From the Sunny Island: Bukit Timah Nature Hike

Headed down to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve today for a spontaneous healthy hike which I have not done in ages! The last time I visited the Bukit Timah Hill was about 10+ years back? Gosh, I'm aging too fast!

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is easily accessible by car (I guess). But being the average Singaporean who doesn't own a car, I took public transport which was a decent way to reach there as well!

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Opening Hours: 6am to 7pm

Accessible by bus no. 67, 75, 170, 173, 184, 852, 961.

Eguide Book: Download HERE!

Bukit Timah Hill was said to be infested by Tigers in the 19th Century and also, a quarry for granite up to 20th Century. I did not know natural resources exist in Singapore! However, it was exhausted till then. Also, during the World War 2, it was also a battle field for the final stage of the Japanese occupation, which led to the surrender of the British Troops.

There are 4 paths dedicated to Trekkers. Marked Red, Blue, Green and Yellow (ranked easy to most challenging), and also a track specifically for mountain bikers! You will be able to see more details here!

It was a bright and sunny day!

The trees were really tall and it sort of hidden us from direct sunlight. And being in a rainforest gave us the humidity needed to feel not that warm on this sunny island!

Really huge ants spotted there.

Caves which appears under huge tree trunks! I wonder was it related to the battle during the world war.

This was the steep path steps to the summit!

I was told by a friend that in the past, we used to be able to see views from the summit, but we can't anymore after the trees grew taller! :(

We were not supposed to bring food in case monkeys comes snatching from the humans!

Since we were not able to catch any views from the summit, my friend brought us throughout a path to the left of where the summit path starts (along the blue path), and we were able to see a little of the Quarry from top!

This twisted trunk was at the entrance of the Green path, but we missed it somehow when entering. Luckily we caught it on our way back!

After returning from the hill, we headed to the Quarry. I never knew such pretty sight (though small) would be found in Singapore!

A morning's walk through the rainforest was indeed tiring, but fun and relaxing. It's also a great photoshoot opportunity! If you guys have extra time on weekends, you should definitely try it, although it'll be much more crowded than if you go on a weekday!

From the Sunny Island: Staycation at Days Hotel (Balestier)

It was a spontaneous decision to have a Staycation 1 month back. We chose Days Hotel @ Balestier as we have heard about this hotel some time back, and it seem like a good idea to stay there as it's new (opened in Dec 2012), affordable, and close to the Balestier Heritage Site!

Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park

1 Jalan Rajah Road

Singapore 329133

Phone: (65) 6808 6868

Fax: (65) 6808 6999

Hotel Email: reservations@ramada-dayshotelssingapore.com

You can choose to travel there by foot or bus if you travel by the MRT to Novena Station.

My choice was by foot and I took Exit A in Novena Station. Once you exit from the station, turn left and walk towards and along Mt. Elizabeth to get to Balestier Road. It takes around 10-15min by foot.

For other travelling information, you can refer to HERE for directions. And I just got to know that they also provide complimentary shuttle bus services from Novena Station! 

As we are early, the receptionist was helpfully trying to get a ready room for us to check in. However, it will not be ready until after 15-30 min. So the Fiance and I headed for a cup of coffee at the cafe he saw just outside the hotel.

Since it has named itself "the best coffee in the world", it's definitely a must-try for coffee addicts like us!

Nothing fanciful really, but it does feel like overseas since we had never came across this cafe before in Singapore!

After the coffee fix, we headed back and the room was ready! 

We were greeted by a really clean and decent room.

There's also the Apple dock which you can use to listen to music from your iPod/iPhone/iPad (i suppose it can fit too?). But I guess nowadays most people have shifted focus from Apple products. You can use it for charging non-Apple products too, as it consists of 2 USB ports.

The room has a pretty good City View too. Not that much of a city, but it's nice enough for a room in Singapore which cost less than S$200!

Must-try bar in the hotel - Starker.

They have their own in-house beers available. We were very amazed by their service.

Our glasses were changed halfway through to another freezing cold glass so that your beer will be kept perpetually cold! This is the first time I came across a bar which offers this service!

I guess the ambiance will be a lot better if we were to visit later in the night. 

The quiet and peaceful surrounding, topped with old shop-houses which you can't really find in the Cities of Singapore, and also really good local food (bak kut teh, chicken rice) nearby makes us miss the place until now. We were even considering to extend 1 more night while we were there! Just love trips which are spontaneous, and do not have to spend that much! We are definitely looking forward to more of this explorations in this little Sunny Island!

From the Sunny Island - Singapore National Museum

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page" - St. Augustine

It may be true that travelling to foreign lands allows you to learn more about other cultures and practices. But how many of you actually knows every single bit of your own country? We always want to travel outwards, but who knows you might find treasures in your country as well! Being in Singapore, we are lucky enough since we are small, and travelling has never been a problem even if you don't own a car. It doesn't cost too much, and you don't have to get time off from work to travel locally. This is when the thought of "Discover Singapore as Singaporean" begins! In this story, I shall record and share my experiences travelling around Singapore, with the use of public transport as much as possible!

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This beautiful skyline of Singapore is familiar to many Singaporeans, and even most tourists. But how many of you remember that all these does not come easy?

When was the last time you read about Singapore's history? As a Singaporean, I have to say that after my social studies lessons during my Secondary school days (that was like 11 years ago?), I had not touched a single bit of history since!

The very brief history of Singapore:

13th Century:
Singapore started off as a small fishing village named Temasek, which was discovered by Sang Nila Utama in the 13th Century.

1819:
Singapore started her prosperity and was known to the world stage in 1819, when Sir Stanford Raffles step foot on Singapore's soil, together with British East India Company. Singapore then became the most important and strategic trading post for the Spice Trade. Together with Penang and Malacca, Singapore was included in the Straits Settlement, and under the British Colony.

1942:
We went through the 3 years 8 months of disastrous Japanese Occupation, from 1942 - 1945.

1963-1965:
We merged with Federation of Malaya in 1963, which was the start of many racial disharmony. Due to the disagreement between the two parties, PAP (racial equality) & UMNO (for the good of the Malay community), and also to prevent further bloodsheds, Singapore was expelled from Malaya, and gained independence in 1965.

1965:
Since then, we become the independent Republic of Singapore.

It has really been a long while since I last went to the National Museum of Singapore!

National Museum of Singapore

Address: 93 Stamford Road Singapore 178897

Tel: +65 6332 3659/5642

Opening Hours & Tickets: Pls click HERE

The National Museum of Singapore consist of permanent galleries and special exhibitions. Permanent galleries include the Singapore History Gallery and Singapore Living Gallery. These 2 galleries are free for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents of Singapore.

We took the chance to visit the museum as we wanted to check out the exhibition of the Princely Treasures, but more of it later!

To get to the National Museum, we alighted at Bras Basah station. It was a station on the Circle Line (yellow line). It's around 5 min walk from the station. You can also alight at Dobhy Ghaut Station, or City Hall station!

We wanted to get the tickets for the Princely Treasures first, but was advised that due to the special Singapore Night Festival 2013, we get to enter all exhibitions for free after 7pm. So, we decided to head for the Singapore History Museum first and come back later after dinner!

Oh, did I also say that the best part of this visit was to be able to take photos even inside the gallery or exhibition hall! However, do note that flash photographies and videos are not allowed.

It is recommended to get a digital guide as you walk through the gallery as most parts of the gallery requires the explanation from the guide! We didn't get one and we can't really make out the meaning and purpose of the exhibits most of the time!

You can also join one of the guided tours in the museum, details HERE.

The Singapore Stone -- First writing found in Singapore. It was known to be old Javanese writings.

History drawings collection by William Farquhar - an employee of the British East India Company, and first resident of Singapore.

The Japanese Occupation

Banana money and food rationing.

Merger of Singapore and Malaya.

The pledge of Singapore, as an independent nation!

As we were approaching dinner time, we decided to head somewhere for dinner before returning for the Princely Treasures exhibitions. There are F&B outlets in the museum itself, but we headed out anyway as the Fiancé have some place to recommend!

Head towards the entrance and turn to your right, walk straight down and you will see a long escalator upwards towards the Fort Canning Park direction! More of the restaurant later! 

Singapore is having the Singapore Night Festival. This weekend (30/Aug & 31/Aug) will be the last weekend for this Night Fest! There will be light ups at the museums, concerts, discounts at participating F&B outlets! For more information, you might want to hop on HERE.

This is an annual event. So even if you missed this year, you can always try again next year!

With this event, we got the chance to get into the Princely Treasures exhibition for free after 7pm!

Photography is allowed in the exhibition without the use of flash! This exhibition showcased the treasure and art pieces collected by the Prince of Liechtenstein. Though attracted to the pretty name, but we can't really relate and appreciate the arts behind it. But I can say, the paintings are really pretty!

Absolut Vodka also showcased their collection of special rare bottles on the first level of the museum!

Absolut Canvas

From 23 August - 02 September 

10am - 6pm daily

During Singapore Night Festival

23, 24, 30, 31 August

7pm - 2am

*Free admission to Bar area too*

This is really pretty!

We want this display at our future home too!

I seriously think I can appreciate these pretty bottles more than those art pieces. I should feel ashamed of myself! This exhibition is ending real soon so go have fun!

This trip to the National Museum of Singapore was indeed a surprisingly fun trip. I was thinking I might get really bored at the end, but I wasn't even a little bored! If I have the time, I will surely return again!

Have you been to the National Museum of Singapore lately? For Singaporeans, if you have not visited since your primary school excursion, it's time you pay a visit! It looks totally different from the past (or so I remembered)!

Do let me know if you enjoyed your trip! :)