Travellers go to Singapore for the retail therapy of course, but also for the food, the sights and the luxe hotels. Here is a snapshot of what Singapore has to offer:
It’s the world’s best rainforest zoo, with eclectic sections like the Fragile Forest, the human-like Orangutans (who can be your breakfast companions) and the Polar Bear habitat. Meet proboscis monkeys, Asian elephants, pygmy hippos, sun bears and the adorable pandas—Kai Kai and Jia Jia.
Without leaving the general area, go on a River Safari, which is also a part of Wildlife Reserves (and sister attraction to the Zoo and Night Safari). Check out aquatic creatures that inhabit different water body environments—from the world’s largest puffer fish in the Congo to giant salamanders in the Yangtze. Get wet in a boat journey on the Amazon River Quest, which takes you through the rainforest so cleverly recreated. Want more?
Then do the night safari! All aboard the tram that rolls through habitats where you can get on and get off at designated stops to marvel at nocturnal animals and what they get up to, when the rest of the world is sleeping! Do not forget to catch the beautifully choreographed creatures of the night theatre show.
Reams have been written about this giant wheel. Tourists rave about it to their friends. The Singapore Flyer ride is a must-do. I went one step further. I tried out the world’s first Full-Butler dining experience in the skies. French bubbly accompanied the appetising entrees of scallops and other seafood.
The next round when our cabin came to Ground Zero, the butlers brought in Chicken Sea Bass topped with XO sauce and roast Duck comfit. The cost of dinner for two is $352. My verdict? A memorable dinner, because on this spinning wheel, you get priority boarding, a choice of four course Western/Chinese/Vegetarian menu and in one hour you get two rotations! The 7 pm experience is better than the later one, since you get to see most of Singapore in the evening that softly escapes into twilight.
It’s impossible to ever forget the King of the Skies show, daily put on twice here. Birds of prey like eagles, hawks and falcons soar in the skies and on invisible commands swoop down in flying loops.
What is Falconry? A simulated hunt with accompanying commentary reveals all. It’s as unforgettable as the High Flyers show, which features the largest number of performing birds in a single creatively choreographed act! Asia’s (perhaps the world’s) biggest bird park is home to over 5,000 magnificent birds across 400 species and also has a free-flying aviary that is spread across twenty hectares.
Too far to walk? The Hop-on-Hop-off tram ride helps you discover the feathered friends at your own pace. Explore the kingdom of penguins and meet birds like cassowary and the emu, that are actually descendants of the dinosaurs.
Ten years ago, Sentosa was known as the suburban outpost of Singapore. Now it’s called the Ministry of Fun! The Sentosa Line cable car connects all of the island’s multiple attractions. Private beach clubs, welcoming golf courses, a yachting marina and at least 20 deluxe hotels offer comfortable stays to explore the likes of Adventure Cove Park, Insect Kingdom, Butterfly Park, Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, etc. And then, there is Universal Studios! It’s got seven themed zones—Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away and Madagascar. There are daily parades, nightly fireworks, and it gets so very crowded on weekends.
Get an Express Pass to skip the line and get on to the world’s most adrenaline pumping roller coaster ride where you are upside down all the time. Gulp!
It’s expensive to take the cable car into Sentosa but it’s the most fun. Start from Mount Faber station and fly through the air for a spectacular view of Singapore, the harbour and its docks as you arrive at Sentosa.
Still rocking till the wee hours of the morning, there’s no moral police here. Just tourists and locals alike letting their hair down and getting spirits up. My favourite still is Long Bar where the Singapore Sling is supposed to have originated. Its elegant Raffles Hotel location with 1920s Malayan plantations ambience brings a smile to my soul. No visit to Singapore is complete without a late night out at Harry’s Bar on 28 Boat Quay. Live bands and the river flowing gently by make the bar so every special.
There are so many rooftop bars offering a diversity of experiences. Here are some of the best:
Beers that make you say cheers! LeVel 33 is the highest microbrewery in the world, situated on the top floor of Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower One. They serve an amazing range of creatively crafted house beers, from dark stouts to light ales. To make the experience complete, dig into their pub grub—gnocchi, steaks, cod fish, seafood.
Want to get higher? Like 63 floors high? 1-Altitude at the top of One Raffle Place is hip, hot, happening over three different levels and numerous bars. On weekend nights, the dance floor is packed with movers and shakers.
Another one just like it, is Ce La Vi, nestled on top of the Marina Bay Sands complex.You don’t have to pay to enter this chillout lounge, poolside terrace and restaurant, but drinks start at $S20. Not bad considering the view with a whew!
Chinese, Malay, Indian, Singaporean… there is no end to the food scene. There’s a cuisine for every taste and budget! Street food is safe, very easy on the pocket and a melting pot of Singapore’s diverse cultures. Go to Maxwell Food Centre and gobble up goodies like Tian Tian Chicken Rice. Missing Indian food? Biryanis, dals, dosa restos abound at Quartier Little India. More hawker fare (Korean, Filipino, Japanese) awaits you at Lau Pa Sat in the Central Business District. Last but not the least, Satay Street, parallel to Lau Pa Sat serves finger licking satay skewers. Yum!
If you are into gourmet food, you can splurge at so many celebrity chef restaurants. Jade restaurant at the Fullerton Hotel serves sublime Cantonese cuisine: Peking duck, lobster, crispy pork belly and sauteed scallops. They even offer a dim sum set lunch at S$ 58 per person. Ever eaten fried carrot cake with XO sauce? Taste Paradise may be a kitsch name, but this fine dining restaurant located in Ion Orchard serves up mouth-watering dishes like Classic Shark’s Fin in Supreme Broth, Crisp-fried Tofu in Black Truffle Sauce, Pan-seared Foie Gras with Peking Duck Reduction and many more.
All that sightseeing and shopping deserves a reward. What better than a massage?
At the Lush Spa, voted as Singapore’s top spa and located inside the Singapore Polo Club, two masseuses took turns de-kinking my tired muscles. One pampered my head and shoulders. The other performed an extremely professional reflexology on the soles of my feet. 90 minutes later, I was a new bionic man! On the final day before catching my flight out I got another reflexology treatment at Spa Nes, which is open 24x7! Located on the second level of Furama Riverfront Hotel, this mega spa club has it all— thermal pools, cryo pools, dining cove and dedicated rooms for Thai massages and foot reflexology. Keeps the jet lag away!
Did you know that Singapore is one of the only three city states in the world? The other two are Monaco and Vatican city. Did you know that Singapore is not one island, but sixty? Yessir! Most are uninhabited but some of them, such as Pulau Ubin, can be visited for day trips or overnight stays. Pulau Ubin is a short ride from Changi Village on the east coast of Singapore proper, and has walking trails and is popular with those wanting to know how Singapore looked many years ago. Other islands include Ghost Island, Junk Island (made from landfill) and Frog Island.
The world’s most strikingly designed hotel is a tourist destination unto itself. For foodies, it offers the world’s finest collection of restaurants under one roof, most of them run by celebrity chefs. For those who flirt with Lady Luck, there is the world’s most expensive standalone Casino!
Since it opened, the world’s largest atrium casino with 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines has amply contributed to the bottom line profitability. The resort includes a 2,561-room hotel, a 1,300,000 sq ft convention-exhibition centre, 800,000 sq ft area of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands mall (shop till you drop), a museum, two large theatres, two floating crystal pavilions and art-science exhibits.
The icing on the cake is the world’s longest elevated swimming pool on the 57th Floor. Imagine swimming in an infinity pool that offers an aerial view of all of Singapore spread out below!