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FIND OUT MOREDreamy Singapore
The temperature may be starting to take a dip in Europe, but if you are not ready to put away the flip-flops yet, why not book a quick getaway to Singapore this month? Warm, exotic and beautiful, this small nation will leave you with some fabulous memories to while away the long, long winter nights.
All images courtesy of the Singapore Tourism Board.
Singapore started life as a Malay fishing village before becoming one of the most important commercial and military centres of the British Empire.
Today, the city-state, the smallest nation in Southeast Asia, is a seamless mosaic of Asian cultures, rich in contrast and colour. This is a place of temples, mosques and churches, where sleek skyscrapers share neighbourhoods with serene gardens and where hawkers trade side to side with Gucci and Valentino.
Nothing feels out of place here. You get an ancient temple, which looks like it belongs in rural China, against the backdrop of New York-style skyscrapers and somehow it works. As do the exotic ethnic districts surrounding a world-class business quarter.
Singapore is brimming with energy without ever getting hectic - a perfect place to recharge your batteries. And have we mentioned that the temperature there rarely drops from 30 degrees Celsius?
There are a million things to see and do in Singapore, but here are some of our favourites:
What to see:
Raffles Hotel
The epitome of colonial style, Raffles remains the Grand Old Lady of the East. Everyone who is anyone has stayed here, including Elizabeth Taylor, Noel Coward and Michael Jackson. But you don't need the bank balance of any of the above to enjoy this elegant 19th century building. Raffles is open to visitors who flock to its free museum for a glimpse of the golden age of travel and to its bar for a taste of the high life.
Asian Civilisations Museum
Opened in 2003, the Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place is the first museum in the region to present an insight into pan-Asian cultures and civilisations. It houses 11 galleries showcasing over 1,300 artefacts from China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia - from fine collections of Peranakan silver, porcelain and jewellery to Buddhist statues and south Indian bronze pieces. This is the place to visit if you want to appreciate the cultures that make up Singapore's multi-ethnic society.
Botanic Gardens
A few minutes from the busy Orchard Road is an oasis of rolling lawns, orchid gardens and tropical rainforest. Here you can find some half a million species of plants - from orchids to palm trees and bamboos. And if you want to find out where the spices in your kitchen cupboard come from, check out the nutmeg and cinnamon trees. Don't miss the opportunity to attend an open-air concert here - it can be a magical experience.
Mandai Orchid Gardens
A leisurely stroll through the fragrant Mandai Orchid Gardens is a great way to unwind. A horticulturalist's dream, the gardens feature a diverse array of stunning hybrids. From the ubiquitous Vanda - Singapore's national flower - to the mythical black orchid, there's a flower here in every colour. Boxed orchids are available to buy at the gift shop, so you can take a part of the gardens home with you.
What to do:
Spice it up in Little India
Take a stroll along Serangoon Road and the surrounding streets and you may think you're on the set of a Bollywood film. Singapore's Little India is an explosion of colour and spice. The streets are lined with little shops selling colourful saris, spectacular jasmine garlands, fiery spices and gold jewellery. There are magnificent Hindu temples here, too, as well as a great selection of Indian banana-leaf restaurants offering delicious fish and vegetable curries.
Step back in time in Chinatown
Much of Chinatown has been renovated, but there are still a few streets where you can experience the authentic atmosphere of old Chinatown - the original site where Chinese immigrants lived, worked and played. Here you can find traditional shophouses, coffee shops and Chinese temples. Don't miss the Chinatown Food Street on Smith Street, where you can sample local fare like fried broad noodles, satay (meat skewers) and fishball noodles, served from rows of outdoor hawker stalls.
Shop around the clock
Orchard Road is world famous for its shops. There are exclusive designer boutiques like Chanel, Prada and Cartier, but also a mind-boggling array of specialist shops - from antique joints to electronic emporiums. And with shops staying open until 10pm, you could easily spend a fortune here before bed time.
Don't feel like sleeping? Head to Mustafa (Syed Alwi Road) - a 24-hour shopping centre that stocks everything from chutneys to diamond necklaces and plasma TVs. There are bargains galore here to keep you busy all night.
Have a drink at Boat Quay
Back when the Singapore River was the main port area of the colonial city, Boat Quay was full of little bumboats carrying rubber, rice, coffee, cotton and spices back and forth to ships anchored in the river. The riverbank was lined with shophouses and warehouses, and the area bustled with trade and commerce. Today, Boat Quay has been reinvented as a trendy dining and entertainment destination, where you can enjoy delicious alfresco meals followed by a cocktail or four in its lively bars.
What to eat:
As the self-styled 'food capital of Asia', Singapore offers a variety of culinary delights combining flavours from around the globe.
Try the Black Pepper Crab - a firm favourite with locals. Perhaps the best place to try this delicacy is Eng Seng Restaurant off Joo Chiat Road. There are usually queues here every night but as they say, good things come to those who wait. Queues are also to be expected at Sin Huat Seafood Restaurant (at the corner of Geylang Road), where foodies from far and wide flock to try its signature Crab Bee Hoon - this consists of Sri Lankan crab and transparent noodles in a thick broth.
Laksa is hailed as Singapore's national dish. It consists of rice noodles, shrimps, cockles, fish cake and chilli paste in a thick, coconut-based broth. Then there's Katong Laksa, a variety which mostly consists of rice noodles, cockles and shrimps, and which has long been the subject of heated debate on East Coast Road. Here you will find four food stalls (47, 49, 57 and 328) each claiming to make the original and best Katong Laksa.
Chomp Chomp on Kensington Park Road is one of Singapore's most famous hawker centres. There are around 20 stalls here, serving authentic fare like BBQ stingray, laksa, sugarcane juice and fried carrot cake.
What to drink:
You can't leave Singapore before trying its Tiger beer. It's served everywhere, but the best way to have it is fresh from the tap. You can tour the Tiger Brewery for a behind-the-scenes look at how the beer is made and then relax with a round of cold Tiger at the Tiger Tavern.
If you prefer cocktails, try the Singapore Sling - a mixture of gin, cherry brandy, Benedictine, pineapple juice, lemon juice and angostura bitters. It's served at many hotels across Singapore, but we recommend the fabled Long Bar of Raffles Hotel, where it was first invented.
Where to stay:
Luxury hotels include Raffles (raffleshotel.com), Four Seasons (fourseasons.com/Singapore) and the Shangri-La (shangri-la.com) - all fabulous but madly expensive. A more affordable option is Traders Hotel by Shangri-La (shangri-la.com), which is centrally located near the Botanic Gardens and Orchard Road.
How to get there:
Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) offers regular flights from Manchester to Singapore. For a range of other flights from Manchester to Singapore visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk.
