Peter"s Post: Escape to Singapore

Our travel expert answers your questions

We are due to spend two

nights in Singapore en route to Bali. We will do some shopping, but

what else do you recommend we do? — Ronald Short

Singapore is a great tourist destination and

you won’t have a problem finding places to spend your money. If you are

interested in electronic goods, check out Funan Digitalife Mall, Mustafa Centre

and Sim Lim Square.

If you want an alternative

to the many flashy malls, visit the Sungei Road Thieves’ Market. The goods may

not be stolen these days, but the market stretched along Sungei Road still has a dingy feel and it is

possible to pick up a bargain.

For sightseeing, you could

start off with a hop-on, hop-off city bus tour, which will give you your

bearings and access to a number of attractions. Choose from the “heritage

route” or the “city route” — or opt for both. Sentosa Island is a must-see, with its Universal

Studios theme park, Marine Life Park and palm-lined beaches. You should

also find time for the 30-minute ride on the Singapore Flyer (their version of

the London Eye).

If you are interested in

nature, you’ll enjoy the Jurong Bird Park and the Singapore oo Night

Safari. For a fascinating peak into what ancient Chinese homes looked like,

visit the China Heritage Centre. Enjoy the outdoors in the Botanic Gardens,

where you can view 1000 orchid species and 2000 hybrids. It is open from 5am to midnight.

For the seedy side of Singapore, head for Geylang, which has taken

over from Bujis Street as the home for streetwalkers and

all things naughty. Then restore a feeling of tradition and style with a visit

to Raffles, one of the most famous hotels in the world. It may be a bit corny,

but do have a Singapore Sling cocktail in the hotel’s Long Bar. It will cost

you around R300, so sip it slowly. Don’t feel shy about throwing the shells

from the complementary peanuts on the floor, it’s expected of you. A more

contemporary bar worth visiting is KuDeTa at the Marina Bay Sands resort. You

can dine at some of the finest restaurants (one of these is the famous White

Rabbit), but don’t miss out on the culinary heaven of Singapore’s hawker centres. Here you can

enjoy satays, noodles, seafood and the ever-popular “chicken rice”

dish at very economical prices.

Peter"s Post: Escape to Singapore