Orchard Road
Singapore's Champs-Élysees stretches 2.5 kilometres
long and is said to have the largest concentration of shopping
malls worldwide. Originally a nutmeg and pepper plantation,
Orchard Road today is lined with ritzy malls, swanky eateries
and luxury hotels from end to end. The more notable shopping
centres include Ngee Ann City, Tangs Department Store, Wisma
Atria, The Heeren and Centrepoint. Nevertheless, some old
portions of the street have managed to escape the bulldozers,
particularly the peranakan shophouses near Emerald Hill,
built at the turn of the 20th century.
Little India
Awash with scents and sights of the subcontinent, this is
a microcosm of India where every imaginable Indian product
can be found: trinkets, sarees, spices, sweetmeats, nose
studs, flower garlands and anything else that an Indian
household needs. Traces of Hinduism are found everywhere,
from the elaborate temples to wall calendars with pictures
of Hindu deities. On Sundays, Indian locals and foreign
workers flock the streets to eat, chat, shop and worship.
Hard though it is to walk through the crowds, this is a
unique spectacle you should not miss.
Sentosa
This modern resort island south of Singapore is more than
just sentosa (tranquil). Apart from 3.2 kilometres of white
sandy beaches and lush tropical fauna, it offers a kaleidoscope
of historical enclaves, adventure parks, landscaped gardens
and a variety of museums. The Underwater World, for instance,
is Asia's largest tropical fish oceanarium.
With
so many attractions awaiting you, it is best to come early,
take the monorail to get your bearings and plan your itinerary
first. Or check into one of the resorts and enjoy the island's
never-ending bliss piecemeal and thoroughly.
Night Safari
Put a zoo and a national wildlife park together and you
will get this enchanting Night Safari that is home to 100
exotic species, many rare and endangered. The first of its
kind in the world, this 40-hectare jungle allows you to
watch 1,000 nocturnal animals come alive at night in their
natural habitat. A tram ride lets you tour the park in comfort
(extra charges apply). For more adventure, choose from one
of the three walking trails and discover the wildlife at
close quarters.
Boat Quay
One of the best spots in Singapore to alfresco dining. And
who would have foreseen that back when the area was still
a cargo-loading bay? A popular hangout for locals, expatriates
and tourists, Boat Quay now boasts chic cafes, high-end
restaurants, yuppie pubs and designer galleries. Rather
than cargoes of trade, you find the riverside today awash
with tables set up for alfresco dining. This picturesque,
though busy, stretch offers great views of the Singapore
River and part of the colonial district.
Chinatown
Although largely scarred by redevelopment, Chinatown today
still contains pockets of genuinely old shophouses where
age-old trades like clog-making and calligraphy continue
to be practised. Paper effigies of cars, houses and other
material objects are still being made for the deceased.
These are then burnt, in the belief that they will raise
the standard of living of the deceased in the next world.
For tea connoisseurs, a visit to a tea house is a must,
not only to relish the flavour of Chinese tea, but also
to experience the traditional art of tea-brewing.
Hari Raya Puasa
Hari Raya Puasa is the first day of the 10th month of the
Islamic calendar, Syawal. It marks the end of Ramadan, the
month of fasting that is obligatory for all healthy Muslims
who are of age. It is a day of celebration, thanksgiving
and feasting. On this day, Muslims all over the world offer
a special prayer in the morning and later visit their relatives
and friends. The young will seek forgiveness from elders
for their past misconduct. The festival is most brilliantly
celebrated in Geylang Serai, with a bustling outdoor market
and the Hari Raya Light-Up.
Singapore Zoological Gardens
Opened in 1973, this zoo uses moats and beautifully landscaped
glass-fronted enclosures to house some 2,800 animals. Twenty-eight
hectares of land is divided into more than a dozen regions,
featuring 216 species, including rare and endangered ones.
The world's largest captive orang-utan group can be found
here. Two programmes, Wild Breakfast and Afternoon Tea,
enable visitors to interact with and learn more about six
species of animals while having their meal (extra charges
apply). Photographic opportunities, of course, abound. Other
highlights include feeding programmes, elephant and pony
rides, animal shows and a tram ride.
Singapore Discovery Centre
The centre takes you through Singapore's technological endeavours
and achievements in an entertaining and educational setting.
Loads of hands-on activities await your participation--virtual
reality games, computer-simulated shooting, virtual parachute
jumps, a motion simulator ride...just to name a few (separate
charges may apply). In addition, be sure to strike up a
conversation with Little George, a truly interactive robot.
A
separate gallery deals with the history and progress of
military technology, while military vehicles from various
vintages are exhibited on the grounds. Cap your visit with
a 30-minute coach tour of the SAFTI Military Institute.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Founded in 1859 with a mission to cultivate plants of economic
potential, the 52-hectare Singapore Botanic Gardens made
a historic milestone in 1877 with the cultivation of Malaysia's
and Indonesia's first rubber plantations. Today, with more
than 600,000 plant specimens, it is clearly one the world's
largest botanical reserves.
The park provides a comprehensive introduction
to plants in a variety of settings, from rolling lawns and
orchid gardens to a tropical jungle. Other attractions include
the National Orchid Garden, Visitors Centre, tea room, spice
and herb gardens, and the eco-lake.
A
SGD35-million redevelopment plan is currently underway to
make the park's plant collections more accessible to the
public.
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