Holiday in Singapore

Often, when speaking of Singapore, many would pull their face while saying like: "What a dull and sterile city!" But hold on! Those who say such a thing are going to miss an exceptional experience in this enticing country. Singapore is not only a shoppers' paradise or filled with overwhelming cultural extravaganzas, many other fine pockets are also readily available to be explored in just a short time. If you are looking for a chequered holiday with your limited time, Singapore is your wonderful alternative. Within just a one-day trip, there is a wide array of attractions to feast the eyes and many activities to rejuvenate the mind. :: CITY SIGHTSEEING :: Certainly, the first step in Singapore is to know Singapore. There are various sightseeing tours available for the first timers or even the repeated visitors. On tour, you can get a glimpse of different aspects of Singapore from its surface modernity to its Asian spirit core. Urban sights and architectural grandeur can be seen in the Colonial Singapore district through the City Hall, the Parliament House and the Supreme Court. Museums in the area are also good to visit. Get close to a unique blend of traditional and modern life in Singapore's multicultural sphere at China Town, Little India, Arab Street, and Geylang Serai, each of which still keep its truly ethnic atmosphere, echoing the old days of Singapore. Walking is the best way to explore these districts through their distinguished temples, architectures; shopping in their local markets selling a wide range of goods is a great fun. Take a rest in the Singapore Botanic Gardens close to the heart of the city will make you feel refreshed. The lavishly green gardens with magnificent flower and plant displays offer the relaxing atmosphere. Fine restaurants within the gardens are also available. :: SHOPPING IN SINGAPORE :: For the shopaholic, Singapore is a paradise for shopping as a labyrinth of gleaming shopping centers offers a wide range of goods. The Orchard Road is the cluster of high-class shopping malls teeming with tourists. Centrepoint is one of the most popular shopping complexes comprising countless boutiques, bookshops, and antiques and handicraft shops. Free duty goods can at Meridien. Ngee An City is composed of the Takashimaya department store and over 100 specialty stores. If you are searching for fine jewelry and furniture, go to the Orchard Towers. Brand-names goods are available at various venues such as Palais Renaissance, and Shaw Center. If the antiques and artifacts are your prime interest, head for the Tanglin Shopping Center. These shopping malls are only among many others in the area. You will find that a day is quickly swallowed up here.   :: CULTURE & ART ENTERTAINMENT :: Performing arts like music, dance and theatre can be appreciated at the Esplanade, the performance art complex located at the waterfront. This art center consists of concert hall, exhibition hall, theatre, rehearsal studios, open-air performing space, and mall. Musicals, dances, theatres both classical and contemporary are on display here regularly. Singapore Art Museum is the other destination for art lovers as it houses diverse collections of local artists.   :: NATURE DISCOVERY :: If the urban sights and shopping bore you, take a refuge to the verdant space of Singapore. Just in the heart of the city, the Singapore Botanic Garden offers varied landscapes for recreation ranging from primary forest, lawn, and lake. The Garden is then a favorite spot for joggers and Tai Chi practitioners. Open-air concerts are often held here. A day-trip across the bay to the Sentosa Island is worth taking. The Island is a popular respite from the urban life for locals and tourists alike. A bird-eye view over Singapore's skyline and busiest port from the cable car ride is really spectacular. On the island, you can enjoy its fascinating sites among which the Underwater World, Asia's largest tropical oceanariums with 2500 marine creatures is the most outstanding. The Island also offers beaches, golf courses, hotels and restaurants as well as regional food and arts. There is a free monorail or bus available for getting around. For those who are fond of more energetic activities like hiking or nature walk, go to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve which houses Singapore's highest point, the Bukit Timah Hill. Well-marked trails meandering through lavishly green jungle allow hikers to spot exotic birds, butterflies, monkeys, squirrels as well as a wide variety of pants. :: BIRD WATCHING & ANIMAL VIEWING :: The ideal place for bird-watching lovers is at the Jurong BirdPark, the largest bird sanctuary in Southeast Asia. It is a good habitat of over 8,000 birds of 600 species from all over the world. Bird shows and feeding times are also on display. If you would like to experience animal viewing in truly natural habits, Night Safari at the Singapore Zoological Gardens should not be missed. It is the world's first night zoo, offering the Night Safari tour from 19.30-24.00. There are more than 1200 animals, including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, otters, roaming around in the area of 40 hectares (100 acres), allowing visitors to see the life of nocturnal creatures in their natural way.