18th January tour pics are up!

Go see ‘Gallery’ : )

Thanks goes to our Hong Kong friends for the wonderful day!

New Tour! Chinese Gardens + Singapore River

Sunday, 18th January 2009, 10am-8pm
Explore the gardens of Singapore, the heartlands, exotic local cuisine, & the beautiful view along the Singapore river, all on 2 wheels! 

Starting point: NTU
1st stop: Chinese garden
2nd stop: Lunch at the heartlands!
3rd stop: Civil Defence Heritage Gallery
4th stop: Singapore River
5th stop: Merlion Park
6th stop: The Esplanade
7th stop: Dinner time!

Chinese garden

 

Step into the Chinese Garden and you might just imagine you’re in ancient China! Built in 1975 and designed by Prof Yuen-chen Yu, a well-known architect from Taiwan, the Chinese Garden is modeled along the northern Chinese imperial style of architecture and landscaping.

 

You will first be greeted by the “Pai Hung Ch’iao” (meaning “white rainbow bridge”) which follows the style of the 17-Arch Bridge at the Summer Palace in Beijing. Upon crossing the bridge, you will see a typical Chinese arch building which contains two courtyards and a fishpond.          

A signature architectural building of the Chinese is the pagoda, used in ancient times by Buddhists to keep human bones. The seven-storey pagoda “Ru Yun Ta” follows the style of Ling Ku Temple Pagoda in Nanjing.

 

Two traditional features of Chinese architecture are the “Yao-Yueh Fang” (Stone Boat) and the “Ming Hsiang Hsieh” (Tea House), the latter a miniature structure following the style of the elaborate, winding gallery at the Summer Palace.

Apart from buildings, gardens too are a constant motif in the Chinese Garden. Around the Chinese pavilion, plateau and tower are woven plants, rocks, a winding stream and footpaths, to create a harmonious scene. A Suzhou-style Bonsai Garden, built at a cost of SGD 3.8 million, houses some 1,000 bansais imported mostly from China. A Bonsai Training Centre will be launched with resident experts from Shanghai and Suzhou to teach visitors the delicate art of caring for bonsai.

 

 

Details

Open Main Garden 6.00 am – 11.00 pm (daily)   Admission: Free

Bonsai Garden 9.00 am – 6.00 pm (daily)   Admission: Free.

Garden of Abundance 9.00 am – 6.00 pm (daily)   Admission: SGD 2 adults SGD 1 children (3 – 12 years) SGD 1 senior citizens (55 years and above)

Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum (opens 8 October 07) 10.00 am – 7.00 pm (daily)   Admission: SGD 5 adults SGD 3 children (3 – 12 years)

Approximate Touring Time: 1 hour   Location 1 Chinese Garden Singapore 619795   Tel (65) 6261 3632 Fax (65) 6261 1390   Website Chinese Garden

Getting There: The gardens are a 5-minute walk from the Chinese Garden MRT Station (EW25).

 

Civil Defence Heritage Gallery

The Civil Defence Heritage Gallery traces fire fighting and civil defence developments in Singapore from the late 1800s till today. Located within the Central Fire Station, it showcases the proud history of the Singapore Civil Defence Force and aims to heighten public awareness on civil defence.

 

The gallery which was built in 1909, also provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about Singapore’s colonial past and the development of civil defence technology.          

Highlights

    * Embark on a chronological tour of civil defence’s progression in Singapore, with displays of antique fire engines and others.

    * Customised interactive stations for a close-up experience of what fire fighters and rescuers undergo in an operation.

    * A comprehensive public education corner providing information on handling emergencies.

    * Tours up the hose tower of the Central Fire Station – Singapore’s highest point during the 1920s.

 

Visitors will get the rare chance to ascend the 30-metre tower at the Central Fire Station and to experience the watch duty fireman performing fire surveillance duties from the tower top during the 1900s.

 

For safety reasons, we do not allow children lower than 1.2 meters to accompany the adults during the tower tour. We also do not encourage visitors with height phobia and heart related ailments to join the tour. For ladies, we encourage them to come in proper dress to enable them to ascend and descend the spiral staircase and cat ladders.

 

Details

Opening Hours 10.00am – 5.00pm Closed on Mondays   Admission Free

Guided Gallery Tour Tuesdays to Sundays between 10am to 5pm   Admission: Free. In view of space constraints in the gallery and for the safety of visitors, the guided tour is available for a maximum group size of 40 people at any one time.   A one-hour guided tour is available for group visits. For walk-in visitors, audio-guides are available in English, Mandarin, Malay and Japanese. All tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance.

Tower Tour Tuesdays and Fridays from 7pm to 8pm   Admission: free The Tower Tour is organised for a group visit of a maximum of 20 people.

Address Civil Defence Heritage Gallery 62 Hill Street Singapore 179367   Tel (65) 6332 2996 Fax (65) 63322994   Website Civil Defence Heritage Gallery

Getting There: By MRT: Nearest MRT Station is City Hall By Bus: No. 7, 12, 14, 16, 32, 33, 36, 64, 65, 77, 97, 103, 106, 111, 124, 131, 139, 166, 167, 171, 174, 190, 197, 501, 511, 518, 602, 605 & 607

Down the river..

The view along the Singapore River is amazingly picturesque, splendid for avid photographers as well as romantics.

Merlion Park

·        The Merlion was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB ) in 1964 – it has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Merlion Park is a popular tourist spot for photo-taking, and the sprouting jet of water from the Merlion statue’s mouth will leave you with room for many creative photo opportunities!

The Esplanade

·        Singapore’s answer to a modern and vibrant arts vicinity. It’s shape resembles the Durian – arguably Singapore’s favorite fruit.

Updates..

We just concluded a tour on the 18th of December, and it was a whole lot of fun! Pictures have been uploaded in the ‘Gallery’ Page. Check them out!

You might have seen this around school…

That’s right! Cycle Culture, happening every weekend!

Contact us NOW for available tour dates!!

Email: cycleculture@gmail.com

Mobile: 96659852/ 98199599

OTHER TOURS AVAILABLE:

Budget shopping & Eat Tour! Heartlands trail!

Expatriate Hangouts Tour! Ethnic Flavours Tour!

Back Alley Expedition! Garden Tours!

Historical Warsites Tour! Sunset-scenes Tour!

A new spin on touring!

NEW: CHINATOWN-SINGAPORE RIVER TOUR

 

 Starting point: NTU

 PLACES TO VISIT:

 Historical places of worship

Be enthralled by the intricate architecture and the story behind Singapore’s oldest temples and mosque!

 1. Thian Hock Keng Temple (20 mins)*

·        Built in 1841. The inner altar is dedicated to Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, whilst the smaller shrines are devoted to various deities.

2. Jamae Chulia Mosque (15 mins)

·        Built in 1826 by the Chulias (Tamil Muslims from the famous Chola Kingdom of Tamil Nadu). The Mosque’s architectural style is eclectic and is a well-photographed landmark.

3. Sri Mariamman Temple (15 mins)

·        Built in 1843, the oldest & largest Hindu temple in Singapore. Its magnificent pagoda-like entrance-tower is bedecked with carvings of Hindu deities.

4. Speaker’s Corner (10 mins)

·        Opened on 1 Sep 2000 to allow citizens to speak freely. The Speakers’ Corner is located in Hong Lim Park, a popular venue for many election rallies and political speeches in the 50s and 60s.

Down the river..

The view along the Singapore River is amazingly picturesque, splendid for avid photographers as well as romantics.

5. Asian Civilisation Museum (1 hour)

·        First museum in the region to present a broad yet integrated perspective of pan-Asian cultures and civilisations.

6. Merlion Park (30 mins)

·        The Merlion was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB ) in 1964 – it has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Merlion Park is a popular tourist spot for photo-taking, and the sprouting jet of water from the Merlion statue’s mouth will leave you with room for many creative photo opportunities!

7. The Esplanade (15 mins)

·        Singapore’s answer to a modern and vibrant arts vicinity. It’s shape resembles the Durian – arguably Singapore’s favorite fruit.

End point: Maxwell Food Centre (45 mins)

·        Dinner time! Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, and this translates into a myriad of food choices! Your craving for delectable, oriental cuisine will definitely be satisfied!! Local dishes served at Maxwell are a unique blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian & Nyonya cuisine!

*Note: timing does not include travel time to the destination

Route

 

To register, please email us at cycleculture@gmail.com with the following details:

 

^1.          Name and Singapore Student Identification number

^2.          Contact number

^3.          Preferred tour day 

^4.          Special diet (if any)

 

Welcome to our blog!

WHO WE ARE

CycleCulture is a guided cycling tour agency that puts a spin on the traditional notions of touring! We promote a healthier and more environmentally-friendly lifestyle by encouraging the use of bicycles to roam around Singapore. Cycling allows tourists to experience Singapore like never before – by allowing them to venture even closer into the heart of Singapore.

 

Imagine breezing down the roads of Singapore, breathing in the fresh aroma of food, taking in the scenic sights and sounds of Singapore and interacting one-on-one with the friendly locals – these are what make up a truly authentic Singapore experience!

HOW TOURS ARE CONDUCTED

The tour will be conducted on foldable bicycles. These bicycles have gained popularity in Singapore in recent years as a quick and convenient mode of transportation, as they are allowed on trains and buses. 

 

 Our tours are conducted on a ratio of 2 guides to 3 tourists. This allows tourists to enjoy maximum interactivity with their guides. Furthermore, such a small tour group ensures that the safety of participants is well taken care of.

Safety is a first priority for Cycle Culture. We will provide helmets and cycling equipment that are in top condition for our tour participants, and our guides are trained to provide first aid when necessary.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Price: $30 per person, excluding transport fares and food. Payable on day of tour.

Equipment provided: 1 Foldable bicycle, 1 rear light, 1 helmet and 1 poncho (in case of wet weather).

Attire to wear: T-shirt, track pants (for visiting the places of worship) & track shoes.

What to bring: A bag for valuables, EZ-link card, camera, a cap, sunscreen, student ID card & money (for food and transport fares).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer:

CycleCulture will not be liable for any loss of valuables, theft, death or injuries sustained during the tour. Participants should exercise necessary care and caution whilst participating in the tour activities and will be asked to sign an indemnity form before the tour commences.

CycleCulture reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary as they deem fit, in the event of any unforeseen circumstances (e.g. wet weather).