Kuala LumpurPrayer time: Kuala lumpur Subuh  5:55   Syuruk  7:12   Zohor 13:19   Asar  16:23   Maghrib 19:23   Isyak

20:32

Prayer time: Singapore

Subuh 5:55 Syuruk 7:03 Zohor 13:08 Asar 16:17 Maghrib 19:12 Isyak 20:17

SingaporeBuses between Larkin terminal and Singapore

Line

Stop(s) in

Singapore other

than customs

and immigration

checkpoint

Stops in Johor Bahru

other than

customs/immigration

checkpoint

One-way fare

Causeway

Link CW1

Kranji MRT station

onlyLarkin only

$1.30 from Kranji MRT to Larkin/$0.90

from Kranji MRT to Woodlands Checkpoint

or Johor Bahru CIQ/RM1.40 from Larkin to

Kranji MRT/RM 0.90 from Johor Bahru CIQ

to Woodlands Checkpoint or Kranji

MRT/$0.80 and $1.30 from Woodlands

Checkpoint to Johor Bahru CIQ and Larkin

respectively

Causeway

Link CW2

Queen Street

terminal onlyLarkin only

$2.40 from Queen Street to Woodlands

Checkpoint or Johor Bahru CIQ or

Larkin/2.50 RM from Larkin or Johor Bahru

CIQ to Queen Street/$2.40 from

Woodlands checkpoint to Queen Street

Causeway

Link CW5

Newton Food

Centre car park

only

Nil - You have to take the

CW1 or CW2 bus to go to

or from Larkin

$2.00 from Newton to Johor Bahru CIQ or

Larkin/2.50 RM from Johor Bahru CIQ or

Larkin to Newton; the same $2.00/2.50RM

ticket can be used for CW1 or CW2 bus

transfer if going to or coming from Larkin

SBS 170

(red plate)

Queen Street

terminal and all

bus stops en route

including the one

in front of Kranji

Larkin only $1.90(Ez-link card)/$2.20(cash) from

Queen Street to Larkin. $1.82(Ez-link

card)/$2.20(cash) from Queen Street to

Johor Bahru CIQ. RM 2.20/1.90/1.70(cash)

from Larkin to Queen Street/Kranji MRT

MRT station/Woodlands Checkpoint respectively

Singapore-

Johore

Express

Queen Street

terminal onlyLarkin only

$2.40 from Queen Street to Woodlands

checkpoint or Johor Bahru CIQ or

Larkin/3.30 RM from Larkin to Queen

Street/2.50 RM from Johor Bahru CIQ to

Queen Street/$2.40 from Woodlands

checkpoint to Queen Street/$1 or 2RM

from Woodlands checkpoint to Johor

Bahru CIQ/1 RM from Johor Bahru CIQ to

Woodlands checkpoint

Note: It is possible but more expensive to use the EZ-link card compared to paying in cash in

Malaysian ringgit when boarding SBS 170 (red plate) at Larkin bus terminal/Johor Bahru CIQ to go

anywhere in Singapore. The percentage price difference becomes greater the further you go into

Singapore. For example, it costs S$1.90 using the Ez-link card to go from Larkin bus terminal to

Queen Street terminal by SBS 170. This is slightly more than 100% more expensive than by paying

in cash (2.20RM), based on current exchange rates (S$1 = 2.45 RM). It is also cheaper to pay in

ringgit, based on current exchange rates (S$1 = 2.45 RM), (2 RM versus S$1) when traveling from

the Woodlands Checkpoint to the Johor Bahru CIQ by the Singapore-Johore Express bus.

Conversely, it can be cheaper using the EZ-link card for both the bus and MRT train if one has the

intention to connect to the MRT train at Kranji, Marsiling or Woodlands MRT stations, due to

Singapore's newly launched Distance Fare. For example, it will cost S$0.50 or S$0.70 more after

currency conversion if one were to take the CW1 or SBS 170 from Larkin to Kranji MRT station and

pay by cash in ringgit (RM 1.40 or 1.90), and then use the Ez-link card for the MRT train ride to City

Hall MRT.

All the above buses are express except for SBS 170 (red plate).

All buses make one stop each at Singapore's and Malaysia's immigration checkpoints, giving you the

opportunity to board a different bus. At both immigration checkpoints, you must disembark with all

your luggage and clear immigration and customs, and then board the bus. When going to Larkin and

after clearing Malaysian immigration and customs, walk about 50 meters past the tourist office and go

down the escalator. The buses are all waiting at the departure bus bays (part of the checkpoint

complex) downstairs.

Operating hours of the abovementioned buses are as follow:

Johor Bahru to Singapore

Singapore-Johore Express - first bus and last bus departs Larkin bus terminal at 6.15am and 11pm

respectively. Average frequency every 15 minutes.

Causeway Link CW1 - first bus and last bus departs Larkin bus terminal at 8.30am and 9pm

respectively. Average frequency every 20 minutes.

Causeway Link CW1 - first bus and last bus departs Johor Bahru CIQ at 4.30am and 10.45pm

respectively. Average frequency every 5 minutes.

Causeway Link CW2 - first bus and last bus departs Larkin bus terminal at 8.30am and 9pm

respectively. Average frequency every 20 minutes.

Causeway Link CW2 - first bus and last bus departs Johor Bahru CIQ at 4.30am and 11pm

respectively. Average frequency every 10 minutes.

Causeway Link CW5 - first bus and last bus departs Johor Bahru at 5.00am and 10.30pm

respectively. Average frequency every 20 minutes from 5.00am to 7.00pm, and every 30 minutes

from 7.00pm to 10.30pm

SBS 170 (red plate) - first bus and last bus departs Larkin bus terminal at 5.30am and 12.30am

respectively. Average frequency every 13 minutes

Singapore to Johor Bahru

Singapore-Johore Express - first bus and last bus departs Queen Street bus terminal at 6.30 am and

12.00 am respectively. Average frequency every 15 minutes.

Causeway Link CW1 - first bus and last bus departs Kranji MRT station at 5.30am and 11.30 pm

respectively. Average frequency every 5 minutes.

Causeway Link CW2 - first bus and last bus departs Queen Street bus terminal at 6.00am and 11.30

pm respectively. Average frequency every 10 minutes.

Causeway Link CW5 - first bus and last bus departs Newton Food Centre car park at 6.00am and

11.30pm respectively. Average frequency every 20 minutes from 6.00am to 7.00pm, and every 30

minutes from 7.00pm to 11.30pm

SBS 170 (red plate) - first bus and last bus departs Queen Street bus terminal at 5.20am and

12.10am respectively. Average frequency every 12 minutes

Train

You can take a MRT train from any MRT station in Singapore to Marsiling MRT station (North-South line).

This is the nearest MRT station (1.5km or 15 min walk) to the KTM Woodlands Train Checkpoint. Note

that there is a taxi rank in front of the pedestrian exit/entrance to the KTM Woodlands Train Checkpoint.

This train station is linked to the Woodlands Checkpoint by an overhead bridge. Once you walk past the

taxi rank, you will need to go to level 3 to reach the overhead bridge using the escalators or elevators.

You can also head to the taxi rank or go to the Marsiling MRT station on foot or by public bus once your

clear Singapore immigration and customs. Instead of going down the staircase/escalator after clearing

customs, walk along the passageway to the left of the staircase/elevator, turn left and then walk across

the overhead bridge until you see the escalators or elevators at the end. Use them to go to the ground

level. SMRT bus number 950 goes between Marsiling MRT station and the Woodlands Checkpoint. Note

that the last southbound train leaves Marsiling MRT station for Marina Bay/Toa Payoh/Ang Mo Kio MRT

station (the last stop on the North-South line) at 2310/2346/0035 hrs respectively. In the other direction,

the last train leaves for Jurong East MRT station at 0029 hrs.

Johor Bahru has a spanking new JB Sentral railway station along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and Jalan Jim

Quee. It is connected to both the CIQ and City Square by pedestrian overhead bridges. There are retail

outlets (including a 24-hr 7-Eleven store), food and beverage outlets (including a Kentucky Fried Chicken

outlet open daily 8am to midnight, Starbucks and Old Malaya Kopitiam serving local cuisine) and five

money exchange offices (the one at street level is open 24hr) in the new station. There are coin-operated

(2 x 50 sen), small left luggage lockers, a Muslim prayer room, male/female toilets (both free of charge), a

police post and a tourist information booth in here as well. KTM train services to and from here started on

21 Oct 2010. The old train station, located just two hundred meters south of JB Sentral along Jalan Tun

Abdul Razak and facing Merlin Tower, has been decommissioned.

KTM trains between Singapore and West Malaysia (7 per day in each direction, all via JB) all cross the

Causeway. As of 1 July 2011, all KTM services to and from the old Singapore railway station in Tanjong

Pagar have ceased, and all trains now depart from the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, which is just 700m

from the start of the causeway. Immigration procedures are now back to standard international practice.

When you go from Singapore to West Malaysia by the KTM train, you get stamped out by Singapore

immigration first inside the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, and just across the hallway, Malaysian

immigration stamps you in before you board the KTM train. In the reverse direction, Malaysia immigration

stamps you out on board the train at JB Sentral, and upon the train reaching Woodlands Train

Checkpoint, you disembark and Singapore immigration stamps you in. Given the fact that the train fare

between Woodlands Train Checkpoint and JB Sentral is at least three times the bus fare between

Woodlands Checkpoint and Johor Bahru CIQ, only train buffs should consider taking the train instead of

the bus. The adult/child, one-way fare for tickets purchased online from JB Sentral to Woodlands Train

Checkpoint is 3, 7 or 11 RM/2, 6 or 10 RM. In the other direction, the adult/child, one-way fare for tickets

purchased online is S$5 or 11/S$5 or 10. If the tickets are purchased at the ticket counter, the adult, one-

way fare is 3 RM for all trains (JB Sentral to Woodlands Train Checkpoint, purchase the ticket no more

than 30 minutes before the train's departure time) and S$3 or S$11 (Woodlands Trains Checkpoint to JB

Sentral, purchase the ticket no more than 30 minutes or 24 hrs respectively before the train's departure

time). The S$3 ticket is only for the 0800 and 1945 trains; the other train tickets cost S$11. Go to KTM's

website [17]  and the Johor Bahru Sentral railway station website for the schedules/fares and to buy

online train tickets. Online ticket purchases can only be made within 30 days of the departure date but not

less than 48 hours before the departure time.

Singapore/Sentosa

Sentosa  is an island just off the southern coast ofSingapore.

Understand

Formerly known by the rather unattractive name of Pulau Belakang Mati ("The Island After Death" in

Malay) and the centerpiece of Britain's spectacularly unsuccessful "Fortress Singapore" strategy in World

War II, Sentosa has been rebranded and resculpted into one big tourist attraction, popular among

Singaporeans as a quick island getaway. The new jewel in the crown is Resorts World [2], an enormous

complex comprising a Universal Studios themepark, Singapore's first casino, shopping malls and

hotels.

The small southern islets of Kusu Island, St. John's Island, the Sisters Islands andPulau Hantu are

managed by Sentosa. Various plans to develop them have not come to much and they remain off the

beaten track, but by no means undiscovered. The first two can be reached by public ferry, for the rest you

will have to charter a boat.

Get in

Basic admission to the island will set you back at least $2 per person which is included in the

transportation fares from the mainland to Sentosa. There is an ever-changing palette of combination

tickets that may work out marginally cheaper if you plan to visit multiple attractions. The island itself is

open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, although many of the attractions are not.

The best way is in to take the North-East Line of the MRT to HarbourFront and then make your way to

Level 3 of Vivocity, where you'll find the Sentosa Express monorail to the island. The train operates

every 5-8 minutes from 7AM to 11:45PM daily, and an round-trip ticket costs $3 (island admission

included, EZ-Link accepted). The cheapest way though, is to take an SMRT bus for $2:

RWS 8 from VivoCity/HarbourFront MRT

By taxi or private car, you'll need to pay $2 to $7 per vehicle to enter, and a $3 taxi surcharge also applies

on the way out. It is now possible to walk across the bridge via the Sentosa Broadwalk ($1, EZ-Link

accepted)

The Cable Car between Sentosa, HarbourFront and Mt. Faber has completed its renovation and

reopened to public in July 2010. Return ticket on Cable Car costs $26.

Sentosa's ferry terminal has been demolished to make way for the casino, but there are still limited ferry

services  from downtown Singapore's Marina South Pier (bus 402 from Marina Bay MRT) to the southern

islands of Kusu and St. John. Monday through Saturday, there are two services a day, leaving at 10AM

and 1:30PM, looping to Kusu, St. John, Kusu again and then back to Marina South. This gives you one

hour on Kusu, which is plenty for seeing the sights. On Sundays and holidays only, there are five

services, at 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, 3PM and 5PM, which run to Kusu, St. John and then return directly to

Marina South, giving a minimum of two hours on any island you go to. All ferries cost $15 return, no

Sentosa entry fee needed.

Get around

All transportation around Sentosa (except taxis) is free.

By bus

Three colored shuttle bus services — Yellow Line, Red Line and Blue Line — connect Imbiah Station to

various points on the island. Buses run from 7AM-11PM on weekdays and until 12:30 AM on Fri/Sat.

By tram

Beach trams supplemented by minivans shuttle people along the beaches every 15-20 minutes. One

service connects Beach Station to Siloso Beach, another connects Beach Station to Palawan and

Tanjong Beaches.

By train

The old round-the-island Sentosa Monorail was decommissioned in March 2005 to make way for the new

Sentosa Express, which can also be used to shuttle between the beaches and Imbiah Station (near the

Merlion).

See

Long a bit of a joke — Singaporean wags like to quip that "Sentosa" actually stands for "So Expensive

and Nothing to See Actually" — Sentosa's attractions have received some much-needed upgrades in

recent years, with the worst of the lot unceremoniously demolished. Offerings of interest to adults are still

quite limited, but at there's enough to keep children amused for a day or two. For all attractions below, a

"child" is defined as being between three and twelve.

Tiger Sky Tower, near Cable Car (blue/green bus), . 9AM-9PM daily. Asia's tallest observation

tower. It takes you up to a height of 131 m above sealevel and offers a 360-degree view of Sentosa,

Singapore and the Southern islands. On clear days the outlines of Malaysia and Indonesia can be

seen. $10/7 adult/child.  

Dolphin Lagoon, Siloso Point. Has cute pink dolphins doing all the usual tricks (jumping through

hoops, balancing balls, etc).llll Shared ticket with Underwater World.

Fort Siloso, near Underwater World (all buses, then transfer to tram), . 10AM-6PM. Formerly the

largest British naval base in Fortress Singapore, its guns staring balefully out towards the sea in

preparation for enemy attack. The Japanese rode bikes down the peninsula instead; after your visit

here, be sure to visit the Battle Box at Fort Canning Hill to find out what happened next. Now turned

into a museum, you can follow a tour through the area (complete with lots of wax figures) to find out

what the life of a recruit was like. Nearly doubled in size in 2004. $8/5 adult/child.

Images of Singapore, near Cable Car Station (green, blue bus). 9AM-7PM. A sugar-coated, kid-

friendly retelling of the official Singapore story, where people of many races have come together to

live in harmony. Renovated in 2006 and now uses the latest technology, but there is not all that much

substance under the glitz. $10/7 adult/child.  

Sentosa Merlion, (Imbiah Station). 10AM-8PM. A stretched-out 37-metre version of the statue by the

Singapore River, which is lit up at night - note, the Merlion highly disappointingly no longer shoots

lasers (if in fact it ever did) from its eyes. Admission enables you to take the elevator up into its mouth

and gaze out over the nearby Port of Singapore, as well as experience some seriously cheesy

exhibits downstairs. $8/5 adult/child.

Sentosa Luge & Skyride, Beach Station. Up the hill in a ski lift and down again in a steerable

bobsled. Kid safe. Good attraction for younger kids as the incline of the track hinders going very fast.

Not very exciting for those over 15. If you are inclined to go, resist temptation to purchase multiple

trips until trying it the first time. The newer Dragon Trail is closed on rainy days. $10 single ride, plus

$1 for child riding with adult.

Songs of the Sea, (Beach Station). Daily at 7:40PM and 8:40PM. Multimedia extravaganza with live

cast, pyrotechnics, water jets and lasers. Very popular, so book ahead, especially on weekends. $10.

Underwater World, near Siloso Beach (all buses), . Claims to be Asia's largest tropical oceanarium,

it features a walk-through aquarium with lots of sharks and fishes and many smaller

tanks. $22.90/14.60 adult/child, includes admission to Dolphin Lagoon.

There are a few sights of minor interest on Kusu Island, reachable by ferry. The name means "Turtle

Island" and there are indeed lots of the reptiles scampering about, but don't expect an unspoiled tropical

paradise: the island was thoroughly reworked with land reclamation in 1975 and looks exactly like the rest

of Sentosa.

Da Bogong (Tua Pekong) Temple, Kusu Island. An unassuming little Taoist temple dedicated to the

Merchant God. This is the focal point of the yearly Kusu Festival (Oct-Nov), when pilgrims come to

the island to pray for prosperity.  

Keramat Kusu, Kusu Island. An unusual Muslim shrine (not a mosque) atop a small hill, dedicated to

the saint Syed Abdul Rahman and his family, who lived here in the 19th century. The shrine is painted

bright yellow and is visited in particular by childless couples.  

Singapore/Bugis

Bugis and Kampong Glam are districts of Singapore, just to the east of the city center.

Get in

The Bugis and Lavender MRT stations on the East-West line are the primary entry points into the

district. If arriving by bus from Malaysia, you'll most likely be deposited at either the Queen St bus

terminal or Golden Mile Complex, which lie on the edges of the area.

If exiting at Bugis, the key roads are Rochor Rd and Victoria St. Walk north on Victoria St until you spot

the golden domes of the Sultan Mosque; turn left here for Arab St, or keep walking north for Lavender

MRT. Alternatively, head west on Rochor Rd to reach Little India, within easy walking distance; or head

south on Victoria St to return to Orchard Road.

Get around

The pedestrian sections of Albert St and Waterloo St make exploring the area On foot a pleasure.

Getting to Kampong Glam from Bugis is a slightly longer hike though, hop on any northbound bus on

Victoria Rd for a few stops to shortcut the distance.

See

Except for the odd mosque or temple there are few attractions per se in Bugis. Do as the Singaporeans

do and window-shop your way through, stopping for quick eats every now and then.

Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho, 178 Waterloo St. Dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.

According to legend, wishes made in here come true, which would explain why it's always packed.

The procedure goes like this: enter, light some joss sticks, pray, then shake a container of cham

si(bamboo sticks) until one falls out. Get a free matching slip with verses (also in English) explaining

your fate, and maybe take it to one of the resident soothsayers for more explanation.Free, although

voluntary donations are accepted.  edit

Malay Heritage Centre, 85 Sultan Gate, [1]. M-Sa 10AM-6PM. Set on the grounds of beautifully

restored Istana Kampong Glam, the site looks gorgeous from the outside but despite some half-

hearted attempts at whiz-bang multimedia, the museum inside is rather disappointing. Free entry onto

the grounds, $3 for the museum.  edit

Sultan Mosque, 3 Muscat St (off North Bridge Rd). 9AM-1PM, 2-4PM daily. Also known as Masjid

Sultan and the largest mosque in Singapore, the building is easily identified thanks to its golden

domes, but there's not much to see inside. Note that shorts, short skirts or sleeveless T-shirts are not

permissible attire, but you can borrow a cloak if needed. Free.  edit

Hajjah Fatimah Mosque, 4001 Beach Road. Also known as Masjid Hajjah Fatimah, it is probably

Singapore's second most important mosque historically after Sultan Mosque. It was named after an

aristocratic Malay woman who donated money to build it. Its design is a mix of local Malay Muslim

and colonial British architecture. This minaret tower is also worth a look as it leans slightly off-centre

towards the main prayer hall. As with all mosques, revealing clothing should be avoided. Free.  edit

Sri Krishnan Temple, 152 Waterloo St. A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, an incarnation of

Vishnu. Right next door to Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho, and there's a steady stream of Chinese visitors

hedging their bets by making offerings to the Hindu gods too. Free.  edit

Buy

Bugis in particular is all about shopping these days!

Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street (MRT Bugis), [2]. Singapore's teenage haven, built around

the restored shophouses of Hylam and Malay Streets, covered with a roof for shopping in any

weather. Anchor tenants include department store BHG and the minimalist Japanese home

decoration shop Muji (BHG 2F); also check out the ever-surprising fountain in the middle of Bugis

Square. The basement has a good selection of cheap to midrange eateries, and the Food Junction

foodcourt on the 3rd floor is a cut above the usual.  edit

Iluma, 201 Victoria St (opp Bugis Junction). The latest mall in Bugis, aimed squarely at the same

teen market as Bugis Junction and housing more or less the same shops, plus an 9-screen Film

Garde [3] cineplex. Worth a look at night, when the panels outside pulse and shift in an impressive

light show. Houses (at least for now) a unique food court, Ramen Champion, comprising nothing but

ramen shops from Japan and that's worth a visit for ramen fans.  edit

Right across Victoria St, Bugis Street no longer has bars and transvestites, but it does have

a bazaar (Bugis Village) that sells all sorts of vaguely touristy knick-knacks as well as mass-market

streetwear. This is the cheapest place in Singapore to buy T-shirts for family back home, although the

quality of those $2 shirts is pretty much what you'd expect. If you haven't sampled tropical fruits yet, take

a look at the fruit stalls at the other end.

ButtOn Trendy Undies, bazaar, 2nd floor. Sells Singapore's funkiest collection of underwear. How

about Hello Kitty panties or a Funky Year of the Monkey thong? All here and more!  edit

If you continue walking straight through Bugis Street, you'll reach the Albert Street and Waterloo

Street pedestrian mall. Browse through shops offering Buddhist paraphernalia and take a peek at the

two temples on Waterloo St. Keep going straight to reach electronics haven Sim Lim Square and beyond

it Little India.

Sin Chew Chinese Cultural Products Supermart, 192 Waterloo St. True to the name, this store

packs in vast quantities of Buddhas and Confucian deities, glittering in gold, blinking lights and all

shades of kitsch. Note the statue of Hotei the "Laughing Buddha" outside — there is a steady crowd

trooping up to rub his big belly, hoping to catch some of his good luck.  edit

Like Little India and Chinatown, Kampong Glam has been restored, refurbished and new life breathed

into it, bringing back the former colour and vibrancy of the area. Rows of conserved shophouses can be

found in Arab Street, Baghdad Street and Bussorah Street. Many of these shophouses have new tenants

such as design and IT firms, art galleries, crafts and curios shops, food caterers and restaurants. They

blend in with traditional businesses like textile and carpet shops, antiques and handicrafts shops including

those selling traditional games, blacksmiths, and shops selling religious items used by Muslims. On Haji

Lane, local independent fashion boutiques and quirky little shops offer a unique shopping experience. It

has in recent years emerged as a prominent location for both second-hand clothing and trendy street

fashion, featuring the works of both local designers and imported wares from Japan and the States.

Kampong Glam is also an area dotted with good restaurants, from Malaysian coffee shops and bakeries

to fine modern European dining, like Le Pont De Vie. Many of the stores on Arab Street specialize

in batik and silk. Be prepared to bargain.

Army Market, Beach Rd (Golden Mile Hawker Centre). Sells surplus equipment from the Singapore

Armed Forces. Mostly popular with local soldiers shopping for replacements, but also of interest to

low-budget camping enthusiasts or camouflage fetishists.  edit

Sungei Road Thieves Market, Sungei Rd (Bugis MRT). This flea market is open daily but is most

active on weekend afternoons. It may not be as polished as other flea markets in Singapore but if you

look carefully, you might spot hidden treasures in amongst the junk.  edit

Eat

Bugis has a wide selection of restaurants catering to every taste. A highlight is the area near Arab Street,

which specializes in halal (Muslim) food with quite a few Middle Eastern eateries too, most of which

offer shisha water pipes as well. Golden Mile Complex, on Beach Rd, is favored by the local Thai

population and consequently serves the cheapest and most authentic Thai food in town.

Budget

There is a large hawker centre at the intersection of Albert and Waterloo Sts, and plenty of others

scattered through the area.

Deli Moroccan, 30 Bussorah Street, ☎ +65-91215121. Run by a Malay-Moroccan couple, this no-

frills eatery serves up the best couscous and tagines in Singapore at ridiculously low prices — the

most expensive dish on the menu is $6.50. Show up early, since service is slow and they tend to run

out of the good stuff, and avoid on rainy days since there's very little indoor seating. $5.  edit

Golden Mile Claypot Rice, Golden Mile Food Center #01-65 (Beach Road). A humongous claypot

bowl packed with rice, chicken and thick dark sauce will cost you just $5, but prepare to wait while

they make it. You may want to opt out of the super-salty dried fish if you're not previously familiar with

the stuff though. $5.  edit

Sajis Indian Food, Blk 261 Waterloo St #01-29, Stall 12. Daily, morning-7PM, closed last Monday of

the month. Known for its Indian rojak, deep-fried goodies served with an amazing peanut dip.

Halal. Around $3/plate.  edit

Zam Zam, 699 North Bridge Rd, ☎ +65-62987011. One of Singapore's best-known restaurants for

all sorts of Muslim-Malay food. Celebrating their 100th year operation in 2008. Try their

legendary murtabak, a type of stuffed pancake eaten with curry, although the nasi briyani spiced rice

is also pretty good. $5-.  edit

Mid-range

Next Door Cafe, 34 Arab Street. Tu-Th & Sun. 12PM-12AM, Fri & Sa 12PM-1AM. A european style

cafe perfect for pizzas, sandwiches and salads. Also offers a wide range of alcoholic & soft drinks.

Books, magazines and boardgames also available. Perfect place to chill out for lunch, dinner & any

time in between! Place does not exist anymore; not sure if the place has been renamed.  edit

Ajisen, 200 Victoria Street, Parco Bugis Junction 01-01. Daily noon-10PM. A Japanese chain offering

reasonably authentic Japanese ramen noodles — definitely worth trying if all you've had before are

the instant kind. $10/bowl.  edit

Sofra Turkish Café & Restaurant, 100 Beach Road #02-42/44 (Shaw Tower), ☎ +65-6291-

1433,. Somewhat localized but cheap and tasty Turkish treats. $10-20.  edit

Diandin Leluk, 5001 Beach Rd #01-67/68 (Golden Mile Complex). Authentic greasy spoon Thai food

by Thais for Thais, so steer clear if you can't handle the spicy stuff. The phad thai here is probably

both the cheapest and the best in town. $5-10.  edit

Sufi Turkish Restaurant, 48 Arab Street. Authentic Turkish cuisine in the heart of Arab Street, Sufi

serves up some of the best kebabs in town. Get away from the crowd and ask to sit in the back

garden area! Shisha is also available at $12.  edit

Le Pont de Vie, 26 Kandahar Street (near Sultan Mosque), ☎ +65-62388682. Noon-2PM, 6:30-

10PM. This relaxing retro styled shop house serves Mediterranean cuisine, with an unusual twist and

good wines at reasonable prices. $29.  edit

Singapore/Chinatown

Singapore's Chinatown is the traditional Chinese quarters of town, and while the entire city is largely

Chinese these days the area does retain some of its own charm. The area is also known as Niu Che

Shui (牛车水) in Chinese and Kreta Ayer in Malay, both names meaning "bullock cart water", a reference

to the carts that used to haul in drinking water.

The area between Pagoda Street and Smith Street has been tarted up considerably for tourists, but

workaday Chinatown continues south and east, merging seamlessly into the Central Business

District. Tanjong Pagar is the unofficial home of Singapore's gay community, with many watering holes

in restored shophouses, while Club Street caters more to the expat and yuppie crowd with small, intimate

eateries offering excellent (if pricy) Western fare.

Unlike most of predominantly Hokkien Singapore, the dominant Chinese dialect in Chinatown is

Cantonese.

Get in

Exit A (Pagoda Street) of North-East MRT line's Chinatown station will deposit you right in the heart of

the action. Outram Park, Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place are also all within walking distance, as is

Clarke Quay and the Singapore River to the north.

See

Chinatown's primary attraction is the town itself, composed as it is of restored shophouses full of strange

little shops selling everything from plastic Buddhas to dried seahorses. Wander at random and see what

you can find!

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, 288 South Bridge Rd, [1]. 9 AM-6:30 PM. Towering above southern

Chinatown, this four-story temple was completed only in 2007. The imposing main hall hosts a 27-foot

statue of Maitreya Buddha, and the scared relic itself, reputedly one of Buddha Shakyamuni's teeth,

can be found on the fourth floor (visible only during daily ceremonies at 9-11 AM, 2-3:30 PM, 6:30-8

PM). On the roof is the 10,000 Buddhas Pagoda, hosting a large Tibetan-style prayer wheel. Free.

edit

Chinatown Heritage Centre, 48 Pagoda St, [2]. 9 AM-8 PM daily. An excellent museum chronicling

how Chinatown came to be and the privation suffered by early migrants. The centre is on the left if

you walk straight from the Pagoda St exit of Chinatown MRT station. $10.00/6.00 adult/child.  edit

Jamae Mosque, 218 South Bridge Rd. One of Singapore's oldest mosques, built in the 1830s by

Tamil Muslims in an Indian style. Note the stepped minarets outside. Free.  edit

Pinnacle@Duxton Skybridge, 1G Cantonment Rd (10 min from Outram Park MRT),[3]. Daily 9 AM-

10 PM. Singapore's tallest public housing project has a 50th story viewing deck that offers some of

the best city views around at a fraction of the cost of the Singapore Flyer. $5, but payment must be

made by ez-link card; enter via Block 1G, Level 1 (next to bus stop).  edit

Red Dot Design Museum, 28 Maxwell Road, [4]. Fri-Tue 11 AM-6 PM, Wed-Thu closed. Formerly

the traffic police HQ, now a design center painted firehouse red with a museum devoted to

contemporary design. $5/3 adult/child.  edit

Singapore Coin and Notes Museum, 2 Trengganu Street, Level 3 (Enter via Pagoda St, across

from the Chinatown Heritage Centre), ☎ 6222 2486, [5]. 10am-8pm daily. Tiny little museum tucked

away across the Chinatown Heritage Centre; the entrance is well-hidden, but generally marked out by

nondescript display cases. Managed by the Singapore Mint, it features local currency, commerative

coins, a history of coinage, and the coin-making process. Not exactly a must-see, but a nice little

distraction if you're in the area. $10/$6 adult/child.  edit

Sri Mariamman Temple, 244 South Bridge Rd. Singapore's oldest and most important Hindu temple

and worth a visit for the intricately carved gopuram (statuary above the entrance), which gave

adjacent "Pagoda Street" its name. This is an active temple, so take off your shoes and don't disturb

the worshippers. The Thimithifire-walking festival is held here one week before Deepavali, usually

Oct/Nov. Free, but photo/video permit $3/6.  edit

Thian Hock Keng Temple, 158 Telok Ayer St, ☎ +65-64234616. The oldest Hokkien temple in

Singapore, dating back to 1821, although the structure was thoroughly refurbished in 2000. The

brightly colored, elaborate facade was constructed with ironwork from Scotland, tiles from England

and the Netherlands, and dragon-ornamented granite pillars from China. Free.  editChinatown is at its

busiest and most colorful in the month preceding the Chinese New Year (Jan-Feb), when the streets

are decked with festive decorations. Street markets are thronged with people, shows entertain the

crowds and the drums of lion dances echo into the night. The festivities in a midnight countdown and

a roar of firecrackers atop People's Park Complex, showering flaming confetti down below (steer

clear!) — and for the two following days virtually everything is closed.

Singapore City Gallery (URA Gallery), 45 Maxwell Road (opposite Maxwell Food Centre along

South Bridge Road), ☎ +65 63218321, [6]. Mon-Sat 0900-1700. 3-storey visitor gallery with large

scaled models of the entire country (ground floor) as well as the city centre (incredibly life-like), which

provide good orientation of the country for first-timers. The gallery tells the history of Singapore's

urban planning, various planning, design, and conservation strategies adopted to create a good living

environment, sustainable development, and many others. Learn the story of Singapore's

transformation from 3rd to 1st world, play games on land planning, and the expanse of land

reclamation done on the island country. There are also wonderful images of old-new Singapore to

browse, free walking maps to unique districts like Joo Chiat to pick up. It is situated within an office

building. Just walk in and take the escalator up to 2nd floor for permanent exhibits. Free.  edit

Baba House, 157 Neil Road, [7]. By appointment. Located at the fringes of Chinatown among a row

of shophouses, the Baba House is a showcase of Peranakan culture in Singapore and features

traditional furnishings typical of Straits Chinese households. The house has a distinctive blue exterior

and can be visited by appointment only. Free.  edit

Singapore/Little India

Little India is, as the name promises, the center for the large Indian community inSingapore. While a

rather sanitized version of the real thing, Little India retains its distinct identity without degenerating into a

mere tourist attraction and is one of the most colorful and attractive places to visit in Singapore.

Get in

The North-East MRT line's Little India and Farrer Park stations, near Serangoon Road, are convenient

entry points into the area. Bugis station on the East-West line is also within walking distance (see Bugis).

Getting taxis in Little India can be difficult, especially on weekends. It's best to either book by phone or

head to the major roads on the edges to flag one down.

Get around

Little India's main drag is Serangoon Road, which starts at Rochor Canal Rd and continues northward to

Serangoon itself. The action is tightly concentrated a few blocks on either side of the road, and can be

easily covered on foot.

See

Little India's primary attraction is the town itself. Here too you can find the gaily painted shophouses that

are an icon of Singapore, but now most of the Tamil signs (almost) disappear to be replaced with Hindi,

Bengali and other more exotic Indian scripts. Stores hawk saris and gold bangles, spices and incense

waft in from the doorways and Bollywood's latest soundtracks blare from every other alleyway.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, 141 Serangoon Road, [1]. Little India's busiest and oldest temple,

dating back to 1881 — although the present structure was completed in 1986. The temple is

particularly busy on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Be sure to take your shoes off before venturing

inside. Free.  edit

Do

The most extreme thing to do in Little India is to join the festival of Thaipusam, held yearly during the full

moon in the lunar month of Thai (usually Jan/Feb). Male devotees attach ornate shrines to their flesh with

piercing hooks known as kavadi and walk across town in a day-long procession. Female devotees would

usually just carry a pot of milk on their head and join the procession. The procession starts from Sri

Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road and proceeds to the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank

Road.

Around Deepavali, the Hindu festival of light, Serangoon Road is festively decorated (with lights, of

course!) and open-air markets are set up to sell Deepavali goodies. Like Thaipusam, the exact date is set

by the lunar calendar, but it takes place in October/November and is a public holiday. Near the beginning

of Deepavali, the fire walking festival of Thimithi is held, where many male devotees will walk across a

platform of burning coal. Though the actual fire walking takes place at the Sri Mariammam temple

in Chinatown, the procession starts at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road and makes

its way to Chinatown early in the morning where the fire walking commences.

A more low-key event happens every Sunday evening when a half-million workers from the subcontinent

turn up in Little India to hang out on their day off. Most of the crowd is friendly enough, but inevitably a few

get into drunken fights and there's a heavy police presence about to keep an eye on things.

Buy

The central streets of Little India are packed with stalls selling all sorts of Indian goods. Two giant

shopping centres, however, are unique not just in Little India but all of Singapore:

Tekka Market, 665 Buffalo Rd. Little India is a cacophony of car horns, bicycle bells and the vibrant

chatter of its residents. This explosion of sights, smells and sounds in Tekka Market is only a short

walk from Little India MRT Station. Tekka (as it is locally known), has a plethora of stalls selling

Indian, Malay and Chinese food that draws crowds from all over Singapore. There’s also a wet

market stocked with the freshest vegetables, meat, fish, spices and flowers. Also available are

souvenirs such as brass oil lamps and pots, or fresh garlands of jasmine, whose scent is signature

aroma of Little India.  edit

Tekka Mall (The Verge), 2 Serangoon Rd. Little India's first and only modern air-conditioned

shopping mall, and rather soulless when compared to the bustle outside. In the process of being

rebranded as the IT-oriented The Verge in a bid to compete with Sim Lim, just around the corner. The

adjoining Foodmorefood court is not bad if you want something other than Indian food. One can also

find a comforting ayurlly massage parlour at the fifth floor. A supermart at the basement and a travel

agency on the second floor. Plus, many more shops catering to all interests. Fast becoming a place

to go shopping.  edit

Mustafa Centre, 145 Syed Alwi Rd (off Serangoon Rd near Farrer Park MRT), ☎ +65 6295

5855, [2]. Singapore's supreme discount department store: floor after floor of absolutely everything at

rock-bottom prices, ranging from Rolex watches and washing machines to fresh mangoes, bags of

lentils, tailored suits and airline tickets. Open 24 hours; the exchange counters in front are probably

the best place in Singapore to exchange any currency you can think of (and many you can't) at

competitive rates. Mustafa Centre also offers travel, hotel reservation and visa assistance

services. Note: There are now many mini-Mustafa outlets scattered along Serangoon Rd, but the

original and by far the largest is the one facing Syed Alwi Rd.  edit

Sim Lim Square, 1 Rochor Canal Rd, [3]. Not actually in Little India but right across the street, Sim

Lim is Singapore's Akihabara, a giant electronics mecca squeezed into one building, with hundreds

upon hundreds of tightly packed specialist stores offering some of the most competitive prices for

computers and consumers electronics in Asia; however, a fair number of stores are also of

questionable legitimacy so buyers beware. The first floor is for tourists, the upper floors and the back

corridors are where the real deals can be found. In general avoid the first and second floor shops as

they have a tendency to grossly overcharge tourists. Watch out for pricing tricks (omitting tax, selling

included accessories separately and similar misleading or deceptive tactics) and the occasional

outright substitution fraud; unless you know exactly what you're doing and/or need something

unusual, you might want to shop at Mustafa instead. The third floors and above are the real haven for

computer geeks looking for cheap bargains and to upgrade or put together a system. Sim Lim

Tower, just across the street, also has a few shops but pales in comparison sizewise.  edit

The other shopping options in Little India cater more to the Indian market:

Little India Arcade, Campbell Ln. A narrow pathway through a cluster of restored shophouses, filled

to the brim with Indian clothing, accessories, incense and a rather good Indian sweet shop at (#01-

16).  edit

Naranjan Electronics, 154 Race Course Rd (Farrer Park MRT). Small shop for basic electronics like

digital cameras and mobile phones, with bargain-basement prices. Please note the rock bottom

prices comes with no 'warranty' or 'service' what so ever. Many of items are not for sale in Singapore.

So try to check your goods before you leave though, as these guys have a strict (and theoretically

illegal) no-returns-whatsoever policy.  edit

Eat

The thing to eat in Little India is obviously Indian food. Both southern and northern cuisines are well

represented, food is cheap even by Singaporean standards, portions are generous andvegetarians in

particular will have a field day. Note that these are authentic Indian places and people around you will be

eating the way Indians do, namely by hand — it's best to shed your inhibitions and dig in, although cutlery

can be provided on request.

Countryside Cafe & Bar, 71, Dunlop Street (Opp. Sim Lim Tower, road leading to the

Bar.), ☎ 62920071. A cosy reasonably priced Bar and cafe offering International Beers, Wines, Hard

Liquor, Cocktails and soft Drinks and a range of Western, Indian, Japanese, Thai and Local food.  edit

Budget

Jaggis North Indian Cuisine, 34 Race Course Rd, ☎ +65 296 6141 (fax: +65 296 0780),[4]. Caters

to meat-eaters too with a selection of tandoori dishes. Set meals available, or mix and match at the

counter. $3 and up - some of the most pathetic food is served here, they would claim it's just 3 dollar

and up but you would end up spending 25 dollars per head and still being unsatisfied. It is really bad

place, if you want to get looted or feel cheated then you should definitely visit this place..  edit

Kasturi Restaurant, 1 Roberts Lane, ☎ +65 6299 5510. North Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani

cuisine, meals from $2 upwards.  edit

Komala Vilas, 76-78 Serangoon Road (and other branches around town), ☎ +65 6293

6980, [5]. 11:30AM-10:30PM. A Singaporean institution featuring purely vegetarian Indian food.

Downstairs is fast food, head up for restaurant-style seating and serving. Sets start at less than $3

and even the largest platter of breads and dips will cost less than $7. Note that gourmands prefer the

original outlet over the many franchised fast-food copies, and that not all dishes are available all day.

South Indian set meal upstairs is $6.50 with top-ups.  edit

Saravana Bhavan, 84 Syed Alwi Rd, ☎ +65 6297 7755, [6]. 8 AM-11 PM. The Singapore branch of

a restaurant chain from Chennai, serving up vegetarian Indian food. Get a massive set lunch for

$4.80 or just order your favorites for a few dollars a piece. Try the rava dosa, a steal at $2.60.  edit

Sagar Ratna, 103 Syed Alwi Road (just across from Mustafa Cafe). Opened in the second half of

2005. Franchisee of a South Indian restaurant from Delhi, and serves up decent fare for reasonable

prices. Set meals ($5-7) are good value, ordering a la carte will cost you more. The rasam (spicy lentil

soup) in particular never fails to impress. Strictly pure vegetarian.  edit

Mid-range

Banana Leaf Apolo, 54-58 Race Course Rd. 10 AM-10 PM daily. A well-known place for all sorts of

South Indian food; no prizes for guessing what serves as the plate. Most visitors come here for the

fish head curry, even the "small" size is enough for 3-4 and will cost you $18, plus $2.50 a head for

rice, pappadams and dips.  edit

Khansama, 166 Serangoon Road, ☎ +65-62990300. Cheap coffeeshop-style eats downstairs

(under $5) and a midrange A/C restaurant upstairs (mains $5-10). Generous portions if you don't

mind their touts. Best known for its tandoori dishes and a wide selection of chaat appetizers.  edit

Lagnaa, 6 Upper Dickson Road (East off Serangoon Road, on the Southern side of the

street), ☎ +65 6296 1215. Delicious Indian food from a very friendly owner. Upstairs is barefoot only

with a very relaxed atmosphere. Offers cooking courses and also a "slave" deal: work for 3 hours to

have one wish granted.Mains around S$9 (a la carte).  edit

Muthus Curry, 72-78 Race Course Rd. 10 AM-10 PM daily. Muthu's has a respectable claim to

coming up with the idea of fish head curry; now run by the founder's son, this shop continues to draw

the crowds. Fish head $16-25 (serves 3-4).  edit

Splurge

Delhi Restaurant, 60 Race Course Rd (2nd branch on Serangoon Rd). Offers a more upmarket

experience with vested waiters and a stack of awards posted on the wall. The menu features northern

Indian food and has non-vegetarian selections as well; order a couple of Kingfisher beers to

get pappadam with an excellent mint dip on the house. $30.  edit

Singapore/Riverside

The Singapore River forms a central artery in Singapore's densely packed Central Business District. The

north bank of the river is where Raffles originally landed and founded his colony, and to this day many

central government buildings can be found in the area. The newer south bank, laden with skyscrapers, is

where Singapore's bankers make (or break) their fortunes. Between the two are the bulk of Singapore's

nightspots, found along the riverside streets of Boat Quay, Clarke Quay andRobertson Quay.

Get in

The riverside is best accessed by MRT Raffles Place (North-South/East-West Lines) and Clarke

Quay (North-East Line) stations. There is no convenient MRT station for the western end of the river

though: you'll have to hike on foot for 15 minutes, try to work out the buses, or hop on a bumboat.

Get around

By boat

A popular way to see the heart of the city is with Singapore River Cruises[1]. Stations are scattered

along both banks of the river and reservations are not necessary. Prices start at $3 for a simple ride from

point A to point B.

On foot

The Esplanade/Merlion/Boat Quay area has some great views of Singapore and makes for a fine walk (or

jogging trail if staying nearby). It can get quite hot during the day though; evenings are cooler and

breezier, and the night time skyline is equally attractive.

See

The bulk of Singapore's historical attractions are packed by the river, and the best place to start your tour

is at the mouth of the Singapore River. While this area has formed the downtown core of Singapore since

the early 19th century, sadly, most of the once-iconic shophouses and street markets have given way to

modern skyscrapers and shopping centres in the 1980's, and those who wish to experience a more

authentic slice of colonial Singapore life would do well to head up north to the Malaysian island

of Penang instead. Not all is lost though, and several important government buildings and places of

worship dating back to the 19th century still survive, and provide a rare glimpse into the city's colonial

past.

Monuments

Merlion, Merlion Park (Raffles Place MRT exit H, off Fullerton Rd). Singapore's official symbol, 8.6

meters tall and weighing 70 tons, spouts water daily on the south bank of the mouth of the Singapore

river. (The statue previously resided further down the river, but was moved in 2002 after the opening

of the Esplanade Bridge.) Designed by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in 1964, many a

commentator has pondered on the inherent contradictions of a creature that is half-cat, half-fish. Any

time of night or day, a steady stream of tourists troops up to see the mythical beast, and a purpose-

built pier lets you take pictures with the Merlion and the CBD in the background. When paying your

respects, don't miss the bite-sized Mini-Merlion (officially the "Merlion cub"), a mere two meters tall,

just 28m away towards the bridge. Free.  edit

Cavenagh Bridge, next to Fullerton Hotel. Singapore's oldest bridge and its only suspension bridge,

constructed in 1869, now a pedestrian walkway across the mouth of the Singapore River. Note the

original sign forbidding cattle to cross.  edit

Raffles Statue, 1 Empress Place (next to Asian Civilisations Museum). This statue of Stamford

Raffles, the founder of Singapore, is built on the (supposed) exact spot where he first landed. Second

only to the Merlion as most popular place in Singapore to take a picture of yourself, and having the

skyscrapers and the shophouses of Boat Quay in the background helps to explain why! The statue

here is actually a replica; the original can be found in front of the Victoria Theatre.  edit

Museums

Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, ☎ +65-63327798, [2]. Mon 1-7 PM, Tue-Sun 9:30

AM-7 PM. One of Singapore's newest, largest and best-presented museums. As the name hints, all of

Asia is covered in the scope, although naturally there is an emphasis on the cultures near and in

Singapore. Also hosts visiting exhibitions. $5, or $10 for Peranakan Museum joint ticket.  edit

Mint Museum of Toys, 26 Seah St (behind Raffles Hotel), ☎ +65-63390660, [3]. 9:30AM-6:30PM

daily. Built to house the 50,000-piece toy collection of local enthusiast Chang Yang Fa, the contents

of this five-story building covers come from 25 countries and span over a century of "Moments of

Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys" (hence MINT), with everything from wind-up toys to Darth Vader

masks. Guided tours (45 min) available and recommended.S$15/7.50 adult/child (under 12).  edit

Peranakan Museum, 39 Armenian St, ☎ +65-63327591, [4]. Mon 1-7 PM, Tue-Sun 9:30 AM-7

PM. Formerly a branch of the ACM, now reborn as a standalone museum dedicated to the

exuberantly colourful culture of the Peranakans, the Malay-Chinese and Malay-Indian traders who

had a major impact on the Straits Settlements. The three story museum covers Peranakan weddings,

religion and food with the latest in audiovisual gear. The building itself, a 1912 pastel blue wedding

cake originally built as a school, is also impressive. $8, or $10 for ACM joint ticket. 

Singapore/Orchard

Orchard Road is the main shopping street of Singapore. North of the Singapore River, to the west of the

Central Business District, Orchard Road turns into Bras Basah Road as it heads east.

Understand

Orchard Road is named after the nutmeg orchards that used to line it in the 1830s, one of them

coincidentally belonging to a Mr Orchard. Large trees still shade the road, providing a modicum of relief

from the heat. Fortunately, Orchard Road has an extensive network of underpasses that connect many of

the malls providing even more shelter from the blistering equatorial heat and, on occasion, rain.

Weekends in the area are often packed with locals and visitors alike out to consume en masse. Only at

the eastern Bras Basah end do the shopping malls peter out, with some fine colonial architecture and a

few of Singapore's top museums to be found instead.

The Christmas decorations along Orchard are mildly famous and entirely over the top, with reindeers

cavorting through palm trees and gingerbread houses topped with fake snow.

Get in

The MRT stations of Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall on the North-South Line follow the

alignment of Orchard Rd. Change to the North-East Line at Dhoby Ghaut or the East-West Line at City

Hall.

Get around

Orchard Rd is walkable, at least allowing plenty of breaks in air-conditioned shopping centers. You can no

longer cross the central Orchard/Scotts intersection on foot: instead, take the air-conditioned underground

walkway system that links Orchard MRT/Ion Orchard to Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and Lucky Plaza

(east), to CK Tang/Marriott (north), and to Shaw House and Wheelock Place (west).

See

Three of Singapore's top museums are in Bras Basah, within striking distance of Dhoby Ghaut and Bras

Basah MRT stations.

Battle Box, Fort Canning Park. 10 AM-6 PM Tue-Sun.The former HQ of the British army during

World War 2, now turned into an air-conditioned museum complete with animatronic figures retelling

the events of the days before surrender. Nearest MRT station Dhoby Ghaut, but it's a steamy hike up

the hill. $8.  edit

Istana, (next to Dhoby Ghaut MRT), [1]. 8:30 AM-6 PM. Completed in 1869, this Malay-Indian hybrid

building was once the Government House of the colony of Singapore, before being repurposed on

independence as the official residence of the President. The 100-acre grounds occupy some of

Singapore's choicest real estate and incorporate several gardens and even a 9-hole golf course.

There is a Change of guard ceremony every first Sunday of the month. The Istana is open to the

public on only five days a year: Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and

National Day. Non-Singaporeans $1.  edit

National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, ☎ +65-63323659, [2]. Tue-Sun 10 AM-

9PM. Formerly Singapore History Museum, recently refurbished from top to bottom with a new wing

added. The star of the show is the permanent Singapore History Gallery, a 2800 sq.m. multimedia

extravaganza covering six centuries of island history, navigated with a super-flexible, if occasionally

somewhat confusing, interactive audio guide system that lets you choose the events and items to

focus on. There are also four Living Galleries focusing on food, fashion, film and photography, plus

various temporary exhibitions and a few nice cafes and restaurants. Permanent exhibition $10/5

adult/child.  edit

Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Road (MRT Bras Basah), ☎ +65-63323222, [3]. 10 AM-7

PM daily. Modern art from both Singapore and the region. The permanent collection is lackluster, but

exhibitions can be interesting. Guided tours in English at 11 AM, 2 PM. $3, free Friday evenings 6-9

PM.  edit

There are few tourist attractions as such on Orchard Road itself, the thing to do here is shop, shop and

shop! However, there are a few galleries of interest for photographers.

2902 Gallery, 11 Mount Sophia, Block B, #B2-09 (Staircase up the hill from The Cathay, near Dhoby

Ghaut MRT), ☎ +65-63398655, [4]. The largest dedicated photo gallery in South-East Asia, with a

focus on Singaporean talent. Hosts changing exhibitions including the yearly Singapore Int'l

Photography Festival [5] plus workshops, lectures and more.  edit

epSITE, 501 Orchard Road #03-18/19 (Wheelock Place), ☎ +65-67364986, [6]. Daily 11 AM-9

PM. Also known as the Epson Imaging Gallery, this small space features changing photography

exhibitions. Hardly worth a detour, but take a look if you're in the area. Free.  edit

Buy

Orchard Road and neighboring Scotts Road form Singapore's premier shopping district, with several

kilometers of road lined on both sides by practically nothing but shopping malls. The latest round of frantic

upgrading in 2008-2010 has seen half a dozen new malls open up and most of the rest renovate in an

attempt to catch up.

Orchard Road also participates in the annual Great Singapore Sale[10] that is organized by the

Singapore Tourism Board[11]. During this period, street events and late night shopping (till 11pm on

Fridays and Saturdays) are held at selected malls, and tourists are entitled to additional privileges. The

Great Singapore Sale 2011 is from 27 May to 24 July 2011.

Malls

While most malls in Orchard are distinctly upmarket, there are one or two that still cater to the average

Singaporean wallets. A selection of malls, from west (Orchard MRT) to east (Dhoby Ghaut MRT):

Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road. Frequented mostly by teenagers, this mall is a bargain hunter's

paradise slowly creeping upmarket. Not bad for unique clothes and accessories at reasonable

prices.  edit

Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road (Orchard MRT). Previously notable primarily for the

giant Bordersbookstore that used to occupy the entire ground level, which is slated to be replaced by

a Marks & Spencer department store. There's a smallish Marks & Spencer branch buried in the

basement and a pretty good selection of restaurants on the 2nd floor.  edit

ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn (Orchard MRT), [12]. Opened 2009, this is the largest new shopping

mall on Orchard in years, extending four floors both above and under ground. While the spacey,

pulsating, neon-lit facade is dominated by high-street flagships for Louis Vuitton and co, the interior

has plenty of more affordable options including Japanese retailers Uniqlo and Muji. The fourth floor

has the ION Art gallery, while the basement 4Food Opera food court, while a bit pricey by Singapore

standards, is enormous and very popular. Located on levels 55 and 56, at 218 metres, ION

Sky offers a 360-degree view from the highest point on Orchard Road. It houses an observatory and

contemporary restaurant Salt grill, helmed by Australian chef Luke Mangan.  edit

CK Tangs, 320 Orchard Road (Orchard MRT), [13]. Singapore's very own old-school department

store.  edit

Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, [14]. Designer boutiques and international brands populate this

architecturally fascinating mall.  edit

Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road, [15]. Most visitors end up in Lucky Plaza thanks to the dubious

street-level camera and electronics stores, which are legendary for ripoffs and poor customer service,

and are best avoided unless you really know your stuff. However, there's more to the mall than that:

cheap souvenirs (2nd floor), low cost salons that offer most services such as manicures, pedicures,

facials, waxing and hair services (fourth floor), off-season designer perfumes and cosmetics (most

floors) and a cheap and surprisingly good food court in the basement. Lucky Plaza is also the favorite

hangout spot for the Filipino community and gets packed on weekends.  edit

Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya Shopping Centre, 391 Orchard Road, [16]. Where the tai-

tais (wealthy ladies of leisure) hang out. Expensive branded goods on the first floors, more affordable

shopping in the two basement floors. Also features Kinokuniya, Southeast Asia's largest bookstore,

on the 3rd floor.  edit

Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd (opp Takashimaya). Long one of Singapore's flashiest malls, packed with

Prada, Gucci and other luxury brands, although ION has stolen some of its thunder.  edit

The Heeren, 260 Orchard Rd, [17]. Trendy youth clothing  edit

Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd, [18]. Modern, soaring twelve-story mall with a funky series of

outdoor escalators and nice views from the terraces. Floors 7 and above are devoted to food, with

restaurants including Korean barbeque masters Nolboo and Japanese set meal specialist Ootoya.

The mall also houses the world's tallest indoor Via Ferrata climbing wall, a collection of public art

installations by acclaimed international artists and a 24/7-operational Roof Garden. edit

313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Road (Somerset MRT), [19]. 313@somerset is directly linked to the

Somerset MRT station and features a concentration of mid-range retail and dining outlets. Retail

options include local and global fashion labels including Zara, Uniqlo, New Look, Esprit and a Forever

21 flagship spanning 4 floors. There are also some popular dining options including a cluster of

restaurants and lounges such as Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant, Kamado Japanese Wood

Fire, Central Hong Kong Café, Flying Chillies and Trattoria Cuccina Italiana on Level 1.  edit

Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road (Dhoby Ghaut MRT). Singapore's oldest air-conditioned

shopping mall, located just above the MRT interchange and recently given a thorough facelift.

Huge Carrefour multilevel hypermarket, numerous eating options and a large cinema complex on the

top floors.  

Putrajaya

Bus service is provided from 6:30AM until 10PM to and from Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Serdang commuter

station, Sinar Kota and Pasar Seni LRT station in Kuala Lumpur. The bus fare for one-way is around RM

3.50 and takes about 30 minutes-one hour, depends on the traffic flow. Usually, on non-working days the

time the buses take to arrive at Putrajaya will be much faster, but the frequency of the buses will be

accordingly reduced.

The new Express network by Rapid KL [3]  links KL Sentral to Putrajaya with only RM 5 for an unlimited

daily pass.

All public buses from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya drop and pick up passengers from the bus terminal

beside the train station (Putrajaya Sentral), which is at least 5 km from the core district.

Get around

Public transportation within Putrajaya is woefully inadequate, as distances are long and you need wheels

to get around. Occasional Nadiputra buses [4]  putter about from the train station at random times in

random directions. These buses charge a flat fare of 50 sen. Your best bet is probably to enquire at KLIA

or KL Sentral aboutorganized tours. There are also public two-hour tours at 11.30 AM and 3 PM on

Saturday and Sunday only, departing from the information centre at Selera Putra adjacent to the Putra

Mosque, that charge only a token RM 1 for the bus.

By taxi

Coupon taxis from the Transit station charge RM8-10 to most points in Putrajaya. Other taxis are limited

and it's best to book by phone at +60-3-5512-2266. Other taxi hotlines include: Putrajaya Cyberjaya

Radio Taxi at +60 03 8888 4000, which operates 24hours. The meter starts ticking from RM4, but many

cabbies are reluctant to use theirs. Chartering starts from RM30/hour, negotiable downwards.

See

Putrajaya's main sights are the colossal showcase buildings put up in this future capital, all in the

central Core District.

Note that a dress code applies to Perdana Putra, Seri Perdana and Putra Mosque, meaning no T-shirts,

shorts, singlets, sandals, or "indecent" wear for ladies. The mosque lends out shocking pink robes for

free, but the rest do not.

Buildings

Perdana Putra, Presint 1, [5] . The gargantuan complex of the Prime Minister's Office. Open to the

public Mon-Fri 8 AM to 12:30 PM, 2 PM to 4 PM, plus every 2nd and 4th Sat in the morning only.

Free entry, but ID is required (passport for non-Malaysians).

Putra Mosque (Masjid Putra), Presint 1. Pretty in pink, this mosque has a capacity of 15,000

worshippers and its 116-meter minaret is the tallest in Southeast Asia. Free entry, open every day

from 9 AM to 5 PM. Non-Muslims may not enter the mosque building itself during prayer hours.

Putrajaya International Convention Center, Presint 5, [6] . Dominantly located at the end of the

Putrajaya Boulevard, this showcase squashed UFO of a building, designed to resemble a Malay belt

buckle, was built for the Organization of Islamic Countries conference in 2003.

Seri Perdana, [7] . Enormous official residence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Has been open to

visitors in the past, but as of 2009 is closed to the public.

Wisma Putra. Houses the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.

Istana Melawati and Istana Darul Ehsan, the official residences of the Paramount Ruler of Malaysia

and the Sultan of Selangor respectively. Not open to the public.

The Diplomatic Enclave, housing foreign embassies and missions — at least in theory; as of 2008,

only the Iraqis have even started construction here.

The Perdana Leadership Foundation, holding the offices of previous Prime Ministers, currently

occupied by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Gardens and monuments

Taman Putra Perdana, Presint 1. Pleasantly landscaped (and usually very quiet) hilltop park

connecting the Shangri-La towards the Putra Perdana building, with some of the best views in town.

At the center of the park is the Putrajaya Landmark (Mercu Tanda), which resembles a wizard's hat

rolled from tinfoil.

Millennium Monument, Presint 2. 68-meter pillar in the shape of a hibiscus flower, with a walkway

around it documenting the history of Malaysia.

Putrajaya Boulevard, a 100-meter wide, 4-kilometers long boulevard flanked by government offices

and the mainstage for National Day parade.