One Night, One City, One Too Many Singapore Slings
Singapore, a common stop over for flights to Europe, is a destination not to be passed by. Even a short stay can reveal the most significant highlights the city has to offer. What’s more, Singapore holds a variety of attractions for every type of traveler, whether it’s trying a traditional Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel or brushing shoulders with the traders of China Town.
If you’re only in the country for 24 hours, hopping on an open top sightseeing bus fully equipped with a glowing red façade and an over enthusiastic guide is a must. These sightseeing tours (or duck tours as they’re known in Singapore) are terrific if you are short on time. Such tours are also incredibly convenient for the disabled traveler or those traveling with children. You can either sit back and relax or hop on and off as you please.
Open-top Sightseeing tours depart from the SunTech Convention Centre, reached by either taxi or alighting at the City Hall underground (from which it is a 20 minute walk). For a reasonable price of AU$17, you can purchase a ticket permitting unlimited travel over a two-day period. Furthermore, there are three separate excursions you are entitled to embark on - the heritage tour, the city route, and the island of Sentosa.
Leaving approximately every 30 minutes, Singapore’s heritage tour unveils a melting pot of varied cultures. Like different shapes of a jigsaw, diverse ethic groups live harmoniously side by side whilst still maintaining their own strong identity. It is within the heritage tour you can discover these distinct segments of the city – Little India, China Town and the Arab Quarter.
The city tour on the other hand, is the key to the city’s most noteworthy sights - The Singapore River, Clarke Quay, the botanic gardens and Orchard Road. If you fancy exploring the city by river you can jump off at Clarke Quay and catch a short cruise (costing approximately AUS$14). Alternately, stop here for lunch amid the many restaurants. For your afternoon, make sure you take a meander around the botanic gardens or head to shopper’s paradise Orchard Road.
To discover a different side of Singapore use your two-day pass to visit Sentosa Island just 20 minutes from the SunTech convention centre. The Island can also be reached by ferry or cable car for AUS$7 return (leaving from the World Trade Centre). Offering charming man-made beaches and mouth-watering Movenpick ice cream, this wannabe holiday resort acts as an instant getaway from city life.
If entertaining your children is the main priority, then the Singapore’s night safari will certainly keep them quiet. Located 30 minutes drive from the city, the night safari (the first of its kind) has been purposely designed for guests to see numerous animals in their nocturnal environment.
Once you arrive at the safari you are transported around the park passing all varieties of weird and wonderful creatures. There is also the chance to follow the safaris’ dimly lit walking tracks. One of the great features of the safari is how close you can get to the animals. You may find yourself just inches away from a sleeping leopard or face to face with sharp-eyed owl. Alternately, take an unexpected turn and you’ll find yourself sharing a cage with lively flying squirrels. For more information on the Night Safari, you can visit www.nightsafari.com.sg
If the night is still young and you find yourself tempted by a sweet tasting cocktail, there is only one place to head - Raffles Hotel. The birth place of the Singapore Sling is also the most fashionable establishment in town. You can’t fail to notice the chaos of peanut shells scattered on the floor and suited men talking business over the live band. It may come as no surprise that the record for the most Singapore Slings downed within Raffle’s Long Bar is held by five Australian’s back in 1985. They managed to conquer 131 drinks within two hours.
Just five minutes walk from Raffles Hotel is New Asia Bar. Covering the highest two floors of the Swissôtel, the bars biggest attraction is the fantastic views which spread as far as Indonesia and Malaysia. With dangerously temping cocktails there’s no better location to finish your evening.
Even a 24-hour visit to Singapore can reveal the countries top attractions and cultural diversity. Don’t miss the chance to jump on a tour bus and see each unique area of the city or take a cruise along the Singapore River. Have squirrels flying low above your head on the night safari, then an hour later be reminiscing the end of your action packed day with a cocktail and the best views in the city.
