unsaid but hopefully well written

(I legit want to have it titled A List for Nerdy-Spot Hopping but I'm not sure if that's a correct use of words xp)

Years back, I often stumble into quizzes in which you need to answer several questions about a topic and write them on your blog/facebook notes just to tell things about yourself. One of the topic was about reading and there's always this one question that makes me wonder : what is the title of the book you last checked out from the library?

My answer would always be academic reference book because that is what a library is about almost my whole life and the closest library to me is the university library. When I was a kid though, when I went to my grandparents' house, my grandmother sometimes took me to the public library and l read a lot of Baby Sitter's Club books but that's the only non-academic experience about library and its been a looooong time ago.

The last time I was in Singapore, I had this chance to totally channeling my reading-self (since I mostly exploring the city alone) by visiting a lot of books-related places. Here are the list and maybe it could be the next place on your list too.

1. Bras Basah Complex

Search Bras Basah Complex in google and you'll find that the place is often associated with books. I was interested to visit the complex after reading this post about second-hand books there. When I visit this place on my second day, I think there's some kind of second-hand book fair right in the center of the building. It was huge and the deal was soooo good (like, 10 SGD for 3 books in fair condition!).

still regret for not buying :(

I didn't end up buying for myself though (the cheapskate cell taking over) because I pack light and there's seriously no room for anything if I decided to buy anything (that was my reasoning, but I definitely regret it now -,-) so I only bought two for a friend of mine.

BEST DEAL!!

Other than that, I also visit Cat Socrates, a cute souvenir shops in the second floor of the building. If you don't have much time, you can always search the internet for shops in Bras Basah Complex, write down their number and visit them accordingly. But I believe there must be hidden gems in this complex I haven't found (and so, another reason for me to go there again).

cutest postcards and things you never know you needed :)

If you do visit here, be careful with the escalator (ha!), and took your time to explore the rows of the shops. You might get some interesting vintage shots, book related.

2. National Library

I visit this place on a whim since I need to cross the street to go to Bras Basah Complex and this building positioned right in the junction next to it, and so I decided to visit this first. National Library Singapore was a huuuuge and tall building like most office building in Jakarta. I don't even believe myself when I read that there's an exhibition on level 10 (like, what library is more than 10 stories? I surely am visiting a whole new world).

Bugis area from National Library

Anyway, since there's a security in every level in the entrance to the collection, I wasn't exploring the inside of the library because I'm not sure if I was allowed to be inside. I was just taking the escalators to see whether the library really has 10 stories or more or not (me and my messed up priorities). When I about to exit the building though, I found out this place has a fiction collection in its lower ground. So I went there for a bit and, sighed, how to have that kind of library in my own city?

fiction collection

3. Bishan Public Library

Bishan Public Library

On my first trip I was actually planning to visit this library for one sole reason of seeing a building that was featured in Archdaily. I couldn't make it back then so I did plan to visit this library on my third day.

Bishan was about 12 km from the Downtown Core (MBS, Merlion Park, etc) and I was going there by MRT and planning to went back to Orchard by bus. The library is nicely located right next to the MRT and bus station so it wasn't hard for me to find it.

book-related quotes on the ramp's wall

The building is a bit smaller than the National Library and there is no security. The first level is for magazine and a coffee shop and also a space for children. At the left side of the entrance, there's a ramp to the second floor which is the place for fiction collection and at the end of the room, there's a separate place for study with desk and tables.

I picked up a book randomly and read there, just because xp.

the book I picked up! almost staying for the rest of the day

The next two level was pretty much the same except there are some hanging study room with colorful glasses. You can see these rooms from the outside and even gets into one if there's an empty one (I was afraid though :p).

4. Library @ Orchard

What I love about this library is that it's just soooo pretty. Once you stepped inside, there's a different feeling from the hectic Orchard Road you've just been. It has this elegantly designed shelves and reading nook in the second floor (or fourth floor). The fiction collection? Wow it was mad. I mean, I even went mad for seeing books in a book fair in which I can't obtain without paying. What is the reason for me not to be mad when all the books are there for free.

Anyway, I spend a longer time here since I was waiting for my brother for lunch. I told you, it was a wonderful place to read. I even went there again to read in the afternoon before meeting my brother again in MBS.

Reading space with city view

If you went to Orchard Road with some friends and you prefer to read rather than to shop, just spend your time here. A. Total. Sanctuary.

5. Books Actually and Woods in the Books


This is also a destination I missed on my first trip; a hip bookstore and a children bookstore in Tiong Bahru area. I didn't spend too much time there since there's only so much time you can spend on a running store without intention to buy anything. But visiting both book store was actually enjoyable for me. Especially because both are an aesthetically pleasing store.

no taking pictures inside

vending machine for books!

Other than that, the neighborhood was kind of pretty and there are some hip eating place around too.

6. Library @ Esplanade

I visit Library @ Esplanade on my last day just before I had to go to the airport. It was an art library where you can see a room for dance practice and rows of, instead of book, audio and visual collection related to dance, music, and movie. The interior of this library is pretty but the collection itself was segmented. But it was still a good place to visit as an addition to the Esplanade.

artworks outside the library

Visiting all these book-related places makes me feel totally elated. Some people might related to this and some people might not, but in a way, it's like finding my own hiding place. Especially those library, how if I have one here in my own country, I would definitely spend most of my time there :). Cheers for better library near your area in the future!

It was my second day. I was visiting Bras Basah Complex that afternoon for the used book fair and this cute shop called Cat Socrates. Someone also suggested for me to visit some art supplies store in the complex. I didn't spend a long time there but still managed to visit everything on my list. At that time I decided that I was going to Cat Socrates again, buy some souvenirs and then off to my next destination; Boat Quay.

I was texting my friend while I took the escalator. And then... my skirt was stuck.

I stand there at the end of the escalator, pulling my skirt with no luck. Meanwhile, people started to crowd (in the top of the escalator and around me) and then a man kindly stop the escalator. A woman asked me if I was okay and the whole situation suddenly become so funny. So I smile (I'm pretty sure I was triggered to laugh) and told her I'm totally okay.

The man who stopped the escalator actually helped me pulled my skirt but since it won't budge I asked him if he had something to cut. The woman, though, dashed to the art store right in front of the escalator and borrowing a scissor for me. Meanwhile, more and more people come. Another woman asked me if I'm okay and offered to find scissor for me (I told her someone else already did) and an older man, make a comment that my skirt fabric is good because it wasn't being pulled down (lol). After a while, the first woman back with a scissor and I cut my skirt with help from the first man.

I didn't stay after that. The man finish the cut for me and unknowingly, I walked out after that. Pretty sure it was my nervous system took over, I even forget to say thank you or to return the scissor.

At that time it was mixed feelings. I was ashamed even though it was also funny and borderline dangerous. To think that I wasn't really panic at that time was kind of blessing since I'm panic in mostly everything that didn't go my way. I'm pretty sure my mindset was I'm leaving the country in 2 and a half days and no one would remember me anyway. A girl who had her skirt stuck on an escalator and keep on wearing the skirt the next day was a pretty good anecdote though. (Don't judge me, I packed light and I have planned my outfit so I have no choice :p)

When my brother told me that he won a voucher from a travel agent on his office's event, I literally begged him to take me to go with him. Anywhere is fine, I told him. I just wanted to go somewhere on a plane.

And so it was decided; he spent half of his voucher for a flight ticket to Singapore and I would go with him. The trip was scheduled at the end of February and he would attend a concert there. That's the Plan A. I was excited, really. It's been too long since my last trip and this time, I won't go alone. I already thought about where to go with my brother and how he can helped me took some picture of myself since I have very little to none photo of myself on a trip (not a fan of selfie and it's awkward for me to ask people to take it for me most of the time, even those I know).

It sounds like a fun plan! I'm excited already. Except that it wasn't what happened.

It all started when my brother, who didn't had his passport yet, postponed everything until the last 2 weeks before his flight date. I already told him that I wouldn't buy ticket until he got his passport, so I have nothing to worry, except that I might not be able to go on a holiday. He was totally laid back as if the only thing he needed was his flight ticket (not a chance). And I didn't want to do anything for him since WHY DO I HAD TO? lol. nope. I just wanted to see how this would ended up to.

When he finally applied for his passport, it turned out that he can't confirmed his payment. It took us three days to called the immigration office and got an explanation that we had to confirm the payment manually by email since the site is glitching. Long story short, I confirmed my brother's payment and he got the interview scheduled on Monday, the same week of our supposedly departure day.

The drama continues with him forgetting his original birth certificate on Monday and on Tuesday, it was raining in the morning that he can't go to the office. He went on Wednesday and of course the passport won't be ready on Friday. He then proceed to change his flight to the third week of March.

And though I was still excited to go, I wasn't preparing for anything either. I bought my ticket only 4 days before departure, pack my stuff and book my hostel just the night before, I didn't even exchange my money. At that time, I was half nervous of leaving (even though I was excited at first, my mood swing like that), half annoyed because my brother refuse to go to the money changer for me (but he eventually did, I threw a fit), and... I don't know... I just suddenly ready to cancel everything.

The start of this (not so) sibling trip isn't so smooth already. The next morning, I woke up very early to catch the airport bus and my brother woke up too and told me that he can't go, he caught a flu.

.

.

.

.

Wow.

He was joking, of course, but it wasn't appropriate! Looking back, I might over-reacting though. But still it wasn't funny.

***

What makes it even more not so much a sibling trip is because, even if we were in Singapore for the same 4 days, our flight was different. My brother would fly after his office hour while I'd be arrive at midday. That first night, after successfully arriving, bought my Tourist Pass, checking in at the hostel, obtain a SIMCard, and exploring Kampong Glam, I waited until it was time for my brother's plane to land, which is around 9. I sent him directions for the hostel but he didn't had his internet connection and it was his first time alone in another country and I can only wait and pray that he won't get lost or stuck in the middle of nowhere because the MRT service stopped.

So, when he finally arrived, like an hour before midnight, I was totally relieved.

The next day, we didn't get to explore the city together because I started very early and he went back to sleep after getting a breakfast. We were actually planning to visit Marina Bay Sands for the iLight exhibition but he cancelled it because he was tired of walking (at least I got to be on Boat Quay again).

On the third day, we met at noon and had our lunch at (guess what) KFC. After that we went to Toys'R'Us and met again after 7 to finally visit the iLight. I got to explore the whole thing, though, thanks to me misreading the route from Boat Quay to Marina Bay Sands that it took me more than 15 minutes to arrive. We got to the final part of Marina Bay Sands' Light show and he told me that he actually walk the (more or less) same distance as mine yesterday, for the same reason xp.

I had my dinner at KFC again and on our way home, when I asked him where he had been, he told me that he would randomly took a bus and got off somewhere he found interesting (that was Henderson Waves at Mt. Faber Park and Chinatown). Wow, pro tip. That explains how he survive the city on his internet connection and his tourist card. Also, how we have totally different way on traveling :D.

Selca proof shot (cuma buat dikirim ke grup rumah biar percaya ada pergi barengnya :D)