Singapore
Travel and Visit Beautiful Singapore Today!

Written by: Debbie Salcedo
05/25/05

Title: "The Best of Singapore"
About: Travel and Tourism Singapore

Singapore. Asia’s most modern and reputedly, the cleanest city. What isn’t known to most people is that behind the strict regulations and sleek, gleaming city architecture, Singapore has its own brand of vivacity, culture, and allure which meets most finicky traveler’s needs.

On first arrival, Singapore’s rules may seem to be too much. Costs too may seem to be rather high as compared to other Asian countries. However, these things fade into the background once Singapore’s innate allure comes to the surface and tourists just find themselves exploring and posing for pictures at one attraction after another.

1. Chinatown, the Arab Quarter and Little India - These ethnic enclaves are relatively untouched by modern developments. Some of the quaint shops offer excellent bargain shopping and souvenir hunting opportunities. Ethnic festivals and religious structures within these areas remain major tourist draws for visitors out for walking tours. The Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, the Sultan Mosque and the Thian Hock Keng Chinese Temple are just a few sights to be admired.

2. The zoo – Great for family tours, children will get to interact with animals, viewing the larger ones in their enclosures separated from the zoo guests by huge moats. There is also the Night Safari attraction which allows people to observe nocturnal creatures in a simulation of their natural habitat.
 

3. Food – If there is one thing about Singapore, it’s a genuine foodie haven. Head for the food courts where you’ll find several stalls selling their own specialties. While the surroundings may strike others as pretty rustic, the wide variety of Asian cuisine on display will pretty much make this detail seem trivial. Try out Malay satay dishes, Indian chappatis, and Thai Tom-Yum soup. Those wanting something more familiar, can take their pick from Chinese, Italian, French, and Mexican restaurants in the city. After their meal, visitors can head off for a cup of coffee at one of the many American coffee shop chains that have grown popular in the city.

4. Raffles Hotel – Though most of the hotel has been converted into a shopping arcade, tourists still stop by this elegant colonial-era institution and take in the luxurious atmosphere of the hotel.

 

5. Sentosa – An offshore island amusement park with lots of rides, exhibits, and museums. One of the top draws on the island is Underwater World where a moving walkway carries visitors through a transparent underwater tunnel with sharks, colorful fish, and other underwater sea creatures swimming around making visitors feel that “really underwater” experience. There’s also a cable car where visitors to the island could have aerial views of all the attractions the island has to offer.

6. Shopping – Die- hard shoppers will find the greatest concentration of shopping malls and stores along Orchard Road. Shoppers with more time to spare however can find great bargains at other venues with a little bit of perseverance and street pounding.

 

7. Jurong Bird Park – Over six hundred species of birds and giant aviaries to walk through are more than enough reasons to visit the Jurong Bird Park on the western part of Singapore. All the park’s avian residents are kept in enclosures simulating their natural habitat. Jungles, swamps, ponds, and quite amazingly, an arctic enclosure for the Antarctic penguins are all open for tourist exploration.
 

8. Festivals – Now what visitor wouldn’t want to enjoy a good party? Festivals make Singapore stand out at its most colorful during such events. New Year and the Dragonboat Festival are just a couple of the Chinese festivals celebrated by the country. The Indian community draws tourists during their celebration of the Deepavali Festival which commemorates the victory of light over dark. Malays mark the end of Ramadan with huge feasting on the night of Hari Raya Puasa.

9. Bukit Timah Hill – One of the best spots to get in nature sceneries and do a little bit of wildlife watching. Look out for macaques, various specie of butterflies, and flying lemurs.

10. Pulau Ubin – For a chance to observe rural life in Singapore, this tiny island tucked between Singapore and Malaysia is the place to be. Walk along narrow tracks in the fields and visit the traditional stilted Malay houses in the area.


 

Visit beautiful Singapore today!