My 4 days free & easy visit to Singapore (May 17 > 20 2026)

Merlion, Singapore

" One day apart feels like three autumns " 

Soaring airfares, flight cancellations & extreme weather, you probably need a Plan B if your passion for traveling have not waned & still "burning" - no thanks to the present Iran war conflict (far from over) in the Middle East ! 

For me, I opted for travelling closer to home, certainly not to the far west (flight which requires a transit in Dubai or Doha) & it was comforting to note that of late, I had done two short trips to south Vietnam (Jan 18 > Feb 8 2026) & north-east Shandong province of China (April 12 > 27 2026); touch wood, I had no nightmares encountered in these two travels, simply cost effective, smooth sailing & a fabulous outcome !

During my primary school days (early 1960s), quite often I spent my year end school holidays roaming Singapore city centre (Haw Par Villa, Singapore Botanical Garden, Singapore Zoo, Singapore Aquarium, People's Park, Tai Hwa Theatre, Clifford Pier, River Valley Road etc, those were the Good Old Days !) so I had a very warm & profound relationship with all my cousin brothers & sisters (total 15, 1st generation Singaporeans) of the Chow & Toh families residing in Singapore ! Three of my Singapore cousin brother & sister had passed on in recent years due to illness. May their soul rest in eternal peace ! 

My last visit (together with my wife) to Singapore was in Oct 2022. As for my younger brother / sister & my two sister-in-laws, their last visit to Singapore was ages ago, probably more than 2 decades ! Hence in early 2025, I floated the idea of doing a short overland trip to Singapore (approx 360km from Kuala Lumpur) with a "noble" mission ie to have a re-union meet up with my cousin brothers & sisters (my childhood mates, now aged ranging from mid-60s to mid 70s) + my wife's aunt (aged 84) & playing catch up to see the major iconic landmarks in this modern, metropolitan city of Singapore, once upon a time called Temasek ! Here We Are, learning & gaining admiration about Singapore of this phrase, "Everybody has a place under the sun" ! Some old fashioned things like fresh air & sunshine are hard to beat ! For a seed to germinate or a small country to develop & prosper, you probably need abundant fresh air (fresh & innovative ideas), clean water (a pool of talents & well trained skill labour force) & suitable warmth (a down to earth people's government) ! 

Here goes my story of this KISS (Keep It Simple & Sweet) style travel to Singapore - no doubt, all my travel buddies are happy with the outcome & another memorial trip for me ! Well done, KM & your group of magnificent 6 ! 

My Travel Buddies: My wife (Soon Mae), brother Weng, Sister Mei, sister-in-laws Sally Leong & Soon Hoh.  

Re-union lunch with my Chow family cousin brothers & sisters in Chinatown, Singapore - cheers to all my Chow cousin brothers & sisters who attended this re-union lunch, great to see you all echoing this thinking that "One Day apart feels like 3 autumns". Thank you all (including my Singapore brother Hong & Jennifer) for the hospitality & company you had kindly extended to my group of 6 during our short stay in Singapore. We look forward to seeing you all in Kuala Lumpur in the near future or like what General Mac Arthur said "I shall  return" to Singapore for another stay-in-touch & a re-union meet up with my Toh family cousin brothers & sisters whom we missed seeing in this trip !    

Yan Palace Restaurant, Chinatown
Singapore

Rain Vortex, Changi Airport
Singapore

Total Expenses incurred (4 days): Rm907 (US$225)

1. Hotel (3 nights, twin sharing): @Rm525 (US$130)
2. First Coach (Subang Jaya, Malaysia > Star Vista, Singapore): @Rm195 (US$48) 
3. Metro (9 rides): @S$27.50
4. Bus (2 rides): @S$4.20
5. Grab: @S$5.20
6. Food: @S$18.70 + Rm13.80

Exchange Rate: US$1 = Rm4.04, S$1 = Rm3.11

Travel Highlights: 

Map of ASEAN countries
ASEAN has 11 members

Map of Singapore

Travel Itinerary Star Vista > Bras Basah
> Bugis > Esplanade > Orchard
 > Chinatown > Changi Airport >
Gardens by The Bay > Yishun

1) Merlion Park, Fullerton Road, Singapore

2) ArtScience Museum, Bayfront Avenue, Singapore

3) Clifford Pier, Collyer Quay, Singapore

4) Esplanade - Theatres by The Bay, 1, Esplanade Dr, Singapore

5) The Fullerton Hotel, 1, Fullerton Square, Singapore

6) The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Fullerton Square, Singapore

7) One Fullerton, 1n Fullerton Road, Singapore

8) Fullerton Fountain, 1, Fullerton Square, Singapore 

9) Singapore Flyer, Raffles Avenue, Singapore

10) Marina Square Mall, Raffles Boulevard, Singapore

11) Marina Bay by Night, Singapore 

12) CQ@Clarke Quay by Night, River Valley Road, Singapore  

13) The Riverfront, Clarke Quay, River Valley Road, Singapore

14) Singapore River Cruise, Clarke Quay, River Valley Road, Singapore 

15) Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 

16) Shoppes Marina Bay, Singapore

17) The Gardens by The Bay - Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore

18) Super Tree Grove, The Gardens by The Bay, Marina Gardens, Singapore 

19) Jewel Rain Vortex, Changi Airport, Singapore

20) Orchard Road, Singapore 

21) National Museum, Stamford Road, Singapore

22) Fort Canning Park, Singapore

23) Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Waterloo Street, Singapore

24) Catholic Church of Saints Peter & Paul, Queen Street, Singapore

25) Chinatown Street Market, Smith Street, Singapore

26) Nankin Row, Pickering Street, Chinatown, Singapore 

27) Heritage Street, Chinatown, Singapore

28) Stamford Arts Centre, Waterloo Street, Singapore

29) Bugis Street, Victoria Street, Singapore

30) Bugis Junction, Victoria Street, Singapore 

My 4 days free & easy visit to Singapore (May 17 > 20 2026) Day 1 Singapore City

Esplanade - Theatres on The Bay,
Singapore

Merlion Park, Fullerton Road, Singapore

Marina Bay, Singapore 

Marina Bay by Night, Singapore

Day 1 Sunday May 17 2026 (Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia & Singapore) - as 5 of us are residents of Subang Jaya & USJ, Petaling Jaya, Selangor hence it was convenient for our group to take the First Coach bus departing 07.15 from Subang Jaya to Star Vista, Singapore; after an almost 6 hours of bus journey (including a R & R stop & immigration clearance), we arrived in Star Vista Mall, Singapore at around 13.00 via the Malaysia-Singapore 2nd Link at Tuas Border checkpoint (arriving 12.30); after a lunch in Star Vista Mall, we checked into our hotel in Bras Basah & rested for 2 hours before venturing out to visit Albert Market & Food Centre & Bugis Street followed by a Metro train ride from Bugis > Esplanade & a visit to Marina Bay & Merlion Park; my last visit to Singapore was in Oct 2022 ! 

Travel itinerary: Subang Jaya, Selangor > Tuas Border Check Point, Singapore, approx 360km & a stopover (20 mins) in R & R Plus North-South Highway Stop at Pagoh (Johor)

First Coach Subang Jaya, Selangor >
Tuas Check Point, Singapore
(approx 360km)

1) The start of our First Coach bus ride (Rm195 = US$48 round trip) from Digital Mall, Subang Parade, Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) > Star Vistal Mall (Singapore) - bus journey approx. 5 hours 15 mins.     

2) Refueling of petrol by First Coach at a Petron petrol station in suburban Selangor (5 minutes). 

3) Stopover at a R & R Plus Highway Centre (Pagoh, Johor) - 20 minutes stopover for light refreshment & toilet break. 

4) Countryside scenery along the North-South Highway, Peninsula Malaysia

5) Malaysia-Singapore 2nd Link - a 1.9km dual-three lane bridge that connects Tuas in northeast Singapore to Tanjung Kupang in Gelang Patah, southwest Johor, Peninsula Malaysia, lesser car & passenger traffic taking this 2nd Link Tuas entry to Singapore hence faster immigration clearance !  

6) Arriving (12.30) in Star Vista Mall, Vista Exchange Gm, Singapore (bus journey approx 5 hours +), greeting from my cousin brother Sung upon our group's arrival. 

7) Vegetarian lunch (S$9 per set) - a treat from my cousin Sung in Star Vista Mall, Singapore 

8) Metro train ride ((S$2.10) from Buona Vista station > Bras Basah for a hotel check-in, whereas my wife's group of 4 chose to take a Grab (S$27) from Star Vista Mall > Oxford Hotel, Bras Basah (approx 9km)  

9) Hotel Accommodation (Singapore): my 3 nights stay in Oxford  Hotel, 21, Queen Street, Singapore; room tariff @Rm350 = US$87 per night, 2 single beds, 230m from Bras Basah Metro station. 

10) Walkabout in Bras Basah, Queen Street & Bugis Street for general sightseeing & light refreshment in Albert Food Centre. 

11) Albert Centre, Singapore - a multi-storey market & food centre in Queen Street, Singapore - enjoyed eating the food served here & also due to a convenient location near our hotel & Bugis Street.  

12) Bugis Street, Singapore - located opposite the Albert Market & Food Centre, a tourist attraction for souvenirs, clothing, & food etc  

13) Metro train ride (16.45) from Bugis station > Esplanade station to visit Marina Bay & Merlion Park, the 2 iconic landmarks in Singapore.  

14) Arriving in Esplanade - Theatres on The Bay, Esplande Dr, Singapore, a performing arts centre located in the Downtown Core of Singapore near the mouth of the Singapore River. 

15) Marina Bay, Singapore - a freshwater bay at the confluence of 4 rivers ie the Singapore River, Kallang River, Geylang River & Rochor River; built on reclaimed land, Marina Bay is located in the Central Area of Singapore surrounded by the perimeter of 4 other planning areas ie the Downtown Core, Marina East, Marina South & Straits View, the area surrounding the bay is also called Marin Bay, a 360ha extensio9n tot he adjacent Central Business District (CBD) & also the new downtown of Singapore; buildings here include Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Asia Square, The Sail@Marina Bay & Marina One integrated mixed developments, one of the key focus areas by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, a must visit when in Singapore, very scenic especially at night ! Met up with my brother Hong at the Merlion Park who accompanied our group throughout the evening. 

16) Merlion Park, Fullerton Road, Singapore - a famous Singapore landmark & a major tourist attraction, located at One Fullerton, near the Central Business District (CBD), the Merlion is a mythical creature with a lion's head & a fish tail that is widely used as a mascot & national personification of Singapore. 

17) Marina Bay by Night, Singapore - a starry starry night for our group of 6 & my brother Hong who guided us roaming the Marina Bay area. 

18) One Fullerton, Singapore - a modern 2 storey seaside dining area (restaurants, bars & pubs) opened by The Fullerton Hotel located beside Marina Bay, diners could enjoy their time admiring the scenic view of the Singapore River, the city skyline & iconic landmarks like the Merlion & Marina Bay Sands

19) Fullerton Pavilion, Singapore

20) Clifford Pier, Singapore - a former pier located besides Collyer Quay at Marina Bay within the Downtown Core of the Central Area, Singapore, opened in 1933 & ceased operation in 2006; in 2008, the site was converted into a Chinese restaurant.  

21) The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore - a leading heritage hotel in the heart of the Central Business District, a former post office building built in 1928, this upscale hotel overlooking the Singapore River is 2km from Marina Bay. 

22) The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Singapore

23) The Fullerton Fountain, Singapore

24) Walkabout from Marina Bay > Marina Square Mall to have our dinner ! Marina Square is a shopping mall in Singapore which opened in the late 1980s, it is part of the first building complex built on the reclaimed land at Marina Centre & was the largest shopping mall in the country at that time ! 

25) Japanese Sukiya Gyudon dinner (a table of 4) in a Japanese restaurant chain in Marina Square Mall, Singapore - a treat from my brother Hong 

Beef  Yakiniku Bowl (L) S$7.90

Chicken Yakitori Bowl (S) S$6.20

Okra Gyudon (S) S$6.50

26) Metro train ride from City Hall > Dhoby Ghaut (Interchange) > Bras Basah > Oxford Hotel (230m walk) - thus ending my group's Day 1 visit to Marina Bay / Merlion Park / Clifford Pier area.