Back in Singapore: #2 Run to Orchard

Running is the best way to discover a city – or, in this particular case, to re-discover a city. Alas, I’m about to find out that after six months of being away from Singapore, I’ve lost my acclimatisation to extreme humidity. It’s murderous.

Acknowledgement of gratuitous illustration: I did take the above photo of the iconic Marina Bay Sands; but that was sometime last year, and you wouldn’t see it in the course of this particular running route.

Singapore River from Kim Seng Promenade, around 8am

Princess Henrietta the Navigator I’m not, but after all our years here, even I can’t get lost. From Matt’s flat in Eng Hoon Street, Tiong Bahru, I follow my nose to Great World City mall. (They have a Zara! – but it won’t be open for a few hours yet.) Then it’s a left on Kim Seng Promenade along the banks of the Singapore River, heading to River Valley Road.

Riverside Point, taken from Clarke Quay – well worth a visit for the beer at Brewerkz

Clarke Quay – well before the bars and restaurants open

A right turn at River Valley Close takes me back to the river via Robertson Quay – then Clarke Quay, followed by the iconic view of Boat Quay across from Empress Place.

With my back to the river, I jog past tourist buses belching out fumes and sightseers into Esplanade Park, and across the lawn (naughty!) of the beautifully refurbished Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall.

Stunningly restored, the Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall

Then it’s along to Raffles City (my other favourite mall; no Zara, though), up Bras Basah Road – which becomes Orchard Road, past the Istana (presidential palace) and all the way to Scotts Road. I enjoy remembering that when Roy and I lived in this area, from 2001 to 2009, the heavily armed guards knew me well enough to wave to me!

The gorgeous presidential Istana, or palace, just up from Dhoby Ghaut MRT in Orchard Road – but I took this pic a couple of years ago, on one of the fairly rare Open Days

Even if I had the energy to shop in Orchard Road, nothing is open until 10am at the very earliest.

Heading up Orchard Road to Scotts Road, a relatively quiet stretch until 10am, when some of the shops start to open

How do I feel? Exhausted, to tell the truth. Though I’ve covered only 9km, and slowly, it feels more like 16km. Fortunately, I’ve got my EZ-Link bus card in my pocket, my gothere.sg app on my iPhone, and the bus from Far East Plaza to trundle me back home to Tiong Bahru for just 77 cents. What a bargain!