Tour of Singapore (Guided and DIY)

Singapore is one city so easy to tour with various options of guided tours and easy do-it-yourself tours for the more adventurous (or financially-challenged) individuals.

The Singapore skyline is picturesque and can be seen in breathtaking photos at night with brightly colored lights of buildings particularly those lining the bay.

Problem only was that Tutubi has this chronic "dysfunctional motor system syndrome" made him too lazy to lug along his sturdy tripod to take night photos of this modern metropolis.

singapore skyline from marina bay with the esplanade and marina mandarin in sight. taken near the Merlion with camera firmly held against the steel railings of the park

The night before, Tutubi met college friends, now living and working in Singapore, in Suntec before deciding to chill out at Zuk's, a trendy club quite popular that one of his classmates even saw former PM Lee Kuan Yew inside the washroom urinating. (imagine how much a photo of Mr Lee peeing would cost for a paparazzi :)

The last day of Tutubi, after two days of attending a conference, was the free half-day tour of the Lion City that took him to many touristy places, passing through Singapore's surprisingly clean roads, as narrated through pictures below:

Thian Hock Keng Temple, the oldest Taoist temple dedicated to Matsu, the Taoist goddess of the sea; a smaller temple at the back is a Buddhist one dedicated to Kuan Yin.


a visit to Chinatown, with it's pastel-colored victorian inspired houses with chinese merchants. (Warning by the tour guide: be careful since some merchants take advantage of tourists.

Tutubi noticed, however, the rudeness of some shopkeepers when they notice he's not going to buy (because they give you astronomical price they thought a penny-pinching tourist like Tutubi can afford)


After looking around and finding out most goods are too pricey, just walk up to the end of the street taking pictures of shops, buildings, and an Indian temple-- the Sri Mariamman temple.

Leaving Chinatown, next stop's Mt. Faber that offers a breathtaking view of Sentosa Island; can be reached via a cable car.



Such a nice toilet/washroom/CR/water closet they have!

The last, as ubiquitous as it may seem for city tours, was a visit to a jewelry shop where they're try to sell you über-expensive jewelries and works of art. )Of course, Tutubi, again, won't let his guard down by buying; candidly took pictures of some items on display)



After the tour, Tutubi asked to be dropped in front of Funan Digitalife Mall, instead of the hotel, to ask for the price of a nifty fifty lens (Canon 50mm f1.8 II).

Funan Digitalife Mall is reputed to be friendlier than full-of-tourist-traps and rude shopkeepers Sim Lim Square where Tutubi went to earlier where he was treated rudely for asking the price of the same lens two days before.

From Funan, Tutubi walked quite a distance again towards St. Andrew Cathedral, the Cricket Club, Capitol Building and other landmarks before the durian-looking, but not durian-smelling, Esplanade Mall.

St Andrew Cathedral, with Filipino markers, and with children catching tutubi (dragonflies) unmindful that a Tutubi is taking their picture to document the "massacre."
I wonder what this little boy's doing at the back of the cathedral
Esplanade Mall



Next: Experience India in Singapore



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