Singapore

Singapore Blog Awards 2012

May 24, 2012 by Bino 13 Comments

I normally do not toot my own horn here so pardon me for doing so in this exceptional case. I received news earlier this week that I Wander has been selected as one of the 10 finalists for the Singapore Blog Awards 2012 – Travel Category! It would not have been possible without you guys who read this blog. The initial nomination actually came from one of the readers which makes this recognition even more meaningful.

With over a hundred nominations for the Travel Category, honestly, I did not expect that this blog would make it to the finals. There are just so many impressive and well-designed blogs out there! We are now in the voting stage and I would appreciate it if you could show your support by voting. You get to win cool prizes as well just by clicking that vote button. You may vote by clicking on that Singapore Blog Awards image above. It will direct you to the page showing all the finalists. Go to the bottom where you’ll find I Wander’s name and just click the “Vote For Me” button. Registration is required but is relatively painless. You can vote on a daily basis until 30th of June as well so start marking this in your calendars now!

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Eleven Places to See in Southeast Asia

May 22, 2012 by Bino 15 Comments

It took me over a year to post Part 2 of my Southeast Asian roundup, my little ode to this dynamic and diverse region which I call home. One year on and I still find myself traveling around Southeast Asia though now it’s mostly for work, transit or for back and forth trips between Manila and Singapore. More trips are certainly warranted in the future.

As my “tribute” to this region, I am choosing my top 11 sights from the 11 countries that make up Southeast Asia. To avoid being concentrated over a particular nation, I am picking one sight out of each of the 11 countries – my personal favorite from each.

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Bukit Timah Hill – Conquering Singapore’s Tallest Peak

April 1, 2012 by Bino 6 Comments

Few major cities in the world can lay claim to having relatively undisturbed tropical rainforests lying within the metropolis. Places like Rio de Jaineiro and Mumbai come to mind. There is another city, which very few people outside of it would include in the list I just mentioned. Surprise, surprise. That place is Singapore.

the long and winding trail…

Despite dubbing itself as a “Garden City” and filling almost every road, bridge, overpass and even airport with greenery, no one would usually make the logical leap and think of finding jungles here as well, much less an authentic one. The zoning of new land leaves less open ones as years go by but one place has remained untouched despite the rapid urban development and limited space – a nature reserve called Bukit Timah. Now measuring a mere 1.64 square kilometers, this was once part of a larger forest where tigers and many other indigenous animals used to roam.

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Kampong Glam: Wandering Singapore’s Arab Quarter

January 30, 2012 by Bino 9 Comments

Singapore’s small size belies the cultural diversity evidenced by its traditional ethnic quarters. This entry will be the first of hopefully three parts – with this first one covering Kampong Glam, a traditional Muslim enclave which has seen recent gentrification due to its proximity to the downtown core.

the sultan mosque – you can’t miss it!

One need not go far to witness something resembling more of the Near East in this Southeast Asian tropical island. In Kampong Glam, minarets and hookah joints prevail over churches and coffeeshops. To be sure, it feels foreign while still maintaining the orderliness and efficiency that Singapore is known all over the world for.

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Discovering Singapore’s Outlying Islands

December 24, 2011 by Bino 5 Comments

all aboard!

… and I’m not talking about Sentosa here. What most people don’t realize is that Singapore isn’t just made up of just one island (or two, if you count Sentosa). Believe it or not, this tiny city-state is actually made up of 63 islands — most of them being uninhabited! I had the chance to check out some of these islands last year with friends and it showed me yet another side of Singapore that I hadn’t known previously despite living here for several years.

A short ferry ride from the Marina South Pier via Island Cruise (SGD 15, roundtrip, inclusive of stops) transports one from the hustle and bustle of an ultramodern city to tiny, mythical tropical islands lined with lush palm trees and some of the best beaches in Singapore. The ferry ride took us to three of the more well-known southern islands (aside from Sentosa). First stop was the larger St. John’s Island – a great getaway for those planning for a swim and/or a picnic.

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Wink Hostel: Indulgence on a Budget in Singapore

December 18, 2011 by Bino 12 Comments

I often have friends asking me for recommended places to stay in Singapore. Although I am familiar with most of the hotels in the country, I’m not sure whether it’s a wise idea to rely on a local resident to provide this kind of advice (just kidding!). Seriously speaking, I think for now I do have one to recommend. I normally don’t write an entire entry about a hotel (in fact, I never have!) but I thought this particular one deserves a special mention. Also, if someone asks me again next time, I’ll have this to refer to.

I’ve stayed in all sorts of places. I’ve stayed in a hostel where all I got was a filthy bunk bed. I’ve stayed in one-of-a-kind boutique hotels and I have stayed in chain hotels. There’s one concept I haven’t tried though — that’s the capsule hotel which is found all over space-deprived Tokyo. If given the chance to go there next time, I would want to stay in one. When I found that Singapore recently opened a lodging that took inspiration from this concept, I knew I had to check it out.

exterior of wink hostel

The trendy and charming Wink Hostel in Singapore’s Chinatown has been open since October and I’ve known it for about just as long. Located just one block away from the Chinatown MRT station, the hostel is an easy 3 minute walk and is conveniently located right at the commercial area of Chinatown near the souvenir shops and restaurants, and about 8 minutes away from the bar district and Raffles Place (where I work!).

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Singapore Walking Tour: Why You Should Do It at Night

December 13, 2011 by Bino 14 Comments

For a country that has often been branded by its detractors as dull, Singapore’s nightscape is everything but. A world apart from the day, the same buildings which look neat but otherwise unremarkable against the sunlight turn into a homage of modern construction with an added layer of mystery, sleekness and futurism once the sun sets.

the amazing singapore skyline at blue hour… the building where I work is one of the buildings shown in this picture

As a (almost) local here, I witness this spectacle almost every night from where I work. Despite the sweltering heat, I sometimes prefer to walk above ground on my way home (rather than on the underpass) just to see this when I need a break from the masses of drone-like men and women making the commute home. The skyline looks even better during blue hour – that few minutes when the sun sets but just before it completely turns into night.

Many tourists do the standard walking tour of Singapore around this area, no doubt about it. But I find that barely anyone does it at night, which is a shame. The perfect time for a walking tour around the Civic Center / CBD area is actually at night. Not only is it cooler at this time, but everything appears sleeker than usual, even sultry. My suggested Downtown Singapore walking tour after the jump.

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Welcoming the Tiger Year

February 14, 2010 by Bino 2 Comments

Chinese New Year is again upon us! The long weekend that accompanies this holiday in Singapore is usually marked by family reunions and hearty feasts. Make no mistake about it. This is probably the time of the year when Singaporeans are at their most hospitable state. Tradition goes that people (even strangers) can’t be repelled for a home-cooked new year’s dinner, which occurs throughout the week. Sweet.

The city is generally quiet during this time of the year as almost all shops are closed. A smattering of events are usually done to coincide with the new year’s celebrations, including the “River Hongbao” cultural exposition.

the entranceThis year's event is notably lackluster and tacky, considering I was there last year and the lighting installations then were much more impressive. Still, it's a free event. And if you've got nothing to do during this long holiday, might as well check it out. There are performances held daily at around 8pm in the evening.the god of fortune