As promised, Singapore has a little something for everybody. Henna Achhpal tells you about the ten must things to do when in the Lion City...
1. Wildlife Reserves
A triple treat (www.wrs.com.sg) — the Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo — is a delight for animal lovers. The bird park is the largest in the world while the zoo is home to over 316 species. The Night Safari is a unique concept that allows you to experience nocturnal animals in their natural habitat. Purchase a combined pass for all three parks but visit each on separate days to get the best of all.
2. Mustafa Centre
Located in Little India, Mustafa Centre (www.mustafa.com.sg) is not only a huge shopping centre spread over a whopping 1,50,000 sq. ft, it also houses any item you could possibly think of — from an eraser to a 42” HD television — under one huge roof! And if that’s not enough, the superstore is open 24 hours a day so you can shop until the wee hours — a literal shop till you drop experience.
3. Clarke Quay
If you think Singaporeans are workaholics who live by the rules, you haven’t visited Clarke Quay (www.clarkequay.com.sg) on a Saturday night. Facing the Singapore River, Clarke Quay buzzes in high spirits as party animals hop from restaurants to bars to some of the trendiest clubs in the city. Chinese or Mediterranean, casual or evening wear, a quiet drink or setting the dance floor on fire — whatever your idea of a fun night out, you will get it all at Clarke Quay.
4. Universal Studios
Capture moments with Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe, experience a fifth degree hurricane, feel a rush of blood to your head on the world’s tallest roller coaster and much more at Universal Studios Singapore (USS). With a total of 24 attractions, USS consists of seven unique theme zones namely Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away and Madagascar all based on a blockbuster movie or a television show, sure to be a favourite for all movie enthusiasts.
5. Bugis Street
A haven for fashionistas, Bugis Street (www.bugis-street.com) is the largest street shopping destination in Singapore with over 800 shops offering the latest and trendiest in fashion. Women, reserve an entire day and carry lots of moolah as you’re going to need it here.
6. Reverse bungee jump
When you visit Clarke Quay, it’s hard to miss the five white towers. The G-Max Reverse Bungy (www.gmax.com.sg) flings you up about 195 feet high, reverses and brings you back. Get a glimpse of Singapore’s beautiful skyline and feel the adrenalin rush as you see yourself hurtling towards the ground, all in under a minute.
7. Sentosa Island
For those who like to live the good life, head to Sentosa Island (www.sentosa.com.sg) — home to exquisite resorts and sunny beaches. Other attractions include Underwater World, Songs of the Sea and Singapore’s icon, the Merlion.
8. Raffles Place
Walk down the financial hub of Singapore which is dotted with high rises and fancy hotels. As you walk down the bustling Raffles Place, some of the sights to watch out for are The Fullerton Hotel — a heritage building, Marina Bay Sands — a modern development and the Esplanade Centre.
9. The Singapore Flyer
After you’ve admired the high rises of Singapore up close, step onto the world’s largest observation wheel to get a bird’s eye view from 540 feet above the ground. The Singapore Flyer (www.singaporeflyer.com) is fixed with 28 capsules, each of which can hold up to 28 persons and takes up to 30 minutes for each revolution.
10. Fountain of Wealth
A good time to visit the world’s largest fountain is around 7pm as every evening the fountain is turned off for about an hour so visitors can walk around and touch the base which is considered lucky.
Everywhere you go, there will be countless brochures that give all the details you will need including getting there and cost of entry. However, before you set out to explore the wonderful city of Singapore — make sure you wear comfortable shoes, carry lots of munchies and gallons of water as the endless walking is sure to get you tired and thirsty.