Best Way To Get Around:

The mass transit system in Singapore will take you to all the hot spots in town. The MRT even goes out to the airport. If you are not in a mood of taking the mass transit, cabs are an excellent option. They are inexpensive, metered and easy to hail.

Sentosa island

Today we were on our own for a self guided tour to Sentosa island, a popular island resort and a weekend favorite amongst Singaporeans.
Attractions include a two-kilometer long sheltered beach, a restored Fort Siloso, theme park, rides, two golf courses etc. Armed with Sentosa Xperiential Tour coupons and lots of skepticism, we took the MRT to the island. We were outdoorsy people and did not think much about fun parks. End of the day we were pleasantly surprised at how much fun we had. The tour comes with a Traveler's Adventure Compass - An all-in-
one action and adventure kit, handy guidebook packed with insider tips to explore off-beaten tracks and practical island insights, an island and
attractions access card for 3 consecutive days of unlimited entry, one meal at Taste of Singapore and 1 signature drink at Club Islander.

Our last tour was a self-guided tour to the Singapore Flyer, the world's tallest observation wheel, dethroning the Star of Nanchang in China. The 492 feet high Flyer's wheel is built over a three-story terminal, making its total height 541 feet. Affixed to the wheel are 28 large capsules, each
of which can hold up to 28 people. It offers a birds eye view of the city and the two large casino complexes under construction. "We want Singapore to have the X-factor, that buzz that you get in London, Paris or New York", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when he announced
a controversial plan to build two casino complexes in 2009. Singapore is definitely not lacking in the x-factor for sure. Revelers from Bangkok, Hong Kong and elsewhere are heading over to the Lion City, as Singapore is known, in droves.

It was late evening and we made our way to our hotel for an early night. We had an early bus ride to Malaysia. But before that, we have to do one last thing in Singapore - play Somerset Maugham who had said of Raffles, "A Hotel that stands for all the fables of the Exotic East!" So we headed to the famous Raffles Hotel, a colonial-era landmark painted blinding white and decorated with teak and rattan, to sip on Singapore's most famous drink, the Singapore Sling. This is what I call a good life-lah!

Night safari

The night safari was something unique - Linda informed us that that this was world's first Night Safari, set in 40 hectares of secondary jungle.
This wildlife park for nocturnal animals is an eight-time winner of the Best Visitor Attraction Experience, awarded by Singapore Tourism Board.

Our group was bemused by the mystery and drama of the tropical jungle after dusk. We hopped on a tram to see many nocturnal animals in habitats designed specifically to replicate the natural environment from the Himalayan Foothills to the Southeast Asian Rainforest and Indian Subcontinent. After the tram ride, Linda led our group on a walking trail where we viewed some animals at closer quarters. She was an able biologist in addition to being a great tour guide! What an evening this was. Tomorrow we will be exploring the #1 attraction in Singapore.

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is a shopper's paradise where you can find some good bargains. We got off the beaten path to scour the ethnic areas for some good bargains and souvenirs. Working up a good appetite we joined the food-mad locals at the hawker centers, open-air food courts where each stall serves one dish and the cooks yell out their specialties like ballpark vendors. Famous food writers have appropriately glorified Singapore's venerated street stalls and we wanted to make the best of it.

One should not leave the city without trying the local favorites. These dishes hail from Malaysia, China, and India, but Singaporeans have embraced these dishes and made them part of their lives. Should you find yourself in Southeast Asia's food capital, try these top dishes at any hawker and food center on the island - bak kut the (tea from pork ribs steeped with assortedherbs, carrot cake (savory egg and radish cake, of course, carrots are actually radishes that locals call white carrots), chilli crab (cooked in fiery spices - set your fork and knives aside), roti prata (flaky Indian bread served with curry), fish head curry (with dollops of steamed rice), char kway teow (flat noodles cooked with eggs, Chinese sausages, cockles etc. in large woks) and laksa (a coconut based curry soup).

It's late afternoon, we met with our tour guide for the day, Linda Chan, who introduced herself as Jackie Chan's sister. She broke into peels of laughter when she saw the amazed look on our faces. But for the common last name, she said with a smirk, there were no ties between these two Chans. Linda was loads of fun and kept the whole group laughing with her anecdotes on Singapore and Singaporeans. She helped us to discover the rich historical Chinatown and offered great tips on bargaining at the Night Market. After dinner, we all hopped onto a trishaw for a ride from Chinatown to Clarke Quay. The trishaw rider cranked up the music as he weaved his way energetically through the traffic. We arrived at the quay to board a bumboat for a cruise along the Singapore River. The romantic ride through the river lit by the night skyline gave us a different perspective of this beautiful city. We bade Linda goodbye and she piped, "you will have to bear with me again tomorrow at the Night Safari".

The best of the Indian subcontinent

Tour East's Singapore representative picked us up for a city tour early this morning. We made a mental note of all the places we wanted to revisit. Boon, our Singaporean tour guide gave us a great insight into the Singaporean lifestyle. Our stop at the Merlion Park provided us with fabulous views of the Marina Bay and photo-ops with the famous landmark. The Merlion is a mythological creature that is part lion and part fish and the official symbol of the city state.

The city tour included Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore's oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples. Boon gave us some photo tips. We then drove past Chinatown to watch craftsmen at work at a local handicraft center. Boon then let us into her secret - a great little espresso place in Chinatown serving one of the best espressos we have had outside Italy! We then proceeded to the National Orchid Garden, located within Singapore Botanic Gardens, with a sprawling display of 60,000 orchid plants. The highlight of this garden was the VIP Orchid Garden which contained dozens of hybrids named after visiting heads of state and celebrities such as Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana and Benazir Bhutto.

Our final stop at Little India was a unique way to experience the best of the Indian subcontinent. Heady with the scent of joss sticks, jasmine and spices, we tucked into delicious South Indian dishes in Komala Vilas, a vegetarian restaurant popular with the locals. We headed off to Mohammad Sultan Road to do what Singaporeans are famous for- dance the night away. With jet lag a distant memory, we have to get up early next morning for indulging in the national sport of Singapore - dining and shopping!

Uniquely Singapore

Travelers to Singapore who expect a culture shock - unfamiliar traditions, rickety buses, heat and dust that are experienced in other parts of Asia - are in for a surprise. Singapore, with its super efficient transit system, shopping malls filled with big high-end fashion names, fast-food outlets and steel skyscrapers, has many of its western counterpart turning green with envy. But wait ... Singapore is far more exciting and complex than what meets your eye. Under its über modern façade lies a city steeped in tradition, attitude and style offering visitors a blend of cultural mysteries and exotic beauty.


One can marvel at old mosques and temples (nicely preserved), and have your fair share of old tales of colonial romance. The smell of jasmine, incense, curry and spices mingles with its glistening wealth of modern miracles "Singlish", the unofficial local tongue, is a medley of English with Chinese grammar, Hokkien slang and common Malay phrases (the ubiquitous "lah"). I have been to Singapore before and will never tire of this city. After the initial excitement of winning the contest, I had requested Felicity Fok from Tour East book us into the Fullerton Hotel, expecting a big "NO!" I was surprised when she called to confirm our stay at this handsome hotel. Not only is the Fullerton ideally situated in the centre of the bustling financial district, it's also one of Singapore's most historic buildings.


Overlooking the Singapore River, the former General Post Office has been converted into a luxurious property steeped in understated elegance and ambience. It is not surprising that it has been voted regularly as one of the best hotels in Asia. After checking in, we soaked in the view and ambience of our room. We stepped outside for a walk on Clarkes Quay, a lovely spot on the Singapore River with many restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Funky plastic pod-like seating areas along this hip waterfront are a great place to watch the world go by. Another highlight on the quay is the Ministry of Sound, the mother of London rave clubs, where one can dance the night away. It is said that Singapore never sleeps and that was evident here. Obviously, no one seemed worried about making it to work the next day - it was past midnight! After some tapas and drinks, we reluctantly made our way back to the hotel for a good rest. We have a hectic schedule planned tomorrow.