Singapore is one of the most prosperous countries in the world and although it wasn’t in our planning, it seems like a good idea to visit it now that we're so close. We are looking for information on visa and entering with our own vehicle. For Belgian citizens a visa is not required and we can stay for 90 days. On the other hand, bringing the motorbike into Singapore seems less easy. First of all, the motorbike has to be insured so we go to a bank in Johor Bahru to inform about this. There they say that we must wait for permission from the head office for three to four days. We also need a carpass but we can only get it in the centre of Singapore. This means we have to leave Mickey at the border and take a taxi to the city centre. We want to stay for only a few days in Singapore so we don’t think it’s worth this much effort and expenses. We decide to leave Mickey at the hotel in Johor Bahru.
Around noon we take a taxi to the station of Johor Bahru, which cost us only 5 euro (in Thailand you pay as much for a tuk tuk and sometimes for a shorter distance). In the station, which forms the border between Malaysia and Singapore, our passports get stamped and we get on the bus to Singapore. The bus is surprisingly inexpensive: 1.25 euro pp. At the border post of Singapore we all have to go off the bus to complete the border formalities. This goes very smoothly. We are not allowed to bring cigarettes into Singapore, there are fines of 300 euro per pack. However, cigarettes in Singapore are quite expensive so we decide to smuggle three packs in our pockets. Fortunately, because our backpacks are checked. Phew, we're in but we still need to be careful: Singapore cigarettes are labelled and we have read that this is controlled throughout the country.
We step off the bus in Little India as this should be the cheapest area in Singapore. We start looking for a hotel but it’s very disappointing, the area is nice though. We decide just to walk around and look out for a hotel on the way. We walk until dark and arrive at the red light district, where there should be some cheap hotels according to the internet. We find something affordable to Singapore standards, 27 euros for a small room that is barely clean enough. We read on the internet negative comments about the neighbourhood but except for a few girls there’s not much "red light" to the neighbourhood. The big road behind the corner of our hotel is quite cosy with many shops and restaurants.
The next day we walk to Singapore city. Along the way we have to shelter for the rain but then it clears completely. When we arrive in town we‘re impressed by the high buildings.

Skyline of Singapore

We step inside a shopping mall to look for something to eat. In the mall, there’s a skating rink (not made off ice), you can take a short boat trip and there’s a water vortex, wow! Then we go looking for the entrance to the highest pool in the world. You can pay to go up and see it, but to swim in it is only reserved for the guests of the associated hotel. We do not meet the dress code for a visit to the pool so we decide to leave.

Highest Pool in the World

We continue our walk to Gardens By The Bay. You have to pay entrance to visit the greenhouses and the ‘tree top walk’ so we just take a stroll through the park. The park is surprisingly quiet if you consider you’re in the middle of a metropolis.

Gardens by the Bay

After visiting the park we walk among the high buildings toward the island Sentosa, the entertainment centre of Singapore. We don’t go to the island itself, but see it from the roof of a shopping mall. Our legs are tired from all the walking and we want to take a bus. We can’t pay the bus with exact change and apparently, no change is given at the Singapore buses. Kevin says we get off and the bus driver opens the doors of the bus and says very rude 'then go'. Ok then… We walk through Chinatown back to the city centre because we want to see Singapore by night. In Chinatown, like some other districts, the houses really have a colonial style and they are really nicely maintained.

Colonial Style Building

We walk along the Singapore River, where many restaurants are located. There’s a very nice atmosphere, but the food here is not for budget travellers. We let our legs rest while we enjoy the fantastic skyline by night. Then it's time for the final stretch to Little India. The previous day we had seen a nice hotel that gives a promotion if you check in at 11u30pm: 30 euro instead of 90 euro! We have to wait an hour in the lobby but when we come into the room it appears to have been worth the waiting ... until we go to sleep and are kept awake by the many noise of the street.

Singapore by Night

In the morning we walk towards the border with a stop at a park that has a free 'tree top walk’. At this point it begins to rain so we quickly leave the bridge. It takes a while before we are out of the park and can take the bus, our legs are so tired. The bus takes us back to Malaysia after an unforgettable city trip!

The Canopy Walk

FACTS:
- Although Singapore is in Asia, do not expect Asian prices. Prices are very similar to European prices.
- Compared with eating at street stalls, McDonalds is very cheap
- Singapore is a clean country: no littering. Also, do not throw your cigarette butts on the street but in the trash
- Do not smoke if you are: within 5m of a bus stop / in covered areas / near a hospital/ in a park
- Singapore celebrates its 49th year of independence

Singapore Dollars

More info on www.wijzijnweg.org