I’ve said it before, and probably will again, Singapore is so much more than a stopover! A true melting pot of cultures and people, it is a dynamic and truly multicultural city, full of fascinating sights and interesting neighborhoods. Myths and Merlions With the body of a fish but the head of a lion, the merlion has been a symbol of Singapore since 1972. The lion’s head comes from the Malay term for the city ‘Singapura’ meaning ‘lion city’, and the fish body represents Singapore’s origins as a fishing village. The statue faces east, which is believed to be the direction that brings prosperity. At regular intervals each day the…

Arriving in Singapore’s Chinatown was a stark contrast to the rest of the city. Emerging from the underground system onto Pagoda Street, ultra sleek and modern Singapore seemed miles away. Instead the narrow street was flanked on both sides by low buildings stuffed with shops and traders. Just as I spotted chop suey in one shop my attention was grabbed by souvenirs, massages, and jewellery offered in others. With decorative lanterns strung between the different coloured buildings, delicious food smells wafting and the constant chatter of busy trades people, Singapore’s Chinatown is an absolute feast for the senses. Here are my favourite things to see and do in Chinatown. Singapore’s…

Who doesn’t love cocktails? To me, cocktails scream ‘holidays’! So when I had the chance to explore the origins of the now infamous Singapore Sling at the beautiful and historic Raffles Hotel in Singapore, I couldn’t resist. The Singapore Sling Bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created the Singapore Sling, while employed in the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel in 1915. The cocktail is famed for being sweet, sharp, smooth and thirst quenching, perfect in the Singapore humidity. It was originally meant as a cocktail for ladies, hence the pink colour, and contains gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, grenadine and Angostura Bitters. (I’m not sure how…

Singapore’s colourful Little India can seem like a chaotic attack on the senses with bursts of colour, noise and fragrance greeting you around each corner. This vibrancy is key to the area’s identity, making it feel like you have stepped onto a street in Delhi, and makes Little India a unique stop on any trip to Singapore. Little India Arcade The first stop for many visitors to Serangoon Road is the Little India Arcade. The shops catering mainly to Indians, sell sari fabric, fruit and vegetables, Indian confectionary, sweets and snacks, religious artifacts, garland offerings, Indian music and clothes, but also offer handicrafts and souvenirs. There are a few specialty…

I was surprised to find so much of Istanbul in Singapore; in one specific area of the city, to be exact. Kampong Glam, also known as ‘Arab Street’ is the area that was originally settled by Malay immigrants and, as such, is the muslim centre of Singapore and many immigrants from other countries have since set up business there, including Turks. I got a strong flavour of Turkey during my visit to Kampong Glam probably because, having lived in Turkey, I am very familiar with Turkish products and ways, so I spotted Turkish elements quickly. However, there are many other flavours of the Middle East in the area too and…

As Asia’s true cultural melting pot, Singapore is home to citizens from many backgrounds. I wanted to know more about the people that call the city home. Chinatown was the obvious place to go to learn about the modern lives of the Chinese in Singapore, but to understand what life was like in the early days, a visit to the Chinatown Heritage Centre is unbeatable. The centre hosts an exhibition called ‘Faces of Chinatown’ that tells the history of the Chinese in Singapore through the personal experiences of early settlers. The display of old photographs from the 1950s and personal artefacts is touchingly poignant and, at times, confronting. Thanksgiving prayers…

It’s a strange name I grant you, but Singapore’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple while on one hand being exactly what it says on the tin (a temple that houses a tooth relic believed to belong to Buddha himself), is also a fascinating museum. Whether you already have an interest in Buddhism or feel like you know nothing about it, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is both an educational experience and an impressive work of art. Religion is a controversial topic anywhere you go. Having grown up surrounded by Christian norms and traditions, Christianity is the religion with which I am most familiar. However, the little I knew about the principles…

I have a terrible confession to make. For several years now I have considered Singapore’s Changi Airport to be my preferred stop on long haul flights between Europe and Australia, but do you know what? It was only a few days ago that I arrived in Singapore and actually entered the country. Isn’t that ridiculous? I know the airport so well yet have never been able to make visiting Singapore a priority on any of the journeys made. Well, all I can say is more fool me. Singapore is amazing; here’s why. The culture of Singapore Since becoming a republic in 1965, Singapore must be one of the best examples…