Sensational Singapore
We checked into the beautiful and well situated Pan Pacific Orchard Road and after a quick shower and indulgent breakfast we set off to explore Singapore city. Chinatown to start with, a sharp contrast to the rest of the city. It is made up of low rise buildings with culture bursting out onto the streets, from the fragrant smells of traditional cuisine to the bold red and gold tones that run through the neighbourhood. This is an area that’s proud of its heritage and always exhibits that. There are ornate Chinese, Buddhist and Hindu temples, museums galore and bustling streets lined with old shop houses.
Next it was on to Kampong Glam, steeped in history and culture. It is one of Singapore's most colourful districts. It was where the Malay royalty once resided and where one of the most significant mosques in the country, Masjid Sultan, is located. We spent time soaking up the atmosphere in Haji Lane, a tiny lane hidden away in the heart of Arab Street, a fashionistas paradise!
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Singapore! A quick stop at the Singapore City Gallery, teaches visitors how modern Singapore came to be and how the city planners continue to plan sustainably. The most impressive part of the gallery was the Central Area Model with a scale of 1:400. It is a miniature version of the centre of Singapore in 3D! Our last stop of the day was Little India. Again, like stepping into another country we suddenly found ourselves in streets abound with Kashmir silk, flower garlands and glittering silk-threaded saris. We visited the Indian Heritage Centre and shoppers will be excited to hear the Mustafa Centre here is a 24hr shopping mall and is a hive of activity during the cool evening hours.
The next day we had a great opportunity to visit the stunning ship Seabourn Sojourn which was in port for the day. After lunch, we visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens which have been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are the first and only tropical botanic gardens on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Slowing things down, we took a short river cruise from Clarke Quay. This was a lovely relaxing way to see the iconic Merlion, Esplanade and colonial-style government buildings as well as the modern skyscrapers that now dominate the city’s skyline. That evening we ate at Satay by the Bay, a waterfront street food market with entertainment provided by Garden Rhapsody, a light and sound show that is not to be missed! After a night cap at Level 33, officially the world’s highest urban craft-brewery in the penthouse of the Marina Bay Financial Centre, it was time to call it a day. The beauty of Singapore is that everywhere is close by, so within a few minutes we were back at our hotel, this time the Pan Pacific Singapore, a fabulous five star hotel located in Marina Bay.
The following morning we headed for Sentosa Island, a 15 minute drive from Singapore. Sentosa meaning ‘peace and tranquillity’ lives up to its name, an oasis with city reach and plenty to offer such as theme parks, golf, beaches and more. We braved the Mega Zip wire and Sentosa Luge and Sky Ride which were super fun and it was hard to resist a swim in the South China Sea! After all the fun, it was time for lunch and we indulged in the most fantastic food at Restaurant Cocotte which I would highly recommend. In the afternoon, we enjoyed a cruise ship visit on the MS Volendam by Holland America, which was overnight in port and later that evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner in their speciality restaurant the Pinnacle Grill.
Our last day was a trip to Gardens by the Bay, not to be missed, a sprawling garden in the city, spanning over 101 hectares of reclaimed land. The park consists of three waterfront gardens; Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. The largest of the three gardens is Bay South Garden and it features the best of horticultural, sustainability and architectural design. Diverse plant life from around the world is displayed in its spectacular Cooled Conservatories. We were wowed by the Supertrees, towering vertical gardens that extend into the sky. We finished up with a stroll across the Skyway, at a height of 22 metres and surrounded by panoramic vistas of the Gardens and Marina Bay skyline. This 128-metre-long aerial walkway was the perfect place to say our goodbyes to Singapore.
I loved Singapore and I was so impressed with everything it had to offer. My advice would be not to view it as a stop-over but a destination itself!