The second day of traveling is probably my favorite part of any trip because, unlike in the first, you get a sense of familiarity with your surroundings and the culture of the people around you while still in that peak of excitement of discovering more things about the place. Apparently, this was how I felt about our second day in Singapore and—I could say—it was the most enjoyable part of our trip despite the numerous steps we did after a day of non-stop walking.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Science Meets Art at ArtScience Museum
- Awestruck in Marina Bay
- Discovering Local Fare at CHIJMES
- Immersing in the World of Southeast Asian Modern Art
- Shopping and Dining Frenzy at Bugis and Kampong Glam
Science Meets Art at ArtScience Museum
Learning from my experience of the previous day and to save more, we skipped the breakfast at McDonald’s and opted for a cup of coffee from our hotel and a piece of Singaporean bread we bought at the nearby supermarket. Not long after this, we started our day early and headed out to go to our first destination of the day.
Located in the heart of Marina Bay Sands complex, ArtScience Museum sits at the top of the The Shoppes, a popular posh shopping mall in the area, when taking the MRT and getting off at Bayfront station. From here, one wouldn’t have a hard time searching for it as its lotus-inspired architecture stands distinctly among the structures in the area.
Prior to our trip, we also already booked admission tickets to the place via Klook, but in case you drop by unplanned, there are also ticket kiosks inside the museum located at the second level. I suggest going during the place’s opening hour which is at 10AM (and weekdays too except Friday if your travel happens to fall in one of those) when booking passes as this will ensure that you won’t stumble upon a crowd during your visit.
After taking the lift going down to the second level, we immediately went to the nearby gallery where the Future World exhibit coincidentally sits and made our way inside after having our QR codes verified by the personnel. Aside from this one, do note that there also other galleries found in the area which can also be accessed using separate admission passes.
Upon entrance, one will be welcomed by the Instagram-famous digital waterfalls that seamlessly cascade down to the floor while bunches of flowers gather beside it. Personally, there wasn’t really a wow moment for me upon finally seeing this floor-to-ceiling artwork, although it looked really cool in pictures. Across this falls is another installation that complements the floral element of the main display with its multicolored butterflies.
The next part of the exhibit was dedicated to the effects of climate change to sea levels that was depicted through an animated video in East Asian art style. There was also a peculiar timer here indicating the duration, I suppose, of the rising sea levels.
A little walk from the latter is an illuminated small arch doorway that goes to the top of the so-called Fruit Field. Regardless of anyone’s age, one is welcome to slide down on its interactive slope that depicts blooming and growing fruits once it receives the energy it requires to animate. Just make sure to remove your shoes before going up to the top.
Personally, I didn’t pay much attention to the Fruit Field as I was enthralled by the massive display of the popular Sketch Aquarium across it. Knowing how it already functions, I quickly grabbed the paper with the turtle outline and started filling it with colors using the available oil pastels on the drawing table. Once I was done, a personnel assisted me to the scanning machine which will digitally transform my artwork so it can appear on the screen. After a minute or less, I finally saw my turtle swimming along with the other sea creatures drawn by the other visitors.
Aside from the aquarium, there is also another digital art installation beside the drawing tables that depicts the blooming and death of flowers.
Sitting next to the Sketch Aquarium is a newly-installed artwork that supposedly depicts self-organization or the coming together of different rhythms to eventually synchronize with each other. Personally, I found this installation mesmerizing as the different beating burst of colors create a compelling visual effect. Not to mention that it also resembles the outer space and the other universes that make it, prompting one to feel like they’re part of that vastness.
If there’s a world under the sea, there’s also a world in the sky with the Sketch Flight installation. Similar to the aquarium one, visitors will need to create their own drawings using the available outlined papers and color them before having them scanned by the machine. As a fan of travel, it just makes sense for me to pickup the airplane outline which I saw flying in the wide screen in front of me after a few seconds. Apart from getting your artwork interact with its digital environment, this installation also allows one to control its movement using their mobile phone.
Across this is another interactive artwork called Aerial Climbing that is composed of suspended multicolored bars with a background of an animated digital screen. Anyone is also welcome to climb and experience this artwork as long as they are wearing a fully-covered pair of shoes (no sandals allowed!) which were unfortunately not the ones we were wearing during our visit.
The last part of the exhibit is another social media-favorite attraction that creates an illusion of a vast surrounding of stars. Officially called as the Crystal Universe, this well-photographed part of the gallery immerses a visitor into an environment filled with LED lights that are extended by the reflecting mirrors around it. In addition, one can also control the movement display of the lights through the use of his or her mobile phone.
Personally, I wasn’t that amazed upon seeing the Crystal Universe despite years of wanting to see it in real life (probably because I’ve seen more jaw-dropping ones before). But to the normal eye, I think this would be a thrilling experience to see.
We didn’t avail passes for the other galleries so after seeing all the installations, we made our way back up to where we came from to get a better glimpse of the area.
Awestruck in Marina Bay
It was during this second look when the realization that I am in Singapore finally started to sink in. In front of us was the well-known Marina Bay effortless flowing in front of this esplanade while different skyscrapers in various modern styles tower behind it. Taking a better look at it, we realized that we were also standing several kilometers away from the iconic Merlion Statue that was sitting directly across us. And standing behind us was the enormous sight of the Marina Bay Sands that completes our 360-degree view.
This moment gave me a mixed feelings of amusement and disbelief in a way that it symbolizes how progressive the country is while digesting the fact that I was in a place that I used to daydream of traveling. It also made me think of home and how much it differs with the scenario in front of me.
It was also during this moment when we noticed the beauty of the scene around ArtScience Museum. Surrounding the base of its exposed exterior is an artificial pond filled with purple lily pods cut by the traversing pathway that goes inside. On our visit, there was also an alfresco café beside the glass walls of the place that covered the columns with mirrors creating a scenic reflection of Marina Bay waterfront.
After a few poses and snaps, we finally went back inside The Shoppes to feed our grumbling stomachs with choices from the basement’s Asian street food-inspired food hall, Rasapura Masters. During our drop by, I grabbed a bowl of pork noodles from one of the stalls whose name I unfortunately couldn’t remember. But do note that, since this food court is located in a posh area, price range can also be a bit expensive than your usual quick eats and may not be the best choice for budget travelers. Nonetheless, diners will get to enjoy the ambiance of the mall with the addition of its moving hanging furnishing at the center of the place similar to the ones in Changi Airport.
Discovering Local Fare at CHIJMES
Curious to find out if Singapore has colonial architecture in the midst of its bustling modern city, I researched about it prior to our trip and was surprised to find out that there was one which doesn’t house a museum or a government office standing in the heart of the Civic District.
Known today as CHIJMES, an amalgamation of the acronym of the name of the former convent that stood in its grounds and the sounds of its chapel’s bell towers, this commercial complex now is home to a handful of local-favorite restaurants and event spaces dressed in distinct classic and gothic architectural styles.
We actually reached the place through the entrance along North Bridge Road since we came from Esplanade MRT station but if you’re taking either the Red or Green Line, you can also get off at City Hall station. If you’re not coming from Bayfront MRT, I recommend taking the last two train lines as the way going to the Circle Line which the Esplanade is part of can be a bit confusing for tourists. Nonetheless, if you want to maximize the MRT, just take note of the train number passing by at Bayfront station and check the screen above the platform if it announced number “8”. It turns out that there are two types of trains that pass the station in which the number “10” one goes back to Bayfront.
Upon entering the complex, we were welcomed by a dim alley surrounded by rows of restaurants offering alfresco dining beside the pathway. We realized how numerous the eateries are in the area as we walked and looked for the The Glasshouse where we will be grabbing some quick bites. During our search, we stumbled upon the place’s courtyard where a majestic back view of CHIJMES Hall greeted us.
Dressed in a monochrome Neo-Gothic style, this former chapel stands peculiar against the towering modern buildings that surround it while giving off that majestic and irresistible charm. Its stained glass windows that were noted to be imported from Belgium also add to its distinct appeal. However, CHIJMES Hall lacks the serenity of most churches like the ones in the Philippines as it is now converted to an event space. The most popular one that it catered was the dreamy wedding scene in the movie Crazy Rich Asians.
We weren’t able to go inside and observe its interior since it was closed, so we just took pictures of its façade and continued our search for The Glasshouse while having a tour of the remaining complex until we found what we were looking for.
A popular brunch spot among Singaporean millennials and expats, we arrived to a packed The Glasshouse with almost all tables occupied by dining customers. Fortunately, there was still one at the corner where we grabbed our seats and took a look at their menu after scanning the QR code on the table.
As expected, the menu is a bit on the middle range side with a bagel costing $4. Since I was not that hungry during our visit, I just ordered a Plain Croissant ($6) and a cup of Matcha Latte ($7). Orders are handed on the counter with either a debit or credit card accepted as the only mode of payment. There wasn’t really something special with the food that I ordered as I found the croissant a bit hard to bite while the matcha tasted like a usual one.
Immersing in the World of Southeast Asian Modern Art
As part of my hunt of some of Singapore’s distinct architecture, we also dropped by at the nearby Capitol Theatre to get a glimpse of its Art Deco façade. With the dwindling number of buildings in Manila in this style, I was glad to see this place as its defining details are intact and in good shape, compared to the deteriorating state of similar structures back home. Nonetheless, I was also a bit quite disappointed to see the theater in real life as the nearby mall and structures to it made it look out of place with their modern designs.
A few blocks from this is another spot that I was looking forward to see in this trip. Located in the former City Hall and Supreme Court buildings, National Gallery Singapore is home to the world’s largest public display of Singaporean and Southeast Asian modern art showcasing around 8000 pieces of artwork to visitors. Similar with ArtScience Museum, we already purchased admission tickets to it via Klook but if you’re a local resident, you get to enter for free.
After redeeming our passes, we started our tour of the museum at its topmost level by dropping by at Coleman Viewing Deck. As its name implies, this area is located near the side of Coleman Street and offers a scenic view of Marina Bay Sands and Esplanade Concert Hall. If you go to its rearmost part, one will also get a glimpse of the former city hall’s imposing neoclassical dome and the nearby Victoria Concert Hall with a background of the city’s skyscrapers that includes the Brutalist building of OCBC Centre. There’s also another viewing deck at the opposite side of the area called Padang View Deck if one wants to get better glimpse of the museum’s surroundings. Aside from scenic offerings, the roof deck is also home to a few restaurants that can cater to the gallery’s hungry visitors.
We were also supposed to check out Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery but since it was under renovation at the time, we just went back inside to start our proper museum tour.
Apparently, there’s a handful of exhibitions inside the gallery and I’m pretty sure that our two and a half hours stay inside of it was not enough to fully appreciate and visit all of them. Hence, I’m gonna skip on the specific details about each (and for you to experience it yourself) and just highlight some that made a remarkable impact on me starting with the place’s Upper Link Bridge. This connecting covered walkway between the old City Hall and Supreme Court buildings offers a glimpse of the details that make up the former’s Corinthian columns. Aside from this, one will also have a view of the lower floors that complete the space between the two.
The ArchiGallery was also memorable for me as it was the first one that we’ve explored and it provided us a quick history on why surrounding streets were named after Western-sounding ones. I also found this exhibition very interesting as it also focused on some of Singapore’s historic buildings including the museum itself and the details that made them unique.
The Level 4 and Wu Guanzhong galleries also caught my attention as both featured the work of Chinese ink master, Liu Kuo-sung and his peculiar ways of creating art. Not to mention that both galleries is also the museum’s largest exhibition.
As a photography enthusiast, I also found interesting the array of works in Living Pictures: Photography in Southeast Asia located in the Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery. Apparently, the place features various photographs taken across the region and depicting a handful of both historic and everyday life scenes from each country.
Probably my favorite part of the museum and my experience of it was the Old Supreme Court Building. From its architecture, galleries to its historical significance, I found myself enthralled by the entire place that was further intensified with its display of artworks that featured Filipino artist Felix Hidalgo. The access to the chambers where Supreme Court hearings and processes were used to be done was also an amazing experience for me and further enlightened me with the country’s history.
It was after our return to the City Hall Wing when we started to feel the tiredness of our feet after more than two hours of exploring the place. Hence, we sadly decided to end our museum tour despite the remaining two more lower levels to visit. Hopefully, when I return to Singapore, I can eventually see these as well.
Forcing ourselves to walk a little bit more to find a place to eat, we eventually found ourselves inside of the nearby Funan Mall and ordering kaya toast in front of the counter at Ya Kun Kaya.
With several locations across the country, I assumed that this dining spot and its offerings are a local-favorite, hence, we made sure to drop by in one when we encounter it. And as I took a bite of its crispy bread and tasted its butter and coconut jam filling after receiving our orders, it instantly became my favorite.
Contrary to the usual toasts, this one seems to melt in the mouth as you chew it while giving off that distinct buttery taste. This traditional Singaporean breakfast also usually comes with a soft-boiled egg and partnered with a cup of hot coffee. But during our trip, we tried it without the egg and swapped the coffee for a lemon tea which we preferred at the time which we don’t think ruined the experience as the toast still tasted great nonetheless. But do note that each order is good for the consumption of one person so it’s better to have an individual order to fully savor this meal.
Shopping and Dining Frenzy at Bugis and Kampong Glam
Before I delve into our experience in Bugis and Kampong Glam, we realized that we made a big mistake before going to the area.
Originally, after our quick snack at Funan Mall, we were supposed to drop by at the nearby Merlion Statue to take photo ops and officially seal our visit. But, probably due to the tiredness and our current location at that time, we actually forgot to drop by at the place and headed straight into the MRT station which we only realized when we got to our next stop. Fortunately, a few days later, I realized that I also got a photograph of the Merlion when we took a few pictures infront of the ArtScience Museum which compensated a bit for the missed opportunity. Although, I still wish that we actually saw it and didn’t forget to drop by.
After getting off at Bugis MRT, we made our way to our next destination which was the National Library or also known as the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. Usually, I don’t really visit libraries during trips but since this was requested by my friend to be included in the itinerary, we also dropped by it.
Contrary to what I’m used to in the Philippines, Singapore’s National Library is as amazing as the country. Starting with its location, the place is housed in a very modern building that is similar to a corporate one. Secondly, the library occupies not just a small part or a floor of the building but seven levels of the property signifying the numerous books that it houses. And lastly, I was impressed with how accessible knowledge is to people regardless if they are a citizen or not with the place not requiring any library card or proof of membership to enter the building. It made me think, this is how you make education accessible to everyone.
Although I should also be reading a book just like what my friend did, I preferred to look around and survey my surroundings while forming all of those thoughts. And when she finally asked us to leave, we went next to buy souvenirs at our next stop.
Bugis Street was actually recommended by the Filipino receptionist at our hotel as it offers cheaper-priced souvenirs according to him. I also initially thought that it would be a night market that is located along a street but as it turned out, it is the actual name of the retail complex. The place was also surprisingly packed with a mix of locals and tourists shopping around despite the fact that it was a weekday night. The first floor was a mix of stalls selling souvenirs, fashion items, local delicacies and branded chocolates while the second one was solely dedicated to stores offering trendy clothing and apparel and beauty products.
It was actually here where I bought my souvenir refrigerator magnet ($3) and tote bag ($4) which impressed me for its very good quality minus the hefty the price tag.
The last agenda in our very long itinerary for the day were Haji Lane and Arab Street which are located a couple blocks away from Bugis Street. Since it was already nighttime when we arrived in the former, the place was not as busy as I expected and a few stores have also already closed for the day. We actually didn’t walk the entire stretch of the street but there were a few operating shops in the middle part and ones whose façade bear colorful murals as seen in a lot of photos. But do note that this street is actually an alleyway so expect it to be more densely-packed in real life.
Arab Street is located just right next to Haji Lane so for the the search for this one wouldn’t be a problem. Similar with the first, this street is also lined with various restaurants serving different cuisines. However, compared to Haji Lane, the road in this one is a bit wider.
Since it was already getting late and we don’t have much energy anymore to walk any further, we decided to grab dinner at the popular Zam Zam Restaurant located along North Bridge Road. This place turned out to be a bit memorable for me because it was the place where I tried mutton and Indian food for the first time.
The experience was not as pleasant as one might assume because everything were spicy. I’m used to eating spicy dishes back home but the meals at Zam Zam’s was a different kind of experience that goes deep into your tongue. I also wouldn’t recommend the place if you’re the kind who has a sensitive nose to Indian cuisine because, apparently, the place is filled with it. Nonetheless, my experience of trying mutton for the first time was good since I realized that it’s chewier and more tender than beef. I also don’t regret trying the place as the servings were big and its vibe is very authentic and seems to reflect local life with its fuss-free appearance and the presence of locals themselves. I might actually go back when I find myself in the area again in the future.
Just when I thought that our experience has ended when we boarded the bus to go back to our hotel after dinner, the ride turned out to be another first time for me since it was the moment when I first hopped on and experienced a double-decker bus. It was also a memorable one because we got seats at the second level that was close to the front window that created a surreal feeling for me because the city lights appeared to be whirling in front of us while my friend and I were having deep talks about life—small moments but big memories.
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