This actually only started in the year 2013. Before I met 'Aamir, I'd never been anywhere further than Paya Lebar, where my aunt's house is. In fact, the first time I visited my aunt on my own, without my Mom bringing me, was only 3 years ago.
Just a year ago I didn't even know how to transfer to the North South Line when I came from Pasir Ris. Maybe it was because Mom was always bringing me everywhere, which most of the time was via cab. Of course I grew older, and of course I moved out and made a new city my new hometown; and that was when I started expanding my horizon.
A job in the East, a school in the West, and a boyfriend from the North. You bet that because of all these little things I had to travel a lot around. Everything was fine until the point of time when I realised that adult fare really sucks. School started and I discovered an all-bus journey from home, so as much as I liked the MRT, I decided that bus concession was a lot more worth it.
So what's my point of this post??? I've actually been planning to write about my "navigational memory/gift" shit, but that won't be it. I read my good friend Nura's blog post, about how she wants to explore Singapore. I'm gonna write about a few of the things I did when I started out this exploring thing, and other things you'd like to do when starting out yourself.
I'm not sure if this would help you, or if this post is damn irrelevant because I know Singapore is small and many people think it's not worth exploring because there's nothing here. If that's what you think, I suggest you walk the whole country without discovering new things, before I allow you to tell me there's nothing interesting here.
And I'd also prefer for you to shut up unless you can go to any place in Singapore without getting lost.
Oh yes, I've remembered my intention of this post. It's to assure Nura that with these factors, you will never get lost if you want to explore.
1. MRT Lines
Yes. My best friend. Start out by exploring the many different MRT Lines. Start out going on the line you're familiar with, but right at the other end instead. If you're from Jurong East, head on to Bishan. If you're from Tampines, head on to Boon Lay. Eventually you'll want to move on to the other lines, and that's just the fun part.
Get used to traveling on MRTs. And I'm not saying get used to the crowds, I'm talking about the "don't complain about going to Harbourfront if you live in Woodlands" kind of get used to it.
And don't just stare at the people sitting opposite you. Stand by the doors and just look out wherever, so you can see if there's any station worth exploring. Or if you wanna sit then you could just turn your head and look out the windows. [Only for parts of the North South and East West Lines though, of course]
2. Long bus rides
Set aside $27, or $52 if you're a Poly student like me [because fuck adult fares, that's why], head on to the counter at MRT stations and top up bus concession. Restrain yourself from taking the MRT, and just stick to bus rides to wherever. If you don't know what bus to take to a destination, there are bus boards for a reason. There is Google for a reason. You have 3G for a reason. [or if you don't then just plan ahead]
Why long bus rides? Because then you'll familiarise yourself with the roads. Not every place is within an MRT station, at least, not yet. Til then, instead of listening to music and just stoning out the window pretending you're in a music video, try observing your surroundings. Read the street/road signs. If you have to take this bus ride frequently in your life, great. Eventually the names will stick to your head and if you're ever looking for some place, you'll remember it.
Or better still, just go on long bus rides from one end to another for fun. Take 67 from Choa Chu Kang all the way to Tampines and check that out. Take 168 from Bedok all the way to Woodlands, and explore the shit out of unfamiliar places.
3. Shopping? Food? Attractions?
Decide what you're looking for. When I read about the thrift shops, I must admit that I've never heard most of the street names before. Only when the blog entries mentioned a nearby MRT station was I able to find out where their locations were.
Once you know what you're looking for, it should be easy to narrow down where you're going. You'll know straight on where you want to go. You'll know you're heading to Central. You know you're heading to this street. This building. Blablabla. That way, you'll also make sure that you're going somewhere, and won't be disappointed if you go somewhere new to see that there's nothing you find interesting.
4. Don't be scared.
Don't. If you want to explore, you go all out. Don't be like Oh shit Bukit Timah is so weird, help me I'm from Pasir Ris I don't know this shit asdfghjkl Just think of where you WANT to go instead of where you came from. I can't lie to you, but yes, you will get lost. But no, you don't need anyone to be with you. You have to be fearless. It's your country. I know it's not as fun as road trips across America or whatnot, but hey whatever. Going around Singapore on buses and MRTs is just as cool.
If you do ever get lost...
No worries at all. Just continue walking if you're looking for someplace. If you're lost in the way that you've no idea where you are anymore and you just want to go home, just find a nearby bus stop and look at the board. Don't just read the interchange where it terminates, that's a bad habit which I only just recently dropped. Look at the list of bus stops as well and you'll never know if you see someplace familiar, or an MRT station that's nearer to where you live.
I'd rather you explore when you've got more money. You'll never know if you see something you really like, or if you wanna eat some cake at a little cafe, or most importantly if you just need to top up your Ez-link.
#1 and #2 are what you need to start off with. Familiarise yourself, that's what I'd like to say. And get used to it and not fret over distance. Only then will you be able to move on to #3, because you will get used to bus rides and shit.
Most importantly is of course #4, because as long as you are scared, you won't get anywhere. Don't ask anyone to come along because it's best to go alone. That way, you don't have to be under pressure if your companion gets tired, or the other way around. You do things your way. Doesn't that sound wonderfrou?
I'm not sure if this helps but I hope it does. People complain about Singapore every single day, but only because they focus on a few little little things. Yea the education system sucks indeed but I still love the familiarity of the roads in my country okay? Go explore and blog about it, cutiepie.
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