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