To Singapore – Travel + Lifestyle + Architecture Blog

Fun and Free Things To Do Around Singapore

Published on June 11, 2025August 21, 2025 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

Yes, yes. Singapore is known to be expensive. But with the right research and preparation, there are actually a lot of great things that tourists can do, without spending a dime on entrance fees.

The secret to maximizing your Singapore trip: The Singapore Tourist Pass and an ample amount of Data to stay online.

THE SINGAPORE TOURIST PASS– buy this at Changi Airport and you get unlimited train and bus access around the whole Singapore within the desired number of days. I bought the 5 days pass for 45 SGD, but there are 2 and 3 days package as well, for less. I also downloaded the SG MRT (Train) app. The bus routes, I checked from time to time on google. As such, staying connected is necessary. I purchased a LOCAL DATA SIM (Singtel) via KLOOK, which I conveniently claimed at Changi airport upon arrival. The Klook lady at Changi T2 assisted me re the sim registration. The Singtel Sim only cost me less than 400 Pesos, and 100 GB yun ha. Na-appreciate ko gid ang Klook ba.

So yun pag tourist ka and first timer, syempre aaura ka dun sa Merlion and the Marina Bay area, which I also did. The whole of Bay area and Singapore Central Business district is actually very interesting to see. Importante lang gid may data ka.

Marina Bay Sands, Fullerton Hotel, Old City Hall, Clark Quay and all those colorful buildings along the way. Walkable ito lahat.

Visit the NANYANG TECH UNIVERSITY. Madami interesting Architecture sa loob ng campus. And these buildings area free to visit naman pero wag ka na pumasok sa mga lecture floors ha. Baka mapreso ka. Matagal ko na pangarap magvisit sa campus. In fact, I once aspired to study here, kaso the financials will not work for me. The piled-up circular building below is known as The Hive. It is one of Nanyang Tech’s marvelous architectural feature.

*To get there: PIONEER Mrt then take the Bus 179 na iikot sa buong campus. Dami din cheap eats around, kasi nga students ang market ng area.*

Another architectural marvel that I did not miss to visit was The Geneo Mall at Kent Ridge Park. It is one of Singapore’s newest mall na palaban ang interiors, featuring engineered wood arches, glass louvers, lots of indoor greens and an ample skyklight to brighten up your day. Char. Bsta maganda ito and the Mall is directly attached to Kent Ridge Metro Station.

At syempre colonial mentality tayo, I also made time to see the Newest Starbucks in Singapore sa Chinatown, malapit sa Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. They also say this is SG’s prettiest Starbucks and I will not argue with that. This store is set up in an old colonial/heritage house. If you are a Starbucks merch collector, this branch has the most SG items available.

*How to get there: Chinatown MRT or Maxwell MRT (which is harap lang ng Buddha temple). And while you’re there, mag Maxwell food center na din kayo mga auntey.*

Explore Little India. Little India is also a very interesting district to explore, kase sobrang unique at foreign din ng vibe nya. Yes, madami po Indians sa Singapore, so much that they were able to form a dedicated area. I posted several tiktok videos of me exploring Little India. Check nyo sa link dun sa dulo ng article na to.

No secret, Little India din ang cheapest area in SG to stay and for foodtripping. I swear, sobrang hefty ng meals dito.

How to Get there: Little India MRT station and explore on foot. If you can, go to Mustafa Center for cheap shopping. The Cheapest in the island, legit.

You’ll find the colourful House of Tan Teng Niah in the heart of Little India – it’s a fav with the instagrammers! 😍 Also pag nahanap mo na building na ito, the food center in front of this serves the best Chicken Biryani and Masala in my opinion.

Another interesting place to see in SG are the well- preserved Peranakan Houses at Joo Chiat, malapit sa Old Airport Road. Peranakan Houses are colonial Portuguese-Chinese residences of the earlier days, owned by the Mestiso Chinese of the middle to upper middle class. Very Vibrant ng area na to, fit for pictorials and all that kineme.

Hot to get there: Bus lang po. I remember 154 basta google mo nalang. Also madami din Vietnamese restaurants na affordable dito na area, aside sa Chinese restaurants, of course.

And while in Peranakan, I looked for this Ay Yeeh Soon Kueh, a traditional Chinese-Singaporean food stall that is often visited by locals. Nasa likod lang ito ng Peranakan Houses. Naenjoy ko din ang vegetarian (bamboo shoot) dumplings at sticky mushroom and rice. Affordable also.

Ok pag sawa ka na sa view from the ground, try mo naman ang panoramic view of the Marina Bay from the 51st floor of CAPITA SPRING BUILDING. As much as gusto ko e-gate keep, pero eto na. Free ito ha. Wag kayong ano. May bar/Cafe din kase sa taas. mag chill ka dun. cool siguro din dito pag gabi. no?

How to get there: Walk2x ka lang sa Central Business District. Pangitaa!

Gardens by the Bay is also worth visiting, especially at night. The front area is a public (Free) place naman, you only pay the entrance lang pag papasok ka. Ok na ako sa labas, kapoy na din.

And to cap the night, see the Fountain Show at the Marina Bay Sands. I attended the 8pm show. this is free for all.

Cheap Eats : skip the malls and fancy restaurants. Go for Hawkers Center and Food Courts. Happy na ako dun. Promise.

Featured meals below : Masala Chicken Biryani Rice from the food court in Little India, the Old Airport Road Wanton Noodles and the Laksa meal I had from the foodcourt at Pioneer Station on my way to Nanyang University. Mura ito lahat. 5 to 8 dollars.

Bonus Ganap: Experience the Suntori Robot Barista at Duty Free Departure lounge of Changi Terminal 2. Free lang ito din. Surprise nga ako nahanap ko to. Go check out the Robot Barista on my Tiktok here.

Where I stayed: Spacepods at Paya Lebar, near the Singapore National Stadium, because I watched Lady Gaga Live in Concert. See Snippets of Mayhem Singapura here. I will post about concert preparations separately. Dami ko din tikal about that.

Ok yun lang, bye!

Snippets from Mayhem Singapura

Published on June 5, 2025June 5, 2025 by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

Still stuck in my post-concert blues! It’s been days since the opening night of Mayhem Singapura, and I am still at high that I finally experienced Lady Gaga, live!

MAYHEM SINGAPURA 5.18.2025

The pre-game. Met some fellow little monsters in SG. Shout out, Dan Dale! 🙂 We went to Singapore National Stadium around 4PM. It was way too early for the 8 pm show, but a time well-spent to see and mingle with fellow monsters who flew to SG from as far as China and Australia. The pre-show vibe was all fun and costume-quirky. I low-key regret not wearing one.

Stadium Security was strict. I brought with me a small bagfor essentials and a clear water bottle. It’s good to know that water is refillable inside the stadium for free. Snacks and light meals at the booths rage from 5 to 14 SGD.

As per my seat, I purchased a CAT1,PA6, which is relatively close to the stage (approx 25 to 30m away). This is already a good seat, considering the 50,000 seating capacity of the venue. I purchased my ticket straight from ticketmaster.sg website. No agents fee or mark up whatsoever. Everything was DIY.

The best stage design inspired by the Phantom of the Opera. Huge stage prod, typical of Lady Gaga extravagance.

The “Mayhem” show is a theatrical experience that brings Lady Gaga’s new album “Mayhem” to life. Killer choreography, a spectacular stage setup with multiple props and costume changes, and a night of singing, dancing, and fun, elevating the traditional concert format.

Mayhem show is an artistic masterpiece. This photo was taken when LG performed ‘Paparazzi’

Act 4. Best part of the show, IMO.
Lady Gaga in her raw form, just being her undecorated self, with her piano and a voice full of love.

The world stood still when Lady Gaga sang ‘Shallow’.

‘Bad Romance’ as the finale number. The show lasted 2 hrs.

Full house 50,000 pax. And I am proud to be part of this assembly

MRT Station after the show.
On Full packed

Still on high whenever I recall moments from the Mayhem tour in Singapore, and seeing Lady Gaga perform and actually connect with us, the audience. At some point, I stopped recording and just enjoyed her music and presence. Gaga has, and will always have a place in my heart.

Paws up, little monsters. 🖤❤👑🕶

See more concert snippets on my tiktok https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSkha1sdX/

Jose’s 10 Best Street Food Moments

Published on November 20, 2016March 22, 2024 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

Ok, dahil kain lang ako ng kain lately, I thought of shortlisting some 10 memorable street food moments and lamons from my recent biyahes around. Nothing super fancy, basta yung mga casual, simple at cheap pagkain lang; nonetheless, authentic pa din. Walang cheeseburger dito ha? So here goes. Enjoy. =)

1.) Pho, Ho Chi Minh (2013): Nung binubuo ko pa lang this compilation, first that came into my mind was the Pho I had from a modest sidewalk set up eatery named Bum Bo Hue, along Bui Vien Street. Sobrang sarap, sobrang fresh ng sangkap, very pretty looking, it’s actually unforgettable. Pho is a traditional beef (or chicken) broth soup ng Vietnam na madaming leafy herbs, usually cilantro or fresh mint. Iba din arrive nya compared sa other Asian soup. Super nice din nung lady owner, that she gave me kakanin. A big bowl was around 50,000 dong ( around $ 2.5 usd, 100 pesos ). This may not be the cheapest, but it was highly recommended by the hostel staff. Typical sa Ho Chi Minh yung naglalatag lang sa sidewalk ng tables and chairs, lalo na pag gabi; sobrang Vibrant ng place.

2.) Authentic Pad Thai, Bangkok (2013): Though madami naman masarap na Pad Thai everywhere, iba pa din when you get to enjoy a freshly cooked set along Rambuttri o Khaosan Road. As such, deserving to ng spot dito sa compilation. Pad Thai is an authentic Thai noodle dish that is mildly sweet and mildly tangy (from its tamarind-based sauce), and usually topped with peanut and drizzled with lemon. This one in the picture is a vegetarian set. Tofu lang yun gamit. around 59 Bhat (100 Pesos)

3.) Poh Piah, Singapore (2013): This may be ordinary for some, pero sobrang na enjoy ako sa Poh Piah na nakain ko dun sa SG. Poh Piah s a Fujian/Chaozhou-style fresh spring roll that is sweet,peanuty and medyo crunchy inside kasi magulay. This is also common in Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand. This one on the photo was around 2 Sgd.

4.) Curry Mutton Balls, Kolkatta (2014): Ito ung first meal ko sa India, kaya memorable kasi sa labas lang to ng public market kasabay yung mga locals, kaya sobrang authentic ng feel. Sobrang flavourful din ng dish na ito. Wag na kayong ano, mahilig talaga ako sa curry. This was only 25 Rupees (Around 25 Pesos), may kasamang Paratha (Indian bread prepared on a griddle, and lightly oiled).

roti — Roti bread with some curry. My First Street food in India

5.) Masala Omelette Sandwich, Delhi (2014): Simple lang, super cheap ,like 25 Rupee (around 25 Pesos) pero sobrang saya ko na dito. Masala is a traditional Indian spice mix. Di ko ma explain ano lasa nito. Alanganin curry, alanganin cumin, basta very pungent. May fresh Onion pa at Coriander combined with the omelette. Overwhelming for some, pero sarap na sarap ako. Common to sa Pajar Ganj. 2x ko to breakfast when I was in Delhi.

delhi masala omelette — Masala Egg Omelette Sandwich . A cheap street food , prepared while you wait, which was good because you get to see how its done. (think fairly clean street food)

6.) Kusum Mutton Roll, Kolkatta (2014): Nabasa ko to noon kay Migrationology.com. Its basically like kebab, only that the grilled mutton stuffing is somewhat curried, and is wrapped with a Paratha (Indian bread prepared on a griddle, and lightly oiled) and walang garlic sauce/white sauce for this; just red onion, onion stalk and light chili sauce. Mga 70-80 Rupees per piece.

cusum roll — the super yummy Kusum Mutton Roll in park street Kolkatta, mentioned by Migrationology.com as one of his 25 best street food in the world worthy of travel. and indeed it is.

7) Souvlaki, Athens (2015): Souvlaki is Greece’s version of Beef Kebab. This one in the photo is from a famous eatery called ‘Thanalis’ in Athens, which is known to serve good wraps. Souvlaki is somewhat more comparable to India’s Kusum Roll, kasi the wrapper is prepared almost the same way. Mas madami lang anik anik itong sa Greek like tomato, red onion, and may potato fries pa, tas may white sauce. Around 3 Euros (150 Pesos) pero generous naman sa size.

8.) Not so traditional Salami Pizza, Rome (2015): Di ko na maalala ung name, nahanap ko lang to sa tabi tabi eh. Sobrang nasarapan ako dito, among all pizza na natry ko dun. May fresh basil leaves to under the salami. 3 to 4 Euros per serve.

9.) Kimbap, Seoul (2015): Kimbap is like Korea’s version of maki/sushi… Only that feeling ko, theirs is more basic, fastfood-ish, and are usually stuffed with ham,egg, cheese and crispy vegetables.And like a typical Korean dish, may this one has a kick of Sesame oil. Common to sa mga subway hawkers around seoul. If you are not into the strong smelling fishcake and the spicy deokbokki, then this is your next best streetfood option in Korea.

10.) Hongkong Style Skewers (2015): Hongkong is also every man’s streetfood heaven. Lahat ng cravings mo on international levels, nandun nah sa streets nila; kaya deserving din to ng spot sa compilation. Among all skewers, itong bacon wrapped sausage ang favourite ko. Basta may bacon, I’ll rest my case. Lol

Bonus: Dessert, beh! =)
11.) Gulab Jamun, Delhi (2014) : Ito ang tunay na masarap! Jamun is a Solid Milk-based Mithai (Indian Sweets). Usually caramelized, minsan meron pang rose flavour, o saffron flavour… kaya nagiging kakaiba na ung taste.

20140327_125725 — Jamun Balls. deep fried sweet milk dough with caramel sauce. Yummy ! 15 INR for 2 piece !

12.) Belgian Waffle, Brussels(2016): Bilang sarado gana, sasali ko sa list this super pretty Belgian Waffle i had near the Grand Place in Brussels. Mejo chewy ung mismong waffle, ganun daw tlga ang authentic. Generous ang topping, and smothered with real white chocolate. Sobrang filling. This one is at 4 Euros, pero good for 2 na to.

Yun lang muna guys. Sana nagutom kayo =)

Singapore on a Budget

Published on October 9, 2013January 17, 2014 by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

From Melacca Central Bus Terminal , we took the 2PM bus to Singapore for 23 Ringgit ( around 300 pesos/ 7 USD). Several buses travel this route all day, with the last trip at around 7 pm . Our ride was a basic aircon bus with No TV. Super VIP buses are also available at 25-27 Ringgit (8 USD ). Travel time from Melacca to SG was around 3-4 hours, depending on traffic. We travelled on a Sunday afternoon, so it was a hassle free crossing. Unlike in other countries, immigration for both Malaysia and SG are under one building in Johor Bahru.

Budget Stay in Little India

The bus’ last drop off point was at their garage near Sim Lim Square; very favourable to us because it was just a short walk to Little India where we opt to stay. Contrary to the prior comments of others, staying in the cheerful and vibrant Little India district made my trip in Singapore more interesting. This area is dominated by Indian foodstrips, shops , incense and Bollywood music which was new to my senses. It was also a good exposure in preparation for my next backpacking trip 😉 We stayed at Inncrowd Backpackers inn at Dunlop St. for 20 SGD/night (dorm type) including light breakfast (Toasts,Jam,Egg) and unlimited coffee/tea the whole day. They have a good lounge for guests to watch TV or DVD. Desktop Computers and reference books and Maps are also available for everybody. ( http://www.the-inncrowd.com )

Photo of Inncrowd Backpackers where we stayed for 20 SGD /night with light breakfast. It looks better in actual. hehe

Masala Chicken Pizza — Masala Chicken bun ( 1.2 SGD )- I had a slice of this or 2 for 3 straight days ! Its spicy- pepperish , best paired with Coke =)

Chicken Biryani Meal at a Indian Cafeteria near Tekka Market. 5 SGD , good for 2 — Chicken Biryani Meal at an authentic Indian Cafeteria near Tekka Market. 5 SGD , good for 2

another Chicken Biryani meal I had from a nearby restaurant. hmm, too polished. The meals on the Cafe near the market are more interesting . =) — another Chicken Biryani meal I had from a nearby restaurant. hmm, too polished. Meals from the Cafe at Tekka Market are more interesting . =)

crispy and spicy Vegetarian Samosa — crispy and spicy Samosa from a Vegetarian bakery at the corner of Dunlop St.

Cheaper to buy Universal Studios Ticket Online

Singapore First timers would definitely include visiting Universal Studios in their itineraries. Walk in ticket prices are at 74 SGD for a day tour , but we were lucky enough to stumble on a discounted online promo with Asiatravel.com … We got our ticket for only 65 SGD , inclusive of 10 SGD consumable + P 5 SGD discount on shopping. Sweet!

Maximize Tourist Privileges

Train connection to Universal Studios is located at Vevo City Mall ,which also gives out a lot of perks for tourists. I just presented by passport at the information counter and got this privilege card to avail shopping discounts and free snacks. =)

Free Texas Chicken and Mcdonalds Coffee (and etc) at Vevo City for tourists.

Asia Travel Kiosk at the basement of Universal Studios where we exchanged our 65 SGD worth On line Vouchers to entrance Tickets . — Asia Travel Kiosk at the basement of Universal Studios where we exchanged our 65 SGD worth Online Vouchers to entrance Tickets .

Touring the City on your own

1. Mall Hopping at Orchard Road

2. Bay Area and the Gardens by the Bay in the Afternoon

No entrance fees at the outer Gardens , perfect for morning Jog if i had more time — No entrance fee at the outer Gardens , perfect for morning Jog if I had more time

Dinner at MakanSutra Food Stalls Just outside the Esplanade near the Bay Area

Marina Bay Sands Mall and Hotel

SAM_0438 — Awesome Drop Lanterns at Marina Bay Lobby

SAM_0408 — View of Singapore Cityscape as seen from Marina Bay Sands.

Clark Quay for some Chill and Cold beer.

SAM_0286 — interesting Lobby near Clark Quay with wall hung landscaping.

SAM_0307 — The Sling Ride ! around 80 SGD per ride , too expensive =(

Dine with the Hawkers

Hawkers are the equivalent of Filipino Karinderias , that offer ready made affordable meals. (around 3-5 SGD for 3 viand meals ) Meals are generally Chinese Style and veryTasty.