FIRST PART
Track 1: Airstream Driver (Gomez)
If there was one thing I hated most
about flying, aside from the long grueling wait on a seat that's hardly as
comfortable as airline commercials advertise, it’s the landing. That unnerving jerk caused by the
wheels of the plane hitting hard pavement and all you can hear are the loud
humming of strained engines bringing 90 pounds of carbon fiber and steel to a
slow halt. It was not till we had peeked outside our tiny windows that late
June morning and saw not an awe-inspiring view of a brightly lit city but a
murky white sheet had I realized that the thought of attempting to land an
aircraft at an area with complete ZERO visibility was far more frightening.
"Why, for the life of me, did
we had to go and fly to Singapore NOW?" I muttered to myself as we made our final (and quite possibly,
fatal) descent.
...
Suffice to say, me and two most
excellent of traveling buddies had arrived to this haze-stricken land of merlions
and food hawkers in one injury-free piece. We still felt slightly nettled though, having to prepare
months ahead and yet for us to be welcomed with a view that was way far off
from what any of us had expected. Conversely,
having taken the most practical route, we needed only to make do on what we had
and hoped for the best. Given the
circumstance, our adventure was already in full swing.
It was such a well-received
distraction from the murky countenance of the outside world having been met by
the teeming life within the SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT. Drones of airport staff and passengers go about their business
carrying sincere smiles and an unfamiliarly calm on their faces while surrounding
them was an atmosphere of both sophistication and urbanity. Surprisingly, the staggering magnitude
of the airport itself hardly puts it near to being the largest, but it has been
hailed as one of the busiest airports in the world. It handles roughly around
45 million passengers on an annual basis and will continue to grow with plans
for expansion in the coming years.
The three terminals, accessible using the Skytrain, all boast a
versatile array of services to fill the needs of the modern traveler -- from
shopping and dining, to leisure and recreation. Thus making it difficult for any novice visitors, such as us
we three, not to spend their first hour in Singapore exploring the different
areas of the Changi Airport like bees in a fresh flower patch.
Track 3: In The City (Joe Walsh)
Hostels and inns are good means of shelter especially to travelers on a very limited budget -- Bearing in mind that the entirety of any visit would generally be spent wandering about, all one needs really is a decent abode in which one could bathe and sleep at the end of each day. There were relatively a number of places in Singapore surprisingly affordable. In the end, we opted to make our accommodations over at the MITRAA INN. A five minute walk from the Farrer MRT station, the cost of a night's stay was 35.00 SGD. The hostel also offered ample separate rooms that can accommodate 3 guests for only 130.00 SGD per night. This was considerably fitting since we preferred to have a little bit of privacy. Breakfast was happily inclusive, saving us a few dollars on meals to say the least.
Hostels and inns are good means of shelter especially to travelers on a very limited budget -- Bearing in mind that the entirety of any visit would generally be spent wandering about, all one needs really is a decent abode in which one could bathe and sleep at the end of each day. There were relatively a number of places in Singapore surprisingly affordable. In the end, we opted to make our accommodations over at the MITRAA INN. A five minute walk from the Farrer MRT station, the cost of a night's stay was 35.00 SGD. The hostel also offered ample separate rooms that can accommodate 3 guests for only 130.00 SGD per night. This was considerably fitting since we preferred to have a little bit of privacy. Breakfast was happily inclusive, saving us a few dollars on meals to say the least.
- Address: 531 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218163
Track 4: Without a Map (Sam Roberts)
Singapore's MASS RAPID TRANSIT system may well prove to be a study of the body's circulatory system. Nevertheless, roaming the country's every corner needed a less costly and time efficient approach. Around a dollar covered a single trip which will be deducted on a contactless smart card that one needed to purchase and (pre)load. As everything else in Singapore, the MRT stations were noticeably spotless, beginning from the lustrous walk ways and tunnels to the polished metallic walls of the train platforms. It was astonishing also that no matter how bustling the stations were, the trains scarcely were packed cans of sardines, as we three were accustomed to.
Singapore's MASS RAPID TRANSIT system may well prove to be a study of the body's circulatory system. Nevertheless, roaming the country's every corner needed a less costly and time efficient approach. Around a dollar covered a single trip which will be deducted on a contactless smart card that one needed to purchase and (pre)load. As everything else in Singapore, the MRT stations were noticeably spotless, beginning from the lustrous walk ways and tunnels to the polished metallic walls of the train platforms. It was astonishing also that no matter how bustling the stations were, the trains scarcely were packed cans of sardines, as we three were accustomed to.
Track 5: Us (Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks)
When one goes about in search of genuine Singapore food, merely head off to the unfettered smoky assemblage of food stalls known to local residents as Hawker Centers. These packed food courts hold a selection definitive to Singapore's diverse cultural inheritance. At the OLD AIRPORT FOOD HAWKER CENTER, we were enticed by the medley of gastronomical wilderness such as the spice-infused Malay meals, the rich seasoned Chinese cuisines and the exceptional zesty Indian dishes. Prices varied starting at 4.00 SGD (good for 1-2 persons) to 12.00 SGD (for a group of 5-6 individuals). Wishing to have the maximum chow experience our appetites demanded and wallets allowed, we inspected each and every stall of the center first and then made an ample number of purchases that we in turn shared among ourselves. A bit time consuming but efficient nonetheless judging from our immensely bulging guts.
When one goes about in search of genuine Singapore food, merely head off to the unfettered smoky assemblage of food stalls known to local residents as Hawker Centers. These packed food courts hold a selection definitive to Singapore's diverse cultural inheritance. At the OLD AIRPORT FOOD HAWKER CENTER, we were enticed by the medley of gastronomical wilderness such as the spice-infused Malay meals, the rich seasoned Chinese cuisines and the exceptional zesty Indian dishes. Prices varied starting at 4.00 SGD (good for 1-2 persons) to 12.00 SGD (for a group of 5-6 individuals). Wishing to have the maximum chow experience our appetites demanded and wallets allowed, we inspected each and every stall of the center first and then made an ample number of purchases that we in turn shared among ourselves. A bit time consuming but efficient nonetheless judging from our immensely bulging guts.
- Address: Block 51 Old Airport Road, Geylang, Singapore 390051
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