Uniquely Singapore

For tourists, there really is nothing much to do or see in Singapore. It's not a country with a very interesting history, with breath-taking landmarks or world-renowned icons. It's not even a top international cosmopolitan city with a thriving urban scene.

But as with everything, Singapore has managed to market itself so effectively and efficiently that tourists come in droves. There is not one day that passes that I don't see a tourist. Or they could be (like me), a foreigner but working here (I heard 25% of the population are foreigners). Whatever the case, the city-state has established "tourist spots" to fill a traveller's days. And really, I am super impressed with the Visitor's Center by Orchard. It's a tourist's dream! Rows and rows of brochures (perfect for a brochure hogger like me who loves to constantly "review" places I'm going to)!

Here are my top picks for tourist spots to visit:

1. The National Museum

I don't really care for the permanent exhibit which tells the story of Singapore history in food, fashion, etc. But I like the pristine white colonial look of the building, the swinging chandeliers and the cavernous entrance hall inside plus the bar outside. To watch for are travelling exhibits which come pretty regularly and change every 2 or 3 months. The Greek Collection of the Louvre was there last year as well as Voom portraits (basically short portrait videos that look like paintings) by Robert Wilson of famous celebs including a drenched Brad Pitt in his boxers! I also liked the Doubleness photo exhibit of Chang Chien-Chi, especially the touching photos from a mental insitution in Taiwan where patients were chained to each other. There's also a Christian Lacroix exhibit coming up. I wish Manila had a museum like this. It's feels so cultured and pretentious to say in Manila, Oh I'm just going to the museum but here it really is quite normal.

the brad pitt robert wilson portrait (you're welcome girls)

To watch for also is the Singapore Art Museum, just a road away and its sister museum SAM, both for travelling exhibits.

2. Night Safari

Okay, you have to admire them. They really thought this through. A zoo is quite normal, every country has it but a zoo at night??? Whoa! Okay so it's packaged as a "safari" but in reality, the animals don't roam wild. There are cleverly-hidden fences but the feel is of a safari with the tram ride and/or walking around on your own. Because it's dark, there's also that heightened element of possible "danger". I like the bat walk where fruit bats roam free in a greenhouse as visitors walk past. They're harmless but bats are just creepy. It's the whole Dracula myth. There's also a lot of set-up photo areas plus easy to get a cab even if it's a bit further out.

3. The Quays (or simply places by the river)

I don't really advice going on a boat cruise of the Singapore river as there are no interesting sights by the riverside. Instead, better to park yourself by a restaurant in one of the quays to view the river.

Clarke Quay is the king of the quay. For nightlife, this is the no-brainer place to go to, rows and rows of resto's, bars, clubs, coffee shops. Every weekend it is packed with wandering people. But the place itself is nice with an illusion of open air but there's actually a high awning covering the whole compound with ever changing lights. I think this area was an old converted shipping warehouse.

Boat Quay is more like the cheesy loud drunk uncle. It's also by the river and across from the iconic Fullerton. But the resto's are more traditional (seafood, Chinese) and they are quite aggressive in hawking their wares. It's nice to sit in by the river but that's the only ambience these places have. By the side streets are also some smaller bars.

Robertson Quay is the queen. This is my favorite. More sedate, nicer establishments, but still with an assortment of resto's and bars. It's a nicer part of the river across from some low-rise condominiums (my dream place to live in).

my dream place to live in here in Singapore

4. Orchard Road

Of course, how can you not visit Singapore without stopping by Orchard Road? I know some people who actually prefer to shop in the Marina Bay area which houses around 4 malls inter-connected by tunnels. But I still prefer Orchard because it has all the retail formats (okay I sounded too much like a marketing exec there). There's a department store (my favorite is Takashimaya for the gift floor and Tang's for clothes), malls with the usual high-street and luxury brands (I like Wisma Atria basement for the former and Ngee Ann City for the latter), more low-end gritty no frills mall (Lucky Plaza), and malls that have smaller independent local shops (The Hereen for Japanese-inspired and Far East Plaza for trendy items). It is not though a street with boutiques right on the road as it is in Europe. Singapore like the rest of Asia, is a mall country. I like walking at the wide pedestrian road dotted with trees but I try to avoid the weekend where it is clogged with people.

5. Vivo City/ Sentosa


Let's get this out of the way. Sentosa is not on my list at all. But I know a lot of visitors come here with the reclaimed island on their list. My 2 cents? It's manufactured and fake but again, giving credit where it is due, it is ingenious! A beach just minutes away, never mind if it is man-made and the sand is apparently from Indonesia. There's various beach bars, a spa, hotels, golf club, and high-end restaurants. It's like a mini city on its own. A lot of attractions are also scattered about. I've been to the butterfly park / insect kingdom (just so-so) and Songs of the Sea show (ugh). I heard the luge ride is good. Vivo City which has a train that is connected to Sentosa is much more interesting actually! At least for the shoppers. It's the biggest mall here in Singapore and has pretty much all the brands housed under one roof.


6. Raffles/ City Hall area (Marina Bay)

city hall lighted up during F1 September '08

Raffles is the CBD while City Hall has the malls and Esplanade. Interesting sights here? Chijmes which is an old convent school converted to a F&B area, The Fullerton which is the old post office converted to a hotel, Merlion (even though it's really nothing more than a big statue of a lion mermaid but still, it is the recognizable icon of Singapore), the Singapore Flyer (similar to the London eye, basically a gigantic ferris wheel that takes 20+ minutes to go around but as per my sister, nothing to see), Esplanade (the performance hall with a "durian"-designed roof which houses a mini-mall plus good selection of resto's and hawker stalls - try to go to the rooftop which has a great view), Raffles Hotel (iconic hotel where the Singapore sling was born and you feel you were transported back to the early 1900's but the swarm of tourists is distracting), Suntec City (which has the claim of fame of having the world's largest fountain but I suggest skipping that and just doing some shopping), City Hall itself which is has a nice colonial frontage, St Andrew's church (the outside is nice also). Walking around is better to get a feel of the city center.

7. Chinatown



Fittingly, being Chinese, my family visited Chinatown when we travelled here. But what I like here are the look of the old shophouses. There is also a Muslim Mosque, Buddhist temple and Hindi temple in the area. So you get 3 nice touristy shots immediately! I like the Food street at night and also stop by the Scarlet and Majestic moden boutique hotels. This is a nice area to just walk around in but no shopping as the shops are mostly kitschy China imports and cliche touristy items. The red dot design museum is here too. Interesting design concepts are shown, too bad that for some, the actual product is not shown.


8. Nature-inspired stop

Singapore has a lot of nature parks. I think one of the best and non-athletic friendly would be the Botanic Gardens. There's the Orchid area and big central area where people can picnic and catch a free concert. There's also jogging trails and rainforest track. It has a very lazy Sunday leisure relaxed feel to it.


Mt Faber is another popular option. There is a F & B center at the peak and houses the cable cars going to Sentosa (funnily, there is an option to have a "romantic" meal at the cable car and they serve your different courses every time you reach the landing and then you just go again on the ride). Go here for the view of Singapore (no need for the Flyer!). And for athletes, there is also a running trail. Skip the mural but go to Faber point for a 360-degree view (plus another Merlion statue).

the view from Mt. Faber

Sungei Buloh is more rustic and not very well-known. You really have to walk to go around the park choosing from 3 different trails. But also it feels more authentic as it is a genuine wetland/ mangrove area. Animals roam free (mostly lizards) and a lot of birds congregate by the water. Perfect for photo enthusiasts.


Fort Canning is another option and is right beside the National Museum. I saw that there's even an escalator to go up to the park from the main road.
I heard Bukit Timah is good too, one of only two rainforests housed within a city (the other one is in Brazil). But I have yet to visit. Should go there before I leave, mental note.

9. Jurong Birdpark


I was pleasantly suprised by Jurong Birdpark. I am not a big bird lover. I don't understand the allure of bird watching at all (sitting in silence and stalking flying creatures to catch a glimpse and identify what it was). But the park has a lot of interesting birds aside from the usual - penguins (which I adore!), flamingoes (the spot by the pond is so nice), pelicans, eagles. There's a feeding area where hundreds (?) of birds fly freely about. Of course, you have to buy a pack of bird food so they actually go to you. The man-made waterfall is a bit cheesy. It's advertised as the tallest man-made waterfall in the world but really, so what? Over-all though I liked the lay-out and theme of the park.
I haven't been to the Singapore Zoo but I heard a lot of the animals are the same as the ones you would see in the Night Safari (except for the Polar Bear which I'm interested to see).

So combine all of this with shopping, eating and the nightlife and Singapore is looking like a pretty good place to visit. It doesn't have the old charm of Vietnam or the grit of Bangkok or spectacular nature of the Philippines but there's also a very low level of risk for tourists.

Oh and speaking of travel, Singapore Airlines is also the best airline I have ever ridden in. Good service, lots of movies to choose from, clean planes and according to my guy friends, attractive stewardesses). The Changi airport is also amazing with numerous shops, free wifi and even (so random) an indoor garden with coloring tables.

I should be a uniquely Singapore spokesperson!