Category: LOVE Singapore

The Afternoon at the National Museum of Singapore

Museums are a great way to learn about a country’s history. 
Which is why I was looking forward to visiting the National Museum of Singapore, located just a short walk from Dhoby Ghaut station, right by Fort Canning (for those of you who know Singapore…I think it’s a park?).
I love how it says on their website that they are “Singapore’s oldest museum with the youngest and most innovative soul,” because it’s true. The museum was both historical and modern at the same time. Their design game was spot on.
R and I had a quick bite to eat before heading to see the exhibits. There was a photography gallery but what I was excited to see was the Singapura: 700 Years exhibit that had opened the day before, in celebration of Singapore’s 50 years of independence.
I knew that Japan had occupied Singapore for a time (well, I read it in a Japanese travel guide for Singapore and it said that it could still be a sticky subject so be humble…which is not bad advice at all). But other than that, I had no knowledge of their history so this unique exhibit allowed me to see how Singapore grew from a small village to the financial capital of Asia that it is now.
We had just gotten past the first couple of sections and R says to me, “This is so nice how peacefully this country has evolved,” referring to Ancient Singapore and the British Colonization that made Singapore an international port. Then we turned a corner to see the section on the Japanese occupation during WWII and he turns to me and says, “Oh.”
Yes, oh. Well, you know it’s never the greatest feeling seeing your country’s not-so-proud moments in the past. But…my thought is, the more you know about it, the less the chance of repeating it in the future. It’s more sensible not to shy away from the past. 
Looking through the visual gallery of scenes during the occupation, watching the short documentary video of interviews with the Singaporean people who lived through it, and reading the facts and data regarding the war…it gave me a sense of what those 3 years of suffering through Japanese occupation must have been like for the people of Singapore and it once again confirmed my belief that nothing good ever comes from war. 
The following sections were just as interesting, displaying photos of post-war Singapore and another section on how it led to an independent Singapore.
I think this exhibit was the perfect way to learn about Singapore’s history and get a feel of how the country has evolved. It had the perfect amount of information in each section, giving you just enough to be curious and want to learn more on your own. Not to mention how visually appealing all the displays were. I really loved this exhibition.
And if you’re really into it, you can always take the quiz at the very end that tests your knowledge of Singapore’s history!
Do you like learning the history of other countries? Do you go to museums?

(photo by R)

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE
93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
TEL: +65 6332 3659
HOURS: 10:00am-6:00pm
FEE: Exhibition fee for non-residents 6.00SGD

The Henderson Waves in Singapore

Have you seen a more beautiful pedestrian bridge?


I first saw the Henderson Waves featured on the instagram blog (here) and thought, Wow!!! It was so unique and you know I love all things made of wood. In this case, Yellow Balau wood.


Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore and is located in the Telok Blangah district. It connects Mount Faber Park with Telok Blangah Hill Park, stretching 36 meters above Henderson Road. (more here)

I was beyond excited about getting to go there and seeing it in person while we were in SIngapore. We took a taxi from our hotel and asked to be driven to Henderson Wave Bridge. Our fabulous Malay taxi driver informed us that we would have to walk part of the way, which was fine. He had a load of interesting information regarding Singapore and we chatted all the way there. I love taxi drivers in Singapore!

We were there in the late morning so it was pretty hot. But the tall trees gave us shade as we walked along the trail to Henderson Wave Bridge. I noticed you can hear the birds chirping away. There were a lot of runners on this trail, although it seemed like we were the only tourists there. After awhile we turned a corner and suddenly we were there!

I really wish I had a wide-lens camera to show you how gorgeous this place was (still saving my pennies…or yen, if you will). But you get the idea. The entire bridge is structured like a wave. We had a great view from above but my eyes were constantly drawn to the beauty of the wooden slats. So beautiful. We pretty much had the whole bridge to ourselves and it was fabulous.

At night, the bridge is lit up with LED lights. It sounds gorgeous, doesn’t it? Next time I’m in Singapore, I’m definitely coming here to sit around and watch the sunset. X

Here are some photos:

(photos by R)
(photo by R)

The Plain Vanilla Bakery in Singapore

What is better than finding an amazing bookstore?
Finding an amazing bookstore, walking out with your new book, and stumbling upon a bakery with a mouth-watering selection of cupcakes! The Plain Vanilla Bakery on Yong Siak Street, I later found out, is quite popular. They had nine basic cupcakes and a couple more seasonal ones. I was very tempted to try all of them but somehow manage to limit myself to just one, the carrot flavor.
It was so good.
There was a seating area right outside of the bakery. It wasn’t a very large space (just two large tables) but I loved the simple and rustic decor. It was the perfect place to just sit and relax while reading my new book. And I have to say it again, the cupcakes were delicious!
Here are some photos:
PLAIN VANILLA BAKERY
1D Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168641
TEL: +65 6465 5942
OPEN: Tue-Fri 11:00am-8:00pm
             Sat 9:00am-8:00pm
             Sun 9:00am-6:00pm (closed Mondays)

The BooksActually in Singapore

You know I love stepping into local bookstores during my travels.
Well, I had heard about BooksActually (on this list) even before I knew I was going to Singapore. I think it’s one of the most well-known independent bookstores in the world, or getting there. So when the talk of stopping by this sovereign city-state came up, I immediately jumped on the idea solely because I wanted to stop by this bookstore.
I didn’t take very many pictures because I spent most of my time poking my nose in every corner of the bookstore, not to mention a handful of books and magazines. They specialize in fiction and literature but you can also find everything from typewriters to original stationary. Oh and did I mention the cats, too? (Although not for sale.)
I think the owners have a very unique and eclectic taste when it comes to selecting books for their bookstore. It had an amazing selection of novels by local writers, which made choosing a souvenir book for myself all the more difficult. They also publish books under their own brand, Math Paper Press, and hold events such as book launches and readings, which I would definitely go to if I were local.
BooksActually made me wish I lived in Singapore.
BOOKSACTUALLY
No. 9 Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru, Singapore 168645
TEL: +65 6222 9195
HOURS: Mon 11:00am-6:00pm
               Tue-Fri 11:00am-9:00pm
               Sat 10:00am-9:00pm
               Sun 10:00am-6:00pm

The 7 Things I Love About Singapore

So I’m finally sharing photos from my stay in Singapore!

I almost forgot about this trip. Which is ridiculous because I had the best time. After my trip in Melbourne, I had a layover in Singapore. So my friend R and I decided to take a day or two to explore and relax in Singapore before we head back home.

Best. Decision. Ever.

It seemed like the internet leaned toward “boring” when it comes to describing travel in Singapore. But I have to disagree because I had a blast. We didn’t do anything especially exciting, but exploring the streets of Singapore was so much fun for me. So much to see in this little country. I was taking photos at every corner!

Here are some of the things I especially liked about Singapore:

1. The Airport – I’ve always liked airports but when one has unlimited free wifi, a swimming pool, AND a butterfly garden? I was in heaven and actually wished I had more time at the airport. Next time I am definitely trying out their swimming pool.

2. The Architecture – The buildings in Singapore were so beautiful! With many different cultures living amongst each other, it’s inevitable that Singapore would have an abundance of unique architecture, both old and new. It made walking around the city all the more interesting!
3. The Tropical Weather – If humidity is not your thing, you may actually pass out in Singapore. But I am not one of those people and didn’t mind the humidity that came with all the beauty of the tropics. Palm trees, year-round flowers, and best of all…no need to moisturize your skin morning, noon, and night (I’m looking at you, Tokyo)!
4. The Shops and Food – I found a treasure filled bookstore and an amazing cupcake shop on my first morning there! It was hard resisting the urge to buy and eat everything. But I quickly realized that I would need more than a couple of days to see and taste everything I wanted to. In that sense, the shopping and food scene are close to Tokyo with lots of variety!

5. The Transportation – Whether you take a taxi, train, or even a cable car…it was all easy peasy! The taxi drivers were the nicest people ever, giving us suggestions on where to go and answering our questions. So sweet. And there’s also no need to worry about the smell of durian fruits on trains, it is apparently forbidden 😉  
6. The Pool – Because the cool summer messed with my plans to make this year all about swimming, nothing could have made me happier than an outdoor pool! And yes, I truly did swim in it, from one side to the other. I need this swimming pool in my back yard (which is also on my list of things I want)! 
7. The National Museum of Singapore – I didn’t know very much about the history of Singapore, which is why  I was so happy to discover an exhibit about the history of Singapore here. It actually started the day before our visit. Our timing was seriously spot on!


Have you ever been to Singapore? What were your favorite things about Singapore?