So Much to Do, So Much to See...

As promised, this will be a blog about the tourist attractions in Singapore. Like my blog entries about food, it will take several blog posts to name every single place of interest. So today, I will be introducing a few of my top picks, that will cater to the different interests of my readers.  I will write more on the next post.


Orchard Road 


Orchard Road got its name from the nutmeg, pepper and fruit orchards that the road led to in the mid 1800s. Today, it is the retail and entertainment hub of country. Orchard Road counts as a tourist attraction, but it is also THE hot spot for locals to find everything new and exciting happening in Singapore. This one-way street has shopping malls connected to more shopping malls, connected to more shopping malls. There is a total of 19 shopping malls in the area. They don't call Singapore a shopping paradise for nothing. If you are an avid shopper, be prepared to spend a whole day shopping and be prepared for the bill as well. Orchard Road is known for its luxury retailers that includes Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Burberry. But for spendthrifts, Orchard Road promises to please any budget. Apart from shopping, there is also a wide range of food courts and fine dining places to grab a bite.

Orchard Road (source)

The Ion, is one of the newest malls along Orchard Road (source)

Bugis Street 


I, hereby unofficially crown myself as the Queen of Bugis Street. Obviously I am kidding, but this place is absolutely wonderful! If you haven't guessed it, this is another shopping hot spot. The best thing about this place is that everything is affordable. This is mainly a place for everything young and trendy especially imported fashion designs from Japan, Korean and Taiwan. There is a wide range of cosmetics, accessories, apparel sold here. Bugis sets the fashion trend for teenagers, both boys and girls in Singapore year round.


There are approximately 600 retailers on the street. Unlike Orchard road, Bugis Street is a lot like a maze, with narrow lanes and it is easy to get lost (physically and in time.) There is a certain "character" to this place. Don't expect courteous sales assistants. These stalls sell their clothing for up to 90 percent of retail price, so it is a "take it or leave it" deal.  Part of the street is indoors, but they are not air conditioned. Shopping in here could be sweaty business. Here are some tips on how to survive Bugis Street. (Oh... The lengths we would go for a good deal.)

• Whether you are coming from Bugis train station or bus stop, inevitably, you will have to cross this particular street before getting onto Bugis Street (see picture below.) There are traffic lights to regulate traffic in that area, so crossing the street is not the problem. The problem is getting to the other side  before the traffic light turns green. There is an island in the middle of both streets, and if you don't make it in time to cross both streets, you will get stuck on that island for two minutes or so. Doesn't sound like a big deal?

This will make every minute you wait feel like hours! (source)

Yes, it probably isn't a big deal, but expect a lot of sweaty people to invade your personal space.

 Narrow streets, minimal walking space, hordes of people and great deals sums up the true "Bugis" experience (source)

• If you haven't already guessed, because of the large crowds of locals and tourist Bugis Street attracts in, the place is always crowded. It makes shopping a little harder. By stopping to look at an item, you will probably be blocking traffic trying to get past. There is really no way around this problem, so my advise is to keep your valuables close to you and wear loose fitting clothes because it is going to get sweaty in there. 
• As I've mentioned, all apparel sold are trendy, affordable, and surprisingly of good quality. Ninety percent of the items are sold at $10 or less. A lot of the stores do not welcome bargaining, and you will be given a cold hard stare if you meet an unfriendly vendor. I would not recommend bargaining down for anything priced at $10 and below.  
• All the stalls hold the same prices for similar items, so it won't be necessary to walk around in search of a better deal. But if you do, don't wander off too far, because of the maze-like structure of the street, the chances of finding the same stall are slim unless you know the place well. 

Clarke Quay


This place is perfect for family activity in the day and a haven for party-goers at night. Clarke Quay is a historical riverside quay, situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River. It buzzes with life and activity. There, you will find seafood restaurants, wine bars, retail shop houses and even push carts selling traditional Singapore ice cream. 


The Singapore River Cruise is a great way to spend your afternoon with the family. Take a leisurely boat ride on a unique electrical bumboat, and enjoy the contrast between the old architectures and skyscraper skyline of modern Singapore. There are two cruise options:


1. Singapore River Experience: It passes through Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Marina Bay. 

• Costs: $15 for adults and $8 for children below the ages of seven 

2. New River Experience: It passes through Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Robinson Quay and Marina Bay 

• Costs: $20 for adults and $10 for children below the ages of seven

I rode on the Singapore River Experience during a school field trip, and the tour was educational and enjoyable. The New River Experience is about 20 minutes longer, so you should pick the tour that best fits your schedule. 

Clarke Quay is the place to be for all the party animals. There are many night clubs in Clarke Quay and the place becomes more vibrant at night. Even if you are not a party animal, the place is beautifully decorated with neon lights (not in a cheesy way) and there is certainly a large amount of shopping to do in the area. Clarke Quay is certainly a great nightlife location.

Take a boat ride along the Singapore River in these unique electric bumboat (source) 

Or simply enjoy a long stroll and romantic ambiance surrounding Clarke Quay (source)

(source)

Makansutra Food Tours


"Makan" is the malay word for eating, and a "sutra" is traditionally a collection of wisdom relating to some aspect of the conduct of life. From my previous blog posts, I have emphasized on how eating is a big part of every Singaporean's life. So the Makansutra would be the best guide for food recommendations all around Singapore. The sutra comes in a book and can be purchased here. But for those who don't have the time to read through the book, or look at pictures and feel helpless about not being able to do anything about your cravings, lucky for you, a food tour is available. 


The tour takes their tourist on a journey around Singapore to taste, sample and eat some of the best food stalls and dishes around the country. All the eateries are rated by Makansutra through a neutral public polling method. There are five tour options: 

1. NSEW Tour: This is a cross country tour. It is the heaviest tour with an extensive range of street food from the North to the West and South and East of the island.
2. Multi-Cultural Tour: This tour will bring you across to the multi-racial food of Singapore to experience the aromas from Little India to Chinatown. 
3. Off the Beaten Track Tour: This is for those who want to truly experience Singapore. It will bring you to where few have ventured to. Sip traditional coffee in a quaint little coffeshop which had been left untouched by time, or get your hands dirty with seafood near the western industrial tip of Singapore. 
4. Uniquely Singapore: This is a tour that takes you through the best of the well-loved Singaporean flavours. From the fragrant Hainanese Chicken Rice to colourful Nonya Kuehs. The food recommended here is very similar to those in my food adventures blog post.
5. Midnight Tour: I have mentioned how people eat in Singapore ALL the time, by which I meant all round the clock. This is the ultimate insomniacs food tour. You begin eating by midnight and it will take you through the favourite nocturnal makan hangouts. 

Prices of these tours start at $160, which isn't a bad deal since it includes the cost of food, the tour guide and transport. For detailed information about any of the food tours, click here. 

For the next post, I will be recommending educational places of interests and the night scene of Singapore. Educational places of interest will include history and art museums, for those who prefer to remain indoors and night spots will include activities such a night safari tours and hot clubbing scenes, for those adventurous nocturnal beings. 

I found this beautiful picture of the city at night from time.com. Sure makes me miss home a lot...

  

Dedicated to those With a Sweet Tooth

Welcome back to my food adventures! Today I will introduce and recommend local desserts, snacks and drinks. If you have not read part one, click here. If you have, part two's format will be a little different. Because the following recommendations are common and can be found in almost every food stall, I will not be recommending a particular stall. 


As I said, people are constantly eating in Singapore, with a large variety of snacks and dessert, there is more eating right after eating. Tea time and desserts are mandatory!  So without further ado, let's get started!


Delicious Thirst-Quenching Drinks 

Bandung (source)

Bandung: This drink is always in demand at Indian and Malay restaurants or hawker stalls. Soothing and cooling, this milk-based drink is perfect for a hot and humid day (everyday in Singapore.) It also makes an ideal partner to spicy food. The drink is light, sweet and fragrant with a traditional essence of rose. And if you ever wondered what pink would taste like, you will definitely find your answer in a cup of bandung. 

 Milo Dinosaur (source)

Milo Dinosaur: Milo is a chocolate malt powder that is mixed with hot or cold milk. Milo dinosaur is a cup of Milo with an extra spoonful of undissolved powdered Milo added on top of it. You can either scoop it directly into your mouth, or let it clump together as it makes contact with the fluids before eating it. The second method is a lot more fun. Believe it or not, there is another level above Milo Dinosaur, called Milo Godzilla. (I have no idea why they are so ridiculously named.) Milo Godzilla simply has a topping of ice cream or whipped cream on top of the Milo Dinosaur combination. Both drinks are very filling, so I would recommend it as a snack or even dessert.  


Teh Tarik: If you prefer a warm drink, Teh Tarik is a local specialty. Teh Tarik literally translates as "pulled tea. It is made with powered tea, condensed milk and sugar. Though the ingredients seem plain and ordinary, the method of mixing the tea is not. The mixture is poured back and forth repeatedly between two cups from a height, giving it a thick frothy top. This process cools the tea to optimal drinking temperatures, and helps to mix it thoroughly. This method gives the tea a better flavor, and adds a whole lot of fun to tea time. This short YouTube video shows you how the tea is "pulled."

(source)   

Sweet Snacks and Treats 

Goreng Pisang (source)

Goreng Pisang (Banana Fritter): This is probably the most common of all sweet snacks found in Singapore. Goreng Pisang is simply battered bananas that are deep fried. It is often munched on their own, or sprinkled with sugar. I love the texture of this snack. It's crisp on the outside, yet soft and mushy on the inside. I absolutely savor the moment when the hot banana melts in my mouth. This is a heavy snack, so I would recommend eating this after a light lunch or dinner. 

Kueh Lapis (source)

Kueh Lapis (Nine layer Kueh): This Peranakan snack is similar to a western cake, but they are steamed instead of baked. It is mainly made of rice flour and coconut milk. The snack doesn't taste like anything in particular, just sweet with a subtle taste of coconut. The special feature about the cake is (if you haven't guessed already) that it is made of nine layers and each layer is in a different color. My favorite way of eating this is by pealing off each layer and slurping it like noodles. 

   


Delectable Desserts


Ice Kachang: The dish is pretty much the Singaporean take on a snow cone.  It is a bowl of shaved ice topped with condensed milk and different types of syrups (your choice of rose, coconut or pandan flavored.) The only difference is that below the shaved ice, you will find a sweet mixture of red beans, sweet corn, jelly and palm seeds (attap chee.) It is refreshing and perfect for cooling down on a hot day.

Ice Kachang with a generous serving of sweet corn and syrup (source)

Tau Suan (pronounced as dao-S-one): This is a basically a bowl of boiled mung beans. I know it is hard to grasp the concept of eating boiled beans for dessert, much less find it appetizing, but this is slightly different. My general rule for desserts is that it only qualifies as desserts only if it is sweet. So by my "definition" tau suan is definitely a dessert. The beans are boiled in a sugary stock till they are completely soft and thickened with potato flour. Fried dough fritters are often added to give the dish a crisp texture and a hint of saltiness. Trust me, this dish is sweet and tasty and you should definitely try it in Singapore. You can get the recipe of this dish by clicking the word "source" on the caption of the picture below. 

Tau Suan (source) 

Posting pictures and writing about all this food is making my mouth water. I hope that these dessert and snacks satisfy your sweet tooth and make you crave for more. Singapore's food scene has so much more to offer and if you would like more recommendations for food, I will definitely write another post upon request.

The next topic will be about places of interests and shopping (my favorite topic.) Should my focus be on museums and historical landmarks, or modern attractions? Leave your suggestions on the comment section below. For now, I am going to make myself a cup of Milo Dinosaur and end the night with a bowl of Tau Suan. See you guys next week!