Elizabeth Grady and Michelle Jones-White suggest ways to keep friends and family holidaying in the Lion City entertained and informed…
CONTACTS
www.smrt.com.sg MRT and bus routes, plus a handy fare calculator.
www.visitsingapore.com Tourism highlights and festival information.
COLONIAL HISTORY
Relax under Singapore’s oldest trees, view imposing colonial architecture and discover exquisite relics and vintage buys.
TRAVEL Dhoby Ghaut MRT.
DO Begin your journey at Fort Canning Park (www.nparks.gov.sg). This 19th century oasis of green at the heart of Singapore’s was the Lion City’s first botanical garden and is rich in history. Find Singapore’s oldest Christian cemetery, protected by gothic gates, or take in the Spice Garden – located on the site of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffle’s original botanical garden. Relive the final moments before Singapura was invaded by the Japanese armed forces during World War II, by taking a tour of The Battle Box (www.visitsingapore.com). This underground bombproof bunker was used by the British and is where General Percival conceded defeat in 1942. Quench your thirst and dine on dim sum at The Café or Legends Garden housed within The Legends Fort Canning Park (www.legendsfortcanning.com). During the war, this elegant colonial building was the British Far East Command Centre, but it’s now a member’s club – with restaurants open to the public – favoured by expatriates and affluent Singaporeans.
Just across the road from the park is the rear entrance to the National Museum of Singapore. This impressive grey and white building, refurbished in 2006, is an architectural delight. Elements of steel and glass have been superbly incorporated into the building’s colonial structure, representing Singapore’s evolving recognition of the importance of blending the new with the old. Visit www.nationalmuseum.sg to find out about visiting exhibits from international museums, as well as fascinating lectures and educational workshops for both adults and children.
Cross to Orchard Road to the art deco splendour of Singapore’s very first skyscraper – the Cathay Building (www.cathay.com.sg). Discover quirky gifts, vintage fashion, unique home décor items then cool off with a movie Cathay’s multiplex cinema – try a cutting-edge Asian or International films at The PictureHouse. Continue walking along Orchard Road and you’ll pass the well-guarded Istana (www.istana.gov.sg) – meaning palace in Malay. Completed in 1869 it’s the official residence and office of Singapore’s President SR Nathan and is open to the public just five days throughout the year, the next being May 1 in celebration of Labour Day.
Walking further along Orchard Road stop off at Centrepoint Shopping Centre – where there may be a sale on at Robinson’s – or head ahead just a few doors to the almost-hidden laneway marked Peranakan Place. Peranakan culture developed when Chinese immigrants came to the Malay Peninsula in the 15th century to seek their fortune and married women from Java, Malaya and the Riau Islands. While many Babas (men) became wealthy merchants, the Nyonyas (women) crafted exquisite and colourful kebayas (embroidered blouses) and items embellished with intricate beadwork and developed the ever-popular nyonya cuisine. Today, the only refreshment available is cool ale at one of the bars located at the base of this picturesque street.
Tours to try…
Singapore Duck/Hippo Tour (www.ducktours.com.sg) helps visitors get their bearings on land and water. If your guests prefer to find their own way, encourage use of the SIA Hop-on Bus – if they’ve flown Singapore Airlines – or suggest a bumboat ride (www.rivercruise.com.sg) along the Singapore River for a unique perspective of what was once the Lion City’s lifeblood.
DHL Balloon and Singapore Flyer (www.singaporeflyer.com.sg) offer a more hair-raising experience. The helium-filled balloon hovers 150 metres above the ground, while Singapore’s new giant observation (ferris) wheel promises “a moving experience at every turn”. Acrophobics may prefer to sit this one out!
Geraldene Lowe (Tel: 6737 5250) is a renowned and experienced tour guide. Retrace Singapore’s humble beginnings on one of her informative tours of black and white houses, War Memorials or historical neighbourhoods.
Half-day
TASTES OF LITTLE INDIA
Singapore’s eclectic mix of cultures has resulted in a fusion of traditions and Little India offers a heady experience.
TRAVEL Little India MRT.
DO Little India enables you to enjoy the delights of the sub-continent – without ever leaving the Lion City. Begin your journey by taking in the sights and smells of the super-fresh produce and fragrant spices available at Tekka Market. Sit down and enjoy the atmosphere of a true “wet market” with a glass of steaming teh tarik – a traditional sweet and frothy hand-pulled tea. Visit Khan Mohamed Bhoy & Sons (20 Cuff Road) – one of the last spice grinding shops in Singapore and discover anything and everything Indian – from rice to jewelled bindis and religious statues at Jothi Store & Flower Shop (1 Campbell Lane). If you’ve ever wanted to create your own personal scent, take in the alluring ambience of JR Fragrance (Dunlop Street). This perfumery stocks not only branded perfumes, but also glass vials just waiting to be mixed according to your signature scent. Want to know what destiny has in store for you? The fortune-telling parrots on the corner of Upper Dickson and Serangoon Roads are eager to share their secrets and you can ponder their answers over a traditional curry lunch at Komala Villas (76 Serangoon Road), served on a banana leaf.
SHOP Unique treasures abound, but make sure you check out Singapore’s most interesting department store – Mustafa Centre (www.mustafa.com.sg), open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The stores lining Serangoon Road are the places to browse for colourful saris and shalwar kameez, and bargain for gold jewellery.
More cultural options…
Kampong Glam The original seat of Malay royalty in Singapore, this former palace is now a heritage museum. Sit back and smoke a hookah pipe in one of the many Arabic cafes and enjoy delicious Middle Eastern and Malay cuisine. This locale is also home to the golden-domed Sultan Mosque – the largest mosque in Singapore.
Arab Street Home to restored shophouses filled with fabulous jewellery, artefacts and clothing, plus fabric merchants’ offering some of Asia’s finest silks and textiles.
Chinatown A fusion of the traditional and contemporary. Expect to find ancient remedies proffered by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, nestled between boutiques housing the latest fashions and shophouses displaying embroidered linens and antiques. Dine on tasty dim sum or stop by the Tian Tian (#10 Maxwell Food Court) chicken rice stall at.
Asian Civilisations Museum (www.acm.org.sg) at Empress Place has a magnificent collection of cultural treasures, sign up for a free lecture or detailed tour.
Peranakan traditions are enthusiastically kept alive by Alvin Yapp (Tel: 9338 2234) – who hosts private dinner parties for up to six people at his residence in Singapore’s east coast. Presenting a unique opportunity to experience a taste of Peranakan culture, guests sample authentic nyonya cuisine and enjoy a personal tour of his home – filled to the brim with colourful Peranakan collectibles and antiques.
Events (www.sistic.com.sg) Be in the audience at a traditional Chinese opera, listen to the sounds of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at the “durian”, or book a ticket to a hot show by a visiting international artiste.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Sentosa (www.sentosa.com.sg) – Singapore’s own Fantasy Island – offers manmade beaches, dolphin encounters, a thrilling luge ride and a sky-high cable car journey. Check out the new marina at Sentosa Cove for an idea of how this isle is fast becoming a millionaire’s retreat.
Pasir Ris Park has an excellent children’s playground. You can also take a walk through a mangrove forest, go swimming at a reasonably picturesque beach and use the barbecue pits at the end of the day. This area is also close to Downtown East – home to Escape Theme Park (www.escapethemepark.com.sg). Get your thrills on Asia’s highest log flume ride and cool off on the slides at Wild Wild Wet (www.wildwildwet.com).
Reverse Bungy (www.gmax.co.nz) Catapult through the air at Clarke Quay at speeds of up to 200 kpm and feel the G-Force or have a go on the GX5 Extreme Swing which seats five for a 45-metre freefall!
East Coast Park Enjoy a host of watersports at Mana Mana East Coast Beach Club (www.manamana.com), cable skiing at Ski 360° (www.ski360degree.com), or hire a bicycle (www.smbf.com.sg) at the rental stall near car park E2, or Area C, for $4 to $7 an hour, tandem bikes and rollerblades are also available. If it’s raining, Playground @ Big Splash (www.playground.com.sg) has a great range of wet weather activities for kids. Try the LilliPutt (www.lilliputt.com) mini-golf course, Frisk ‘n’ Romp Kids’ Playclub (www.frisknromp.com) and Urban Inline (www.urbaninline.com.sg) skating school.
Singapore Botanic Gardens (www.sbg.org.sg) is spread over an incredible 52 hectares. Be awed by the 20,000 flowering gems on display in the Orchid Garden, discover the origins of Asian spices and let the kids receive an interactive education about nature at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden.
Labrador Park Nature enthusiasts are spoiled for choice here. Over 50 different species of birds and the monocotyledonous tree – Dracaena maingayi – estimated to be more than 80 years old are among this nature reserve’s attractions. Check out the 300-metre beach rich in marine life walk along the jetty to watch the sunset, or explore the World War II relics that stud the headland.
West Coast Park This 50-hectare park has been dubbed the “Play Centre in the West” and is a great place for kids to burn some energy. There’s an adventure playground for toddlers through to young adults, a sand play area, kite flying, exercise garden and dog run corner.
Chinese Garden Journey to the East – in Singapore’s west – to enjoy an excellent example of Imperial-style architecture and landscaping.
GO WILD
Night Safari (www.nightsafari.com.sg) Journey into the jungle to see over 1,000 nocturnal animals during this zoological experience, unique to Singapore.
Singapore Zoo (www.zoo.com.sg) Animals in this “open zoo” are housed in enclosures separated from visitors by moats and other natural barriers for a more realistic wild-side experience.
Jurong Bird Park (www.birdpark.com.sg) Over 9,000 birds from 600 species – some there since the park’s inception in 1971 – fly freely in one of the world’s largest walk-in aviaries.
Turn to page xx for tried and true visitors’ tips from readers of The Finder!
Do you have a Singapore Secret you’d like to share? Send details (700 words) plus images to mjones-white@acpmagazines.com.sg and you could be published in an upcoming issue of The Finder!
Posted on April 08
