Singapore - marvel of the modern world
On the flight over, the Singapore Airlines safety video showed off iconic sights and sites of Singapore – really clever. Singapore is teeming with sightseeing opportunities and I was keen to explore.
Singapore is an island off the southern tip of Malaysia, linked to it by a causeway. You’ll remember from your history lessons that Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed on Singapore's northern bank in 1819 and it was developed as a trading station, due to its ideal location. With a combination of British colonial rule, followed by economic prosperity as a Republic, it’s now a fascinating mix of shimmering skyscrapers towering above the financial districts and elegant colonial buildings.
At the airport, I jumped into a taxi – the driver was so nice, that I immediately booked him for my return trip to the airport. I’ve kept his details for any of my clients going there – good contacts are so important in my profession.
I’d booked a hotel that was close to the action – although it wasn’t 5*, I found that the staff, the breakfast and the roof top pool were excellent. The room was small but had everything I needed for a good sleep.
What I liked about Singapore was being able to walk to so many places easily. Sadly, the elegant Raffles Hotel was closed for renovation, so I’ll have to visit next time. As well as the modern sights, the nearby ethnic enclaves of Little India, Chinatown and the Arab Quarter are good to visit to get an insight into traditions which have been maintained through the centuries.
I spotted The Fullerton Hotel, once home to Singapore’s General Post Office and the prestigious Singapore Club, and now a stunning heritage hotel. My walk also took me past The Merlion, which is the official mascot of Singapore, depicted as a mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish. There are 3 Merlions around Singapore – I’ve yet to see the other two.
You can’t miss Marina Bay Sands Hotel, towering over the bay. Literally. When this integrated resort was built, it transformed Singapore’s skyline. The three hotel towers are topped by the 340m long SkyPark rooftop. The Sands SkyPark is also home to the world’s largest public cantilever housing a public observatory deck, lush gardens, exclusive restaurants and a stunning 150 m infinity-edged pool.
Your itinerary should also include a visit to the Gardens by the Bay, the home of the incredible Supertrees and one of the most famous gardens in the world. Once you’ve seen these iconic trees, you’ll never forget them. (They are mechanical tree-like structures that contribute to the upkeep of the gardens themselves.)
No doubt you’ll walk the Helix Bridge which links two parts of the Bay. It’s a work of art which comes alive at nighttime, and from where you can watch the light shows. The lotus-shaped building in my photos is the Art Science Museum, which I did not have time to visit.
Something to try is the Singapore Flyer (not to be confused with the Singapore Sling). The Singapore Flyer is an enormous Ferris wheel which is 42 storeys, or 541 feet (165m) high, making it one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world, 98 feet (30m) taller than the London Eye.
Talking of the Singapore Sling, you do need to watch the G5 Extreme Swing Singapore. Not for the faint-hearted! Crowds gather below in Clarke Quay to watch as people are catapulted across the skyline at speeds of over 120kph! Absolutely breath-taking, not to say hilarious if you’re a spectator. I’ve got a brilliant video of it, which I’ll try and load to my Facebook page…
If you’re staying for a few days, enjoy a picnic in the Singapore Botanical Gardens with its peace and quiet, or take the kids to the Singapore Zoological Gardens, take time to explore tropical rainforest within the city at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, or chill out on the beaches of the resort island of Sentosa.
In the evenings, there’s a variety of bars, karaoke bars, clubs, discos and lounges to enjoy, or why not go on a night-time safari at the Zoo? It was just so enjoyable to stroll around the city at night, catching the sunset before returning to the hotel.
As for cuisine, food in Singapore is all about fusion. There’s lots of different types of cuisine in places like Clarke Quay. Then you have Hawker centres, which are the cheapest places to eat, and come with their own unique atmosphere, which is somewhere between a market and a food court. It's a great way to try a lot of dishes, for a reasonable price.
After a busy day, it was great to go back to my hotel to relax in their rooftop pool while looking out over Singapore’s awe-inspiring city skyline. Time flew by and on my last day, I went for a walk around Clarke Quay, then enjoyed lunch with the sound of the Formula 1 cars roaring away in the background. Returning to my hotel, I was given a free pass to the rooftop pool, so I was able to relax there until my friendly transfer arrived to take me to the airport for my flight back to the UK.
If Singapore is on your bucket list, just give me a call on 020 3432 2510 or email brian.telfer@travelcounsellors.com for a chat about what you want to see and do & the best time to visit, and then I can get to work, researching your stay there.