Saturday 9 August 2014

Why you should take a holiday to Singapore





1. Sights and Attractions ||

You won't get bored in this sunny island called Singapore. There's something for everybody both indoors and outdoors and for everyone of any age. Kids will glee with delight at the rides at Universal Studios Singapore while the older folks will stand in awe at the number of sea creatures for viewing at the amazing S.E.A aquarium. Couples can soak up the sun at the infinity pool at the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel while outdoor enthusiasts can go hiking around the tiny island called Pulau Ubin. If you are history buff, walk through the historical Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam to catch a glimpse of life in the past. 

2. Dining Experiences ||

No trip to Singapore is complete without an authentic Singapore dining experience. And that is none other than savouring our local hawker delights. There are tons of hawker centres littered around the island with the more popular ones known as Newton Hawker Centre, Chomp Chomp and East Coast Lagoon Food centre. Must try food include: Hokkein Mee, Oyster omelette, Roti Prata, Satay and Sambal Stingray. But be warned, the food can be rather oily and spicy if you're not used to it.

World class chefs are also known to congregate on our sunny island. Head to Marina Bay Sands for the numerous celebrity restaurants which include Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda, CUT by Wolfgang Puck and db Bistro by Daniel Boulud. Rumour has it that Gordon Ramsey is slated to open a restaurant in Singapore soon.  We are keeping our fingers crossed! 

If you are a coffee addict, you would be happy to know that Singapore's coffee scene has grown by leaps and bounds. Every few months, a new coffee cafe seems to be sprouting up around the island. The more famous ones with great coffee include Nylon Coffee, Chye Seng Huat Hardware and Common Man Coffee Roasters.  

3. Efficient transport system ||

Without a doubt, the transport system in the country can make or break your holiday. Being stuck in a 2 hour long traffic jam or facing a public transport strike would definitely spoil your holiday plans. Well you would be happy to note that we hardly have any strikes, so you can expect the public transport system to be working like clockwork. For those who prefer something more comfortable, there are plenty of cabs around our country and if you avoid the office rush hour, chances are, you shouldn't be stuck in the traffic jams you often see in most major cities. 

4. Shopping ||

We have tons of shopping malls for the shopaholic in you. Walk down our famous shopping street, Orchard Road, and you would be spoilt for choice. From international high end brands to high street fashion, our shopping malls carry a mixture of American, European, Australian and Japanese brands. For something more affordable yet trendy, Far East Plaza and Bugis Village offers tons of woman apparel, suited best for teenagers and young adults. 

5. Nightlife || 

With an awesome nightlife scene, you should be able to party to the break of dawn. Famous clubs include Zouk where most of the locals go to or Attica where you can get a huge international crowd. If you prefer a bar to just unwind after a long day, check out Boat Quay and Clarke Quay for the numerous drinking holes , suited along the river. Oh yes, and do a Singapore thing for me please, have supper at one of many late night coffee shops once you are done clubbing. Its a Singaporean thing to savour our local delights, no matter what time it is. 

This article has been written to commemorate Singapore's 49th birthday. Happy birthday Singapore (: Thanks for being such an awesome country. 

Glossary (click to be linked to website)

Sights and Attraction

- Universal Studios Singapore8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
- S.E.A Aquarium8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
- Marina Bay Sands Hotel10 Bayfront Avenue, 018956
- Pulau Ubin, Pulau Ubin island
- Chinatown, at Chinatown MRT Station
- Little India, at Little India MRT Station
- Kampong Glam, near Bugis MRT Station

Dining

- Newton Hawker Centre500 Clemenceau Ave, 229495
- Chomp Chomp20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
- East Coast Lagoon Food Centre, 1220 East Coast Parkway, 468960 
- Nylon Coffee4 Everton Park, 080004
- Chye Seng Huat Hardware150 Tyrwhitt Rd, 207563 
- Common Man Coffee Roasters22 Martin Road #01-00, 239058

Shopping

- Orchard Road, at Orchard MRT Station
- Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road, 228213
- Bugis Village, 151B Rochor Road, 188426

Nightlife

- Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, 169420
- Attica3A River Valley Rd, #01- 03 Clarke Quay, 179020
- Boat Quay, near Clarke Quay MRT
- Clarke Quay, near Clarke Quay MRT