Day 2 : Singapore - St. Andrew's & Orchard Road !

After the not so satisfying National Day experience yesterday, I woke up with a superb energy, ready to start the second day in Singapore! As for today, there's no more free MRT, so I need to Top Up my EZ Link balance. 

What is EZ Link?

For those who is travelling for the first time in Singapore, EZ Link is a transportation card. You could use this card for MRT, LRT and Bus. There are some options, like you could purchase an EZ Link like a Singaporean citizen, or you could by the Singapore Tourist Pass for 1 - 3days (unlimited travel, valid for 24 - 72 hours, one time pay). You could buy this inside the MRT station. 

Singapore Tourist Pass price information :

1 Day Pass : SGD 20, Refundable SGD 10

2 Day Pass : SGD 26, Refundable SGD 10

3 Day Pass : SGD 30, Refundable SGD 10

You could refund it within 5 days of the purchase.

For more information, you could visit EZ Link website here.

Locket to buy your Singapore Tourist Pass

After top up my EZ Link card, then it's time to begin the 2nd day journey! My first destination today is going to be St. Andrew's Cathedral.

How to get to St. Andrew's Cathedral :

MRT Station : City Hall (Red & Green Line) - find the download link of MRT map below.

A peek of St. Andrew's Cathedral as you walk out from the MRT station

St. Andrew's could be said as one of the oldest & it is the largest Cathedral in Singapore. No wonder it becomes one of the most famous tourist object in Singapore. As you walked inside the area, you'll realize that the Colonial atmosphere is still there. 

The famous St. Andrew's Cathedral

There are lots of local and tourists that spend their time inside St. Andrew's. No need to worry, even though you're not Catholic but you want to know what's inside, just walk in and look around. Remember to keep your voice down as some of the visitors are praying.

St. Andrew's Cathedral, back side

People usually take photos only at the main area. If you walk around the church just a bit to the right, then you could also find this peaceful, classic little place to pray.

Hidden treasure that I found at the right wing of the church
(It's to gorgeous so that's why I re-touch it a little bit to bring out the real colour and what I felt and saw using a photo editor)

After praying and resting for a while, then I continue my trip. To my surprise, as I walk out from St. Andrew's, turns out that the primary event of the Singapore National Day is on the City Hall. I saw some of the stage equipment are being removed and stored. There are still lots of tourists that take photos around. FYI, this place is surprisingly super HOT and the sunshine could dazzle you. Prepare sunglasses to protect your eyes.  

The main stage of the National Day Event

The City Hall

If you had more time and love to visit the gallery, then you could stop by to The National Gallery of Singapore, just beside St. Andrew's Cathedral.

The National Gallery Singapore building

My second stop for today is Orchard Road! Just say, who doesn't love shopping? Well I bet everyone do! As it's just one day after the National Day, there are still lots of promotions going on around the department stores and malls. 

Street on Orchard Road

When I was there, I saw that there's a shooting in progress. They interviewed random people who passed by.

Shooting in progress

Around Orchard Road, you could find the famous 1 SGD ice cream (Now it's 1.2 SGD) which is a mandatory dessert to buy here in Orchard Road. The seller is usually an older people.  

If you're lucky, you could also watch some unique street performances.

A street performance

Now... excuse my self because I really need to go shopping!

More about St. Andrew's Cathedral here

TRAVEL IN SINGAPORE

Day 1 : Singapore - Arrive at Singapore (It's National Day!)

Day 3 : Singapore - Full Day at Universal Studio Singapore

Day 4 : Singapore - Gardens by The Bay, Haji Lane & Merlion (updated soon)

SINGAPORE FOOD GUIDE (link & posts updated soon)

Get your MRT Map here

Thanks, reader(s)!

[Megan Faustine]

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Day 1 : Singapore - Arrive at Singapore (It's National Day!)

Last August, I was travelling to Bali, Madura (two places both in Indonesia), Singapore, Johor and Malaysia. I know it's November and it was super long before I post my whole travelling & food guide stories to you all, but hey, you could use this guide anytime - well, except the fact that Singapore 50th National Day only came once in your life time, hahaha! If some of you wondering why I'm "gone" for a while, to cut it short - I don't want to get you bored - it's because these few months are my life changing events & hell yeah, I am pretending to be  busy, LOL. Once again, sorry for the delay!

To begin with, I will start to post my travel & food guide around Singapore. Relax, the 4 other places will follow, promise you within this month (November) all will be uploaded in borntobite.blogspot.com, which is this blog ;)

I arrived at Singapore around 2 p.m on 9 August 2015 (YES, IT'S THE NATIONAL DAY BABE!!), because my flight is not a direct flight. So, I need to transit for about 3 hours in Jakarta (there's another story for this, and it's kinda long because Surabaya - Singapore route is being hold since December last year due to some reasons, but thanks to Air Asia crew, they manage to turn my flights so that I still can go to Singapore via Jakarta *YEYY!).

When you step out from the airplane, if you're Indonesian and you're using Air Asia, you'll see this signs. Just follow the "Arrival" sign until you could grab your baggage. Changi Airport is really huge, so you might watch out because you don't want to get lost, right? 

Not for long, you'll find this sign "Welcome Terminal 1" you're still on the right track! Don't forget to keep follow the sign until you reach the "Arrival Immigration" on the airport.

As I walk through the Travelator, I spot something unique and beneficial for those who feel tired after your long flight. There are some foot massage facilities along the way to the Immigration. If you're travelling with older people, it'll be very useful. I spot an old lady enjoying the foot massage.

You'll walk down on an escalator and spot the Terminal 1 Immigration. Take out the form that you've filled inside the airplane - or maybe take a new one if you lost it / haven't take it - then start queuing. While waiting, you could grab some brochures and small guide around. I found it quiet useful, because you could get more insights about what's going on and around Singapore.

Passed the immigration, I board the "SkyTrain" to Terminal 2, because I'll hop on MRT to go to my hotel. If you also want to hop MRT, then follow the sign "SkyTrain". Guess what? Because that day was the 50th National Day, you could ride the MRT FOR FREE. Yes, you read it right, FREE the whole day! 

I book a hotel near Aljunied (MRT : Aljunied) area called "Chang Ziang Hotel" through Agoda.com with a great price. A queen bed & a single bed, for 3 persons, only IDR 700,000. You'll have an inside bathroom, complete bathroom supplies, 3 complimentary bottled water, television, air-con, even there's a fridge inside. Here's the map to the hotel - super easy!

Here's a room tour with pictures, the hotel is very clean, comfy, and homey! 

The television, and other complimentary activities

The bathroom sink

The bathroom

The bed (this one is the single bed, the queen bed is twice of this size)

Air-con and fridge

After I clean myself and put all my belongings inside the hotel, because today is the National Day, I heard that the fireworks will begin on the Marina Bay Sands, on The Float area. A bit of intermezzo, here's what Singapore's MRT Hallway look like. (Reminds me of how happy I am to be back on Singapore again after 5 years!!).

Inside the MRT

The MRT station is super crowded because a lot of people also want to watch the Parade & the Fireworks. I'm not that lucky that day, because I heard some people said that the fireworks begin at 6 or 7 p.m, and I'm too late to search for a great spot to watch the Firework :(

Other person and the MRT crew also told me that Marina Bay area was so full - it's a waste of time if you go there - that's why I switch the destination to the Esplanade. To my surprise, it was also very full - blame me because I'm not a Singaporean and didn't know the condition -

Thankfully, there's still a big LED screen in front of the MRT station, where I could watch the National Parade. From there I found out that yes, it's true that the Parade passed by in the area, but the primary location of the whole National event is not located on the Marina Bay. The complete story will soon on the Singapore Day 2! 

You could watch the parade through this LED Screen

You could watch the parade through this LED Screen

I don't want to share picture only, so here's a short video on the Parade (almost the end of it, I know *also sad* :( ) and also what's on the LED Screen.

Lesson learnt : Even though you already search information on the website, it's better to go there earlier - like really, earlier - especially on a special, once in a lifetime day like this, like taking a flight one day before, or arrived in the morning. 

TRAVEL IN SINGAPORE (link & posts updated soon)

Day 2 : Singapore - St. Andrew's & Orchard Road !

Day 3 : Singapore - Full Day at Universal Studio Singapore

Day 4 : Singapore - Gardens by The Bay, Haji Lane & Merlion

SINGAPORE FOOD GUIDE (link & posts updated soon)

Thanks, reader(s)!

[Megan Faustine]

Add me in Snapchat for Live Updates!
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Looking for Traditional Javanese Food in Jakarta? So Easy With OpenSnap!!

I just moved from Surabaya to Jakarta and its my week - 3 in the capital city. Of course, as a Foodie and a Surabayanese, I already missed the beauty of Javanese food. Since I’m not from Jakarta, I don’t know where to find a good place to eat traditional Javanese food in Jakarta. But HEYY!! Thanks to OpenSnap, I could find one of the most recommended traditional javanese food here in Jakarta and it’s SUPER CLOSE with my recent residence in Kelapa Gading area. Hooray!!

If you’re a non-Jakarta residence, miss your hometown food just like me, and want to find a great place to eat in Jakarta, I think you must use OpenSnap really soon! It’s so easy to use, and I’ll show you how ;)

Open Snap Apps

I access OpenSnap using mobile apps, where I could use it anywhere and everywhere I want! Once you open it, voila! You could choose “Nearby” so you could find great restaurant around you.

The great thing is, they also have “Map View”, so you won’t get lost and know the exact place of the restaurant!

For example, if you want to eat Soto Kudus, then here’s the map of the Soto Kudus location. Hmm…. I don’t think I want to eat Soto Kudus today - yeah, I’m soooo galauu in making decision what to eat, lol! - so I scroll and scroll again!

…and HEYY!! I think I found the one I want to eat, it’s Joe Resto, serving traditional Indonesian food! 

Here I am, inside the humble looking Joe Resto, craving for the deliciousness of traditional food.

I’m looking at the menus, and I am so interested to try it, espsecially Tahu Telor and Galantine. AW, that sounds super delicious in my ear! Of course, I immediately order those two.

Galantine 

The meat is super tender, and I love the sweetness of the sauce, it’s just right and super delicious in my mouth! 

Tahu Telor

It’s rich of peanut, however the flavour is still mild, with a bit of oily deep fried egg mixed with tofu. It also has beansprouts and some cabbage topped with fried onion, which makes it even more yummy! If you love spicy, then ask for an extra hot flavour!

I immediately missed Surabaya, my hometown, when I see this Kaleng Kerupuk inside Joe Resto :(

Upss… sorry for being a melancholic for a moment, hahaha! I’m so glad I know and use OpenSnap, because I could satisfy my crave for a great hometown food! 

Next, I definitely will search the greatest chocolate cake in Jakarta area since I’m a dessert lover, muahahahaha! 

Okay, right know I’ll look into the “Everyone Tab” so that I could know what restaurant is hitz and popular at the moment.

Well yeah, of course the “Social Visited Tab” couldn’t be missed, because I’m also following top foodies in Jakarta and also the OpenSnap crew, so I’ll know the great restaurant around Jakarta Raya!

I am going to stalk each of them right now…(I know I am a stalker, LOL)

Be right back and I’ll see you on OpenSnap, okay? ;)

Follow me with ID : meganfaustine, and don’t forget to use #meganfaustine, remember (#MEGANFAUSTINE) as your hashtag in every photos of yours so I could notice you!

OpenSnap
(Available in Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, Surabaya, and MORE!!)

For IOS : https://itunes.apple.com/hk/app/id806095727?mt=8

For Android : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.openrice.snap

Website . Instagram . Facebook . Twitter 

Thanks, reader(s)!

[Megan Faustine]

Add me in Snapchat for Live Updates!
meganfaustine

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