SINGAPORE TRAVEL GUIDE FOR BACKPACKERS

We will never understand why they tried to recreate the Siberian climate if we were on a bus to Singapore. But there we were, trying to survive the ice of the damn air conditioner and getting closer to the equator. What paradoxes give us trips ... only thanks to the nights we have spent in these months in the street refrigerators that are the Asian buses that have fortified us in body and spirit, we are here safe and sound to tell you about our passage through Singapore!

The driver makes us a sign to get off, we are the only tourists and all the locals who came with us grab the first taxi that passes and go to rest in their homes. It is 5 am and the check in of our accommodation is at 2 pm. We approach the nearest metro stop and wait for it to open, and in the meantime a big head in the middle of the street and to review what we want to do in this city that we have heard so much about.

You either love it or hate it. So they told us. And they have told us many more things: you are going to run out of pasta, everything is very expensive, it is the city of prohibitions, it is not true Asia, you are going to freak out how modern it is… let's see, let's see!

At 08 am we present ourselves with a sad face in the guesthouse trying to advance the check in, and hopefully they let us sleep on the sofa. We replenish energy and about 10am we leave address Little india where, apart from changing money, visiting a temple, wandering around and eating a, by the way, very good Tosai masala and an ultra spicy curry, little else do.

Siesta sacred and at 4pm we caught the subway to visit the colonial neighborhood, which turns out to be almost completely under construction and we arrived at what for me was the must: the area of Marina bay. Now that I have my picture with the ugliest lion-fish in the world and with the skyline of Singapore I feel better. The truth is that the light show they have made about 7pm has enchanted me.

More wandering and although the king of the saté tempts us we decided to go to a concert in the great Durian-shaped building. Satisfied, although with the broken feet of walking so much, we decided to return and finally slept, as I like to sleep!

Yesterday I made a deal with Roby: let's go to the Botanical Garden, and in return we will stroll through Orchard rd, the most fashionable, consumerist and pija area of ​​Singapore. I don't care about a radish, the posh, the fashion and the consumerist, there is something that I miss and that I have not stepped on for 7 months ... so garden be it, and universal flood too! Luck that it doesn't last long and we can get lost by the rarest trees, jumping squirrels and colorful flowers.

And my time comes: Orchard Rd I'm coming! Of course, it has not been the same as being in one of my stores, with my people, but entering the Desigual of this street in Singapore has brought me many good memories, and I almost want to give the girls a fight for being one in box and the other in testers with the messy store. But this is an other history!

I return to my current reality and with Roby we decided to go to Chinatown. I think I never saw a Chinatown so little Chinese: super tidy, clean, very beautiful yes, but without that essence that characterizes this area. Roby plays another of his own and I don't know how he convinces me to buy the tickets to go to the zoo, so tomorrow we will pass it between elephants and lions.

We agree with a Spanish couple who is living in New Zealand, and between what they tell us and the photos of Silvia and Carles that we are seeing almost make us want to catch a plane to Kiwi lands ... but wow, it will be again! We check out and guided, literally by Kartikh, a very nice and friendly Indian friend who slept next to us at the hostel, we caught a bus, then a subway and another bus before arriving at the zoo.

We are not fans of this type of "attractions" but everyone has talked to us about the zoo very well and they have assured us that it is full of super open spaces, in safari and 100% natural. lie. It is a beautiful zoo, but it is still a zoo where animals are closed and half crazy. It was the last time we visited a zoo, we will never enter the animal business rag again.

A final and very peculiar attraction awaits us: the airport! If you heard correctly, Chiangi Airport is one of the best in the world, it has even a swimming pool! If your scale is greater than 5 hours you get a tour around the city! Also at the airport they offer free Wi-Fi, parks and gardens, computers, video games and TV available to users, free massage machines, and ergonomic chairs and sun loungers. Of course, all this once you have checked in, a few hours before the plane leaves, so we have to wait like the other many common mortals that will spend the night at the most fashionable airport in Asia in the shabby part of departures, in chairs Normal and without free foot massage. Of course, with wifi!

And with a few hours of waiting we can take out the conclusions of this trip. That either you love her or hate her is a lie. We have found it a pleasant city with many positive things: orderly, modern, technological traffic, with good food everywhere and everywhere. It is surely the most European Asian city of which we have been. But if we love Asia so much, it is because of its natural chaos, because of its smells, because of the ability of Asians to put into practice the “where two fit three” and four, and five, and six… So Singapore was nice to meet you! Maybe we could have a drink once in a while, but as friends!

We hope our Singapore travel guide for backpackers be useful to you For any doubt, question or curiosity do not hesitate to write to us and we will be happy to help you.