For people living in Singapore, a road trip to its neighbor to the north — Malaysia — is one that they have taken so many times before. A three- to four-hour drive from the Woodlands Causeway to Melaka and Kuala Lumpur provides affordable holidays and vacation plans. If you have a long weekend to enjoy just being out of your own house? A three-hour drive to Melaka sounds like fun.
But when the coronavirus happened and borders closed, people have to look deep within this tiny but powerful city-state to entertain themselves. Thankfully, people can still go on road trips around Singapore. In fact, they can go around the country and see spots they have never seen before. The coronavirus outbreak, perhaps, has opened a world of wonderful discoveries for people living in Singapore. After all, if it was not for the pandemic, many of them would have chosen to stay in the city or drive to Kuala Lumpur.
Pick Your Poison
Are you going to take your own car with you on this road trip? Do you want to take your family with you? This could be a good time to test a new car or van that you are itching to buy. Perhaps you are travelling with your office mates or team on a business trip. Rent a van that is similar to the model of the commercial van for sale that you want to get. This way, you can test the vehicle if it can meet your transportation needs and expectations. Who knows, it might be the best commercial van that you can use in your company.
Set the Day/s
Do you want to do this road trip in a day or two or four? Singapore’s a tiny state. You can probably visit most of what you need to see in a day. But to truly understand this prosperous little nation, you have to stay and savor the experience of driving through or walking in its scenic roads, may it be the Kranji countryside, the Central Catchment area, or the Changi Coastal Walk.
Plan Your Itinerary
Forget about the usual tourist spots. You have to know this country down to its core. The only way to do that is to visit its lesser-known places such as a secret farm in Seletar, a microbrewery at Changi Village, and a prawning spot in Pasir Ris Farmway. Any of these interesting spots will sure make your adventure something to remember.
- The Animal Resort is a laidback farm in Jalan Kayu where you can get really close to the animals. It brings you back to the time when Singapore still has many farms with chickens and birds roaming freely. It’s best to visit this farm when you have kids with you as it is a petting zoo where you can also feed the animals.
- Little Island Brewing Co is a microbrewery at Changi Village. It’s one of Singapore’s best-kept secrets. On Friday nights and weekends, the microbrewery comes alive with music and lights. It is famous for its OTOT self-serve system where you simply tap a card against the scanner to fill up your glass with their unique creations. Each homemade craft beer charges you for every 100ml.
- Aquarium Iwarna is in Pasir Ris Farmway. It might just be the cheapest prawning spot in Singapore since it charges only $14 per hour. The ponds have prawns as big as your palm, though these sneaky morsels are not easy to catch. When you do catch some, you can have them barbecued in a restaurant nearby.
- One Kind House is in the East Coast district. It’s a cooking school, urban farm, art gallery, and community space in one. Its owner, Madam Soh or Mummy Soh, wanted to build a communal center where people can attend her cooking classes and eat in a cozy setting. If you want to learn how to cook the way your grandmother did and at the same time enjoy a hearty traditional meal, this is the place for you.
- Gardenasia is tucked away deep within Kranji. If you’re tired of having to deal with some six million people in the city, this resort villa is the perfect destination for your Singaporean road trip. It has a bistro, a villa near the pool, and a large event space that you can rent to celebrate special occasions.
Singapore isn’t just about Sentosa and the Marina Bay Sands. It is more than just the swanky sports car near the marina. It is as diverse as any Southeast Asian country can be. Don’t be fooled by its marvelous and gorgeous hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and luxury boutiques that rival those you can find in Beverly Hills. Take a trip deeper into the city-state to find out more about it.
