Visiting Singapore
Whether you call it the "Lion City" or "Garden City," Singapore is sure to make a positive impression on you. 1980 was our first visit to Singapore and, like everyone else, were struck by its extreme cleanliness, ethnic diversity of both the food (a foodie paradise), people and friendliness. When was the last time you visited a country that has four official languages: English, Tamil, Chinese and Malay! And, is among the 20 smallest countries in the world with the #1 Airport, #1 Airline and #1 bunkering port.
We have returned many times since then because Singapore is one of the major gateways to Asia and is convenient to transit in and out. Not to mention, it gives us a chance to use Singapore Airlines, rated #1 as the Best Airline in the World on a yearly basis. And, each time we fly (or transit) through Singapore's amazing Changi Airport, it's always a wonderful surprise to experience its user friendliness, cleanliness and one time, even used the free tours of Singapore offered to passengers in transit for more than 4 hours.
Over the years, nothing has changed but the skyline. ...View image...New condominiums and apartment complexes (each minor cities by themselves), new hotels and upgrading go on daily. It's simple to get information on Singapore over the Internet, so I'm just going to gloss over my favorite things.
- The Hawker Centers. A hawker center is basically an outdoor food court, filled with stalls selling every kind of cuisine you can imagine. Grab a table, remember the number on it. Go from stall-to-stall trying to decide exactly what you want to eat. Tell the hawker your table number so he knows where to deliver your food. Inexpensive and with the diversity to try many different kinds of foods. This is where we first tasted "satays," another name for mini-chicken, pork or beef kebobs served with an addictive peanut sauce. You can find satays in the U.S. now, but they were unknown to us in 1980.
The Government has enacted very strict health standards on both food and water so you can order anything off a street cart or hawker center without worrying about picking up some awful disease. Everything is licensed and it is also perfectly safe to drink the tap water from a tap.
Singapore Transportation. Easy, easier and easiest! Whether you take a metered taxi, hope on the bus or MRT (Siingapore's new, immaculate subway system), it's completely safe and easy to use. Your hotel will glad give you instructions along with details on how to get somewhere and how to use.
- Just Walk. Whether it's along the waterfront by the Esplanade and the Civic District area with Parliament; or by Robertson and Clarke Quays on the Singapore River with its multitude of outdoor restaurants, small artsy-crafsy shops and huge nighttime bar scene; through Fort Canning Park with its historic spice garden and ancient fort wall; through Singapore's ethnic areas: Arab Street, Chinatown, Little India and Geyland Serei (home to the indigenous Malay's since the 1840's, you must walk!
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