Welcome to Singapore! Now don’t spit, jaywalk, eat on the train, smoke, pee, or even think about chewing gum! While this may be a bad market for Wrigleys Chewing Gum, the government’s authoritarian policies work in making this the cleanest, most crime-free place to live.
Singapore is popularly called the “Fine City” for the heavy fines you will have to pay if you indulge in the above “crimes,” and the “Lion City” for the half-lion-half-fish statue that is synonymous with the land. The sidewalks gleam, the traffic flows in silence and everything works like clockwork in this eerie Utopia. For an Indian used to chaos and noise, this is harmony at its best!
If you have just a couple of days in the “Fine City” you need to check out my last blog post on what to do and where to go. If you have more time, yaaaay! Here’s what you can look forward to:
VISIT LOCAL MARKETS – Singapore has multicultural people living side by side in perfect… I’m going to use the word again… harmony! If you feel a little homesick and need to hear some familiar dialect, or have a strict vegetarian or Jain food preference, head over to Little India. Tiny restaurants sell Thosai (Dosa), thalis and biryanis. The famous Mustafa Market, which is a mall selling literally everything you can dream of, is a typical chaotic Indian bazaar building and makes one feel at home!
China Town is another busy market to spend half the day in. Low rise buildings, fantastic heritage architecture, Chinese quarters and lines of shops and stalls sell everything from silk shawls to lucky cats. Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Thian Hock Keng Temple the Red Dot Museum and indulge in the some dims sum and crispy duck. You will also find nasty looking items on the menu, like the blurry picture below!
Yet another interesting cultural experience is walking along Arab Street to observe conservatively dressed Muslims, the call to prayer, robe clad men and smell air that has the scent of sheesha. Shop for perfume, textile and relish middle eastern cuisine. The Sultan Mosque and Kampong Glam Palaces are nice to see.
CLARKE QUAY – This historic quay is famous for waterside restaurants and exciting collection of bars and clubs. It also has so much more to offer – like delicious street food by the picturesque river, museums and the G Max River Bungee, which is a landmark in itself. This giant bungy structure is for those seeking adrenaline. Strap in and get launched 60 feet in the air at a speed of 200mh and back like a giant yo-yo. Although it’s better to ride it during the day, for those who want to keep their feet firmly on the ground, it looks much better when illuminated at night. Food lovers, two words – eat crabs!
RAFFLES PLACE – Named after Stanford Raffles, the founder of Modern Singapore, this used to be a centre for trade in the past but is now a financial and business hub. Admire the façade of the beautiful Clifford Pier or attend a concert at the Victoria Theatre. Boat Quay, a hotspot for night life is located down the river.
SINGAPORE FLYER – Asia’s largest observation wheel offers a 360-degree view of the city… a view that can stretch to Malaysia and Indonesia on a sunny day. Located at Marina Bay, this 30 minute ride in an air conditioned glass capsule will have you marveling at stunning day and night scenes.
BOTANICAL GARDEN – Whether you’re a nature lover or not, spend some time among Tai Chi practitioners, joggers with dogs and, 1000 orchard species and over 2000 hybrids. When you’re done, have a traditional breakfast of eggs, coffee, toast and coconut jam at Tanglin Gate.
WATCH FREE SHOWS – The Green Rhapsody show is like stepping into a fairy tale, or rather, a sci-fi movie It’s one of those places where you simply stand, awestruck. Futuristic trees are lit up in different ways, along with music creates a magical atmosphere. The shows are at 7:45 and 8:45 everyday for around 10 minutes. Go early to take the coolest spot. Another free show is the fountain show at Marina Bay Sands. Musical fountains and light projectors make it uber cool!
SINGAPORE ZOO – I’m not really a fan of zoos, and this one was closed the day I went. But if you have kids, I hear it’s pretty amazing. It is divided into 11 zones, each with a unique walking experience and a lot of animal shows for even more entertainment.
One last thing, do visit the Cloud Forest, it’s like a whole new world inside the dome that replicates the climate and vegetation on a tropical mountain. It houses the world’s largest indoor waterfall, fern skyways, stalactites, stalagmites and hollow crystal.
That comes to the end of my very long blog post on this amazing country!
Have I missed any cool places here? All I need is a reason to go back, so let me know!
