Orchard Road, the island’s most famous shopping district, is also an arts hub that is little known to others.

There are a few MRT stations in Orchard Road, namely, Orchard (North-South Line), Somerset (North-South Line) and Dhoby Ghaut stations (North-South/North-East Line interchange). It is not difficult to find these stations crowded with people, especially during weekends. It is also not difficult to find basking artistes performing along Orchard Road (usually along the stretch outside Ngee Ann City and Wisma Atria).


percussionists basking along Orchard Road, which Reny enjoys

Apart from baskers, there are often various exhibitions along the pedestrian walkway, such as photo and painting gallery.

Near Somerset MRT station, you should be able to see the HUGE words of Singapore Visitors Centre. Do pop in for more information, maps and brochures!


you can also get them at various hotels/hostels and museums

Further down the road is the Peranakan Place, a conserved masterpiece of heritage architect in the Peranakan style. It is now a mix of upscale residences with renovated shophouses doubling as bars and restaurants. Ying Tong is guilty of having visited this place many times yet not knowing the history behind it.


the Peranakan Place

Continue walking, and you will reach a hawker centre that sells great Char Kway Teow! Do try it, it is really great! Ying Tong adores it a lot!

After the satisfying Char Kway Teow, continue walking towards Plaza Singapura (PS). It is also a popular shopping area for the youngsters, but this is not the point. The point is, behind PS is the Cathay Building. It is home to the Picturehouse that showcases a wide range of films, from local to European, from documentaries to musicals. Suhartono thinks the Cathay has many shops that sell cool stuff too!


the Cathay at night

Behind the Cathay is the Sinema Old School, which is the first and only high-definition cinema that is solely devoted to Singapore films, in hopes of further developing Singapore’s young film industry.

So it is accommodation time again!

There are a few good deals around town, such as the YMCA International House (from S$30) near Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. It is just next to the National Museum of Singapore and within walking distance of the popular Plaza Singapura.

Hangout @ Mt Emily (from S$35) is a stylish little hotel-cum-hostel, near the Istana. It claims to be Singapore’s best kept secret!



If you find it a hassle to plan your itinerary, try this Uniquely Singapore website which plans the itinerary for you!

Or you want to just join a city tour, sit back and relax, you can check out the Duck and Hippo tours (Tel: 6338-6877)! They offer Heritage Ducktour, Heritage Hippotour, Sentosa Rhino tours and more! Purchase the Singapore Pass or the Singapore Sightseeing Pass for better deals! You can find out more at the Singapore Visitor Centre.


Hippotour


Did you know?
Orchard Road derived its name from the nutmeg, pepper and fruit plantations found here in 19th century.

When you talk about Bugis, many may think of shopping. But no! There are more to it.

Bugis’ night market which originated after World War II was famous for its street food stalls, and transvestites and transsexuals flirting, soliciting, dancing and generally behaving outrageously. The place was cleaned up in the early 1980s, and the development around MRT drastically changed the geography of Bugis.

Not only is Bugis a shopping paradise, it also houses many heritage and arts centre. Bugis has its own MRT station (East-West Line) directly beneath Parco Bugis Junction.


Waterloo Street with Sculture Square in the background

On the western end of Bugis is the Waterloo Street Arts Belt, which serves as a unique focal point for arts activities in the heart of the city. The arts groups housed in this arts belt are ACTION Theatre, the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore, Dance Ensemble Singapore, Young Musicians' Society (YMS) and Sculpture Square.

The arts belt also provides space for talents to create and test their works. On this street alone, one could sample the works of various disciplines - music, dance, drama, sculpture and visual arts. Ying Tong has personally performed at YMS before and found it a pretty cool place to perform, given the low rental fee!


Ying Tong preparing for performance at YMS


inside YMS Auditorium, spot Ying Tong!

Moving towards Victoria Street is the National Library Building which houses some exhibition spaces and the Drama Centre, which was originally built at Fort Canning Park for the Singapore Council for Adult Education. Suhartono says he loves libraries; hence he totally adores this building.


Cathedral of the Good Shepherd

Just down the street is one of the numerous historic churches in the area, the striking Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. It is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore, built in 1847.

Along Bras Basah Road you will see the Singapore Art Museum (S$5; S$2.50 concessions; free under 6s), which is a former Catholic boys’ school. It was revamped in the early 1990s when there was a policy converting old colonial building into museums. This museum specializes in smaller exhibitions, mostly 20th-century Asian visual art.


Singapore Art Museum


National Museum of Singapore

Just around the corner is the National Museum of Singapore (S$10; S$5 concessions) on Stamford Road. After the refurbishment and rebranding, the museum reopened with vastly-expanded display areas: History Gallery, four themed Living Galleries, a space for temporary shows and a lecture-performance-screening venue. It is worth visiting just for the neo-classical building!

Moving along Stamford Road, turn into Armenian Street, the Heritage and Arts District. This street holds the Substation, founded in 1990 by the late Kuo Pao Kun. It is Singapore's first independent contemporary arts centre which has a black box theatre, a gallery, and rehearsal studios. A popular bar/music venue is located in the back garden – Timbre @ Substation.


Substation

Right next to the Substation is the Peranakan Museum (S$6; S$3 concessions; free under 6s) which showcases the world’s finest and most comprehensive Peranakan collections, displayed in ten galleries. Reny is extremely fascinated by the whole culture of Peranakan and is still trying hard to understand it.


Reny and Ying Tong outside Peranakan Museum

Feeling tired? Here are some accommodations of our recommendation.

Bugis Backpackers Hostel (from S$36) is centrally located; just 2 minutes walk from the Bugis MRT station. You will be able to travel around the many attractions that we have mentioned so far, without wearing out your wallet and boots!

Or, you can choose the slightly more luxurious accommodation. Strand Hotel (from S$120) is stylish and fashionable. Its central location is also great for your excursions in Singapore.


Did you know?
Bugis Road is named after the tribe of nomadic Malays who used to sail into Singapore to trade. However, land reclamation had wiped away all the traces of that era.

The Singapore River is the most important waterway in Singapore, and has played a major role throughout the island’s history. In the early days of the colony, the Singapore River was the port. Merchants built their offices and warehouses on its banks. Some of these still stand today, in Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. Ships at the outer roads of the harbour would transfer their cargo onto bumboats (or tangkangs), which would ferry it in via the river. These days, bumboats are used as a form of transport for sightseeing along the river.


Bumboats!!

Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, run along the Singapore River from Cavenagh Bridge to Read Bridge, were built in 1842. Until 1860s, nearly all trade was conducted at there.
Named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Clarke Quay has been completely revamped to become Singapore’s flagship riverside festival village with a combination of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues (mainly nightlife entertainments).


Singapore River at night

Take the MRT and alight at the nearest MRT station, Clarke Quay station (North-East Line). By getting out of the MRT station, you will find yourself standing inside the Central shopping mall.

There are many pubs and bars in Clarke Quay and Boat Quay where you can enjoy some live music and a few pints of beer. One of such bar is the Bungy Bar or B.B., right next to the Singapore G-Max Reverse Bungy, which you can never miss.


Bungy Bar!


outside Bungy Bar, with live music of American Pie! Ying Tong apologises for the dark video

The Singapore River itself draws a lot of couples to just sit by the river and do what couples do best, as rivers also provide a very romantic atmosphere. Upon seeing this, Suhartono misses his girlfriend even more. :(

Take a 10 minutes walk along the river, towards the direction of the MICA Building (the colourful one!), until you come across the Cavenagh Bridge and the Fullerton Hotel. The six-star hotel is the most prestigious and expensive on in Singapore. Reny is extremely impressed by the beauty of the night view at the bridge; she highly recommends that everyone makes a trip there.


the Cavenagh Bridge and the Fullerton Hotel


the ACM

Crossing the bridge will bring you to the Asian Civilisation Museum (ACM)(S$5; S$2.50 concessions), this contains a great concentration of beautiful artefacts from numerous parts of Asia, representing range of historical periods.


Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

Further in stand the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall. This place started off as the Town Hall and is designed by John Bennett in 1856. The clock tower was topped by a timepiece donated by the Straits Trading Company.


the Arts House

Behind the Victoria theatre is the Arts House. The first Court House, Supreme Court and Assembly House was the young nation’s Parliament House until 1999 and housed the original Parliamentary Debating Chamber where landmark bills. It has been transformed into a vibrant arts and entertainment hub where artists and audiences gather cutting-edge exhibitions and performances are staged. All these places brought back many nostalgic memories to Ying Tong as she reminisces her performing experiences here.


timbre @ Arts House

There is a Timbre @ Arts House, which plays live music every night, with happy hour until 9pm. Next to it is the Raffles’ landing place in 1819, marked by the Raffles statue in his famous pose.


Suhartono thinks he is Raffles

Backtracking to the ACM, take the underground, which will bring you to the Merlion Park. Merlion Park, where the City’s half-fish icon stands – the Merlion. From the park, you will be able to get a broad view of the Esplanade and the newly-built Singapore Flyer, which Catherine is totally mesmerised.


see the guy next to Reny taking photos? We think he is mesmerised too!

Talking about the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, it looks like a huge durian, which Hsu finds it fascinating, how people actually come out with this idea. It holds the one and only arts library (library @ Esplanade), with many arts and performing arts related articles. Inside the Esplanade, there is also a theatre, concert hall and two studios. Looking for free concerts/performances? There is the outdoor theatre and the Concourse to check out, especially on weekends.

If you are hungry there is a hawker centre next to the Esplanade, Makan Sutra Glutton’s Bay. However Ying Tong does not recommend it as it is less authentic and expensive.

Across the road at Suntec City, you can find Balaclava (next to Starbucks), that plays great live music especially on Tuesdays and Fridays, featuring the Unexpected! The Unexpected is a local band that plays a range of music from soft rock to pop to country to heavy metal. They play at Wala Wala Bar & Café (in Holland V, on Thursdays and Saturdays) as well. Ying Tong thinks they totally rock! Seriously.

There are not many cheap accommodations around this area. The cheapest that we can come out with is the Riverview Hotel (from S$230+) located within 5 minutes walk from the Clarke Quay MRT station. This semi-luxurious hotel should provide you with a good night’s sleep to walk around Singapore.



the Cavenagh Bridge

Did you know?
Cavenagh Bridge is the oldest bridge on the Singapore River still in its original form. It received its name from the last appointed Governor-General of Singapore, Major-General William Orfeur Cavenagh (1859-1867).

Once constituted the focal point of Chinese life and culture in Singapore, Chinatown was used for settlement by the Chinese community by Sir Stamford Raffles back in the 1820s. Chinatown or Kreta Ayer, is bounded by New Bridge Road to the west, Neil Road and Maxwell Road to the south, Cecil Street to the east and the Singapore River to the north.

Take an MRT (North-East Line) and alight at the Chinatown station. It may be a little confusing here in the Chinatown station, just take Exit A and you will find yourself staring at Pagoda Street, one of the most happening streets in Chinatown.


Pagoda Street

Pagoda Street, once known for its opium dens, is now a pedestrianised market that comprises stalls laden with fashion and accessories, mostly cheap imports of designer goods.

Along the street is the Chinatown Heritage Centre (S$8; S$5.30 concessions), which vividly tells the stories of Singapore’s early immigrants.


Chinatown Heritage Centre

Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Smith Street form the Chinatown Night Market. There is an Austrian-owned German sausage kiosk which sells great sausages, which Ying Tong totally enjoys!


Ying Tong outside the German sausage kiosk!


Lukisan Art Gallery

Other than food, there is the newly established Lukisan Art Gallery, which showcases a selection of high-quality original Asian artworks.


this place is more exciting and enjoyable at night!

Next to the royal-looking Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which holds a little museum exhibiting the history of Buddhism, is the Trishaw Park, where you can hire a trishaw and take a little heritage tour around Chinatown. It is a different kind of experience that's worth trying!


Buddha Tooth Relic Temple


Trishaw Park

Time to grab a bite! Cross the road and it will bring you to the famous food centre in Singapore. The Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice here is highly recommended by Ying Tong!


Maxwell Food Centre


Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall

After a superb lunch, walk to the Urban Redevelopment Association (URA) next door. This dull looking building holds the Singapore City Gallery (free-of-charge), that can give you a bird’s eye view of Singapore, experience 180 years of Singaporean history through various models and get a sense of what this Lion City will be like in the future.


model of Singapore

Spot the outrageously red building across the road?


Red Dot Design Museum

The former Singapore Traffic Police Headquarters now houses a sleek and airy design museum as well as cafés, bars and office spaces for the creative industries.

Just down Telok Ayer Street, is the magnificent Taoist temple. Thian Hock Keng Temple is one of the oldest and largest temples in Singapore. It has an intricate and delicate architecture style, which Suhartono is simply too fascinated by it to say anything.


Thian Hock Kheng Temple

Walking towards South Bridge Road, you will see the two significant temples in Chinatown, side by side. The Masjid Jamae Chulia (Jamae Chulia Mosque) like most mosques that are open to tourists, welcomes people to step inside for a look of the interior.

Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple has the entrance topped with the most ornate gopurams (pyramidal gateway towers). This Hindu temple resembles the one Reny saw in Little India, but this is much bigger!


Masjid Jamae Chulia


Sri Mariamman Temple

We have a few accommodations to recommend, so here goes.

Near Kreta Ayer Road, there is quite a handful, and here are two of them, New Majestic Hotel (from S$238) and Chinatown Hotel (from S$155).


New Majestic Hotel


Chinatown Hotel

If you prefer to stay in the heart of Chinatown, Inn at Temple Street (from S$94) , will be a better choice!


Inn at Temple Street


People say it will bring you good fortune by touching his tummy. :)


Ying Tong receiving good fortune


Did you know?
Kreta Ayer is named after the ox-drawn water carts that used to deliver water in this area for household use and for washing the streets. Kreta is the Malay word for wheeled vehicle, while ayer means water.

Kampong Glam (currently known as Arab Quarter) is an enclave of streets and landmarks between Rochor Canal Road and Beach Road. It was used to house the Muslim settlement (and it still do) under the Raffles Town Plan in 1822. The nearest MRT station is Bugis station (along East-West line), but it is not exactly that nearby. You will have to take a short 15-minute walk along North Bridge Road to reach the Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque), one of the main attractions in Kampong Glam.


the Masjid Sultan

The Masjid Sultan was built in 1820s under the instructions of Sultan Hussein, who wanted a mosque befitting his status, close to his palace. The Singapore’s main mosque has the Islamic architecture style of the mosque, defined as Saracenic, is a blend of Persian, Turkish, Moorish and Indian elements. You are most welcomed to wander around freely (except into the prayer hall) through its worshippers. Reny thinks that this is the biggest and grandest mosque she has ever been to, and she highly recommends it.

During Ramadan (a period of time in the year when the Muslims fast in the day), local Muslims will come to the grounds to break their fast at the end of the day.


Bussorah Street


a shop along Bussorah Street

Directly behind the Masjid Sultan is the well-shaded Bussorah Mall, which has been converted into a pedestrian zone – Bussorah Street. There are many shophouses along the street, selling a wide range of souvenirs and handicrafts. It is great to stroll along around this area because it has a rather slow pace of life, unlike the rest of Singapore.


Malay Heritage Centre

Right next to the Masjid Sultan is the modest place of the last Sultan of Singapore and has now been converted into a museum. The Malay Heritage Centre (S$3; S$2 concession; free under 7s), also known as Istana Kampong Glam, tells the story of Singapore’s place in the Malay world. There are also various cultural performances on Wednesdays and Sundays. Suhartono is extremely impressed with this simple and sweet palace-converted-to-museum, because of the exciting stories behind it.


Bugis Prahu Boat inside the heritage centre

While Little India is especially memorable for its fragrances, it is the vibrant colours of the shops of Arab Street and its environs that stick to the mind. This street has the highest concentration of shops in Kampong Glam, so make sure you walk through the obstacle course of carpets, cloths, baskets and bags and source for some good bargains! Although textile stores predominate the street, there are also leather, gemstones, gold and jewellery for sale along the street.


a Malay handicraft shop

So here are some accommodations around the area.


Sleepy Sam's Bed & Beakfast

Sleepy Sam’s Bed & Breakfast (from S$28) on Bussorah Street provides free internet access, maps, a cosy bed and more! There is also the New 7th Story Hotel (from S$18) along Rochor Road. For a more luxurious experience, there is the Golden Landmark Hotel (from S$105) located within walking distance of the Masjid Sultan, on Victoria Street.


Did you know?
Kampong Glam derives its name from the gelam (eucalyptus) tree, which once was abundant in this neighbourhood. Medicinal oil was extracted from the trees and the bark used to caulk boats.

Singapore was divided into four major segments under the Raffles Town Plan 1822. The Europeans settled in the north bank of Singapore River around Beach Road, and Rochor Road, while Chinese settled in the river’s south bank, which is known as Chinatown today. The Malays and Arabs were allocated at Kampong Glam and the Indians, originally in Chinatown area, have moved to Serangoon Road. The area is now known as Little India.

Now, let us talk a little bit more about Little India.
You can take the MRT (North-East Line) to Little India, and then walk along Serangoon Road, and it will definitely give you a true multi-sensory experience.

along Serangoon Road

The Hindus have just celebrated the Festival of Lights, Deepavali or Diwali, which explains why the streets are festively decorated in their traditional ornaments. Apart from that you can smell the fragrance of the flower garlands sold almost everywhere; and the aroma of the spiced food sold at the various Indian restaurants along the road.

flower garland shop

One of the attractions in Little India is none other than the famous Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple! This temple is dedicated to Hindu Goddess Kali, the Goddess of Power and the wife of Lord Shiva, and was built in the 1880s. There are many mini figurines on the roof of the temple, which Reny finds it very fascinating. The architecture of Indian temples are usually very vibrant, be sure to visit at least one in your stay in Singapore! We will be introducing one or two more of such beautiful buildings in the near future.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple


Abdul Gaffoor Mosque

In Singapore, a melting pot of race and religion, it would not be surprising to find two temples of different religion to be in the same area. We chanced upon this remarkable mosque (a Malay temple) in Little India. The Abdul Gaffoor Mosque was originally a wooden structure built in 1859. It was later rebuilt with bricks in 1907. This mosque is painted in yellow, which is the Malays’ royal colour, which shows the significance of the mosque. Apparently Suhartono, felt that this place looks like an Arabian palace!

If you are looking for accommodation around Little India, we would like to recommend a few backpackers hostels as well as hotels!


Perak Hotel


Ying Tong standing outside Prince of Wales

Here’s the cosy Perak Hotel (from S$148) on Perak Road and the Australian owned Prince of Wales Hostel and Pub (from S$20) along Dunlop Street. If you want to enjoy some live music, there are also quite a number of pubs and bars along the road. Ying Tong thought it is pretty cool as she never realised what an in place Little India is!

live band inside Prince of Wales Pub

Be sure to get this before you go! They range from S$5 to S$15.

henna


Did you know?
Serangoon is named after a black and white marsh bird called Burong Ranggong in Malay. This kind of bird was once found along the swamps and muddy river banks of the Serangoon River in the early 19th century.