Last year I travelled to Singapore with a group of friends. I haven’t been to Singapore in a while (give or take 10 years) so I jumped on the opportunity to go. Here’s a photo diary of the spots we visited while in The Lion City!
(Oh, and if you’re interested, check out my Singapore Food Photo Diary here!)
Gillman Barracks
One of the first places we visited was Gillman Barracks. This is a contemporary arts cluster in Singapore that houses art galleries. One of the friends who came with us on this trip wanted to check the place out and I was more than happy to tag along. I didn’t regret it because there was a lot of photo opportunities in and around the area!
I don’t really know how galleries work but from what I remember, the various galleries scattered around Gillman Barracks’ area feature different artists and exhibitions, both locally and internationally.
So I suggest you run around the area and check out the different exhibits! Most of them are free, so no worries!
Books Actually
One of the shops I really wanted to visit was a bookshop called BooksActually. It’s located in Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru. Luckily, it was quite near the place where I stayed at for a few days.
I fell in love with the store even before I got inside. They had a book and magazine vending machine outside their shop!
The shop specialises in literature, including obscure and critical works. You’ll also find different knickknacks and various trinkets like enamel pins, posters, and stationeries at the cashier area and the back room. They also have a cat that sometimes pops up inside the store. I got to pet it when we went here but I didn’t know the owner was eyeing me from behind. If you love books, make sure to drop by this store!
Haji Lane
Ah, the popular Haji Lane. No trip to Singapore would be complete without a trip to this cute little shopping street. Tucked away in the Kampong Glam neighbourhood in Singapore, this artsy lane houses colourful and fascinating shops, eateries, and bars.
The shops here are a great contrast to the big malls and shopping strips found in Singapore. Here, you’ll find independent and trendy little boutiques and designer stores that hold treasures you just won’t find inside malls. Just be wise about spending here because the items don’t come cheap. I recommend going through all the stores first and then go back the way you came to buy the items that you REALLY want.
I stayed at Five Stones Hostel during my last days in Singapore. It is a 5-minute walk away from Haji Lane! I highly recommend staying there if you’re looking for an affordable yet comfortable living space!
ArtScience Museum
One of the places I really wanted to visit was the ArtScience Museum. It’s located in the downtown area, in the Marina Bay Sands resort complex. Turns out, it is the world’s first ArtScience Museum! The museum has a permanent exhibit which is the ArtScience Gallery, but it mainly hosts other exhibits curated by other museums as well. The one we experienced was Future World, the new permanent exhibit at the museum.
Future World smashes art and technology together to create a fun, colourful, and very eye-catching works of art. The name is very apt because once you enter the exhibit, it’s like you’ve been transported to a whole new world, a Future World.
The exhibition takes you on a journey through four key areas, and first up is Nature.
Then Town.
Then Park.
And, finally, Space.
A trip to the ArtScience Museum will not let you down! A must-see!
The Merlion Park / Marina Bay / Gardens by the Bay
Ah, what kind of trip to Singapore would it be if you didn’t go see the Merlion? The iconic Merlion stands overlooking the Marina Bay, so if you ever go out to see this majestic icon, might as well walk around the bay area and take tons of beautiful photos!
The Helix Bridge, officially The Helix, connects Marina Centre with Marina South in the Marina Bay area of Singapore. The bridge lights up at night so it is a must-see! Sadly, we didn’t have the time to come back during the night because we had to make our way to the Supertree Grove to see the colourful vertical gardens!
The trees come alive at night with lights and music. The musical show they had prepared for the night we visited was Broadway Themed! Singapore knew I was coming!
It gets pretty humid around here so wear something light and airy when you can!
Chinatown and Little India
Singapore is a diverse country and it shows in the city quarters of Little India, Chinatown, and Arab Street (see Haji Lane above). As a tourist, these two are also a must-see when visiting Singapore. I explored Chinatown only for a bit because it was dreadfully hot when we visited!
And then there’s Little India, the district that I explored last during my trip. It was timely because they were celebrating Diwali or Deepavali so the whole area was so colourful, but also very crowded!
Immerse yourself in the rich cultural experiences that Singapore has to offer and visit these two quarters when you’re in the city!
There are a lot more places that we didn’t get to visit but those will be for another trip! I hope you enjoyed my travel photo diary!
If you’re itching to visit Singapore yourself, check out Borderline Travel and Tours! They’ll hook you up with amazing rates and tours that’ll suit your needs!
Cheers, guys, and travel often! 😀
