So here's some thoughts in completely random order... there's so much more but i had to stop writing at some point...
The first thing you should do in Singapore is get a sim card for your smart phone and an MRT card. The public transport system is the most cheap and efficient system possible and perfectly linked to Google Maps. Basically if you need to get anywhere just ask google maps public transport directions and you will be presented with multiple options to get you anywhere in 20 minutes.
Pinnacle Apartments View
These apartments are 50+ stories high and have and incredible view.. you need $5 on your easylink card.. I've spent hours up there staring at all the stuff.. it really gives you a sense of how huge and ridiculous Singapore actually is.
A clear day is recommend of course, which is pretty much most days.... you pay with your card downstairs and then swipe your card up the top
http://www.pinnacleduxton.com.sg/skybridge.php
Instructions to find the hard-to-find card reader thingy here (you'll need them):
http://www.pinnacleduxton.com.sg/skybridge_public.php#howto|
1 Cantonment Rd
Pinnacle@Duxton 50/L, Singapore 080001
6225 5432
[Map]
The Duxton area around it is pretty good for ang mo food too, plus it's walking distance from Chinatown
Food - Fortune Centre
The top floor has a little restaurant that's good for lunch or brekky that's run by a bunch of cute oldish ladys who've invented their own food genre.. the bottom floor has an insanely nice japanese place too
Fortune Centre
190 Middle Road
Singapore 188979
[Map]
Food/Drinks - Chinatown Complex Food Centre
The main reason you should go here though is that in the evening when most of the stalls are closed except the beer ones, all the uncles turn up to drink on mass and flirt with the hostess girls in their short shorts.. It's a fun place to hang out... you have to wander around for a while to find the good drinking spots as they aren't immediately obvious. My favourite one is at the back overlooking the big stage in Chinatown but there is also a good stall right up the front called the "Good Beer Company".
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
335 Smith Street
Singapore 050335
[Map]
More Food/Drink
There's good Mexican and plenty more at Dempsy Hill .. it's very ang mo style though and you have to drive or cab it there...Even More Food/Drink
Around Bugis and Arab St is a strip of bars and food (around 60 Ophir rd).. Blue Jazz and a Mexican place i can't remember the name of are really good. If you head towards Arab st and beyond (behind the bars) there's a world of amazing Arab food too (just don't eat in the horrid overpriced sheesha pipe smoking backpacker St directly behind Blue Jazz!)
[Map]
Little India
Is just a truly awesome place. My favourite food place is "New Everest Kitchen".. but it's hard to go wrong in little India... Sunday nights there are out-of-control busy and great
New Everest Kitchen Singapore
55 Chander Road
Near Farrer Park Mrt, Singapore 219550
6299 0745
[Map]
Sentosa
Ha ha.. well.. all i can say is ....
Sentosa is just a funny place, it's a tacky tropical island with loads of stuff to do and extremely child friendly. The only tropical island I know of where you can catch a train from your apartment for two stops and pay 70c. I should also mention that it has it's own monorail.
It's great for when you feel like a quick trip from the big city to sit and drink cocktails on a tropical island and watching the sun set over the zillions of supertankers
View Larger Map
Soursop Juice
Soursop juice is amazing and possibly the main reason anyone should live in Asia. My favorite soursop is outside Chinatown station (People's Park Complex), next to the durian (urrrg) pancake place on new bridge road. You can find it everywhere though.
Cocktails
Are everywhere of course.. and are about the same price as beer, so you might as well drink cocktails instead.
I really like this place to drink at:
The Backstage Bar
(upstairs) 13A Trengganu Street
Singapore 058467
[Map]I really like this place to drink at:
The Backstage Bar
(upstairs) 13A Trengganu Street
Singapore 058467
It's a very chilled place to hang out, it's a gay bar but it also straight friendly, and everyone there is great.
Chijmes is a good colonial style ang mo hangout with good cocktails too...
http://www.chijmes.com.sg/
Yangste KTV
Eu Tong Sen Street / Pearl's Hill Terrace, Singaporeummm... not sure how to describe this one... ummm... you just have to trust me and just go in there at night time (after dinner or late)... there's also a good low-fi drinking bar thingy downstairs on Pearl Hill terrace
I can't believe i lived next to this at the Pearl Bank for 6 months and only bothered to walk in there in the last fortnight of it being my local!! Hopefully it's still there, as i think they are tearing down all those buildings to build yet another MRT station at some point soon...
View Larger Map
Orchard Towers
I won't describe this one too much except that it is more commonly known as the "Four Floors of Whores" One of the funniest places you could go to drink, plus there is really nice Thai food there.[Map]
MacRitchie Reserve
Is an insanely good tropical rainforest not far from the city, growing around Singapore's water supply. There's tracks and a forest canopy walk. It's extremely easy to get to ($10 cab ride from the city) and is a really nice place to just hang out and commune with monkeys and lizards. You can spend the entire day hiking in amazing rainforest if you get up earlish and bring lots of water with you (and a change of t-shirt or two). The more you walk the better it gets.
[Website] [Map]
Haw Paw Villa
To file in the category of WTF.
This is surprisingly kid-friendly despite what it seems in the photo on the right.
The guy who invented Tiger Balm had way too much money and built this crazy garden made of painted concrete. It's worth spending a few hours, when it's not too hot, wandering around looking at all the craziness.
262 Pasir Panjang Rd Singapore 118628
+65 6872 2780
more info/history here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haw_Par_Villa
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