A review of Singapore would be incomplete without a list of must-dos. Here are mine:
Museums and Galleries
I am a museum nerd – fully and without apology. And Singapore appears to be equally so. From the dozens to choose from, I visited four.
The ArtScience Museum is a feast for the eyes. Described as the welcoming hand of Buddha or as an opening lotus flower, it commands Marina Bay. The architecture is one thing – inventive and an engineering feat, floating over a reflective lily pond. But it mirrors the concept of the museum. It is where art and science meet. In addition to the permanent exhibit that explores the design minds of the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, whose thoughts on flying were the blue print for future aviation efforts, there was an exceptional traveling exhibit on Dali. It moves on November 13th to be replaced by a Titanic exhibit (yawn) but was stellar not only in its content but in the way it was presented.
The National Museum of Singapore has a History of Singapore permanent exhibit for the nerd in us all. It was interactive, thoughtful and thorough. And the architecture of the building is colonial and bright at the front, modern and crisp at the back – like the contrast of Singapore itself. Both are worth the stop.
The Singapore Art Museum and the Peranakan Museum are a wee walk from one another and make for a lovely afternoon. The latter provides an insight to the uniquely Singaporean way of life, most aptly described as a collision of cultures – Malay, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Portugese and English.
And one thing I noticed about every museum was that they made a point of speaking to children. Every exhibit had a spin for kids – whether it was a passport they had to collect stamps for or a series of floor plaques asking targeted questions about specific pieces in kidspeak, each museum experience was accessible to all. We could take a lesson here.
Getting Outside
The weather in Singapore is steamy all year round. I spent as much time outside as I could knowing fully that winter looms at home.
Little India
We were in Singapore for Dewali, the Hindu new year, so Little India was a must and felt a lot like downtown Dehli. Bustling and festive, Little India was at its holiday best but be damned if I saw a single woman. They were all at home preparing for the evening feast, or so another tourist quipped when I asked where the ladies were at.
ChinaTown
This was a series of stalls selling everything from souvenirs to over-priced gold to local delicacies like birds nests (the spit of swallows spun into nests that are then harvested and turned into a crazy expensive soup) and sharks fin (equally turned into a soup but banned in most parts of the world because of its inhumane methods of harvest). Worth a walk through.
And temples abound in this part of Singapore, mostly Buddhist, the most beautiful of which being the Tooth Relic Temple. Try to be there during morning chant to observe.
Equally worth a walk through is Fort Canning, home to the incredible Spice Trail and site of a very famous battle between the Peranakan and the English (for the war reveler in your family…cough….cough…..my husband) and the Botanical Gardens. Participate in the morning Tai Chi if you get there on time. These gardens are entirely free (except for the orchid garden which is well worth the S$5).
Shopping
Singapore is wildly expensive and addicted to luxury brands. The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Orchard Lane are two very similar shopping experiences here – only difference is one is indoor, heavily air conditioned and feels like Vegas, the other is open air and feels like you could be anywhere in the world. But expect to pay about 50% more for everything from handbags to watches to clothing and accessories because everything is imported. Pretty sure everything is imported here as well and we don’t have those prices but I digress.
I luckily do not suffer from the ‘must have Louis Vuitton anything’ which is why I loved Haji Lane. Away from big brand shopping, this is a mini-Middle East complete with rows of colourful shop houses, the Masjig Sultan mosque and a completely unique shopping experience. Local interior and fashion designers have set up shop here and command the attention of mostly locals but a few lucky tourists as well. I was able to score some well priced, locally designed and made pieces unlike the offerings of any of the big name brands that you can find anywhere in the world. This just feels like an ‘untouched, unaffected by the demands of the global economy’ gem. But don’t expect regular business hours. We visited on a Saturday and most shops didn’t open until 1 pm. Some didn’t open at all.