Singapore

Photo by Mike Enerio

Day 1 - | Arrive ✈ Singapore

Welcome to the Lion City - capitalizing on its melting pot of cultures, finally getting some spark,  fast becoming one of Asia’s must go’ destinations.

 Arrive in Singapore.

 After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Singapore Changi International Airport International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs &, you will be welcomed by our  representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He/she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

Ditch the image of Singapore as a dull, sterile Utopia - scratch the surface & you will discover a strange brew of Chinese, Malay, Indian & Western cultures, a rich social stew that is anything but boring. Sure, the graffiti-free trains run on time, traffic jams are nonexistent & everyone looks clean-cut & wholesome, but who needs pollution, poverty & chaos?

Here,There,Everywhere| Island of Feasting| Green City| Shopping Frenzy

To arrive in Singapore is to step into a world where the call to prayer competes with the bustle of capitalism; where old men play mah-jongg in the streets & white-clad bowlers send the ball flying down well-tended cricket pitches; where Chinese fortune-tellers & high-priced management consultants advise the same entrepreneur. This great diversity of lifestyles, cultures & religions thrives within the framework of a well-ordered society. Singapore is a spotlessly clean - some say sterile - modern metropolis surrounded by green, groomed parks and populated by 5 million orderly & well-regulated people, including many foreigners.

The city state founded as a British trading colony in 1819, since independence it has become one of the world's most prosperous countries & hosts the world's busiest port. Combining the skyscrapers & subways of a modern, affluent city with a medley of Chinese, Malay & Indian influences and a tropical climate, with tasty food, good shopping & a vibrant nightlife scene, this Garden City makes a great stopover or springboard into the region

Singapore is a small country on a small island, but with just over five million people it is a fairly crowded city & in fact second only to Monaco as the world's most densely populated country. However, unlike many other densely populated countries, Singapore has over 50% of its area covered by greenery & with over 50 major parks & 4 nature reserves, it is an enchanting garden city. Large self-contained residential towns mushroomed all over the island, around the clean & modern city center.

Whizzing around Singapore can take a matter of minutes, thanks to one of the world’s most efficient & widespread public transport systems. Hankering for breakfast in Little India, but want to visit the temples in Chinatown before lunch? No problem, you will be there in a jiffy using the sparkling MRT system - & why not stop at Marina Bay for a spot of shopping on your way? Plus, with new metro lines opening practically every two years, this tiny island just keeps on becoming easier to explore.

 The concrete jungles that once dominated Singapore’s skyline are slowly giving way to green skyscrapers, which look more like living ecosystems than business hubs. Fervently working towards its ‘City in a Garden’ dream, the nation is ploughing money into becoming more sustainable & well, green. Head out of town a little and you will find plenty of walking trails, treetop jungle bridges, wildlife galore & the city's green jewel, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Singapore Botanic Gardens - these are the lungs of Singapore.

Singapore’s mouth-watering food is the number one drawcard, taken very seriously. From cheap hawker fare to Michelin-starred fine dining, food-enamoured Singaporeans will line up for it, Instagram the hell out of it & passionately debate whether it is ‘die, die, must try’ - Singlish slang for ‘to die for’.

Don’t fret about finding a place to chow down, as each neighbourhood is home to local hawker centres & coffee shops dishing up some of the island’s best meals for just a couple of bucks. Pull up a pew at a hawker centre, crack open a Tiger beer & immerse yourself in a munificent range of Asian delights; heavy on the flavour, light on the wallet.  Simply follow your nose or join the longest queue - whatever morsels lie at the end, they are almost guaranteed to be scrumptious.

Want to splurge? Singapore delivers Southeast Asia’s best shopping and innovative, stylish restaurants, plus a swathe of top-notch hotels. Top of the tree is Raffles, a timeless symbol of colonial opulence.

When the sweltering outdoor heat gets too much, Singaporeans love ducking inside for a spot of retail therapy & a good dose of air-conditioning. Orchard Rd is the queen of shopping malls: with all the high-street brands, plenty of high-fashion houses & a few discount outlets thrown into the mix, everyone’s needs (& more often wants) are catered for here. If you prefer your shopping a little less mass-market, head out to local neighbourhoods for independent designers, quirky art galleries, bustling markets, Chinese medicines, Persian carpets & a sari or two.

Of course, it is not all about shopping, eating and G&Ts on the veranda.

Work up a sweat with outdoor activities - walking, cycling & water sports - or check out the contemporary arts scene, thriving under the government’s promotion of Singapore as an arts hub. If you want a break from the urban confines, the centre of the island has sparkling reservoirs & leafy tracts of forest where all you will hear is, monkeys clattering through the boughs.

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent discoveries or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.

Day 02 Singapore

After breakfast, you will meet the Tour-guide in the lobby at the specified time & embark on a half day 4 hour city tour to discover the colorful city.

The tour showcases the contrast between old & new and the blend of the East & West in modern Singapore as you travel through the different districts.  Experience the history, culture & lifestyle of multi-racial Singapore. 

You will visit the Colonial district for a view of Padang, the Esplanade & Theatres on the Bay. Photograph The Merlion, Singapore's mystical half lion half mermaid.  Next head to Chinatown, the foreground of our fore-fathers humble foot-steps as immigrants and a place rich with traditions & great cultures of Chinese. Stop at the magnificent Sri Mariamman Temple - oldest Hindu Temple here,

A visit to the Gem Factory gives an overview of the tedious process works involved producing such valuable jewellery.  Later. enjoy a casual walk, breathing cool fresh air, within the grounds of National Orchid Garden - a 52-hectare reserved forest and be enchanted by fauna and flora. Then, enjoy the ultimate shopping experience in Orchard Road, the epicentre of shopping in Singapore. Your Journey will end at the Singapore Flyer, the world's largest observation wheel where you will have a bird's eye view of the island city.

The balance of the day is at leisure. Or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

 Overnight.   B

4-Singapore

Full day at leisure for independent discoveries or optional programs (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

 Overnight.   B

5- Singapour-Departure

Alas, the experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye to the "Lion City" & go home.  We sure hope that you may want to discover a bit more of Singapore on your next visit.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the usage of the hotel facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk).

If you have time, you can catch up on your shopping. You can get a good deal on electronic goods - mobile phones, handi cams etc. at Mustafa Center located in little India & Metro Complex at Orchid Road.

GENERAL INFORMATION