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
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