• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • About
  • World Map
  • Work With Us
  • Disclosure/Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Budget Travel Talk

Road Trips Caravan Camping Australia

  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • Destinations
    • Australia Travel Blog
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
        • Cairns
        • Sunshine Coast
        • Townsville
      • Tasmania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Americas
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Europe
      • Bosnia and Hercegovina
      • Croatia
      • Italy
      • Montenegro
      • Portugal
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
        • Istanbul
    • Africa
      • Morocco
    • New Zealand / Pacific
  • Journey
    • Road Trips
    • Trains
    • Boat Trips
  • Travel Tips
    • Reviews
    • Destination Guides
    • Itineraries
    • Self Guided Walking Tours
    • Travel Resources
    • Budget Tips
    • Buying Guides
    • Interviews
  • Accommodation
    • Airbnb
    • Caravan Parks
    • Free Camping
    • Hotels
    • Housesitting
  • Experience
    • Food to Love
    • Festivals
    • Markets
    • Palaces and Castles
    • Ruins
    • Short Walks
    • Street Art
    • Bike Rides
  • Search
  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • Destinations
    • Australia Travel Blog
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
        • Cairns
        • Sunshine Coast
        • Townsville
      • Tasmania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Americas
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Europe
      • Bosnia and Hercegovina
      • Croatia
      • Italy
      • Montenegro
      • Portugal
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
        • Istanbul
    • Africa
      • Morocco
    • New Zealand / Pacific
  • Journey
    • Road Trips
    • Trains
    • Boat Trips
  • Travel Tips
    • Reviews
    • Destination Guides
    • Itineraries
    • Self Guided Walking Tours
    • Travel Resources
    • Budget Tips
    • Buying Guides
    • Interviews
  • Accommodation
    • Airbnb
    • Caravan Parks
    • Free Camping
    • Hotels
    • Housesitting
  • Experience
    • Food to Love
    • Festivals
    • Markets
    • Palaces and Castles
    • Ruins
    • Short Walks
    • Street Art
    • Bike Rides
  • Search
Singapore MRT

Singapore Fling

June 14, 2012 By Jan Robinson 5 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.


On our return trip from Barcelona to Brisbane, we had a twelve hour day time stop over in Singapore.  While generous, the free stopover tours from Changi Airport did not appeal as they would only half-fill the day and leave us stranded back at the airport twiddling our thumbs.

I approached the tourist information counter and started talking to the assistant. I told him of a visit I had made to Singapore THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, and how I had eaten in a local food court, about how fantastic and cheap the food had been and how I would love to do that again. His eyes lit up – I was talking his language now.  A map and pen were produced and he started circling and writing names vigorously.

A Plan was being Hatched

With limited time available he suggested we travel by MRT (Mass Rapid Transport), the Singapore Rail System.  We, like the 2.5 million other people that used it daily, would not be held up by congested roads and would arrive cool, calm and collected at our destination.  And with a train every 3 to 8 minutes from 5.30 a.m. to 1 a.m. we would not be kept waiting.  He explained the system briefly, and we followed his instructions to a “T” with help from some enthusiastic Singaporean Samaritans.

  • Buy a ticket ( X 2 ) from the automatic machine on the MRT level of Changi Airport.
  • The MRT Map near the machine showed the code for our Chinatown destination (Outram Park NE3).
  • Enter NE3 as Destination into the machine which calculates the cost.  $2.30 for the trip and $1 for the card which would be refunded at the end of the trip when it was  re-inserted into another machine.
  • Feed in the money and the tickets pop out.  Yesss!
  • MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

The trains were cool, clean, fast, crowded and SILENT.  The only words we heard were – SORRY! – EXCUSE ME! as people squeezed in.  I Pods, I Phones and Kindles ruled the tracks. Then an old chinese lady, complete with shopping trolley, motioned that I should sit beside her in the seats reserved for the old and infirm.  We sat together in companionable silence, smiling at each other.  I am not too old to travel.  OK?

Singapore MRT

At our first stop was Chinatown Markets, where at this hour of the morning the wet markets were all action and the breakfast options minimal.

Busy Mornings in Chinatown Wet MarketWe chose Siew Mai (Steamed Pork Dumpling) 4 for $2 from Hong Kong Dim Sum.  They were dainty mouthfuls of tastiness, which was what we were after – we had a big day of tasting ahead of us.  Regretfully abandoning her morning paper, the vendor plopped dumplings from a bamboo steamer onto our disposable plate, took the cash, and picked up her paper again in one seamless motion and without changing her expression.

Morning Paper Time in the Chinatown Market Food Court

At our second stop – Kampong Glam, we would eat food “Just like a Local” our helpful assistant had said.  As he told us this, even though it was only early in the morning, he rubbed his belly wistfully, and both he and I wished he could accompany us!

So Good that the Taxi Drivers lined up outside to grab lunch.

The prawns were fiery in temperament, and delightfully, the sweet potato morphed into some kind of seafood, possibly Abalone.  Those prawns were begging for a mellow accompaniment and the eggplant did not disappoint.  And the fish? Surprisingly good.

The Taxi Cabs at Kampong Glam backing up around the Corner.

 The area and the cafe shared the name Kampong Glam.  Taxis lined the street outside and were backed up around the corner while their drivers dined in.  Ask a Cabbie – they always know the best and cheapest eats in Town.  Our own meal came to a grand total of $9.

 At our third and final stop – Little India, our tourist information guide had suggested we eat Roti Prata and Nasi Byrani, but he doubted we would be able to fit it all in!

Sorry Little India this is all I could fit in.

He was correct.  All I could squeeze in were these Plain Vadai fritters (45 cents each).  Light and fluffy with a hint of chives – I had purchased one for both of us but Marty bailed.  The juice was huge and refreshing with a hint of lime and a cost of $1.50.  We have rolled sugar cane ourselves in Vietnam with a small slice of lime added – a universal theme that cuts the sweetness.

But on our way to Little India, we managed to get lost and ended up on the bottom floor of a shopping centre and in – you guessed it – a food court.  Although we did not indulge, there were some tempting choices on offer.

Singapore Food Court

Although the Grand Plan had us travelling by MRT between stops, our guide had not reckoned on Marty’s penchant for walking regardless of temperatures and humidity.  Maybe it was for the best, after all we had consumed.

And as we walked we managed to also:

  • view the big boat (Marina Bay Sands Towers),
  • eat the best food of the day in a random food court we passed along the way,
  • fit in a fleeting visit to the iconic Raffles Hotel,
  • marvel that washing still hangs from poles that protrude from the windows of the multi-coloured high rise apartments.
  • eat an ice-cream sandwich on Orchard Road.

 

The Tastiest and Best Value meal of the day.

We stumbled upon the Tian Wanton Sidewalk Noodle, New Bridge Road on our way from Chinatown to Raffles.  There were plenty of Singaporeans lined up joking with Auntie as we placed our order for shrimp dumpling soup.  The surprise was a whole prawn encased in pork mince inside each dumpling.  They were the most delicious thing, and at 5 for $3, the best value as well.  On top of this the soup which even minus condiments was delicate and tasty, really delivered after a splash of condiments.  We both left with smiling taste buds.   More walking!

Singapore Dumpling Soup

We wandered around the shops, restaurants and bars, of the huge Raffles Hotel, but it was a little too early in the morning for a Singapore Sling!

Singapore Raffles Courtyard Bar

Attracted by crowds of locals and tourists we investigated the ice-cream vendors on the footpaths of Orchard Road.  No-one could dispute that it was hot and bloody humid, but why the mega interest in an ice-cream?  Turns out it was all in the serving of it.  Traditional ice-cream wafers lay neglected while everyone went crazy over the rainbow bread option.  All that was needed were some sprinkles and it would be a real partay!

Orchard Road Rainbow Bread and Icecream Sandwich

It is amazing what you can experience in a twelve hour stopover.

Tell me YOUR Stopover Stories.

 

 

More from my site

  • Ishak Pasha Palace in Eastern TurkeyIshak Pasha Palace in Eastern Turkey
  • Short Breaks like a Wongaling Beach Mini-Break can be a life saverShort Breaks like a Wongaling Beach Mini-Break can be a life saver
  • Singapore, Safari Suits, Pith Helmets and PumasSingapore, Safari Suits, Pith Helmets and Pumas
  • Road Trip New Zealands South Island Part 2Road Trip New Zealands South Island Part 2
  • Fantastic Friday – Dunking in Granada is MessyFantastic Friday – Dunking in Granada is Messy
  • The Church on the hill in Trebinje BiHThe Church on the hill in Trebinje BiH

Filed Under: Budget Travel Tips, Singapore

About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

Previous Post: « Sunny Travel Days
Next Post: Central Park, NYC – First Impression U.S.S. Maine National Monument, Entrance to Central Park, NYC»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jenny@atasteoftravel

    June 15, 2012 at 12:15 am

    You certainly packed a lot into your stopover Jan. It’s been a while since I’ve spent time in Singapore too so it was a great idea to get out and about

    Reply
    • Jan

      June 15, 2012 at 7:53 am

      Hi Jenny, Yes we did what we wanted to plus more. We should not have eaten so much on the plane and we would have been able to fit in the Roti Prata and Nasi Byrani in Little India.

      Reply
  2. Dani | Globetrottergirls

    June 25, 2012 at 9:23 am

    Wow, you sure packed in a LOT on your stopover!! Bet Singapore has changed since you went there last time – we absolutely loved the city.

    Reply
    • Jan

      June 25, 2012 at 11:12 am

      Hi Dani, Our day in Singapore was long but enjoyable. You know, it was funny but it did not seem to have changed at all, apart from more skyscrapers I guess and the MRT! I read your post on Singapore – the Chinatown tour was a good idea to learn some facts. I think we will do one next time we transit there. Cheers. Jan

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Singapore, Safari Suits, Pith Helmets and Pumas says:
    July 11, 2012 at 9:33 am

    […] India, was the last scheduled stop on our Twelve Hour Singaporean eat-and-walkathon.  My husband Marty and I cooked up the plan with the tourist information guide […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Australia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Townsville Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Bosnia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Cambodia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Canada Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Croatia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Italy Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Laos Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Montenegro Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Morocco Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to New Zealand Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Slovenia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Spain Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Turkey Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to the United States of America Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Vietnam

Pinterest

Visit Budgettraveltalk's profile on Pinterest.

Top Australian and New Zealand Blogger for 2017

Im-a-Top-Australian-and-New-Zealand-Travel-Blogger-for-2017-Medium-Rectangle-300x250px (1)

Mature Bloggers Australia

Mature Bloggers Australia

Footer

Most Popular Posts

Whitsundays on a Budget – How to Get to Whitehaven Beach

Romantic Things for Couples to do in Rome including Valentines Day

Things to Do in Huskisson and Jervis Bay

Hobart to Bruny Island: Tours from Hobart or Self Drive Bruny Island?

Ferry to Eyup Istanbul for Pierre Loti views and Eyup Sultan Istanbul Mosque 2018

About Jan & Marty

We are Jan and Marty and we love travel.

The best thing about being in our 60’s is that our travel budget is flexible, allowing us to enjoy great experiences, good food and fun people. As with most things in life, it’s all about priorities.

Copyright © 2023 Budget Travel Talk - Journey. Destination. Experience.