I have visited Singapore 3 times and just love the place! On the first occasion, I flew to Singapore from South Africa, en route to Phuket in Thailand; we only had a one-night stop-over, and that was just not long enough, although it did serve to make me determined to return, and soon!
There is so much to do in Singapore! The uninitiated may think that Singapore is just about shopping in a big city, but nothing can be further from the truth and we left after 5 days feeling that we had just scraped the surface, and could have spent more time in the city and its’ surrounds. At the time we were travelling with our two young sons, who were 13 and 16 years old, and we found that Singapore had something to keep everyone happy most of the time! If you get a hire car at Singapore airport , it is easy to get around, the roads are excellent. We decided that we would visit one or two attractions each morning, then return to our hotel on Orchard road to relax around the pool for the afternoon, before setting out for some serious shopping each evening. The city is spotlessly clean and very safe – you can safely walk around anywhere and at any time of day or night and the underground and taxis are easy to use and inexpensive.
Things to do in Singapore
Not to be missed in Singapore
Make sure not to miss the following: Singapore Zoo is brilliant – the best zoo I have every visited, where the animals are not in awful small cages, but in large enclosures separated from the public by very natural-looking waterways. Because you are out in the open, it gets very hot and humid and they even have “chill rooms” scattered around, where you can pop into an air-conditioned room for a few minutes to cool off! The Jurong Bird Park, Butterfly Park and Orchid Park are all magnificent. Then there is the Adventure Cove Waterpark – you need to spend a whole day here to enjoy all the attractions which include waterslides, tube rides and even snorkelling around a coral reef. We also went on two organised tours to learn about the history and culture of the city and saw Chinatown, Little India, Katong and Kampong – be sure to take something to cover your shoulders and head if your tour includes a visit to a mosque or temple.
Amazing shopping
The shopping is amazing – everything from designer haute couture to copy watches – these are generally offered on the sly, as fake goods are illegal in Singapore. Singapore is a great place to buy computers and cell phones at very good prices and my boys came home with a suitcase full of computer components at about half the price we have to pay in South Africa. In the bazaars you need to barter to get the best price, but upmarket stores all sell their goods at fixed prices.
Singapore a taste of Asia
I have left the best for last! The food in Singapore was outstanding everywhere we went and you have to try the food courts; the diverse ethnicity of the people mean that you will find just about every Asian cuisine represented here and it was all good. My favourite memories are of a wonderfully unusual coconut-filled pastry that I had for breakfast one day at a street stall, and all the delicious iced coffees that I drank everywhere we went. Head for Singapore for a wonderful taste of Asia and the best holiday ever!
