SINGAPORE, A JEWEL OF THE EAST, A SMALL YET IMPRESSIVE CITY THAT NEVER FAILS TO AMAZE GLOBAL TRAVELLERS REGARDLESS HOW OFTEN YOU VISIT.
As one of Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities, there are always new places to explore and enjoy, and each trip is memorable. Some may think they know the place, where to shop and where to dine, but the fact is that in Singapore there is always something more to see and do, something you have not seen in the past. The city is perfect for short getaways and as a tourist magnet with its sci-fi buildings, glorious street food, museums, fine arts, concerts and all the latest entertainment hits. All made easy by the city’s modern transportation system.
Of course, the first thing the visitor should always do is to savour some of the world’s best street food served, these days, not only on the streets but also in open-air coffee shops and air-conditioned food courts. My personal favourite is the Makansutra Glutton’s Bay near the Esplanade theatre. Here you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious local specialities, such as Hainan chicken rice and Singapore chilli crab, while sitting under the stars with the Marina Bay as a picturesque backdrop. After dinner, you can watch the fascinating water and light show over the water at the Event Plaza along the Marina Bay Sands promenade. The 15-minute show is stunning with its gorgeous dancing water fountains, colourful visual arts, inspiring orchestral soundtrack and mind-blowing special lighting effects.
For something totally different you take the world’s first vintage Vespa sidecar tour service, a tour that will take you off the beaten track breezing through unexplored open rooftops and down quaint alleyways where you’ll come faceto- face with the locals. They have several tour options depending on your interest; I chose a tour that took me cruising through Kampong Glam to have a look at some places I’ve never seen before.
If you happen to be in Singapore between the 9th June and the 13th August, take the opportunity to enjoy the “Great Singapore Sale” known to Singaporeans as the “GSS”. Bargain hunters and shoppers alike can buy branded items at discounted prices. Retailers offer steep discounts, sometimes up to 70 per cent off the original price. Talking of shopping, it would be remiss of me not to mention the high-end malls, the stores selling quality goods and the crowd-pulling annual mega-sale periods making Singapore a one-stop haven for travellers and shoppers alike. Everyone enjoys a trip to Singapore; it is a clean, well organised, modern city. It is easy to get around, excellent for food and shopping and with a never-ending supply of interesting things to do. What more could you ask for?