The Gal Travels

The best beach and park in Singapore is probably East Coast Park located in the eastern part of Singapore. Relatively inaccessible, your only option from town is a bus 16, 36 or a bus 134 if you are intending to stop over at a Paya Lebar MRT. Alternatively, just grab a cab from CityHall which takes about 10 min ride, non-peak hour. The park carries different moods during the day. Expect early mornings during the week to be scattered with avid joggers and citizens doing tai chi. The afternoons during the week is the quietest with few people walking in the noon day heat. Come evening time, nearby residents will be out again for their pre or post dinner walks. Over the weekends, East Coast Park becomes a hub of bustling activity with people from all walks of life and different nationalities either walking, blading, running, having a BBQ, or just lazing around having a picnic, all enjoying the fresh air, and beautiful beach scenery - away from the hub of city life. What's great...

It was my birthday and as a true blue Singaporean, I was all out to enjoy something free. It is a once a year treat that I could actually get into either the Singapore Zoo, Bird Park, or River Safari for free. Since I have yet to go to the River Safari, this was a default decision. I did not do any research on what I would see, for I knew that Singapore would definitely outdo itself to present the most enjoyable experience with this latest addition to the Singapore wildlife reserves. I took the Singapore Attractions Bus that picked me up from opposite Merchant Court Hotel, Singapore. Apart from the MRT, this is the most convenient option as I did not have to spend a couple of hours making my way up north. River Safari is a walking loop, with the objective of showing underwater life in rivers from around the world. It is like being in an aquarium, but one with a themed focus of river life while embracing the tropical outdoors. The highlight of the park is actually the pandas, and ...

When Gardens By The Bay first opened in Singapore, it took me a while and some friends to get me there, after all, being a world traveler, what could Singapore offer in terms of nature? When I finally went, I was impressed at the extent and effort done to make Singapore a beautiful and vibrant city to be in, not only with fabulous shopping, limitless dining experiences, and now, nature to enjoy in the comfort of air-conditioning. Of course this does not come free. A visit to the Gardens By The Bay comes at price of $28. If you intend to visit more than once, i.e. perhaps 4 or 5 times a year, then the annual pass is a definite must. The nearest MRT to Gardens By The Bay is Bayfront, choose to walk through the underpass right to the open gardens, or via Marina Bay Sands (exiting by the side of ArtScience Museum) and walk around the back that will bring you straight to the conservatories. The best time to go is around 4pm when it is less hot, and stay to watch the misting at the Cloud ...

One of the best designed departmental stores in Singapore goes to Robinsons, The Herren, Orchard Road. Proudly homegrown, though now owned by foreign investors, which in a way has turned out to be a good thing, as the brand perception has probably upped by a few notches especially with the opening of this new flagship store. For as long as I could recollect, Robinsons initial flagship store was located at Centerpoint. It probably had an extensive budget to give the outlet at The Herren the most extravagant, artistic, and luxurious feel, an opportunity for the middle class to enjoy shopping at it's finest. Mixed with a range of mid- to high-end products, shopping at Robinsons is like going on a holiday, with items all beautifully laid out be it clothing, shoes, kitchen, or bedding sections, making one feel so pampered and valued as a customer. I hope the concept maintains, though with this new image I doubt they would have crazy sales I used to look forward to when I was younge...

Cafe Fest is a new festival in Singapore pulling together cafes across Singapore to come together and serve up coffee and light bites. It is cafe hopping at it's best and hopefully on a day that is cool and windy in otherwise tropical Singapore. And that's what we got today. Cafe Fest is located outside of Marina Bay Sands at the Waterfront Promenade (nearer the side of MBFC). We had such difficulty finding the exact location initially as no map was given.  Waterfront Promenade

Shopping at 313 Somerset, Orchard Road One of my favorite malls along Somerset, Orchard Road is 313 Somerset . Perhaps because it's smack right in the heart of Orchard Road, located just above Somerset MRT. Recently, with the opening of Orchard Gateway, this links together 313 Somerset to Orchard Central, creating an opportunity to beat the heat and have a seamless shopping and dining experience along Orchard Road.  313 Somerset has a good retail mix comprising of mostly high street fashion shops like Forever21, Zara, Promod, Mango, New Look, CottonOn, and Uniqlo. The hub of activity is centered around the first floor (connecting to Orchard Road) and basement levels. 313 Somerset, Orchard Road

Singapore has become a great place to live and visit with new attractions that have come up in recent years. With Marina Bay Sands , the skyline of Singapore is now totally transformed. An iconic hotel with an even more iconic Sands SkyPark Infinity Pool, Marina Bay Sands have become a 'must-stay' hotel for both locals and tourists. For those without the budget to stay at the hotel, exploring  The Shoppes  is also a fabulous experience. Marina bay Sands The Shoppes

I was blessed with a overnight stay at W Singapore just recently. A place that I had visited earlier in the year and now a chance to stay over. Most of the time I was in meetings which had a lovely view of the pool.  The meetings rooms had interesting art pieces that would certainly attract the females!  The guest room at was quite an experience for me. There was different mood lightings to play with in the room. Though I didn't like the bed and pillows itself as it was too soft for my comfort, my favorite part of the room was the bathroom that opened to the bedroom. I enjoyed the spanking clean bathtub perfect for a soak as well as the toiletries available. W Singapore is one of those hotels that you could walk in and not have to pack a toiletry bag with you as everything was provided.   W Singapore Sentosa - harbor view

The last time I visited the Singapore Zoo must have been while I was still studying in my pre-teens. For the first time, I took a vacation and did not go abroad, instead, it was a goal to visit parts of Singapore I have ignored, as I deemed it a little just too touristy. This time, I wanted to experience what it was like being a tourist in Singapore. And the Singapore Zoo was in the list of 'to visit' places. I started the day around 11am by taking an express bus provided by the Zoo along Orchard Road. It probably is the best way to get there if you are staying along Orchard Road. The afternoon is a good time to visit, as you can catch the afternoon feeding time, and follow on with the Night Safari if not too tired.

Many people will see Raffles Place as the financial hub of Singapore, but to me, Raffles Place is much more than that. It is a place seeped with history, where many of our ancestors, being laborers in the earlier days of Singapore, would have toiled hard along the river banks of Boat Quay. Today, we see another group of people with sweat in their brows as they crunch financial data, bringing the country to a new level of success.

Kampong Glam, home to the the famous Arab Street, Bussorah Street, and Haji Lane, gives Singapore a character to the otherwise cosmopolitan city. It is located just a couple of streets away from Bugis MRT station. Exit from BHG at Bugis Junction and walk towards Raffles Hospital. Just after the hospital would be the start of Kampong Glam on the right side. Kampong Glam is the hub of where the Arabs, the Muslims as well as local fashion designers hang out. With Haji Lane transformed to a local designer hub, the street gives the area to an eclectic vibe and a different shopping experience to the otherwise standard mall fare you would find in Singapore. Haji Lane, Singapore

About Singapore Fashion Brands In the past Singapore could not hold up against cities like Bangkok, where you can get cheap fashion clothes at a steal or Hong Kong, the fashion heartbeat of Asia. Today, Singapore has finally developed its own fashion style with fashion brands from US, UK, Hong Kong greatly influencing how a Singaporean would dress up. In fact, some local fashion labels have done well for itself in Singapore and have begun to expand overseas. Charles & Keith If you are in Singapore, be sure to check out one of the Charles & Keith . The brand initially started out as affordable and fashionable shoes for the young working girl and has since included accessories like bags and sunglasses to its collection. bYSI For the corporate woman who is not afraid to flaunt her femininity. The bYSI fashion line is affordable for the working girl, where you find clean cut corporate fashion wear, yet with feminine finishing reminding you are that you are still a woman, and prou...

Buffets In Singapore With so many variety of buffets in Singapore gastronomically crafted to suit each taste bud the only challenge is simply where to go? On a low budget How about trying Seoul Garden . This is popular among the young ones as it is an inexpensive place to enjoy a buffet made up of mostly barbeque meats. Love Japanese food Kuishin Bo is a popular Japanese buffet dining spot for Singaporeans. It is a great place to enjoy endless supply of sashimi, teppanyaki, and Californian Maki. Of course there is a lot of other food choices, and do make a reservation early in the week if you intend to dine over the weekend. So you are a chocoholic If you love chocolates, the best place where you will feel so at home is definitely The Chocolate Buffet at Fullerton Hotel. They serve chocolates in all forms, from your cakes right down to severing you different percentage levels of cocoa in your drink. Of course if things get a little too chocolaty, wash it down with a few non-chocolat...

What to eat in Singapore Most Singaporeans love their food. Ranging from basic hawker fare to the upmarket hotel dining, there is a dish out there to suit every tastebud. Never is there another country in the world with hotels trying to outperform each other to lure a Singaporean to dine at one of their buffets.  Almost each nation food is probably represented in Singapore, with focus in Asian and Western dining. The hygiene standard is pretty good as well, so you do not really have to worry even when dining out on the streets. Singapore Hawker Food Most working adults on a typical work day can be found having their lunch in a hawker center or a food court. The difference? A hawker center  is generally not air-conditioned. Local favorites that are must tries are your Roasted Chicken Rice, Duck Rice, Fish Ball Noodle, Fried Kway Teow, Laksa, Fried Hokkien Mee, Mee Goreng, Mee Siam, Prata and Fried Carrot Cake. To sample some of Singapore’s more famous hawker centers, try ...

When to shop in Singapore There are three best seasons to shop in Singapore. If you are looking for brand fashion new collections it would be in the months of December and January . This is to cater to two key festivities such as Christmas and the Lunar New Year. If you are looking at bargains or major sales would usually happen for at least for 2 weeks after Christmas, Lunar New Year. Another major sale season is in the month of June where all Singapore retailers gear up for the Great Singapore Sale or GSS as it is known locally. Sales during GSS range from 50 percent to 70 percent off and the discounts get better towards the end of GSS, but expect the variety to lessen as well. You will see literally everything going on sale from fashion to household goods to electrical appliances. Even restaurants have begun to participate in GSS with special discounted meals. Where to shop in Singapore Ion Orchard the latest hangout place in Singapore Ngee Ann City

Located central of Singapore, the Swissotel Merchant Court is a gorgeous enclave from the hustle of busy life in Singapore. The hotel is designed in a casual colonial style with Straits Chinese influence. It is situated just outside the Central MRT and next to Clarke Quay where the hippest and most happening watering hole and dining destination is located in Singapore. A few bus stops away is Chinatown one of the oldest settlement in Singapore, and a total sight to behold especially the month before each lunar new year. I must say that I love the pool and gym area. The pool is large enough to allow you to swim laps and at the end of the pool is a man made waterfall. I love to stand under the waterfall as the water jets is strong enough giving you a good back massage. Don't be deceived by the smallness of the gym from first glance, there are actually 3 levels of it. The first level contains running machines and weights, 2nd level is the stretching area, and the third level house...