET

Degreaves Street is a short pedestrian street that connects Flinders St & Flinders Lane. It is a famous place to eat a hearty brunch, get your morning coffee, avail your afternoon snack or buy your evening dessert. This vibrant street has become a famous go-to places for both locals & tourists. You’ll often see shops / stalls having random queues for something cheap, hippie or artsy.

HOSIER LANE

Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s famous graffiti street. This short lane is full of random & sophisticated street arts. International & local artists put on graffiti in the walls about anything & everything about the world. There are some iconic arts, some controversial while most of them are just random ones. These street arts or murals are not as organized as that of Penang‘s but they give a different experience whilst walking along the paved way.

FEDERATION SQUARE

Federation Square is a one-of-a-kind cultural precinct located opposite Flinders Station. This communal space is a venue for cultural events, arts & world-class activities. It also has bars & restaurants, making it a perfect place to just hang out & chill.

CHINATOWN

Just like any other city around the world, Melbourne has its own local Chinatown. It is in this place where you will have your rice fix (I know – very Asian). It’s also the place to have cheap food & souvenirs. We had our 1st lunch in the famous Shanghai Street Chinese Restaurant – cheap & good Chinese food.

COLLINS PLACE

Melbourne has a lot of modern & intricately-designed retail & commercial buildings. One of these buildings is Collins Place. This commercial complex was designed & built way back in the 1970’s & up to now, still embodies the true Melbourne character. The structures are unique & are well-maintained. It’s also a good place to meet with friends for random eats & drinks.

MELBOURNE CENTRAL

Melbourne Central is a massive commercial, retail & transport hub in the city. It has hundreds of specialty stores, bars & restaurants which makes it the best place to go out with friends. You can find both local & international clothing, footwear & accessories brands here. It’s also the best place to shop in Melbourne. This complex is located in the heart of the city in the corner of La Trobe & Swanston Streets.

YARRA RIVER

Yarra River is a body of water that originates from the Yarra Ranges & runs through the Melbourne Business District. This river played a very important role in the daily lives of the early city inhabitants. It made the lives of those living in the upper areas easier to transport everything to & from the city. Now, the city-part of the river serves a tourist destination, giving the visitors a perfect view of the Melbourne skyline. A walk by the banks of the Yarra River is a perfect way to start or end your day in the city.

SOUTHBANK

Southbank is a booming urban neighborhood located in the south of the Yarra River. It now an area of tall commercial & residential buildings. Southbank currently has Melbourne’s tallest observation deck in Eureka Tower. A 100-storey building in Southbank is currently under construction & will be Australia’s tallest building by roof height in a few years. The area of Southbank by the Yarra River is also a great place to have a morning or night stroll. It’s also the perfect place to have a pint of beer with friends overlooking the city skyline.

VICTORIA HARBOUR

Victoria Harbour is the Docklands precinct where Collins & Bourke Streets meet. This picturesque harbour has a stunning & relaxing view of Docklands, Marvel Stadium, Newquay & some parts of West Melbourne. Please do not compare this with Sydney Harbour because this place is way behind the famous New South Wales harbour.

SOUTHERN CROSS RAILWAY STATION

Southern Cross Railway Station in Docklands is Victoria’s major transport hub that links Melbourne to regional Victorian cities & even other Australian states like New South Wales & South Australia. This station is the main hub of Skybus – the only bus transport service that operates between the city & Melbourne Tullamarine & Avalon Airports. The station also serves as the departure & arrival points of interstate buses. The station is also connected to the city loop making it easier to transfer to Melbourne’s other railway hub – Flinders Street Railway Station.

This pretty much sums up all the interesting places we’ve been to within the City of Melbourne. However, the adventure didn’t stop there. My friends & I booked 3 well-recommended day trips to the countryside which you will know more about in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

View from the 66th Floor of Light House Melbourne – a beautiful skyscaper in Melbourne CBD

Have you walked around the Melbourne central business district in the past? How was your experience? What was your favorite spot in the city? Share some details in the comments section below. If you have anything to ask or share to me, feel free to send an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll respond as soon as I can. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for your time & see you in the next Melbourne post. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

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.

Tuesday Tip: SINGAPORE Tipid Hits – 9 Ways to Explore On A Budget

It’s not a secret that Singapore is a very expensive country to visit. I visited the country two weeks ago & I can clearly say that most of the things in this country (food, accommodation, transportation) are expensive. However, no matter how expensive this place is, there are still ways on how you can explore this country on a shoestring budget.

Don’t miss Haji Lane! It’s free to go around & take photos of area.

It’s been a while since I posted a Tuesday Tip article; I’m very happy to revive this section of the blog. Today, I’ll share with you 9 ways on how you can explore Singapore the cheapest way possible. These tips are based on my previous visits to Singapore so some points may not be applicable to everyone.

Book Tickets Early

There are more than 15 daily flights from the Philippines to Singapore – 12 of them from Manila. The technique is to take advantage of various airline promotional fares & offers. Return tickets to Singapore used to cost a little over ₱2,000. With the recent inclusion of fuel surcharges to airfares, a cheap return ticket should cost you around ₱4,000. Airport fees in Singapore are very expensive (but you get what you pay for – Changi Airport is the world’s best airport) that’s why fares are these high.

Here’s where your high airport fees to go – to the world-class Changi Airport!

Book your tickets at least 6-9 months before your planned trip, I’m sure you’ll get a good fare deal. I’ve posted two blogs with tips on how to score cheap flights – check the articles here & here.

Stay In Hostels

Hotel accommodations in Singapore are expensive. If you want to have your own privacy, there are budget hotels & guesthouses but take note that spaces are very limited & amenities are very basic. If you don’t mind sharing a room with another person, book your stay in a hostel. Singapore has a lot of nice & high-rated hostels which offer better amenities than some hotels. Check out reviews online before booking your stay.

My dormitory bed two weeks ago in Five Stones Hostel

I previously wrote an article about the ups & downs of staying in hostels. Check the article to see if staying in this kind of accommodation is something for you or not. Also, I wrote a set of tips on how to get the best accommodation deals – make sure to also check that!

Book Attraction Tickets Online

Singapore is a country with a lot of attractions to visit. This equates to spending more money on attraction passes & entrance fees. The best way to save some cash is to book your attraction tickets online. There are online platforms such as Klook & KKDay which offer discounted tickets to almost all attractions in Singapore. Check out your attraction of choice & book them before flying to the country. Booking these tickets / passes in advance also help you skip the long queue at the venue.

Going outside the Philippines for the first time? Check out these 5 steps in order to easily pass through PH immigration!

Eat In Hawker Centres

This is how a hawker centre looks like – this one is in Little India

Food in Singapore isn’t really cheap. A normal meal with a drink in a restaurant or in a shopping mall food court can cost from SGD 7 up to SGD 20. Not practical at all. Singapore has what you call ‘hawker centres,’ these are open air food courts where you get affordable local food. These hawker centres can be found everywhere in Singapore. A hearty meal will only cost you around SGD 3. You still have some extra cash for dessert or for a drink. See the difference?

Get An EZ-Link Card

EZ-Link is Singapore’s reloadable transportation card. Instead of paying for each bus ride or topping up for every train ride, you can use this tap card to pay for your fare. You don’t need to queue in every train station, thus saves you a lot of time. Also, you only pay for the distance traveled & not the usual flat fare when you pay in cash.

How an EZ-Link card looks like. Thanks to Junelle for letting me use the photo.

EZ-Link Cards are sold at most train stations for SGD 12 with SGD 7 top up value (card value at SGD 5). Also, don’t buy the Singapore Tourist Pass if you won’t ride the train very often. You need at least five to six rides a day to break even the daily pass cost.

Walk, Walk & Walk

Singapore is a very tourist-friendly country. All the signs are in English, so you won’t get lost. The best way to explore the country is by foot. Remember that the country has a very hot climate so make sure to bring your bottled water & umbrella with you, plus wear comfortable footwear. Places to visit in this country are grouped into locations.

6 attractions in a photo – you can visit all these places in a day by walking around the area!

For example, you can walk from Boat Quay, to Raffles Place, then to the Merlion Park, to Helix Bridge, Singapore Arts & Science Museum, Marina Bay Sands & last to Gardens By The Bay all in one day. You can also easily spend an afternoon walking around Little India, then to Bugis, then to Haji Lane & Arab Street at night. The secret is to plan where to spend the day so you don’t need to transfer from one area to the other.

Take Advantage of Free Attractions / Places

Singapore may be an expensive country but hey, it also has a number of free attractions or places. These clean & well-maintained places don’t need an entrance fee for you to enjoy or take a photo. These places include Merlion Park, Gardens By The Bay (entrance fees required only for the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest & OCBC Skyway), Singapore Botanic Gardens, Helix Bridge, Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands, Mustafa Centre, Singapore National Library & a whole lot more. See? You don’t have to spend even a dollar to explore & enjoy these places.

Gardens By The Bay’s Supertree Grove is a beautiful free attraction in Singapore!

Bring Water Container

Water in Singapore establishments like cafes & restaurants are not free. It usually costs 50-cents per glass (₱18-ish like really? Yeah!) so the best way to save some cash is to bring your own water container. Singapore tap water is safe to drink so you can refill it anywhere. The country also has drinking water stations found in touristy areas.

Note that smaller water bottles (SGD2-ish) cost more than bigger bottles (SGD1). If I were you, always go for the big bottle.

Look For The Best Place To Shop

Singapore has a lot of shopping centers & malls – more than you can imagine. Almost each neighborhood has a shopping center or a leisure mall. The best places to buy souvenirs are Bugis Street Market, Little India’s Mustafa Center & Chinatown. Some shops allow you to haggle or to ask for a discount; but make sure to ask for a reasonable discount.

If you’re looking for normal day goodies like snacks, drinks & toiletries, buy them from bigger supermarkets located in the basement of every shopping mall. Don’t buy them elsewhere.

In case you missed it, I posted an article about my 24-hour quick stopover in Singapore about 2 weeks ago. That part of the trip inspired me to share my tipid tips in Singapore. This short list saved me a lot of Singapore dollars during my visit in Singapore.

Do you have other tips to add? Feel free to post them in the comment sections below. If you want to share some experiences, tips & suggestions but you want to remain anonymous, send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Connect with me via my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Don’t forget to like & share my Facebook page!

Thanks for your time. Until next time! 🙂

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11 & HTC Re.

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.