5 Mar - 6 Mar | Singa-bore, No more lah! | Singapore

Singapore, a familiar yet foreign destination for me. Our affairs are so brief. A simple exchange of 'Hello & Goodbye' - that's been the extent of our encounter. Over the years I have learnt to navigate my way around Singapore Airport T3 like it is my second home. I know where to find my kaya toast with milk tea; to find the internet terminal with the least people; to find my favourite shops to satisfy my need to browse but not buy; to find a place to sleep on those brief stopovers. Routine and familiarity. 'Singapore', the city outside the confined space of an orderly and homely airport terminal - I've never known you too well. Although I have come to visit you on countless occasions, and experienced a close encounter of almost setting up life in Singapore 17 years ago, you have still been a stranger all these many years. This time, no. I am determined to venture beyond T3 and discover Singapore the modern Asian metropolis booming with activity under the hot equatorial sun.

I only just visited Singapore 6 months ago in October; but it was a whirlwind visit where I didn't really have much time to explore. This time, I was determined to do a bit of sightseeing and exploring for once.  Here are the highlights of my 48 hour stopover! (still a short trip!)

Raffles Hotel - One of Singapore's most famous hotel and landmark, and for very good reason. After 20 or so years visiting Singapore, this was my first time walking 'inside' the hotel. It is a grand, gorgeous hotel that takes you back to the Colonial days of Singapore aka 1920s. In a city where the newest project always attracts the most attention and fanfare, this is definitely a welcome change from the modernity of Singapore. I arrived at this hotel to have lunch with my friend S whom I hadn't seen since Taipei 2009! She treated me to a lovely Nasi Lamak lunch with a Singapore Sling (invented at this very hotel around 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon at the Long Bar) @ The Empire Cafe - a delightful 1920s style 'Coffee House' cafe with local dishes and some international dishes. You will not find 'value for money' here, but a colonial-Singaporean experience! I definitely recommend coming here during your Singapore stopover.

Raffles Courtyard



Nasi Lemak @ Empire Cafe...HUGE servings!



Tourists lounging @ Long Bar



Ion Orchard - This gigantic mall has probably been around for a few years now, but it was nice seeing a bubble-shaped shopping centre on Orchard Road. (Question: Why do Singaporeans need more and more malls??) Singapore is supposedly a shopping haven, but given I had just come from Hong Kong & Taipei, shopping was definitely the last thing on my mind! So I focused my attention on appreciating nice things and eating. I dined at the Ion food court before going back home to Sydney and took a few snaps. They have certainly added a new aesthetic to my idea of 'food courts'. Decor is pretty, but food can be better! But who can tell given I myself ate one huge bowl of laksa, chicken satay and ice kacang in one sitting :S

Glitzy Ion Orchard Rd

Ion by Night

Aint this a fancy food court?

我這個愛吃鬼！Still had a stomach to eat Ice-Kacang!

With my laksa & satay...
my mate's prawn noodles also in view as well

Singapore Chilli Crabs - Since I am an offspring of Malaysian-Chinese parents, I am always going to argue that the food is just so much better in Malaysia (and need I say cheaper?). So what else can one eat in Singapore? Answer: Singapore Chilli Crabs. S recommended her mates restaurant called Red House Seafood Restaurant, apparently HK superstar Maggie Cheung dined here before, so if it was good enough for her, it is good enough for me! There are 2 locations, one on the East Coast (where many famous seafood restaurants are located) and one at Robertson Quay which is where we dined. The food was delicious! 



Yummy Pepper Crab!!



Singapore Chilli Crab

Getting right into the meal!

Marina Bay Sands - Want to blow your money in Singapore? Then head to Marina Bay Sands! It is the new Casino Complex that has really elevated Singapore to a new status. I really wanted to check out the famous skypark /pool bar 'Ku De Ta' just for the sake of saying 'I have been there' when I came here last time with limited time! So this time I made an effort to convince my friends to head there. The view from the skypark bar is simply stunning!! It does make you go 'wow' however, the $50 elevator ride with 1 drink included is a rip-off, but they sure know how to milk tourists like me who will pay for it because she only had 1 night left in Singapore! To avoid such high charges, do not go on a Saturday night after 9pm! I'm still glad I went though :)

Inside Marina Bay Sands...look at those impressively large pot plants

Reflections

Bar in the sky!

My dodgy photo of the crowd @ Ku De Tar

Some of the view from above...looks like there was a water light show on at the time

View around Marina Bay

More lights & views



Can you see the pool from here??



Just more of the oasis in the sky before heading down again

M, B & Me...at the expensive elevators!

S & Me...heading back down

National Museum of Singapore - Museums in Singapore? Yep, surpringly they exist! Since S was there with some friends for lunch, I decided to join them after my own family lunch with Dad and my aunty & uncle. The architecture of this museum is quite stunning - with the light-filled foyer areas and interesting decorations in a modern space. I really liked it! Unfortunately for me, I was in such a rush to get there I forgot my camera. So I had to settle with my average camera phone to snap some shots. The exhibitions inside this museum are probably less impressive than the architecture of this museum, but I still enjoyed my lesson on Singapore's history, and checking out some other permanent exhibitions such as the Fashion Living Gallery.

Interesting sculptural art

Light filled modern entrance

Selected photos from the exhibitions...my camera phone has serious limitations indoors!

Singapore Art Museum SAM - Since it didn't take us long to browse through the National Museum, we dropped into the nearby SAM and, surprisingly I quite liked it. I prefered this museum to the National Museum just because I like fine arts more so than Singapore's history (can one blame me?). This museum is housed inside the former St. Joseph's Institution, which was one of Singapore's oldest Catholic boys school until it was gazetted as a national monument and became a musuem. If you are tired from the shopping and eating, SAM is a welcome change and I'd recommend a visit.

St. Regis Hotel - My dad was here on a business trip same day I arrived into Singapore, so I managed to enjoy a bit of luxury at the St. Regis Hotel. This hotel is probably one of the best ones I have ever stayed at, and the best thing about it, FREE for me! (on par/marginally better with the Lebua experience of Bangkok 2010) On a serious note, for luxury hotels, I have to say the Asian cities know how to create a space of true indulgenece and escape. (sorry Australia & USA, you need to lift your game to compete with Asian cities!) The hotel lobby is stunning and the rooms were impressively large. The bathroom was probably one of the larger ones I've ever seen, toiletries were well stocked, there was ample space for suitcases and the only complaint I have about this hotel would be the slightly slow service, but that was a non-issue really. I'd highly recommend this hotel to anyone planning a Singapore visit and have money to spend :)

Poolside @ St Regis

The bright & spacious lobby

Another Lobby area I think...

This is the room where I ate breakfast...stunning!

Some other photos of Singapore taken this trip:

Some Tapas Restaurant around Chimes

Chimes during the day is completely empty!
But how nice are the mosaic chairs and tables?

新加坡－這次我真的對妳另眼相看。妳不在是那了無生趣的地方。妳真的能站在世界的舞台上閃耀。但妳可不能忘記本色。雖然妳的歷史不是悠久古老的，但這就是妳的特色。我期待妳的未來。請帶給我驚喜吧！