Singapore is Sensational!

A recent trip to the South Pacific included a stop in Singapore.  At first, I thought the stop was going to be a waste of time since all I’d ever heard about Singapore previously was that it had a great airport and was a shopping haven.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover Singapore was so much more than an impressive airport with amazing shopping!  In fact, with some four dozen ethnic groups crammed into its 240 square miles, Singapore is a city of many faces.  All in the same day, you can tour Chinese shop houses, eat South Indian curry, sit down at a sushi bar, and shop for Gucci handbags and skintight jeans in modern shopping malls. 

One thing that I didn’t realize until I visited is that Singapore is strikingly spiritual.  In this melting pot of Malays, Chinese and Indians, burning joss sticks perfume the air, Chinese fortunetellers do brisk business, and the Muslim faithful obey the call of the muezzin.

Don’t come to Singapore expecting to be wowed by ancient historical buildings.  This is a city that thrives on changing its skyline regularly.  There is an abundance of modern skyscrapers, yet you can still see the pier that greeted the first westerners, the oldest surviving bridge, the oldest church and some Palladian style structures.

I must admit, some of my favorite memories of Singapore were my amazing dining experiences.  With so many cultures represented, you could find any type of food you might be craving, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, French, even German fare.  Street fare from vendors armed with secret family recipes was also mouth watering.  No need to worry about illness, the government sees that street vendors adhere to strict cleanliness standards.

Another favorite site was Sentosa Island, where we visited Fantasy Island.  Other attractions on the island are an orchid garden, Underwater World, and the scenic 45 hole WonderGolf complex. 

If you like nightlife – then you’ll love Singapore.  Of course, be sure to sample a Singapore Sling at the place it was invented - the Raffles Hotel.  Other nightlife highlights include cutting edge Phuture and the Boat Quay, where restaurants and bars are packed to the wee hours.  I also enjoyed checking out the Chinese opera troupes that performed free at Clarke Quay.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Singapore’s reputation as a premier shopping destination is absolutely true.  Shopping experiences run from gamut, from haggling with sidewalk vendors and searching for treasures in junk peddlers’ wares to prowling spiffy malls like Centrepoint.  Check out lively China town bursting with unusual gifts, Little India where lovely silks can be had for a song, and exquisite handicrafts from local artisans.  If you need cheap souvenirs, there is no better place than Bugis street.  There is absolutely no way you can come away from Singapore without doing some sort of shopping!

So, if you find yourself in Singapore, or if you book a trip to go there specifically, you will not be disappointed.  It really is a fascinating city with much to explore!

Posted by on 04/02 at 01:16 PM

Next entry: Backlog of Passports Could Ground Air Travel Plans

Previous entry: My Scottish Highlights

<< Back to main