Given the number of times I have stopped in Singapore on my way to many other mind-boggling destinations, it’s a shame I hadn’t thought of exploring Singapore until a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it was because I have always been drawn to wildlife and nature that I believed cityscapes were too monotonous. As it turns out, a visit to Singapore was all it took to pin pop the balloons of prejudice that I had for the Lion City. The trip, solely focusing on delving deeper into the mind and soul of Singapore, had me thinking, “how in the world did Singapore escape my list of places to visit?”
The charm of this small Asian country lies in its unique blend of an ultra-modern cityscape that is starkly juxtaposed with its inspiring natural appeal. Not to mention, Singapore does its best to capitalize on its melting pot of cultures and traditions, making it one of the hottest tourist destinations in Asia.
During my week-long visit to Singapore, here are some of the best places I visited and amazing experiences I had, just to give you a glance of how amazing this country is!
1) Taking A Stroll Down to Singapore’s Famous Cultural Spots
Singapore’s biggest attraction is the melding of various cultures and their harmonious coexistence. Step back in time and admire the glory of the incredible cultural spots here, including the Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam.
With low-rise pagodas, bright red & yellow toned streets, and a mixed fragrance of the incense sticks & the Chinese cuisine, I felt that the streets of Chinatown do have a striking contrast to the rest of Singapore.
Similar to Chinatown, Little India is an ethnic territory where you can see nothing but the best of Singapore’s Indian settlements — architecturally beautiful temples, vibrant colours and amazing shopping centres. Buy your favourite Indian sarees or kurtas on a bargain price or indulge, without guilt, in the spicy street food on your gastronomic adventure!
Yet another culturally significant region is the hotspot of the Malay community, called Kampong Glam. As I started exploring this region, the flamboyant streets, magnificent mosques, and tasty street food took me directly into the rich history and traditional living of the Malay people in Singapore.
Places to visit:
- Chinatown Street Market
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown
- Thian Hock Keng Temple, Chinatown
- Sri Mariamman Temple, Little India
- Sultan Mosque, Kampong Glam
- Haji Lane, Kampong Glam
2) Island Hopping For A Whole Day
No Singapore trip is ever complete without exploring its offshore islands. While the Island of Sentosa seems to be the popular one among tourists, the other neighbouring islands like St. John’s Island, Lazarus Island & Pulau Seringat, and Kusu Island are as beautiful and exotic as Sentosa itself. Each of these islands has a whole lot of history and myths behind them. For example, legend has it that Kusu Island was originally a giant turtle that turned itself into an island to save two drowning sailors. So, don’t forget to ask your guide about the historical and cultural significance of these amazing islands. Also, remember to take your hat, shades, and sunscreen lotion with you on your island hopping trip to these amazing islands.
Places to visit:
- Sentosa Island
- St. John’s Island
- Lazarus Island & Pulau Seringat
- Kusu Island
3) Heading Out For A Unique Singapore Night Safari
Heard of something like a ‘nocturnal wildlife park’? No? Don’t worry, Singapore has one. It is the first nocturnal wildlife park in the world where you get to mingle with the animals at night. The idea itself gave me chills down the spine. Still, instead of spending the evening at a pub or a bar, I simply headed out to this special zoo to witness the nightlife of the wild animals there! There are 2500 animals from over 130 different species in the zoo, which includes the endangered species of Asian elephants, Malayan Tigers, and Malayan Tapirs. If you’re adventurous enough, you can even take a nighttime jungle trek to get some adrenaline rush at night. Be sure that a hike along the Fishing Cat trail or the Leopard trail will give you a lifetime worth of memories!
Things to do:
- Wildlife safari in the night
- Trekking along the Fishing Cat Trail or Leopard Trail
- A 35-minutes tram ride with live commentary to take a good look at the seven geographical zones in the world
4) Going For An MRT Ride Around Singapore’s Famous Landmarks
Being a modern-day metropolis, you get to see a lot of spectacular buildings and iconic landmarks in Singapore — the Merlion Park, Esplanade Theatres, National Gallery, Botanic Gardens, Helix Bridge, and Universal Studio, just to name a few. However, with the list of attractions in this amazing country, you could get so confused that there are chances you would miss out on a bunch of must-visit places itself. How embarrassing it would be to tell your friends, you didn’t visit the Merlion Park on your week-long trip to Singapore, right?
The best way to cover these places is to simply take an MRT ride around the city. Well, that’s what I did. Even though you can get a cab quite easily, the travel in Singapore’s amazing MRT is exceptionally convenient — it takes you anywhere in the city in the blink of an eye! Get down at the stations near these famous landmarks, spend some time there exploring, and take stunning photos of these iconic buildings.
Things to do:
- Catch a glimpse of the mythical Merlion at the Merlion Park
- Get inspired by the local arts and culture at the 60,000-square-meter performing arts centre near Esplanade as well as the National Gallery
- Take a walk along the longest pedestrian bridge in Singapore and discover the amazing hidden secrets in the double-helix DNA structure of the bridge.
- Spoiling Yourself In The Magical World Of Hollywood Movies at the Universal Studio, Singapore
- Understand why Singapore truly lives its reputation as the ‘City in a Garden’ by visiting the Botanic Gardens
5) Enjoying The Dazzling Light & Sound Shows In The Evenings
What better way there is to end a day than watching a splendid light and sound display in the evenings! There are three major shows that won my heart — the Light Shows at Marina Bay, OCBC Garden Rhapsody, and Crane Dance at Resort World Sentosa. Not only do these light shows restrict to the brilliant display of laser lights, but also give you a taste of how brilliant the backdrops and music for these shows are. The huge man-made trees with the multicolour display at the Marina Bay Sands is sure to blow your mind!
Places to visit:
- Marina Bay Sands
- OCBC Garden Rhapsody
- Resorts World Sentosa
6) Visiting The Surreal Jungles Thriving On Concrete Buildings!
If you thought cities are just some concrete mess created by man to destroy nature, Singapore will definitely blur the lines of cynicism in you. Just take a walk from the Marina Bay Sands to the Gardens By The Bay to explore the truly living, breathing jungle in the middle of the city. Plants and trees here not just thrive in the soil but also on the bridges, on the giant man-made trees, and everywhere imaginable!
Places to visit:
- Gardens By The Bay
- Flower Dome
- OCBC Skywalk
7) Trying Some Delectable Street Food At The Hawker Centers
The word ‘cheap’ is not something that you would relate to Singapore, quite often. An exception to this would be the famous Hawker Centers (food courts) there. There are a number of Hawker Centers in Singapore that serves the best food at a bargain price. Just the thought of the delicious “Hokkien mee” at the Chinatown Complex Food Court and the tasty chicken rice from the famous Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall at Maxwell Road Hawker Center leaves me craving for more!
Places to eat:
- Chinatown Complex Food Center
- Old Airport Road Food Center
- Maxwell Road Hawker Center
- Tiong Bahru Market Hawker Center
- Chomp Chomp Food Center
8) Going Crazy At The Weirdest Theme Park Ever
If you’re like me, who is interested in the weird and quirky things around, then Haw Par Villa in Singapore takes your notions to the next level. At first, I thought, visiting 1000 Chinese statues at a place so remotely related to a theme park is quite boring. But, starting from the entrance, the creepiness factor intrigued me. From ‘that’s gross’ to ‘what the heck am I seeing,’ be prepared to go through a range of expressions on your face when you visit the Haw Par Villa.
Singapore is intimate and welcoming, and it still retains a mystical appeal to it that keeps me longing for another dose of this amazing country’s unique elements. Is it the diversity of the people here? Is it the delectable food? Or, is it the cheap hawker fare and the lines of neatly arranged heritage shophouses? Wait, I’m confused!
