Vibrant Singapore

Location

Singapore

Length of Stay

4 Days

Itinerary

Orchard Road – Singapore Zoo – Marina Bay – Clarke Quay

Highlights

> Shopping up a storm on Orchard Road.

> Spending a day at Singapore’s famous Rainforest Zoo.

> Taking in the panoramic view from the rooftop bar at Marina Bay Sands.

> Eating riverside at the magical Clarke Quay dining district.

Map of Places Visited

Photo Highlights

 

Steve’s Singapore Travelog

After having spent three weeks in exotic Bali, we were starved for some urban amenities. Upon arrival we quickly made our way to a backpacker hotel in Little India. This part of town is more affordable, but still central. The adjacent metro station made exploring the city a breeze. Singapore is best navigated by subway, as the system is both cheap and well laid out. The average fare is less than a dollar within the inner city. Air conditioning is prevalent not only in malls, but also all public transit facilities and this was a welcome relief after the Bali heat & humidity.

Our first day was spent running errands and doing some shopping on the famed Orchard Road. The collection of shopping malls is truly staggering and you quickly realize that shopping is a sort of national sport for this small island nation. We stopped off at the dramatically styled Orchard Ion, but quickly gravitated to nearby Lucky Plaza. This is where bargaining is the name of the game. Haggle enough and you can get some decent prices on camera equipment and electronics.

Our second day was spent at the acclaimed Singapore Zoo. It takes a little while to get out to the nature preserve (subway & bus), but the journey is well worth it. Set amidst a rainforest, the open design of the facility is superb and viewers are treated to unspoiled views of a wide range of exotic species. Most fences are hidden and there's an impressive sense of integration with the natural landscape. This gives the place a very open and airy feel. One part of the Zoo even has free ranging Orang Utans. Singapore Zoo is truly one of the world’s great Zoos and I would highly recommend a visit.

Over the remaining two days we spent exploring the densely populated inner city. Our explorations took us to the newly constructed Marina Bay Sands, a multi-billion dollar real estate development. The complex is set amidst the newly emerging Marina Bay waterfront district and the scale of the building is immense. The integration with the city is excellent too, with a dedicated pedestrian bridge linking the harbour with the development. Hopefully the metro stop opens soon so that access will be even quicker! Our highlight in Marina Bay was the incredible experience of sipping a few drinks on the amazing Sky Terrace. The views of the city down below are truly breathtaking.

Another highlight of our Singapore stopover was the lively Clarke Quay dining area. Set on the side of Singapore River, the area is comprised of an old warehouse district that was re-converted into a waterfront restaurant area. The way the dining pods line the riverfront is something that has to be seen to truly appreciate. The colourful lighting creates a terrific ambience and the busy restaurants instil a sense of liveliness that is matched in few places around the world.

That’s all for Singapore. Catch my next blogpost from Vietnam! 

Destination Bali

Location

Bali, Indonesia

Length of Stay

3 Weeks

Itinerary

Kuta – Ubud – Gili Trawangan – Sanur – Nusa Lembongan – Sanda

Highlights

> Watching the wild monkeys in Ubud’s Monkey Forest.

> Biking through small rural villages in inland Bali.

> Taking in the classic beach bungalow vibe on Gili Trawangan.

> Renting a scooter to explore the laid back island of Nusa Lembongan.

> Retreating to a beautiful mountainside resort in Sanda. 

Map of Places Visited

Photo Highlights

 

Steve’s Bali Travelog

Having spent a month exploring the wonders of Australia, the next leg of our trip took us to Indonesia. We decided that Bali would be a perfect introduction to the country since it is easily traveled and offers so many diverse attractions.

Our leg of this trip began in the popular beach resort town of Kuta on Bali’s West coast. Kuta is actually a suburb of greater Denpasar (Bali’s major city) and is the epitome of mass market tourism. As such, the noise, pollution and general lack of character quickly drove us out of this tourist hub and into the heart of inland Bali. We quickly settled down in Ubud, a charming and immensely popular vacation spot for those looking to acquaint themselves with Balinese culture.

Ubud is easily worth a few days of your time, if not more. Great restaurants, idyllic resorts, a unique geography and countless ways to immerse yourself in the local culture all make Ubud a terrific place to visit.  We opted to splurge and stay in a midrange hotel. Sixty dollars got us a beautiful room in a tranquil resort with a lush garden. You can easily spend several times this much, but this range of accommodation arguably nets you the best value. We spent a week exploring the town by foot, relaxing at the resort and doing a bike tour through the villages in the area. In fact, the eco bicycle tour was by far one of the top highlights of our stay. You start at a higher elevation and then slowly work your way through remote and untouched villages. This perspective of Bali is one many visitors never see and I would highly recommend it.

Having spent a week away from the Ocean, we decided to head east to the remote islands of Western Lombok. The Gili Islands, of which there are three, are becoming immensely popular with backpackers. The reason for their popularity probably has to do with the numerous fast boats providing direct service from Bali. All it takes now is a few hours on the bus & boat. I can imagine the islands having been more pristine prior to the arrival of these fast boats, but there is still ample opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle. Like most places in Bali, the islands are small. You can walk around the largest of the three, Gili Trawangan, in less than two hours. Despite this, walking only fifteen minutes North allows you to escape the hustle and bustle. The scene is classically beach – basic wood bungalows and laid back beach bars. This is the Bali you’ve been waiting to find.  We enjoyed a few more days on Gili Trawangan by relaxing on the beach, renting bikes to tour the island and snorkelling the azure waters.

Having enjoyed the more sedate side of Gili Trawangan, we were searching for more idyllic island time. We made our way to Nusa Lembongan, a laid back island off the East coast of Bali. It is only a half hour boat ride from the mainland, but it might as well be days away. Unlike Gili, Nusa Lembongan’s economy is not tourist focused. It has less tourist oriented infrastructure but considerably more character. This is the place to go for quiet, peace and authentic island living. The highlight here was renting a scooter, which allowed us to see the way the locals live on this beautiful island. There are a few small towns, some hidden coves & beaches and that classic travel vibe that seems to have gone missing in so many popular beach destinations. Spend at least a few days.

The last leg of our Bali experience ended on a high note. A little luck and a lot of emailing netted us the opportunity to spend a few days in Bali’s mountains. At about 800m, the small town of Sanda is much cooler than the coast and we enjoyed spending some time in a more moderate climate. We stayed at a beautiful resort overlooking lush valleys and rice terraces. Our luck further improved when we learnt that we had the entire resort to ourselves for two days. Walks through the on-site coffee plantation and nearby rice terraces are highly recommended. If you have the opportunity, hire a driver for your journey up to the resort and turn it into a daytrip. We were able to see the wonderful rice terraces of Jatiluwih (a UNESCO world heritage site) as part our resort transfer.

Our Bali leg proved to be everything we expected and more from this small island state. For anyone traveling there, I would highly encourage venturing into the inland areas. Hire a driver for the day to see the sights you just won’t be able to experience on an organized tour. Also, take the opportunity to venture a bit deeper and stay longer. While it’s totally possible to spend only a week in Bali, having had three weeks really allowed us to dig deeper and find those magical spots. If you’re planning a trip to Bali, please don’t hesitate at all to send me a message. I am more than happy to recommend hotels and places of interest.

Our world journey continues – watch for my next blog on Singapore.