The name in itself makes me want to sing with joy and pour my heart out before the world, by capturing the beauty, that is this magnificent city, in bright and vivid photographs. Singapore has outranked 21 other major cities of Asia, to become the greenest city, according to the ‘The Asian Green City Index‘ conducted by Siemens in 2011. Regardless, there is much more that Singapore has to offer to its visitors. There is something for everyone, irrespective of what is their area of interest. Starting from shopping, to nature trails, to casinos, an exciting nightlife scene, ongoing festivals, etc; one shall be left spoilt for choice about what they would like to do in this city.
However, there is usually more than one way to travel in any place. First, as being a tourist, and visiting all the famous must-see sights and locations of Singapore. Secondly, as a traveller, where in one can skip the long queues at the usual crowd drawing attractions and give a miss to the regulars, such as Universal Studios. Experience the city like one of its locals and dig in deep into the rich culture of Singapore. Food and shopping go hand-in-hand with the culture of the city-state and one cannot get enough of them here. Simply follow the crowd and you’re sure to find your way and locate the best eateries is any corner of Singapore.
Here, one never has to worry about a place to stay in, since a large portion of the economy of Singapore relies on Travel and tourism. Booking a hotel is always an option, however, we all know that a hotel is not always the most unique way to go. Therefore, why not try something new and make your stay more authentic. There are a wide range of condos, apartments- big and small, for a person to pick from. Live amongst the locals of the area and get first-hand experience of the heritage of Singapore.
Singapore has a variety of activities to offer, spread across its geographically divided 5 different regions, namley- (1) The North Region (2) The North-East Region (3) The East Region (4) The West Region and (5) The Central Region.
The North Remembers!
No! It is not just about what Game of Thrones has to offer. The northern region of Singapore, with a population of 531,860; it is the second largest region of the city-state. The northern region has numerable virgin forests and the regional centre is Woodlands. Though it might seem like the area does not have much sights to offer, for those who are actually keen on taking in the vibe of the northern region, there are different activities for one to chose from such as the Sembawang Hot spring. Neatly hidden in the northern tip of Singapore, it happens to be the only natural hot-spring which is located on the mainland. Despite its pungent odour, it draws large crowds because of the rumoured healing effects of the water. Or one could drop by The Animal Resort , or Bollywood Veggies, or Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and spend a relaxing day, interacting with nature and animals or fishing in these various sights on offer. After the sun sets, one can head on over to the Yishun Dam and click a few snaps to hone their skill or simply lay back and enjoy the star sprinkled sky. Head on over to Khatib Bongsu Park Connector to take in the serenity of the atmosphere or one could even go paddling in the calm and still waters here. The Kranji War Memorial is an homage to the men and women who had given their lives in the line of duty during the travesty of the Second World War.
The North-East Tranquillity
The north-east region is the most densely populated region. It consists of the towns- Hougang, Kovan, Punggol, Serangoon and Sengkang. This is a self-sufficient region that caters to all the different needs of its residents, thereby ensuring that people are not forced to go out of the region too often. High-rises, alongside condominiums are a regular sight here. There is not much to do here, but one could easily spend a day at the My Waterway @ Ponggol, which is a large waterpark. For nature enthusiasts, Ponggol Point has breath taking flora and fauna to offer, as well as Bi-cycles on rent. Lastly, stock up on food and drinks and head on over to Coney Island, just off the coast of Ponggol, perhaps for a day of potluck. One can even get a glimpse of Johor Baru, Malaysia from here. Or simply, go prawning, which literally translates to fishing for prawns, but the uniqueness of it is that one catches them using rods!
The East Treat
This region is has the smallest land area, yet it is the second most populous region of Singapore, with Bedok being the densest populated town. The Tampines is the regional centre. This region also houses the Changi Airport, as well as the Paya Lebar Airbase and the Changi Prison. This region is also home to the Malay Community. During the month of Ramadan, it lights up in celebration of festivities, as the muslims of this area pour onto the streets to shop and eat out after the sun sets. Besides this, you could visit the Changi Chapel and Museum, or tour the recreation of the Malay Village. For shops specialising in Peranakan crafts, drop by Katong and Joo Chiat. Eastern Singapore has numerous beaches to offer but beat the tourist rush and head over to Pasir Ris, for a true taste of the heritage of Singapore. Hey! Guess what? You don’t even have to worry about where you are gonna stay during your visit to the Eastern region. Tampines condo have a range of condos available on rent, for anyone to chose from. Stay like a local, and travel to your heart’s content. Build your own little sanctuary, to your liking, by simply renting out a place at Tampines condo.
West Beats the rest
This one is going to be tough to choose from. The west region of Singapore has innumerable options to pick from! Starting with some retails therapy at IMM that too at a discounted rate! Or you could head over to J.Avenue for some affordable street fashion. From Kayaking to Zorbing to playing Baseball indoors or Ice Skating and even Star Gazing. There is a lot to leave one scratching their head on what to do and what to miss. The Pandan Reservoir, Jurong Eco Garden, Westgate Wonderland, Bukit Batok Town Park, are some of the tourist attractions of this region, to name a few.
Central Daze
The central region of Singapore is the main metropolitan centre of Singapore. However, it still has quite a few lazy tasks to take your pick from. With the National Museum of Singapore, The Botanic Gardens, The Singapore Art Museum, and many more such places to chose from, this region is a delight for the knowledge hungry travellers. It is also the home of the Marina Bay Sands, one of the main tourist spots of Singapore. You can also get a glimpse of the Double Helix Bridge from here.
The Singapore Flyover caters to your needs for a breath-taking skyline view of the area. If you are a nature lover, then the Supertrees at the Garden by the Bay will do the trick for you. The central area also houses the Chinatown, and Buddha Teeth Relic Temple. Chinatown draws large crowds to its stalls for a taste of Singaporean authentic Chinese cuisine. For all the sun, sand and shorts lovers, Sentosa Island is the go to place, to get their fix of the sand and the sun. Or simply head on over to the business district for a visit to the Merlion Park and Singapore’s famous lion fountain statue!
Singapore is a widely connected city. It’s airport, Changi Airport, is well connected with the rest of the world with daily flights coming in from every corner of the world. The uniqueness of this airport lies in the fact that besides being a cargo hub and commercial airway, it is also open as a social space for the people. No wonder that the people of Singapore are soo proud of their airport, or why it is such a common household name. Singapore is a melting pot, where the old meets the new. It is an urban hub where the roots of tradition hold steadfast. The growth of high-rise buildings, alongside the heritage sights of the city, goes further to show that a visit to Singapore will leave one in awe at its technological advancement, while at the same time, they hold onto their past and its glory.
