Have the best fun ever in Singapore

SINGAPORE LOCAL HISTORYand R&B music.
Much of Southeast Asia’s attractionThere is airy riverside seating or cozy tables next
was its position in between two monsoonto the stage. This is a classy place and even
seasons. One half of the year saw winds thatthough it is very popular, you can always get a
carried sailing vessels from China to Southeastseat. The wine bar is very laid back with plush
Asia, while the other half of the year carriedsofas and a dimly lit seating area. This is the
sailing vessels from India and Arabia to Southeasthottest hub for musicians and other artiste types.
Asia. The English, Dutch, Portuguese, French andHappy hour is from 11 am to 9 pm.
Spanish saw that there was an advantage toLiquid Room – 76 Robertson Quay.
having a trading post in Southeast Asia. SirLiquid Room was the first dance club to spin
Stamford Raffles arrived in 1819, signed a treatytechno, trance and house music nightly in
with Temenggong Abdu’r Rahman soSingapore. The DJ’s are very selective
that a trading post could be set up on the island,only playing the best of each genre. This club
in return an annual payment to the Sultanate wasgenerally attracts the young and energetic.
made. In 1824 the Dutch signed a treaty withUpstairs is the dance floor while downstairs is a
Britain, acknowledging Singapore as a permanentmoody lounge, which provides some down time.
British possession. In 1869, the Suez Canal openedHappy hour is from 7 to 9 pm.
which linked the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,SINGAPORE BEACHES
this put Singapore in a prime position and lessFrom Changi Point at Changi Village you have a
dependent on trade winds.panoramic view of Malaysia, Indonesia and several
Singapore was virtually untouched by World Warof the Islands that belong to Singapore. The
I, but with increased pressure by the U.S, Britainbeach is calm, frequented by locals who set up
broke off relations with Japan and this made thecamps and barbecues and enjoy a day on the
defenses in Singapore a primary concern. In 1941beach.
the first bombs were dropped on Singapore.You can rent kayaks along the beach to do some
Japanese ground forces attacked on 8 Februarywater sports. There is a huge hawker center,
1942, driving the British forces back. Theinternational restaurants and pubs, which serve
occupation was harsh, mass executions werefresh seafood for lunch when you get hungry.
everyday events and prisoners of war wereOn Kusu and St. John’s islands there
tortured and killed. On 5 September 1945, theare swimming lagoons, which are quiet out of the
Japanese surrender to Lord Louis Mountbatten.way places to go. Some of them have great
In 1959 the Peoples Action Party (PAP) swept 43views of the city.
seats in the country’s first electionsCentral Beach is the best beach that you will find
and Lee Kuan Yew became the first primein Singapore. It is located on Sentosa Island. There
minister of Singapore. In 1963 Singapore wasare varies water sports to choose from and fun
admitted to the Federation of Malaysia, but due tobeach activities. Occasionally there will be a night
the PAP wanting to become a national entitydance party here. There are also a variety of
rather than a local Singaporean party, Singaporerestraints and pubs to choose from to.
was expelled from the Federation on 9 AugustSINGAPORE PARKS & GARDENS Chinese and
1965. In 1971 the last of the British forces left theJapanese Gardens – Located at 1
island and Singapore gained its independence.Chinese Garden Road. The Chinese Garden
SINGAPORE ATTRACTIONSdedicates most of its area to the
Kuda Kepang – This is not your‘northern style’ of landscape
average traditional dance. Once in a while on aarchitecture. This is mainly the style of the
Saturday night you can see young men onImperial gardens, with brightly coloured buildings to
wooden horses who move like warriors, whirling,compensate for the absence of rich plant growth
spinning and slapping the horses to makeand natural scenery in China. The Stone boat is a
intimidating sounds out of them. There isreplica of the stone boat at the Summer Palace in
rhythmic, repetitive traditional Malay music, whichBeijing. Special attention has been paid to the
the warriors dance to in unison and staging battlesplacement of rock formations to resemble true
with each other, and by the end of a long seriesnature. In the Japanese Garden marble-chip paths
of dances, the horsemen are in a trance. From ahave been laid so that you can hear you own
pot of burning frankincense, the warriors inhalefootsteps, but they also serve to slow down your
this, and then all hell breaks loose. The dancersjourney so that you can gaze upon the scenery.
are whipped, fed glass (which they chew andThis garden was designed to evoke feeling. There
swallow), walk on glass shards and shredare plenty of benches so that you can sit down
coconuts with their teeth. What is really amazingand take in the sights.
is that the next day the dancers don’tSingapore Botanic Gardens – The first
recall what they did the previous night. The dancebotanic garden was started at Fort Canning by Sir
is not performed on a regular basis.Stamford Raffles in 1822.
Asian Civilisations Museum – Located atThere is a rose garden, sundial garden with
39 Armenian Street. The old Tao Nan Schoolpruned hedges, a banana plantation, a spice
dates from 1910 and was completely renovatedgarden and sculptures by international artists. The
and reopened in 1997 to house the AsianNational Orchid Garden is 3 hectares of gorgeous
Civilisations Museum. There are various displays oforchids. There is a gift shop, which sells live
calligraphy, ceramics, furniture, artwork and finehydroponics orchids in test tubes. There are also
collections of jade. The exhibits in the galleries arethree lakes. The Botanic gardens also offers
continuously changing to represent the other‘concert in the park’ with
Asian civilisations as well.various local and international performers
Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom Museum ofEsplanade Park and Queen Elizabeth Walk
Singapore – Located on Sentosa Island.– These two parks are the most
This is a walk in enclosure, which provides an upfamous in Singapore and were established in 1943
close and personal view of some of the 60 liveon reclaimed land. There are several memorials
species of native butterflies, from cocoon to adult.located in the parks. Theatres on the Bay opened
The exhibits here are mostly dead, but extensive.in October 2002 this is a unique double-domed
The collection carries more than 2500 bugs.structure and is locally known as the Durians
SINGAPORE CUISINEbecause of its spiky domes, which resemble
Singapore has a variety of cuisine’s,halves of durian shells. These spikes are sun
which its local restaurants and eating-placesshields.
specialize in.SINGAPORE SHOPPING
There is New Asia cuisine also called fusion food,Hilton Shopping Gallery – 581 Orchard
which combines Eastern and Western ingredientsRoad. This shopping Gallery is at the Hilton
and cooking styles for a whole new eatingInternational Hotel and has the most exclusive
experience. You also get Cantonese cuisine, Beijingshopping in Singapore. A few international design
cuisine, Shanghai cuisine, Indian cuisine, Malayhouses have made this their Singapore home,
cuisine, Peranakan cuisine and Chinese cuisine.such as Gucci and Donna Karan.
SINGAPORE RESTAURANTSShaw House – 350 Orchard Road.
Ah Hoi’s Kitchen – 1AIsetan, a large Japanese department store, which
Cuscaden Road.sells designer boutiques for men and women,
This restaurant specialized in local cuisine. Theaccessories and cosmetics, takes up the main
menu is extensive covering most things. Thefloor.
atmosphere is real ‘vacation in theSpecialists’ Shopping Centre
tropics’. This is a great alternative for– 277 Orchard Road. The anchor store
tasting seafood if you can’t get to theis John Little, which is Singapore’s
east coast.oldest department store. The store opened its
Da Paolo e Judie – 81 Neil Road. Thisdoors in 1845. The shop might be old, however,
restaurant has been modeled in contemporarythe prices are very today.
elegance with alfresco dining and a wine bar. TheTang’s Plaza – 320 Orchard
wine list has wines from Italy. There are modernRoad. C.K.
as well as classic recipes to choose from usingPang peddled goods from an old cart in the street
the freshest seafood. The qualities of food as wellof Singapore, an industrious fellow, his small
as service are impeccable.business grew and made it into a department
Indochine – 49 Club Street. There is anstore. This store has been a success over the
air of romance and mystery created by thedecades, and now competes with all the other
Indochinese artifacts and subtle lighting. A Frenchinternational mega stores. Tang’s is
twist is added to the popular regional favorites.truly Singaporean and its history is a local legend.
This is a place to try new things. The Cuisine is aSINGAPORE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES Volcano
mixture of Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian.Land – Sentosa Island. This is a walk
Palm Beach – 5 Stadium Walk.through exhibit, which take you on a journey to
Depends on what you are in the mood for. For anthe center of the Earth. A mythological explorer
underdressed, informal evening, you can sit in theand his Jules Verne-style robot buddy talk you
downstairs dining hall, or if you feel like getting allthough the exhibit. Inside the volcano is a
dressed up and fancy, then sit upstairs in themultimedia show, which depicts the mysteries of
lovely upscale setting. The menu is the same andlife and the universe and there is also a simulation
reasonably priced focusing on seafood cuisine.of an eruption.
Located outside the restaurant is a gift shop,Underwater World – Sentosa Island.
which allows you to bring home jars of the hotThe highlight of this attraction is the tunnel, which
pot sauce, a char, chili sauce and sambal. This is ais 83 meters of transparent acrylic where you
very popular restaurant; so on weekends if youglide on a conveyor belt. There are plenty of
don’t book you will have to queue.views of the sharks, stingrays, eels and other sea
SINGAPORE BARS & CLUBS Anywhere Musiccreatures. In the smaller tanks you can view the
Pub – 19 Tanglin Road.usual sea life. A display of bamboo shark
This is one of Singapore’s oldest andembryos, which are developing within egg cases,
most established bars. It is a casual joint with ais something that is totally amazing.
mixed crowd of mostly 30’s and up.Jurong Bird Park – 2 Jurong Hill. There
The house band plays pop and rock covers tois a collection of 8000 birds from more than 600
packed crowds who dance on the dance floor.species. There is a Waterfall Aviary; this is the
Happy hours are weekdays from 6 to 9 pm.world’s largest walk-in aviary, a pretty
Bar None – 320 Orchard Road. Therewalk over pathways and babbling brooks through
are regular theme parties and comedy nights, athe landscaped tropical forest. The
resident band, which is the best club band in townworld’s tallest man-made waterfall can
that play a high voltage mix of R&B, Top 40 andalso be seen here. Every day at noon this aviary
rock. This club is extremely popular, so beexperiences a man-made thunderstorms.
prepared to stand queue. There is a cover chargeThere are two shows, which feature birds of
of $15 US, which includes 1 free drink.prey either acting out their natural instincts or
Harry’s Quayside Bar & Upstairs atperforming falconry tricks, and a show of trained
Harry’s Wine Bar – 28 Boatparrots that race bikes and other birds that
Quay. Harry’s is known for its live Jazzperform all sorts’ tricks.