Destination: Singapore

We went to Singapore in beginning of April 2017, for 4 days. This was the first time we flew to a destination in Asia, and we were so excited about this trip. And it certainly didn’t disappoint us.

The hotel we stayed at is called Fragrance Hotel – Riverside. A rather small hotel close to Clarke Quay Central. The hotel offers breakfast in a café close by, and has a small rooftop swimming pool. We could easily walk to Chinatown from our hotel, and we did also walk to Marina Bay, although that is quite a walk. The subway station and buses are close by the hotel, so getting around in Singapore is not difficult.

When I travel I love to stroll around, and take in the atmosphere. The weather was hot and humid, as usually, so we had a few stops at cafés and restaurants throughout the days. What striked me as one of the nicest things in Singapore is how different cultures coexists. Walking around you could see synagogues, temples and mosques. To me it seemed as though people had respect for each other and their different cultures. I felt safe walking around in Singapore.

My absolute favorite area of Singapore was The Arab Quarter. Street after street with colourful houses, small shops with knickknacks that cost close to nothing and wonderful, wonderful food! This was the area we went back to 3 times within the days we were there, and every time we found a new café or restaurant to sit at.

 

Other places worth visiting is China town and Little India. Both with a unique atmosphere, and hidden treasures. We went to Chinatown to try out the Hawker Center in Smith Street, where you can get street food. Getting your food and drinks might feel a bit stressful, as there are so many stalls to choose from and a lot of people all trying to get their food. But when you sit down at one of the tables in the street, with your plate of food and beer and eat amongst the buzzing street life, that is all forgotten.                    Little India is the place to just walk around in. Again, the area has houses with lots of colourful drawings, and shops that you have to pop into “just to have a look”. I would describe the place as whimsical, in the most positive meaning of the word.

Singapore has a lot of rooftop bars, street café and corner restaurants, which we really miss in Macau. In almost every street there is a corner restaurant where locals sit and eat. We found our way to a really cute rooftop bar close to Chinatown one night. From the bar we were at we could see 3 other bars, all as small and intimate as the one we were at. Despite being close to a busy street, up there we were far away from the noisy traffic and could enjoy a glass of wine while watching the moon, and dreaming about how it would be to live in this amazing city.

A place I would say one must visit while in Singapore is Gardens by the Bay. It’s close to Marina Bay Sands, so it’s convenient to see these two places at the same time. The subway has a stop close by, so if you don’t want to walk that is also an option. Gardens by the Bay is a huge garden with natural wildlife, some constructed “trees” and displayed artwork. To walk around in the garden itself is free, but in order to get into the flower dome and walk at a sky walk, you would have to pay admission. The garden is open until the late night, and during nighttime the constructed “trees” light up. The garden consists of different areas, all with their own focus. There is a big food hall placed at the far end of the garden. I found the food here good and with a reasonable price, and being a food hall it’s easy to find something to everyone’s liking.

Marina Bay Sands is an impressive piece of construction to look at from a distance. We went to Marina Bay Sands to have drinks at the rooftop bar. You pay a price to go up to the bar, but this is actually a voucher for a drink. The prices at the bar is steep, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I’d say it’s worth it. The view from the top is magnificent, you see everything from up there, and the atmosphere is calm and relaxing. From the top you can see down to Gardens by the Bay, and get a glimpse of the light show, if you’re there by night. There is a view deck and you get to go even further to the edge of the building, and get an even better view.

All in all Singapore is a great place to visit. As most people speaks English, it’s easy to be a tourist in the city. The city is easy to get around in, both by foot and by public transport. I didn’t expect to like Singapore as much as I did, but now there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d like to go back. From what I could see Singapore is a place where different cultures has merged in a very interesting way, and where harmony and mutual respect blossoms.

Until next time,

Martine