The travel blog hasn’t gotten much love lately, and honestly that’s mostly because I haven’t had a good opportunity to explore anywhere new recently. As some of you know, my last attempt to Jaipur ended up in a whole debacle  that I wish never to repeat again. So as I plan for my next trip, I’m writing about places that I’ve called home but have never written about. We’ll start with Singapore – my residence for 18 years of my life and an ever-evolving city that is in search for its identity. I’ll be writing this with the intent to provide a guide for a visiting traveler.  I had already constructed a more skeletal guide here but it’s always nice to put some pictures to the locations. Here’s my guide to Singapore.

Day 1 – Cultural Districts

Singapore is a small city-state that can be pretty much explored in three days. Having said that, Singapore is a city much better lived in that just passed through. Similar to my time in London and Chicago, I found myself appreciating Singapore only after living there as a young person and finding ways to explore nooks and crannies.

If you are just passing through though, the first thing to try to get a sense of is the deep culture and history of our multicultural community. Owing back to the early colonial days where Singapore just became an entrepot economy, tons of migrants made their way here to find jobs and make Singapore their new home. Each major community was given a district to make their own (sort of) and this lead to the iconic cultural district segment of the Singapore tour.

Chinatown is where I normally recommend starting the day. Home to some of the best kept heritage buildings in Singapore, walking around Chinatown is partially about seeing how clans and communities used to form a base here and partially about getting distracted by the various wares out for sale. Must-see is definitely the Budda Tooth Relic Temple, which has regular services and tons of Buddha statues in different poses. It’s one of the more majestic sights in Singapore. Next to the temple are the Chinatown Market and the Food Street, good places to grab a meal and also go shopping. If you’re looking for the famous cheapest 1-Michelin Star chicken rice stall, that’s in the market, although the line is always long and the owner’s now many franchises are decently comparable. Also look out for murals along the way that throwback to scenes from the older days including street-side fortune tellers and bird singing competitions. Proper telling of the historical narrative of Chinatown can be found in the Heritage Center, near the MRT Station.

Fun fact about Chinatown: even though it’s mostly for Chinese immigrants, till this day, it historically also was home to religious sites for all three dominant cultures. Down the road from the Budda Tooth Relic Temple, you can also find the embellished Sri Mariamman Hindu temple as well as the Masjid Jamae – another reminder of how multicultural Singapore is.

After the morning in Chinatown, head over to Little India by MRT or bus. I’ve always joked that Little India feels almost exactly like the streets of Chennai. Mostly home to the South Indian diaspora, Little India is home to colorful heritage buildings, gold and produce markets as well as tons of local art. I’ve always started at Tekka Market and Little India Arcade for some light shopping, before heading to the Tan Teng Niah building for an Instagram session. The Indian Heritage Centre is a fresh addition that provides a history to the Indian diaspora of Singapore. They did a very cool exhibition once about the Chetti culture, the Peranakan mix of Indian and Straits Malay communities. In terms of temples, there are a number but I’ve found the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple to be the most impressive. Finally, end the Little India leg with a visit to Mustafa Centre, You can find anything you want here – and if you don’t believe me, just think of what you want and go exploring. I’ll be a sucker if you can’t find what you want. Try not to get lost though!

The final stop is the Kampong Glam district, near the Bugis MRT. Mostly home to the Arab community, this land was given by Raffles, the colonial “founder” of Singapore to the Sultan as part of the deal to use Singapore as a British port. Now, it’s still home to many Arab wares including carpets and lanterns as well as a number of Indian-Muslim and Middle Eastern eateries. It also happens to be residence for one of Singapore’s best hipster streets on Haji Lane where you can find murals, boutique stores and cozy eateries like Going Om.  The centerpiece of the district is the Masjid Sultan, a towering mosque with a gold dome that beckons to all in the area. The best photo can be taken when approaching from Baghdad Street. To find out more about the history and culture of the district, you can depend on the adjacent Malay Heritage Centre which talks about not just the Malay community in Singapore but also the region.

Day 2 – Civic District and the Bay

When you wake up the next day, get ready to some walking as you’ll be seeing old and new Singapore in the same day within a short radius.

One of my favorite parts of Singapore is the Civic District, centred around City Hall MRT. This is where some of Singapore’s oldest buildings and memorials can be found. For government buildings, check out the Parliament House, Supreme Court Building and the new National Gallery (former Parliament House & Supreme Court). The Parliament House and Supreme Court buildings actually allow visitors into controlled parts of the building so you can go exploring. The Supreme Court has a view of the city that’s comparable to any other view and it’s free. The National Gallery has a section that displays the old history of the Supreme Court that’s also free for visitors.

For museums, besides the National Gallery, go to the National Museum and Singapore Art Museum for a combination of old colonial architecture and interesting Singaporean culture. Check out Fort Canning Park for a hidden-in-the-city escape that also houses a war museum. You also won’t be able to avoid the Civil War Memorial that looks like a giant pair of chopsticks but commemorates the fallen during World War II. If you’re here in the evening, go to the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel for a classic Singapore Sling or to CHIJMES, a former mission school and now entertainment venue, for food and drinks.

From the civic district, make sure to make your way down the Singapore river through Boat Quay, a lively dining and drinking district, and past Fullerton Hotel, one of Singapore’s oldest and grandest hotels. You may see more bridges, museums and historical buildings that you can come back to if you have the time, but focus now on heading to the Bay which be marked by the iconic Merlion statue. Derived from the completely fabricated (by the Singapore Tourism Board) myth that Singapore was named as such (Singa = Lion, Pura = City) because one of the explorers of the island saw a lion with a fish body swimming in the sea, the Merlion now is host to many comical Instagram shots.

There is much to see on the Bay, including theEsplanade, the ArtScience Museum and many other places to just chill and relax. Take your pick and enjoy the stroll.

When you’re ready, head up to the Marina Bay Sands, the icon of Singapore’s modern story and one of the most photographed structures here. Heading up is normally a choice between

1. Booking a pricey room in the hotel and getting access to the infinity pool
2. Paying a ticket cost to go the viewing deck which has more room to explore
3. Going to the rooftop bar (Lavo or Ce La Vi) and buying a pricey drink, but having a more constrained room to explore

Pick based on your price sensitivity but do get a shot from the top over the whole bay. If you’re not a fan of the Marina Bay Sands, you can also get a good view from the nearby Singapore Flyer, a ferris wheel that gradually goes up but also can cost a pretty penny. If you’re here in the evening, don’t miss out on their light show.

Of course, don’t miss going to Gardens by the Bay, emblematic of Singapore’s commitment to create out of nothing, something beautiful. Gifted with few natural beauties, we’ve constructed an artificial garden, complete with super-trees and climate controlled domes that can be visited for a ticket cost. You can expect to spend between 2-3 hours just exploring the various parts of the garden but if you’re here in the evening, you can look forward to a melodic symphony with lights bouncing around the super-trees.

Day 3 – Islands

You’ve been here for two days now and have seen most of what Singapore has to offer its tourists, but if you’re committed, there’s still more to explore. Choose between adventure and relaxation because there are two islands that may interest you.

If you chose adventure, head over to Changi Point Ferry Terminal to take an affordable bumboat to Pulau Ubin. Note that you’ll have to wait for other passengers to fill up the boat if you want to pay for an individual ticket. You could also just rent the whole bumboat if you’re feeling generous.

Once on the island, rent a bike and go exploring. There’s really no guide and you can choose to explore as your heart desires but I’d definitely recommend doing a hike up Bukit Puaka for a beautiful view of Ubin Quarry as well as a short roam around Chek Jawa wetland reserve, home to mangroves and other creatures.

If, on the other hand, you chose relaxation, check out Sentosa, an island meant to provide even locals an escape from the city. Home to hotels, beach resorts and the Universal Studios theme park, Sentosa is a luxury and recreation destination. I’d recommend taking a cable-car from Mount Faber, which has a great view, and going to Tanjong Beach Club for some drinks. Fun fact, Sentosa was also a strategic location for World War II and if you’re a history buff, don’t miss Fort Siloso for more juice on what happened.

Bonus

Oh wow, you’re here for more than three days? Besides taking some side-trips to the likes of Bali, Ho Chi Minh and Kuala Lumpur, here are more things you can do from Singapore.

Known as Singapore’s zaniest theme park, Haw Par Villa was created by the people behind Tiger Balm as a way to confront death. Located slightly out of the way, Haw Par Villa is known for weird museum exhibits including the various levels of hell as well as iconic Chinese motifs and symbols. It’s free to enter but be mentally prepared for a whirlwind of a tour.

There’s also a surprising number of parks in Singapore. Between Southern Ridges,a wavy bridge structure in the south of the city, the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO site with rich biodiversity and the Macritchie Treetop Walk, a fun walk through the trees in the centre of Singapore, you won’t be short of ways to explore Singapore’s natural offerings.

If you’re looking for more culture, go to the home of Peranakan stories in Singapore at Katong district, and look for the colorful houses on Joo Chiat Road. You also have Gillman Barracks for colonial barracks meet art galleries, Orchard Road for shopping district meets luxury, and the Night Safari/ Singapore Zoo complex for animals meets unique park concepts. You can’t get too bored in Singapore.

Eating and Drinking

I normally dedicate a lot of space in my travelogues for food, but I can’t even begin to do justice to the myriad of offerings in Singapore. There have been nobler efforts by fellow bloggers so I’ll direct you to one of my favorite catalogs for a more authoritative view on where to find good local food in Singapore, including Chicken Rice, Nasi Lemak (coconut rice) and Chili Crab. My only advice here is to go to Hawker Centres and markets, and to look for long queues as an indication of fanfare.

I will list some of my all-time favorite spots in Singapore though, in case you want my personal recommendations. Not all are necessarily focused on Singaporean cuisine and they’re not ranked.

Food:

1. Coconut Club
2. Meatsmith Little India
3. Burnt Ends
4. Candlenut
5. Two Men Bagel House
6. A Noodle Story
7. Labyrinth
8. Scissors Cut Curry Rice
9. Fook Kin
10. Park Bench Deli

Coffee:

1. Tong Ah Eating House
2. Nylon Coffee Roasters
3. Glasshouse
4. Chye Seng Huat Hardware
5. Stamping Ground Coffee

Bars:

1. Straits Clan
2. ATLAS
3. Operation Dagger
4. 28 HongKong Street
5. Elephant Room
6. Live Twice
7. Nutmeg & Clove
8. Smoke & Mirrors
9. Skinny’s Lounge
10. Little Island Brewing Co

Nightclubs:

1. Zouk
2. Marquee
3. Bang Bang
4. 1-Altitude
5. Headquarters

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All in all, Singapore’s going to give you tons of fun and excitement. The country is a young one, having only gotten independence in 1965 and still forming its identity. As much as the guide above gives you a list of things to explore and do, Singapore truly comes alive when overlapped with stories of the policies, push-backs and people that are behind most of what you will see. That’s always been my personal focus when I show my Singapore to my friends who visit.

If you’re in town while I’m here and you have my contact, feel free to hit me up – maybe I can show you more of my Singapore to you.