singapore redux
Singapore has always had a buzz but a host of new attractions – not to mention freshly minted hotels, boutiques and restaurants – have cemented the city-state’s spot in the sun.
Modern, clean and renowned for its love of rules, Singapore is often dismissed as a good place to stop over en route to your real destination. But beneath the squeaky-clean exterior lies a city with many hidden charms and a new buzzing pulse. Lush parks and gardens make it a pleasure to stroll around; an efficient transport system means you are rarely late; bountiful shopping malls offer endless opportunities for retail therapy; and a fascinating ethnic brew – Chinese, Malay, Indian – makes for fascinating architecture, museums and, of course, food. Singapore may be an economic powerhouse, but it still has a lot of soul.
The pint-sized island is one of the world’s greatest trading centres. Be it designer clothes, electronic appliances or takeaway teas you are looking for, Singapore is the place to shop. It’s also a terrific place to eat, with a dining roster that bounces from hole-in-the-wall establishments in Chinatown, Arab Street and Little India to some of the fanciest eateries in the region.
In freewheeling, fun-city terms, Singapore may still be a far cry from Bangkok, but the government is doing its utmost to make itself over from prohibitively staid to invitingly sexy with a host of hot events and festivals, not to mention some of the biggest entertainment developments in Southeast Asia.
This year has seen the opening of two “integrated resorts”: Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. In addition to more than 2,000 rooms, the Marina Bay property features a casino, a shopping mall and restaurants helmed by some of the world’s most applauded celebrity chefs. There’s also a Banyan Tree spa and the impressive Sands Sky Park: a soaring observation deck replete with a 150-metre-long infinity pool and landscaped gardens, all set some 200 metres above the ground.
And there’s more to come: over the next year the complex will welcome a floating Louis Vuitton emporium and Pangaea and Avalon nightclubs (also floating in the bay) as well as a stunning lotus-shaped museum. Bali’s über-popular lounge-bar Ku De Ta will even open an outlet here in the near future, bringing a touch of beachside bliss to the Lion City.
Resorts World Sentosa is the latest development to inject life into Singapore’s Sentosa Island. The sprawling waterside complex already has four hotels but two more are set to open in coming months. The site will also feature the largest marine park in Southeast Asia. Until that opens, visitors can find plenty to keep them entertained at the casino and Universal Studios theme park, the first of its kind in the region, home to seven themed zones containing hundreds of rides and attractions, many of them unique
to Singapore.
For a bird’s-eye view of it all, be sure to stop by the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel. When you get to the top you’ll enjoy a shimmering vista of the city’s bustling harbour.
Back at ground level, dozens of operators offer sea and river cruises – the latter, while touristy, are a fun way to take in historic sites such as Boat Quay, an area of restored shops transformed into restaurants and bars. Also along the Singapore River you’ll discover the spiky-domed Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay complex – an architectural attraction, whether you take in a show or not – as well as the Asian Civilisations Museum, home to Islamic calligraphy and Southeast Asian puppets, textiles, ceramics and masks.
If you can survive the sweltering tropical heat and humidity, there are plenty of outdoor diversions. Begin your day with tai chi in the fragrant Singapore Botanic Gardens amid towering rainforest trees; get up close and personal with lions and tigers at the Night Safari park; ogle flocks of migrating birds at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; or simply chill out on one of Sentosa’s three beaches, also popular among watersports enthusiasts.
Singapore may be small but it packs a big punch. Read on to discover the hottest places to sleep, eat and shop in town along with our guide to the city’s best cruises and most dazzling events. •
travel facts
• Creative Holidays: creativeholidays.com.au
• Jetstar: 131-538; jetstar.com.au
• Qantas: 131-313; qantas.com.au
• Singapore Airlines: 131-011; singaporeairlines.com.au
• Sinapore Airlines Holidays: 1300-666-722; siaholidays.com.au
• Singapore Tourism Board: 1800-736-2000; yoursingapore.com
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