Singapore

"You've got to do one of two things when you've got to keep people happy: either, give them something that will satisfy them, better food, better clothes, better homes; or if you can't do that, then give them the vision of greatness to come". - Lee Kuan Yew (First Prime Minister of Singapore)

To set the record straight... I didn't want to go to Singapore.  I'd just spent eight days with my friends on Gili T (see previous blog) and I was ready to go home.  Half of the group was planning to do a three day layover in Singapore on the way home and they wanted me to go with them.  I had the time off but I was mentally and physically done and told my friend Alex just that.  She responded "Don't be stupid you're GOING to Singapore.  If you hate it you can go home, but you are going to LOVE it."  I gave minor resistance to going after that but I decided to trust Alex.  She knows I rarely say no to her because she has never steered me in the wrong direction.  My desire to be in my own bed was quickly overruled and I decided to give Singapore a try for a day. 

Don't you hate when your friends are right?  If any Asian countries are on your bucket list, just move Singapore right up into to the top three.  Yes, it's that amazing.  It hadn't even been on my radar as a place I wanted to go and now I can't say enough about the beauty of Singapore.  

Let me disabuse you of two things you might be scared of...  If you're worried about going because you don't speak Chinese, know that the country, while mainly Chinese, is widely accepting of all and nearly everyone speaks English as a second language.  If you're a woman and you're worried about traveling alone... for an island country, with a population of 5.6 million, it is remarkably clean and safe.  You'll find women jogging alone at midnight during the summer months because of the cool air and the lack of crime.

You'll be amazed at how ecologically forward thinking Singapore is.  You'll find multiple skyscrapers with plants growing along the building walls.  They are a "green" country.  Green roofs and vertical gardens.  The country has been attempting to reduce their carbon footprint since 1992 in a way that beautifies and adds oxygen to the environment.  Their Gardens By the Bay Supertrees provide canopy during the day and at night a beautiful light show - all run on solar power collected by these structures.  For spectacular views, take time to walk across the bridges in the trees - the Supertree Grove and Skyway.  www.gardensbythebay.com.sg While you are in the area, spend a few hours in the Cloud Forest Conservatory for a indoor waterfall that will take your breath away, and Flower Dome Conservatory, for examples of local flora.  It will be beautifully decorated for whatever season you're visiting in.

There are multiple places that locals and tourists will tell you that are "must see" places in Singapore.  One of those is the Marina Bay Sands Casino and Resort Hotel - you may not recognize the name, but you will immediately recognize this nine year old iconic hotel in the Singapore skyline... it looks like three skyscrapers holding up a boat in the sky.  You WANT to go to the observation deck, you won't find a better 360' view of Singapore.  It'll cost you $23 Singapore dollars which equates to approximately $17 USD.  Have a drink, check out the views... or if you want to stay longer, pay for a swim in the Infinity Pool - where you get to swim 57 stories above Singapore.  It's the swim of a lifetime.  For more information on the hotel see https://www.marinabaysands.com/

Another must see attraction is the Raffles Hotel.  Dating back to colonial Singapore this hotel is a beautiful example of late 1800s architecture in Singpore... and more importantly, is home to the Singapore Sling.  Go to the hotel to have this iconic drink and some peanuts.  It truly is the touristy thing to do.   https://www.raffles.com/singapore/  The bookshelves in the bar are absolutely stunning.  It feels like you're in an old library or gentlemans club.  Drinks aren't cheap but being able to say you had a Singapore Sling in Raffles is priceless.

Now, I've already said I wasn't planning on going... but was talked into it... so I hadn't looked to see what I should see, do or eat in Singapore.  I asked the flight attendants where to go before we landed in Singapore.  Everyone around me said I needed to go have Chili Crab at No Signboard.  When I asked around in Singapore they all said the same thing, but added that I had to go to the original No Signboard restaurant.  The original is in a red light district, but it's TOTALLY an experience to behold.  No Signboard started in a large open market hawking their Chili Crab... they didn't have the money to place a sign over their stall.  Their Chili Crab was a hit and people told others to go to the "no signboard" stall and the name stuck.  http://www.nosignboard.com.sg/.  My group couldn't chose between the Chili Crab and the White Pepper Crab so we got both.  We happily licked our fingers throughout the meal...  BOTH preparations were amazing and worth the Uber ride.  

Let me tell you the ONE food that truly is stuck indelibly in my heart and mind forever.  You'll find this delectable at Mouth Restaurant.  We went there for dim sum one afternoon.  After looking at the menu we told the waiter to just bring us what he loved... One of the things he brought to the table was this innocent looking bun - a Liu Sha Bao (Salted Egg Yolk Bun).  I took a bite, died and went to heaven.... licking my fingers all the way up.... OMG it's this sweet sticky caramelish stuffed bun that one day I'll learn to make at home.  It will forever be in one of my top culinary delights tasted during travels.  https://mouth.com.sg/

To walk off this delicious meal go to the Arab Quarter of Singapore and visit Haji Lane.  A plethora of cute boutiques to shop in... in addition to TONS of stores selling pashima shawls for next to nothing (I purchased a bunch as souvenirs to take home as gifts for family all for under $10)...  If sewing is your passion you'll also find lots of stores selling silks, bric-a-brac and other fabrics.  I wandered all afternoon from store to store... the murals outside and the wares inside were all tantalizing eye candy.  

I spent all of the three days my friends had chosen to do in Singapore after saying I wasn't going to go.  It wasn't enough.  It was a small taste of all this country had to offer and I'd go back in a heartbeat.  For me, it was love at first sight with Singapore... proving once again... that my bestie is nearly ALMOST always right.

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