Singapore Tourist Guide
(Something that I wrote in an email to a friend. Rather useful, I must say!)
I don't want to waste your time and mine. I just found this comprehensive
site that is absolutely great http://www.visitorsingapore.com/
Meanwhile, here is a summary of my recommendations. Hope you find it useful.
Getting around in Singapore:
1. Get an EZlink card from the airport. This allows you to take the MRT and
bus services all around Singapore. You can top up the card with cash at all
MRT stations. The MRT passes by most of the major attractions and
sight-seeing places in Singapore. You can simply take the MRT along the
whole line to explore the island.
2. Get a Mighty Minds travel map with details of the bus and MRT services
around Singapore. This is available in any bookstore like WHSmith or Popular
Bookstore, 7-Eleven, convenience store, etc. Just ask!
3. For more details about the bus services, simply get a copy of the bus
guide from any ticket sales counters during their opening hours. You can
also try the bookshops.
Communication: If you have roaming enabled, you might be able to make local
calls directly once you are connected to the Singapore network.
Alternatively, pre-paid SIM cards are available from Singtel, M1 or Starhub
shops located at various places around the island. You just need to provide
your name and show some ID like passport. It is a very cost effective way to
call in Singapore.
Chinatown is the early settlement of the Chinese migrants into Singapore. It
is not much different from the other Chinatowns in other places. It will be
interesting to see how the place has evolved over the years
Sim Lim Square and Funan Center are the computer and IT centers of
Singapore. Nowhere else is there a greater concentration of computers and
peripherals. Must visit places for any IT fan!
Take a stroll, and enjoy the breeze along the Singapore River and watch the
much touted Merlion in its splendour, en-route to The Esplanade (durian),
which is the cultural performance center of Singapore. Besides a wide
plethora of cultural and musical performances, there is also speciality
shops as well as an arts library to suit all tastes. Beside it is a
two-storey night club called Embassy, famous for its transparent glass
celing on the first floor. :) Marina Square will be your next destination.
Shopping is never complete without visiting evergreens like Raffles City,
Suntec City, as wel as the shops along Orchard Road. You can start off at
Suntec City after walking over from the adjacent Marina Square, and if you
survive the ordeal, you can walk via CityLink Mall (yet another shopping
stretch) to Raffles City. After Raffles City, you can walk out and start off
towards Dhoby Ghaut, located at the east end of Orchard Road. Both sides of
the mile-long Orchard Road are filled with shopping centers, shops, and
restaurants! Walk all the way up to Borders bookstore, and further up to
Forum Galleria where there is a huge Toys'R'Us. You better stay at the
Shangri La, cos that's where you will end up at the extreme west end of
Orchard Road, so you can get your well deserved rest!
Holland Village is the expatriate locale in Singapore. There are a wide
variety of restaurants, pubs, and massage parlours (decent ones) for you to
explore. It is located between the Ghim Moh and Commonwealth MRT stations.
East Coast Parkway is the most popular destination for locals and tourists
alike to swim, barbecue, cycle, jog, rollerblade along the south eastern
coast of Singapore. Of course, there is also a wide variety of seafood there
for visitors to recharge after a hard day of playing!
Newton Food Centre, located just outside Newton MRT, is a wildly popular
tourist attraction for a wide range of local food fare. Have Indian murtabak
while dissecting a fried stingray, and washing that down with freshly
squeezed sugar cane juice. Simply delicious.
If you haven't had your fill, or feel that the touristy Newton Food Centre
is not to your liking, then the next destination is Geylang. Despite having
a main reputation as a red-light district, it is also the local food
capital. Just keep to the main road and do not venture into the side roads.
:)
Sentosa is the most popular offshore destination located off the Southern
tip of Singapore. You can get there by cable car from Mt Faber, taking in
the magnificent view of the south side of Singapore as well as the southern
islands. Notable attractions include the Underwater World and Siloso Beach.
The Night Safari is one of the foremost places that any visitor to Singapore
should visit. It houses an interesting range of nocturnal animals, showing
you their life, and behaviour up close. http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/
The Jurong Bird Park is a 20.2 hectare open-concept park. It is the largest
in the Asia Pacific and one of the finest bird parks in the world. Its
collection of more than 9,000 birds from 600 species is among the largest in
the world. The Park specialises in birds from Southeast Asia and the more
exotic and colourful tropical birds. http://www.birdpark.com.sg
The Singapore Science Centre was established for the purpose of:
- displaying exhibits illustrative of the physical sciences, life sciences,
applied sciences, technology and industry, and
- promoting the dissemination of knowledge in science and technology.
http://www.science.edu.sg
Little India is where the early Indian settlers lived in the early years of
Singapore as a British colony.
http://www.littleindia.com.sg/stb/stb_index.htm
Shenton Way is the business and financial hub of Singapore. Along it there
are many banks, financial and business institutions. Visit it during office
hours to experience the hustle and bustle of the earliest and busiest
business district of Singapore.
http://www.visitorsingapore.com/photo_gallery_shentonway.htm
Boat Quay / Clark Quay has a bustling nightlife scene. A string of pubs and
restaurants along the Singapore River spoils the visitor for choice. Sunday
mornings will see a flea market with peddlars selling their excess or old,
valuable wares.
