Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

[erkpod]

There's so many interesting buildings around to explore & there's an SQ operated tour where I get the tour for $8 SGD because I have an SQ boarding pass compared to around $25 SGD without one. That tour might help me to find where everyone is hiding & where the Singapore Girls hang out. I hope to do that tomorrow.

 

[erkpod]

On the way from the hotel downtown, I took the Circle line. On the way back to the hotel, I took the East West line. The nearest station to the hotel can use either route. I was expecting both routes to be wholly underground but the East West line (EW) has a large aboveground section.

The Circle line (CC) is totally underground while the Downtown (DT) line is one I want to explore more. The DT line ends at Chinatown & presumably this is the reason for announcements on that line being in English & (presumably) Mandarin.



The Paya Lebar EW platforms have massive fans hanging from the roof & half sized platform doors due to the high roof.



Meanwhile the CC platforms for the same station complex has lower ceilings & floor to roof platform doors.



The CC train I first caught was not very crowded. I have to duck under the low handles. The EW train back to the hotel was more crowded after 1700 but not crush load.



Signage is good & I was able to navigate. Station/security staff I encountered seemed to be rude/not interested/bored but the lady I purchased my smartcard from was nice.

 

[Bofter]

View attachment 25172

I can see how having a curtain in the room would still make it feel more natural (and help sound reduction) despite having only a wall behind it. Still you would get a few surprised people if they tried to open it.

 

[rogerkambah]

I just had a look at the Global Wallet a moment ago. $1 AUD = 87.09¥

For the sake of the maths, I've been working on $1 AUD = 100¥. I know that isn't totally correct but when I purchase 8800ish yen of product from the shop at the railway museum, I want to know that I've spent roughly $88 & not $880.

OK, 87-88 isn't bad - thanx for the info.

 

[serfty]

...

There is no wifi in the transit hotel except for the lobby. In other areas, you connect by it sending an SMS to your phone which includes the access password. Otherwise, you do have the choice of dedicated computer terminals around the terminals (mostly airside). Or you can get a password from the information desks (password valid for 6 hours).


Welcome to Singapore, Erk!

Things must have changed in two weeks - all I needed to do was connect & agree to T&C's ...


... back in November I asked for a code and was told this ...

 

[erkpod]

Things must have changed in two weeks - all I needed to do was connect & agree to T&C's ...


... back in November I asked for a code and was told this ...

Were you using a laptop?

For the wifiatChangi SSID, I was using both my iPhone & iPad in airplane mode & the screen would not let me proceed unless I put a mobile phone number in & then after that, the password from an SMS.

The password from the information desk was for another SSID.

 

[erkpod]

I can see how having a curtain in the room would still make it feel more natural (and help sound reduction) despite having only a wall behind it. Still you would get a few surprised people if they tried to open it.

It reminded me of the landside hotel at MIA except there, there was no attempt to fool you into thinking you had a window.

 

[TomVexille]

Were you using a laptop?

For the wifiatChangi SSID, I was using both my iPhone & iPad in airplane mode & the screen would not let me proceed unless I put a mobile phone number in & then after that, the password from an SMS.

The password from the information desk was for another SSID.

Interesting. Back last July, no password was required for both my phone and tablet.

 

[serfty]

Were you using a laptop?....

Nov 2, Nov 22 & Feb 8 - both Smartphone (GS2) and netbook (AspireOne).

 

[erkpod]

Looks like I won't have to worry about free wifi at Changi. I just purchased a 14GB for $25 SGD data pack from SingTel plus the cost of the SIM starter pack ($13 SGD).

So now I have a metric s**t ton of data & $13 SGD credit which I hope to use to phone home.

Protip - Don't waste your time with SIM resellers & the like, including the Post Office. A downtown SingTel store in Raffles City did it all in 5 minutes. No one sookylalaing that they didn't have SIM cards, access to that pack etc.

 

[bass_ke]

Looks like I won't have to worry about free wifi at Changi. I just purchased a 14GB for $25 SGD data pack from SingTel plus the cost of the SIM starter pack ($13 SGD).

So now I have a metric s**t ton of data & $13 SGD credit which I hope to use to phone home.

Protip - Don't waste your time with SIM resellers & the like, including the Post Office. A downtown SingTel store in Raffles City did it all in 5 minutes. No one sookylalaing that they didn't have SIM cards, access to that pack etc.

I sorted out a star hub sim at the exchange counter prior to clearing Customs.

The value wasn't as good as your deal but still easy and reasonably cheap!

 

[erkpod]

Day 52, Friday 21 February
Singapore

A little research before leaving the hotel showed I was within walking distance of several shopping centres, a KFC & a steakhouse. I walked to the KFC & for the first time ever was charged (30 cents) to change an item in a combo.

I then decided to search for somewhere that would sell me the SingTel 14GB in 7 days data pack. Several places had little idea before I found a SingTel outlet but I'm skipping ahead.

Around the area of the hotel, I noticed what looked to be something like an Air Force Hercules doing circuits & was later joined by a couple of fighter jets. I'm no defence avgeek but it was cool to see. Managed to get a pic of the Herc (at least I think it's a Herc) on my phone.

I was a little surprised to read that there are separate charges depending on if your bus has air conditioning or not.

I headed down towards the steakhouse & found it to be my type of place. Going back there later tonight. The place is also very close to a train station. I have not had a good steak in over a week but it feels like 6.

Trained it downtown & saw the Singapore Cricket Club & the SGC. Was a little surprised to find rugby & soccer goalposts there also.

I caught one of the double decker route buses & totally by chance it stopped just near my hotel so I got off the bus. I was expecting train style stop announcements but it didn't happen.

I'm starting to feel the heat & the sky is getting dark so I've returned to the hotel briefly.

 

[erkpod]

Interesting to note that some vehicles have stickers on the back with speed & passenger restrictions shown.



As Singapore is a cultural melting pot, some signs can be in up to 4 different languages.







Police sign alerting people to the theft of a bicycle.

 

[erkpod]

Just in case you needed reminding not to park your motorcycle at the top of the stairs blocking a doorway.





The street naming conventions are not easy for new players. Imagine having 5 different streets called Main St in a given area but numbered Main St 1, Main St 2 - the numbers in this case aren't property numbers or even route numbers.



Still happy service on the trains.

 

[erkpod]

Found The Ranch. It looks like my sort of place. We'll see shortly, won't we?



Speaking of food....

 

[erkpod]

Route & door opening information.



Someone had one job...



Emergency exit door through what would normally be the driver's cab at the front or back of the train.

 

[erkpod]

Not much is happening at the SCG.

 

[petercr]

Erk, that first photo in the last set looks like they're re-building 'The Dish'... any idea what it is?

 

[erkpod]

Erk, that first photo in the last set looks like they're re-building 'The Dish'... any idea what it is?

Not sure. I know there's a lot of construction going on around downtown. I'll explore that area in the next couple of days.

 

[amaroo]

Erk, that first photo in the last set looks like they're re-building 'The Dish'... any idea what it is?

That's the New Supreme Court of Singapore new supreme court of singapore - Google Search

The cranes you see are part of the construction works to convert the Old Supreme Court and City Hall into the National art Gallery of Singapore.