Singapore Vacation for Free & Easy Travelers
Great Sightseeing Singapore Holiday for Adventurous Travelers
Sep 27, 2009
Less well known is its multiracial population living in harmony, its cultural diversity and attractions. To experience Singapore's multicultural way of life, a visit to the country with a land area of only 682 square kilometres is worth the time and money.
Getting Around in Singapore
A cheap and easier way to explore the city state is by public transport. This takes the form of buses and the mass rapid transit (MRT) system. Within city limits, the tourist gets to see more by taking a leisurely walk.
Places of Interests in the City of Singapore
Travelers with limited time on their hands can experience a part of the daily lives of Singaporeans in many places whose proximity is close to each other.
Chinatown:
Early Chinese settlers from China lived in this area bounded by Upper Pickering Street, New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road and Cantonment Road. Here one can see restored shophouses selling antiques, Chinese herbs/medicine, tea leaves and local snacks such as jerky (BBQ pork) and roasted chestnuts. The Smith Street wet market where fish, vegetables and other fresh produce are sold daily is an eye opener for a western tourist. Situated above the wet market is a hawker centre and travelers can sample local food fare from various food stalls.
In the heart of Chinatown are the Sri Mariamman Hindu temple built in 1827 and the Buddha Tooth Relic temple with its design inspired by China's Tang dynasty architecture.
Boat Quay:
A twenty minute walk toward the Singapore river is Boat Quay. In the 1960s, this place was a busy entrepot trade area. A row of restored shophouses housing restaurants, cafes and pubs now lined the concrete bank of the river. It is more vibrant in the evenings when executives relax over dinner and wine after work. Nearby are the UOB Plaza One and OUB Centre, two of the tallest buildings in Singapore at 280m. The area is also the beginning of the financial business district, otherwise known as the Wall Street of Singapore.
Esplanade Theatres on the Bay:
The walk along the Singapore river brings the traveler to The Fullerton Hotel, a neo-classical building built in 1928 during the British colonial days. A basement travelator connects the hotel to the Merlion Park across the road and to the Esplanade. Sitting by the waterfront, the Esplanade’s 2,000 seat theatre is the heart of Singapore’s largest performing stage. As a performing arts centre, it has hosted recitals, concerts and other world class performances. Its unique design is its two Durian shaped structures.
Singapore Flyer:
Located at Raffles Avenue, a five minute walk from the Esplanade, the Flyer is presently the tallest ferris wheel in the world. At 165m, the ride up on one of the 28 capsules gives a panoramic view of the Marina bay, city and beyond. Next year, when the building of the Marina Bay Sands Resort and Casino is completed, the traveler will also get a bird's eye view of its glittering neon lights from afar.
Suntec City:
The Fountain of Wealth, entered as the largest fountain in the world in the 1998 Guinness Book of Records is located at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Believers of Feng Shui may consider visiting and touching its waters for good luck and health. Also known as Suntec city, it is a ten minute walk from the Flyer.
Little India:
Located outside the city limits, Little India is the focal point of the local Indian community. Taking a cab to Serangoon Road, passing Tekka market and the side roads, the traveler can see dense shophouses selling spices, jasmine garlands, colorful saris/Punjabi suits, goldsmith shops, and shops selling Indian sweets and desserts. The traveler may feel as though he or she is in a street in India. Most tourists from South India are familiar with this place especially Mustafa Centre at Syed Alwi Road.
Geylang Serai:
The Geylang Serai area, stretching from Tanjong Katong Complex to the Kampong Ubi Community Centre, is the heart of the Singapore Malay community. The new Geylang Serai market at Jalan Turi, retains much of its Malay heritage. In the area, one can find shops selling Malay handicrafts, rugs, fabric, batik, clothes, CDs of modern and traditional music, household items and naturally some of the best Malay food.
Singapore's Appetizing Delights
To get a taste of Singapore's diverse local flavor, the traveler should try some of the cheap local food dished out by the hawker centres. A must try order is Laksa, Char Kway Teow, Hainanese chicken rice, Satay, Carrot cake, Roti Prata (crispy South Indian pancake), chilli crabs cooked in thick tomato gravy and chilli base, Nasi Lemak (coconut flavored rice with anchovies, cucumber and chilli paste), Nasi Bryani (rice fried in vegetable oil), and Kaya (jam) toast with a cup of local coffee.
Main Shopping District in Singapore
The best place to go on a shopping spree is downtown Orchard Road. This is the main shopping district where luxury brands, street fashion and designs galore. Ion Orchard is the latest shopping mall opened for business. It is touted as the redefining landmark in the local retail landscape.
Where to Stay in Singapore
Various types of accommodation to suit the traveler’s budget are available right in the heart of the city or a short distance away from the downtown areas. Built in 1887, the grand Raffles Hotel at Beach Road was where the late Michael Jackson stayed during his 1993 Dangerous Tour concert . Conveniently located near the central business district is Swissotel The Stamford, the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia. Fragrance Hotel and Hotel 81, both local budget hotel chains have hotels located in many parts of Singapore. The YMCA is another choice.
Cultural Shock
While English is the official working and spoken language, Mandarin is also commonly spoken as the population is predominantly Singaporean Chinese. Tourists can expect to hear some spoken Singlish, i.e. English with a little vocabulary consisting of Chinese dialects, Malay or even Tamil words.
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