|
 Singapore is a true jewel in the Asian Crown. A stunning city by day or night, with friendly people and little or no crime, you can walk the streets at night here and feel totally safe.
The Hotels here rank among the best in the world. Raffles is an  institution in its own right. One of the best meals I’ve ever had was at The Raffles Grill. Chef Dubois who trained at Le Jardin des Sens in Montpellier under the mentorship of twins Jacques and Laurent Pourcel. Take a drink in The Long Bar before dinner and add your own beer nut shells to the floor. A Singapore Sling is a touristy must do, especially here.The Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-La hotels and resorts also have luxurious properties here.
 Don’t make the same mistake we did. Singapore doesn’t seem to wake very early. Leave your sightseeing till later in the day. Relax by the pool in the morning - God knows it’s hot enough. Do visit Little India; it has temples that stun the senses. We were lucky enough to visit during Deepavali, the Hindu Festival of Light when the local Hindu population celebrates Lord Krishna’s triumph over the demon Narakasura. Good over Evil, light over dark. Breakfast in Little India is one of my fondest memories, sweet coffee and delicious Dahl on a banana leaf...delicious!
There is so much more to do in Singapore. Clarkes Quay is bustling at night with restaurants and bars that leave you spoilt for choice. Chinatown is another city within the city, though regeneration has left very little of the old town. Orchard Road is a shopper’s paradise, even if you don’t spend a penny. Air conditioned malls give some respite from the heat as you stroll from one designer store to the next. Where does it all end, The Night Safari is incredible.
 Sentosa Island (which means peace and tranquility in Malay) was once a pirate’s lair and now attracts more than 4 million visitors a year.
Singapore can seem sterile to some. Its cleanliness being mistaken for a regimented society. Dig a little deeper and you will find remnants of the old Singapore. A throwback to colonial rule when it was part of the British Empire. Old habits die hard and there are back streets that still show what it must have been like to live here before the skyscrapers arrived. The modern city is incredible, no rubbish or graffiti scar the streets and buildings and it really is a pleasure to be out at night.
With its location so near to the Equator and humidity up at 90% the tropical climate can sap the energy of the most enduring of tourists. Luckily air conditioning rules - shops, buses, taxis are all climate controlled. So hop aboard and explore the delights of this cosmopolitan island.
|
Singapore
