Singapore, the country of many attractions and the long post all about it.

Our visit to the Singapore could be summarised as 3 fully loaded and light packed days. We have visited many highlight attractions and tried not to ruin our budget.

As we had left our car and big backpacks (in it) in the Johor Setia Sky 88, so we had to pack very lightly. Carried only swimsuits, one towel, camera, chargers, spare dress for kids, food&snacks (cheaper to buy in Malaysia) and water.

Day 1, the Aquatic day

Grab to a bus stop at the CIQ building (4RM). "170x", one of the border crossing bus lines (4RM, for all). The border crossing itself is a bit complicated as it is necessary to get out of the bus at Malaysia side, walk couple of hundreds metres, wait in a que, get a departure stamp and walk forward to load back into a bus (not necessarily exactly the same bus but of the identical line number). And the same procedure at the Singapore side of the border. Just after a short border bridge crossing bus ride. Queing there seemed to be even longer as Singapore immigration seemed to be much more precise. Furher wolking and getting back to a bus once again and a ride to the Kranji MRT (metro/train) station. Total border crossing time of +-70 minutes. And this was out of the rush hour. Which are supposed to be: Johor->Singapore (from as early as) 4am - 9am and Singapore->Johor 4pm - 9pm.

As we had a chance to travel in the busy period while returning back to the Malaysia (it took us some 2hrs from the Kranji MRT to the JB Sentral) we advise to prepare well and to have some snacks, drinks and entertainment (for kids).

At the station we have bought the "EZ" chip cards to make our public transport more convenient and a bit cheaper. 12 SGD for an adult. 5 SGD is the card price and 7 SGD is an initial stored value. Top up (minimum 10 SGD) can be done in every MRT station. The kids were travelling for free (but somehow it's limited by the kid's height and age).

In MRT itself everything is well marked by signs so it's quite easy to navigate. The one disadvantage we've found is that there are some long, between the lines, corridors where it was necessary (speed, safety) to carry the Oliv. Getting to the Harbour Front station took us another hour or so.

We walked to the Sentosa island (full of attractions) and into the S.E.A Aquarium from there (cca 30 minutes; 1,5 km). At this fabulous aquarium a we have spent almost 4 hours. Kids were fully enjoying both big fish (sharks) tanks and tiny little creatures displays.

After that we have continued towards the Palawan Beach, through nice "like-from-Gaudi" Sentosa walk, to reach the Palawan Pirate Ship (1km, 30 min). Which is a great water playground (free). Oliv was sleeping in a carrier but Tad was very excited and happy there, running throughout the place and trying everything, both possible and impossible. The playground was closing at 6pm, so we walked some 10 min back to the BeachFront monorail station and took a ride back to the HarbourFront. Station at the 3rd floor of the VivoCity Mall. (The ride to the Sentosa island is for 4 SGD but this our late afternoon ride out was for free.)

Followed short MRT ride to the Chinatown. Where the kids were having a "hunger-first-emergency" boiled corn while Lukas swiftly headed to visit the "Buddha Tooth Relic Temple" just before it's 7pm closing. Followed 3 chicken street stall kebabs. Our dinner for that day. Eaten, with a bit of homeless feelings just infront (and before the visit to) the hindu "Sri Mariamman Temple".*

The last stage (and attraction) of the day was a double decker bus (no. 80), upper front seats, ride to our Geylang quarter "Oxley hotel 88". The budget, simple and "just-a-sleepover" option for the Singapore. Relatively clean, 1 dbl + 1 single bed, private bathroom, aircon. 35€/night. 6/10.

Day 2, the Flora day

In the morning we took a bus (No. 67 from the nearby Opp Mohd Salleh Mque stop) to the Botanic Gardens (35 min). First headed to the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden (open from 8 am; free) which is a botanical garden designed for kids with several playground attractions. It can be easily spent a half day just in here. But as we wanted to walk through to the other end of the realy large area of the gardens we just let the kids play for only a while on each attraction. (TIP: take a swimsuits for kids as there is also a water playing area). There are really many different and absolutely fabulous sections of the Botanical gardens and we have actually managed to walk just through a few:

- Evolution Garden - simulation of millions of years of prehistoric floral evolution.

- Symphony lake - with a stage and on the lawn seating. The evening classical concerts here must be awesome.

- ‎National Orchid Garden (5 SGD / Adult). Full of beautiful orchids and ordinary tourists.

- ‎Keppel Discovery Wetlands, Bark of trees, Products of the forest, SPH Walk of Giants and Swan Lake. All nice, but not the highlights.

After our experience the recommendation is definitely not to miss the visit but it is worth to be plan it as a whole day activity. We were unfortunately a bit stressed and rushed by our further schedule. 4 hours are really not enough, especially with if with kids.

Followed a bus ride (No. 106) from the S'pore Botanic Gdns station to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel (30 min). Walked through the gigantic hotel (with large gardens at its top) towards the "Gardens by the Bay". And through Malaysia, China and India gardens straigh to the "Flower Dome" with an extensive collection of plants from all across the globe, including many large trees. Spectacular floral richness. Maybe even too much. We have spent some 90 minutes there.

Outside followed a quick fast food session. Somehow, from time to time, the kids and Kaczi need (and demand) to have something to eat. While Lukas thinks that there are moments (or days) when there is no time to loose the time. Especially not by spending it on something so unimportant as eating.

And therefore promptly followed entering to the other gigantic glasshouse dome, the "Cloud Forest". The amazing artificial rock covered with a rainforest flora and well designed walk (around and through it). Took us some spectacular 90-120 minutes there.

When we walked out, there was finally a time for having a rest (a coffee) and kids to be well rewarded by enjoying the great water playground of the "Far East Organization Children's Garden" which is just next to the domes. Till the closing time at 7pm.

Followed a dinner. The very, very special for us. Fabulous evening romantic under slowly starting to glow Supertrees. First in life for the Oliv and maybe second for the Tad. McDonald's. Including the happy meal menu. We just know how to live. Or better, Lukas already knows that the kids and Kaczi also need to eat (and that hunger is the best chef) or they won't live long (and also become irritated).

The final walk to the MRT station and a ride back to the hotel. Intensive and long walking day for all of us. Brave Tad to walk it all (10km+) on his own.

Day 3, the Fauna Day Zoo and River safari parks on our schedule. Both next to each other and close to the border crossing. So we checked out in the morning, took a bus to the Bisgan MRT station, short ride to the Khatib station and the Zoo express bus to get there (70 minutes). Zoo is large and in the beautiful forest surrounding. Most animals do have a lot of space and some of them are even roaming freely among the visitors (lemurs, tamarins,..). Definitely it is clear why it is rated as no. 4 in the world ranking (just before the Prague). We have spent there some 6 hours (and even had to be in rush to have enough time fo the second park visit). And, ofcourse, also here there's a very nice water playground where we have beaten the highest heat and hunger. KFC is just there. And once we have broken our fast food limitations the day before, why not to continue, right?

The River Safari. It is promoting itself as the only river-themed park in the world. Well, we would rather say that it's almost another Zoo next to the Zoo, as there are many more animals to see than just fish. Pandas have a big pavilion there too for example. But the huge aquariums with beautifully clear water, focusing on the major world rivers are trully something special. With the greatest highlight (at least for us) of the Flooded Amazonia forest with many large Arapaimas and Manatees. We have been observing them fascinated for almost half of our time within the park (3hrs; till the closing at 7pm). From there we took a bus and soon changed for one of the border crossing busses (160x or 170x).

TIP: As all the parks entry fees are not cheap (Tadeáš already had to have his own child ticket while Oliv, as still under 3 years, was for free) it is definitely worth checking for promotion's or discounts. In our case we have used www.travelog.com and www.govoyaging.com to save between 10-20% on each of the attractions.

*Since the Batu Caves temple visit Tadeas has become hindu-temples sceptical. Probably caused by the fact there's been a slightly bigger mess then in other temples we have visited so far.