december-2011

THE SHOESTRING DIARIES
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From top: Wade through
the racks of clothes at
Bugis Street Market; take a
minute (or more) to enjoy the
Singapore skyline
from The Esplanade.
dresses, three tops, a pair of fl ats and
some trinkets later, I’m set back by
S$95 (US$76.50). I also grabbed a cup
of watermelon juice (S$1/US$0.80)
and a crispy pancake with peanut and
ice cream (S$2.50/US$2), because
shopping at Bugis Street Market can
really burn some calories.
After a dinner of all-you-can-eat
steamboat (S$18–20/US$14.50–16)
at Liang Seah Street, I plop
my bottom at the Marina
Bay Sands Event Plaza
well before 8pm for an
enthralling light and water
show called Wonder
Full. And guess what? It’s
totally free!
After the colorful swishing
of lights, laser beams and water
jets ends, I saunter down the iconic
Helix Bridge and grab a photo with
Singapore’s famous night skyline.
The Esplanade is one of the best
places to chill out. It doesn’t have a
whole line of bars a la Clarke Quay (you
can visit it if that’s your thing), but the
idea is to grab some drinks and snacks
and people-watch while you sit by the
Singapore River, city lights dazzling just
beside you.
I then splurged on a cup of Italian
Thick Hot Chocolate (S$7.90/US$6.40)
from Max Brenner and managed to
catch a random free performance at the
Outdoor Stage!
Shoestring budget
for Day 2: S$129.53/
US$101.17