Singapore Recap
We had such an amazing trip to Singapore. It’s a place very dear to us as my husband lived there for several years to grow his Asian region. We would return in a heartbeat if the need ever arose. Pete travels frequently for work and I join him as often as I can but that can be quite challenging. The flight alone is 18 hours nonstop from LAX, which is currently the longest nonstop flight departing the United States.
Singapore, a small island city-state off southern Malaysia is a global financial center as well as oil and gas hub. Sitting basically on the equator it’s hot and humid to say the least...pretty much ALL THE TIME. It’s also incredibly lush and green yet you RARELY see a bug of any kind. Seriously, not one single bug because they spray like crazy there. It’s FANTASTIC! It’s also extremely safe; probably one of the safest places in the world. There is law and there is order and it works...plain and simple.
I spent most of this trip shopping during the day and dining out with my husband, friends and colleagues in the evening. Orchard Road is where it’s at y’all. Think Madison or Fifth Avenue in NYC. People from all over Asia go to Singapore to shop. It’s a status thing as counterfeiting is prohibited there. One mall after another lines a 3-4 mile stretch of Orchard ~ many 6-8 floors high and 6-8 floors below connecting through tunnels beneath the surface of the roads above. It’s becomes a maze of sorts. It’s the only place I’ve ever been where there are two Louis Vuitton stores across the street from one another. We stay in a hotel right off Orchard so I usually spend the first day or two in the area.
Right off Orchard (and a block from our hotel) lies Emerald Hill. I just adore strolling up and down this road amidst all of its colonial charm. The townhouses are beyond stunning ~ most boasting original Peranakan tiles. It’s no surprise that one of my husbands favorite spots for a beer is Ice Cold at the start of Emerald Hill on the Orchard side ~ a popular watering hole boasting great pizza & usually loaded with expats offers any beer you could imagine ~ truly anything. There is also a great little wine bar next door that I enjoy very much.
Next up is Chinatown. I go everytime I’m there. It’s just so much fun to walk around the various stalls and the people are so friendly. Actually, they are friendly everywhere there ~ think southern hospitality. It seems there is always something going on in Chinatown. Some of Singapore’s most beautiful temples are there as well as the world’s cheapest Michelin meal. The famous chicken and rice at Liao Fan Chan can be had for 2 for under ten Sing dollars!
The beaches are always a nice change of scenery from the hotel pool. I always go out to Sentosa ~ a tiny resort island home to a Disney like amusement park among other attractions. Theirs are the only beaches where I’ve ever seen peacocks roaming around. It’s hard to have a bad day staring at the South China Sea.
I was also so excited to make it out to Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle. About a 30-40 minute taxi ride from the City Centre and worth every bit of the short journey. It was heaven for me...truly heaven. Next trip I plan to have a large shipment sent back to Texas. Let me give you the “Reader’s Digest” version as this post is much lengthier than normal ~ the most beautiful blue and white for days and days.
I also did a really great fitness class that was fun and will be a separate post. We ended our trip by attending the wedding of a dear friends son. A very traditional Mandarin reception complete with 8 full courses and over 600 guests at the beautiful Shangri La hotel. It was quite spectacular.
If you ever have an opportunity to go, DO! Other fun things I’ve done and not to be missed are: the Singapore Flyer (best at night in my opinion), partaking of a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar at the stunning Raffles Hotel (currently under major renovation), the National Orchid Gardens (orchids abound everywhere & its the national flower), strolling through the antique shops of Dempsey Hill and last the Gardens by the Bay to be seen at night in all their glory...almost avatar like.