I wasn’t really planning on Singapore but going to Malaysia for three days to attend a friend’s wedding seemed like a potentially great travel opportunity (bearing in mind that it took me nearly 24 hours to get to Malaysia – it normally takes 16 or so) . This is how I found myself in Singapore. I stayed in Singapore for 4 days and here is my visual diary which I hope serves as inspiration for you. Read to the end about my frank review of Singapore.
DAY 1: SLEEP & GETTING OVER JETLAG – DINNER AT LONG BEACH – DRINKS WITH A VIEW AT SKY LOUNGE
Long beach is an incredible seafood restaurant. You must try the chilli crab and the lobster. The restaurant was on the expensive side but worth the treat
Chilli crab, lobster and pastry that was phenomenal in taste.
Post dinner, I went for a drink at Aura Sky Lounge which has an incredible view of Singapore’s skyline.
DAY 2: ORCHARD ROAD (FOR SHOPPING ADDICTS) – GARDENS BY THE BAY
So many brands you will be spoiled for choice.
Notably the streets of Singapore are clean and green. Littering is an offence.
Cartier anyone?
Exploring the Supertree groove at “Gardens by the bay” (an incredible and stunning garden). This is the No 1 attraction and a must for all visitors.
Most evenings, there is a exhilarating display of light and sound at night that is also a must for all.
DAY 3: NIGHT SAFARI
The night safari is one of the most incredible safari’s I have ever experienced. Thousands of animals from lions to elephants to hyenas were within short distance. The lions were kept in humane conditions and looked well kept.
The tram that took us on our tour
DAY 4: SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS – ARAB STREET – MALAY HERITAGE CENTRE – BUGIS
A beautiful symphony stage at the gardens
Trust me to make new friends who were happy to take pictures of me (the struggle of solo travel)
The beautiful sultan mosque near arab street
Exploring the area “Bugis” which is vibrant and colourful with street food and shopping.
One of the many fashion boutique shops on “Haji lane” which is a must for all fashion lovers that do not care for main stream brands.
What I loved about Singapore: Efficiency (everything works like clockwork), the city (so clean, so green), the food options (very diverse and yummy), Gardens by the Bay (This attraction is nothing short of stunning). Not to forget, I have never felt safer than I felt in Singapore and Singaporeans are very friendly and helpful. The airport felt so homey and was very well organised.
What I didn’t like about Singapore: Honestly this is hard as Singapore was near perfect but I got a cold in singapore because every indoor area from cabs to restaurants blasted their AC (I guess its better than the scorching weather in some establishments back home).
What would I do differently: Spend a night at “Marina Bay Sands” hotel so that I can capture that view from their infinity pool (vain I know but what a view).
Singapore Best For: Families (so many attractions e.g. Universal studios), Exploring, Honeymooners (as part of a tour of Asia).
Travel Tips:
- Ensure to give yourself more time to explore Singapore if you travel from far distances (account for jet-leg, I slept in most mornings trying to adjust and this really shortened my vacation time)
- Change money and get your sim card at the airport on arrival (good exchange rate and decently prices packages for calls and data)
- Getting around: Buses are nice and clean so great for exploring. Cabs are also quite cheap so ensure to download the Grab app and uber app (interesting that the price estimated by these apps in Singapore is the exact price a customer will pay irrespective of traffic etc)
- Avoid shopping for mainstream brands as they can be a lot more expensive to buy than in the US or Europe.
Have you been to Singapore before? What was your highlight? Nevertheless, hope you enjoyed the write up 🙂