Ten Travel Tips for SingaporeSinging the Praises of SingaporeBy J. J. ScottYou will be singing the praises of Singapore after your visit to this Asian country known for being squeaky clean. It is the perfect destination for travelers venturing into Asia for the first time.
3. Hungry? Have a hearty and inexpensive meal at a hawker stall. Vendors who once hawked their food from pushcarts now sell from hawker stalls that resemble – somewhat – a shopping mall eating area. Several hawker stalls share the seating area so it is possible to sample a variety of ethnic treats. The best places to find hawker centers are near neighborhood MRT stations, such as Yishun, Pasir Ris, and Bukit Batok.
6. Singapore is ultra modern, the model of the Asia to come, but by taking a bum boat ride to one of the small nearby island visitors can experience Singapore of the 1950s. Pulau Ubin, just off the shore, with chickens, rubber plantations, houses on stilts, prawn ponds, outhouses and coconut trees is accessible by a $2 bum boat ride. www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks
8. Try Singapore’s signature drink at the place where it was invented. Not all parts of the Raffles Hotel, one of the world’s premiere hotels, is open to non-guests but anyone can enjoy a Singapore Sling in the hotel’s Long Bar. Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon created the drink nearly 100 years ago for hotel. Take note of the doorman at Raffles, he is the most photographed personality in Singapore.
10. If you absolutely can’t survive without chewing gum, bring your own. It is illegal to import or sell chewing gum. However, the sale of gum to aid in quitting smoking is available by prescription. For more information on things to do in Singapore check www.visitsingapore.com or call (800) 283-9595. For places to stay check Pan Pancific, www.panpacific.com, and The Fullerton, www.fullertonhotel.com. |
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1. Before leaving Singapore’s Changi Airport, stop, look and enjoy. It is the world’s most tourist friendly airport. Relax in one of the three gardens. Catch up on your e-mail at one of the 200 free Internet terminals. The airport is so incredible you may want to make it your final destination. They offer free city tours for transit passengers and have free movies. 
2. Head to Raffle’s Landing to get orientated by taking a bum boat ride on the Singapore River. There are no safety concerns. The “eyes” on the boat are there to keep the evil spirits away. Afterward learn the history of Singapore by reading the signs on the River Walk and visiting the nearby Asian Civilisation Museum.
4. The granddaddy of Singapore's parks, Sentosa Island is the country’s most visited attraction. It has museums, aquariums, beaches, sporting facilities, walks, rides and food centers. If one day isn't enough for all the sites and activities, Sentosa has a camp ground, hostel and luxury hotels.
5. Have your fortune read by “Pepe,” the parrot, in Little India. Wander this colorful neighborhood, buy a sari, eat with your fingers at a Kerala fast food restaurant. Check the neighborhood’s web site for instructions on the proper way to eat with your fingers. 
7. Learn about the other many cultures of Singapore by joining one of the several walking tours offered by Journeys. They feature colorful two-hour full-filled guided walks through the Arab, Indian, and Chinese neighborhoods. On the walk through Little Indian learn all about saris. 
9. Looking for a little nightlife? Head to the zoo for the famed Night Safari. Built especially for nighttime viewing, the park has trails and a 45-minute tram ride allowing visitors to view the animals when they are most active – at night. Opens at 7:30 p.m.