[Closed] What to do in Singapore

zoo/night safari was pretty cool. A lemur tried to steal my bag in the butterfly enclosure though, the cheeky scamp.

This was a while ago mind, so don't blame me when you get there and its just a bear in a pit.

Yep, the night safari is pretty good apparently (Didn't get a chance to go myself!)

Food is an essential, though. Try Hometown on Smith St in Chinatown. Also, try the hawker's market at Maxwell. Oh, and don't miss out on the claypot chicken. Or the soft boiled eggs and toast for breakfast!

Finally, be sure to check out the butterfly garden at the airport. Ace!

What the cap'n said: eat as much as possible, the quality and range of food is brilliant.

The steam boat in China Twon is delicious and pretty reasonable and the Buddhist and Hindu temples there are also quite astounding. Botanic gardens are free, beautiful and the bus stops about 100m away (really cheap, good service).
Orchard Towers, 'Four Floors of Whores' should also be on every tourist's list although that might only apply as I've just been there with the Navy. Don't worry about being female, they cater for all tastes.

Another vote for the Botanic Garden. If you've never been in one, they have an area of Tropical Rain Forest. And Tiger Balm gardens, they're unique.

Chinatown is a must.
Also walk up the big hill to the cable car station (can't remember what the hill is called) take cable car to Sentosa island

As above, zoo and night safari are great, even better if you get there at feeding time. The big cats are amazing when its chow time!!

Hawkers for food, cheap, fresh and very nice. Theres also so much choice that you'll not struggle to find something you like.

The 'floors of whores' are there for all to see and quite a sight. Went with my sister and brother in law (they live there and are teachers) and i was telling everyone we'd been....not the done thing if your a teacher out there but great if your a tourist.

Sentosa if you want to chill out on a beach and watch the container ships go by - amazing to see the size of them and a nice place just to relax.

Raffles Hotel, home of the Singapore Sling and great for high tea. Nice food, eat nuts and throw the shells on the floor!! Felt wrong to do it at first but thats what you do. Head up the lift 100ish floors to the bar at the top. Great views of the city at sunset.

Loads to do and alot can be done for not much cash. Enjoy

Another vote for the 4 floors, lol

Marina Bay Sands is open now and the viewing deck at the top is great.

The bird park in Singapore is one of the best in the world, night safari is fun too.

simon_g - Member
Marina Bay Sands is open now and the viewing deck at the top is great.

That looked pretty impressive when I was last out there. Am planning to go on my next trip!

Jurong bird park

Black Pepper Crab

Chilli Frog

CharlieMungus - Member
Black Pepper Crab

+1. Long Beach at Dempsey for that.

Marina Bay Sands is open now and the viewing deck at the top is great.

Opinions may vary on that one. It's open. It's OK. Whether or not it's worth the money is a personal decision. I must admit that Sentosa has never really floated my boat either.

Botanic gardens are good - as others have said.

Pretend to be an ancient viceroy and sit in Raffles sipping Slings

No, don't go to raffles, or anywhere along that bit.

Marina Bay Sands viewing deck is worth a 30 min visit, 57th Floor, good view!

Its only $20 / £10... only a misrable tigh ar5e would complain about value for money, or a poor person i guess...

No, don't go to raffles, or anywhere along that bit.

Oh, sorry - I guess one of the most famous landmarks in the place isn't worth at least 30 mins just to sit and relax then?

Its only $20 / £10... only a misrable tigh ar5e would complain about value for money, or a poor person i guess...

I was dragged up there by a customer, so it wasn't even my money. Still not sure that it was value for money though 😉

I was there and Malaya for about 6 weeks it (Singapore) was a giant whore house then. Vastly improved since then (in a positive way sickos) so I would still give Raffles a look in and could you give me an update on Boogie street. It used to be an interesting cultural location!

Aww I miss Singapore now, I used to live there - basically - eat all the food you can! I'd recommend the night safari also - sentosa is a bit overated but depends if your wanting a chilled day or an authentic experience.

You wont find much that shocks you on the streets its all very relaxed and proper - some really nice street markets for bits n bobs and fake watches 😀

Probably a bit out of date but I like this article

[url= http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.04/gibson.html ]Disneyland with the death penalty[/url]

Escape

Whilst the Disney article has some humour I think its detrimental to what the experience and the country is actually like on a day to day basis.

its well regimented but it is very easy going - the lady who ran my school bus used to sneek bubble gum in to keep the kids quiet - this is when it was illegal but everyone turns a blind eye to a lot of laws.

I use that as a reference as most peoples knowledge on singapore is you can get killed for having / dropping gum. which is obviously bs.

You can get a free sight seeing tour if you're transiting though - not sure 48hrs is transiting though

http://www.changiairport.com/at-changi/leisure-indulgences/free-singapore-tour

The sealife center on santosa island is cool, or a singapore sling in Raffles would be nice..

I was there and Malaya for about 6 weeks it (Singapore) was a giant whore house then. Vastly improved since then (in a positive way sickos) so I would still give Raffles a look in and could you give me an update on Boogie street. It used to be an interesting cultural location!

Good God! When were you there?? How old are you?

I worked there for 7 months in 2000. The Night Safari is a must - the best zoo of any kind I've ever been to. Raffles is a tourist trap, but I think you really have to do it. The Gardens (Botanic, Chines and Japanese) are good if you like that stuff, and I always enjoyed Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - gives you a glimpse of what the whole island was like before 4 million people rocked up. There'a a mountain bike trail round it which is the most extreme place for atgni I've ever seen.
And the food. Eat the food.

stopped off there for 3 days last summer. The food is amazing, there are Hawker Centres (food halls) dotted around all over the place where you can get all different types of Asian food, for a few quid you can eat yourself silly. Oh and if you get the chance try the legendary Durian fruit.

Greetings from Singapore! 🙂

Above suggestions are good, I've not done the night safari but hear it can be a bit hit or miss with regard to what you see. The zoo is ace, one of the best in the world I reckon, though our polar bear is getting a new enclosure so isn't receiving visitors at present :). However, not sure I'd visit the zoo / night safari if I only had 48 hrs in the city.

You should definitely spend a day downtown, check out Chinatown & CBD then onto the Colonial district & quays area. Worth a trip on the Singapore flyer for the view - do it before it gets dark though. Top of Marina bay hotel is worth a look for the view too.

If you like seafood, as others have said you must try the chilli / black pepper crab here. I'd argue the best is Jumbo @ the East Coast Park about 15 mins out of the city. You can hire bikes and take a ride along the ECP, there's also wakeboarding in a dedicated lake where you're pulled by cables ala ski lifts here too if you're into it.

Sentosa is an obvious choice as a tourist; it's worth climbing up to Mt. Faber and then getting the cable car over for a quick look. The aquarium, as already mentioned, is superb. Universal studios is meant to be pretty rubbish unless you've got kids to entertain (I've not been).

Bukit Timah nature reserve is pretty unique, the only primary jungle left in Singapore complete with monkeys, monitor lizards and great bird life. Make sure you pack the mosquito repellent if you do choose to visit it.

I'd recommend trying to fit a boat trip over to Pulau Ubin to get a taste of what Singapore used to look, there's also one of the two decent mountain bike trails on the island and the chance to hire bikes to ride on it if you want to get some biking in. It's a 10 min boat trip from Changi village which is very close to the airport so you could try and fit it in on the way to/from the airport.

The food is great here, try and find some murtabak while you're here - it's one of my personal fave foods of Singapore.

I could go on, but you do only have 48hrs in our fair city so will stop at that. If you want to do anything specific, or want any other questions answering drop me an email (address in profile).

If you're there on a Friday, get to one of the champagne brunches. All you can eat and drink at a price, but well worth it! Town Restaurant at The Fullerton Hotel for traditional and Equinox at The Stamford Swissotel for the view. Look them up, well worth it!

CharlieMungus - Member

I was there and Malaya for about 6 weeks it (Singapore) was a giant whore house then. Vastly improved since then (in a positive way sickos) so I would still give Raffles a look in and could you give me an update on Boogie street. It used to be an interesting cultural location!

Good God! When were you there?? How old are you?

Ageist t*at!!! About 1976 once they had independance I think the country has been run by the same Prime Minster ever since i.e. An elected dictatorship! an oxymoron I know.

Ageist? Not at all. I hadn't suggested you were in any way inferior because of your age. I was merely asking, because Malaysia hasn't been called Malaya since the early sixties. Though most often I hear Malaya used by ex-colonialists. That's why I asked. Also the reference to Singapore as a giant whorehouse is pretty offensive, especially if you are referring to a post-independence Singapore. Even more so if you are referring to the Singapore of the mid-seventies. Furthermore to call mid-seventies Singapore a giant whorehouse is just wrong. It may be that you are generalising from the your experience of a part of it.

We went on the giant Ferris wheel, took in a couple of decent museums (one was about the history of Singapore - very interesting, and with an English audio guide), a sling at Raffles (could only afford one!) and dinner in Chinatown. Be aware that the Chinese food is a lot more authentic than what we get in the UK! My wife's face, as a plate of duck with face and beak still attached arrived, was a picture. I seem to remember having a really good Indian too. The metro is a very convenient way of getting round the city. Don't try and do too much - it's very hot and humid, so plan for plenty of drinks breaks and sitting in the shade.

Have yourself some laksa.

CharlieMungus - Member

Ageist t*at!!! About 1976 once they had independence I think the country has been run by the same Prime Minster ever since i.e. an elected dictatorship! An oxymoron I know.

Ageist? Not at all. I hadn't suggested you were in any way inferior because of your age. I was merely asking,

because Malaysia hasn't been called Malaya since the early sixties. Though most often I hear Malaya used by ex-colonialists. That's why I asked.

Also the reference to Singapore as a giant whorehouse is pretty offensive,especially if you are referring to a post-independence Singapore.

Even more so if you are referring to the Singapore of the mid-seventies. Furthermore to call mid-seventies Singapore a giant whorehouse is just wrong. It may be that you are generalising from the your experience of a part of it.

is just wrong

So, I was mistaken? Do tell me when Singapore became independent.

By the way is your view based on your experience?

My view is based on being Malaysian, living in Malaysia and visiting Singapore throughout the seventies. There were a number of people who referred to Malaysia as Malaya, as late as '76 but as said earlier they tended to be the old colonialists who had been out there prior to Malaysian independence. That is why I was surprised that you used the term Malaya, because it sounded like you must be over seventy years of age. Which is quite old to be still riding Moutainbikes, even by the demographic of this forum.

AS concerns the whorehouse reference, I was trying to understand how that could be your experience of it as mine was completely different and were there at the same time. My memory of it in that period was that it was a rapidly growing economy with lots of new high rise offices and flats being built. I don't remember any of them being whorehouses.

Can I now ask what your experience is based on? Where you or your parents in the forces there?

Why do you seem so angry about this?

Lah

Lah

spoken like a true Malaysian!!!
What's your connection CFH?

AS concerns the whorehouse reference, I was trying to understand how that could be your experience of it as mine was completely different and were there at the same time. My memory of it in that period was that it was a rapidly growing economy with lots of new high rise offices and flats being built. I don't remember any of them being whorehouses.

Can I now ask what your experience is based on? Where you or your parents in the forces there?

Why do you seem so angry about this?

As I said Boogie street and the "lots of new flats" kind of implies it was changing from in my opinion a giant whore house as a "Malaysian" which Singapore left after only 2 years would probably prefer to ignore (aka selective amnesia)

Bugis Street was always 'interesting' but it was famous for that, it's not as though all of Singapore was like that, otherwise it would have been anything special
Sure Singapore left Malaysia after two years, when was that?

Play the ethnic card? Never.

i must re visit this thread in 6 months time when ill be spending a month in singapore! rather looking forward to it now!

I lived between there and KL for a couple of years or so. I'll try and make suggestions without arguing 🙂

As a tourist go to:

Newton Circus
Clarke Quay
Boat Quay
East Coast Hawker Centre
Sentosa
Raffles
Orchard Road
Changi Prisoner if war museum
Little India (there's whole street lined with ladyboy whores if that's your bag)
Bugis Junction (quite tame now compared to what it apparently used to be like)
And Orchard whatsit if you want the department store of whores (if that's your bag)
I quite like Tanglin as well

Mostly food/drink related but then Singaore is reknown for its grub.

To the bloke up there Pulau Ubin is where all the taxis go to die int it?

LOL @ Whorehouse but there is some truth behind that ...

Used to work in both the countries many years ago but for me it was just bloody work with stingy employers. No luck in pulling put it this way.

The locals, especially the sarong party girls, love fair skin (white to be specific) people as they see them as an "upgrade" to what is locally available so you should be fine if you are into that sort of things.

😆

I served there

Sorry, only just read this bit. This explains our different perceptions. We may have trouble reconciling our experiences

SD-253 - pipe down, you bad-tempered, ill-informed, poorly-punctuating windbag. If the extent of your expertise is having visited Singapore as a squaddie for less than six weeks more than thirty years ago, it's unsurprising that the only thing you remember is prostitution.

"I was merely asking" my arse why ask if you were not being ageist.

Malaysia has been so called since 1963. Someone referring to "Malaya" is probably showing that they're hopelessly misinformed about the present or that their experience is so long ago that it's hopelessly out of date. You, on the other hand, have managed to show that you're both hopelessly misinformed AND out of date. Well done.

As to what's good in Singapore now: East Coast Seafood Centre always good but Lau Pa Sat in the CBD is excellent too (and prob close to where you're wandering around at least one day) with amazing Victorian architecture and cheap cold beers.

Maxwell Road Hawker Centre is right opposite Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and close to bars of Tanjong Pagar / Duxton Rds.

If you're between long flights IMVHO one of the best things you can do is go for a quick outdoor swim - if your expensive hotel doesn't have one, just go to a public swimming centre.

Shopping isn't my thing and I don't think there are any real bargains on Stuff in Singapore anyway, but walking up and down Orchard Road once is nice enough. Average sized European women will find many clothes sized too small or wrongly cut. Average STW readers will be walking around in velcro flipflops and wicking tops from Primark and won't be interested in clothes shopping anyway. 😉

If you can get someone to take you for lunch at the Singapore Cricket Club, that's pretty interesting. Also good is wandering around Singapore Supreme Court (new building) and watching a couple of trials (they do civ and crim there. More crim is done at court complex behind People's Park Complex on Eu Tong Sen).

Raffles, Marina Bay, Sentosa - meh, skip the lot imvho.

To be fair konabunny, there are a lot of prostitutes in Singapore.

I don't think there are, actually. They're just a) rather concentrated geographically, b) not hidden and c) sought out by certain tourists.

If you're a blue-balled squaddie preoccupied with prostitution, you'll certainly find it, but otherwise you could live a long time without ever coming across it (bdum tish).

You're kidding me right? As a country that has been built on trade, prostitution is ingrained in the culture. There are pros working Clarke Key! You don't have to be a squaddie to find it. If you're a bloke in Singapore it will find you. I'd certainly not consider taking visiting female friends to anywhere like the Four Floors in any other country. To liken Singapore to a a giant whore house is doing it a disservice, but to say it doesn't have a thriving sex industry that is rather apparent is just incorrect.

I agree totally that there's a sex industry in Singapore that's not going anywhere. Like everything else in Singapore, so long as it doesn't affect business or cause instability, no-one gives a ****.

Clarke Quay? Orchard Towers? Geylang? Well, yeah, obviously there are prostitutes in places known for prostitution! But if you live there and you're not into prostitution, then it's not something you're going to encounter particularly.

I spent a week in Singapore once and I thought it was the most awful place I ever visited. You know the way when abroad it seems as a tourist everything is set up [i]just[/i] to extract money from you? Singapore has this perfected, it's like the whole place is a giant shopping mall. Nothing to do but shop and consume.

As for Sentosa being a nice place to relax, it's a cross between Butlins and a Bingo Hall. Artifical beaches looking out on one of the worlds major anchorages for commercial ships, beside big docks. It's like going to Harwich to hire rowing boats to play with the container ships.

Granted the cable car to Sentosa is nice engineering, and the fort is worth a dander.

So what you're saying is, there are a lot of hookers in Singapore?

There are lots of hookers in the hooker areas of Singapore. If your impression of Singapore is that it is full of prostitutes, then you've been to the wrong places. You could go to Paris and come away with the impression that it is full of strip joints. You would have missed so much of Paris. If you think Singapore is some hooker city, you have also missed so much more of it. What I remember most about Singapore is the friendliness of the people, the cleanliness of the city and the food! Especially the food!

What I remember most about Singapore is the friendliness of the people, the cleanliness of the city and the food! Especially the food!

It's not prostitutes all over but generally they do hang around areas that they know they could get "upgrade". You know the trendy bars etc.

Friendliness yes to some extend. I wouldn't want to work for one put it this way. Stingy bar-steward. Try to finish work on time? Dream on.

Food ... eerrhhmm ... I wouldn't say it's the best in South East Asia but better than what you get here, many times over, so if you like it that's good enough. I prefer the food from the neighbouring countries put it this way.

Hookers - only in hooked areas, as above. I tend to stay at the Amara and the are't any there. Singapore Airlines hosties, though.............

Food - I think that an advantage of Singapore is the wonderful mix of national foods represented. A melting pot, if you will.

I know a good funk and rare groove joint if that's your bag...?

Yunki, seen earlier....

[img] [/img]

Food ... eerrhhmm ... I wouldn't say it's the best in South East Asia but better than what you get here, many times over, so if you like it that's good enough. I prefer the food from the neighbouring countries put it this way.

Agreed, sort of. Best food in SE Asia is in Penang

I had some Indian food in Georgetown that is the stuff of legend in my house...

So what you're saying is, there are a lot of hookers in Singapore?

"I went to Manchester and the whole time I was there, I saw track cyclists everywhere!!!" 😆

They aren't any hookers in Amara. All righty then....
I'm not saying the place doesn't have it's merrits, I spent a couple of years there. But people saying there aren't a lot of hookers and that they're just in certain areas are just wrong. Why do people feel the need to defend it for having a lot of hookers? It's just how it is there, the same as Manchester having a lot of track cyclist. Non derogetory, just true.
Food it does well. Sambal stingray, oh how I miss you!