Singapore
Singapore Sling
After a couple of months of planning, it was finally time for my extended (Only 3 weeks) vacation to Asia. It’s been 7.5 years since my last visit, and like always my first and last stop of many, would be Singapore.
I’ve been to Singapore 7 times. It’s a 13-hour, direct flight from London and the perfect ‘jump-off spot’ to fly into, before navigating around South-East Asia. In my case, this would be the start and end of a trip that included Singapore itself, Thailand (Pattaya & Bangkok), Laos (Luang Prabang), Indonesia (Bali) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur).
Singapore is like the black sheep in this part of Asia, with English being one of the two official languages. It has a very ‘British’ colonial past but remains authentically Asian in food and culture. Chinatown and Little India districts are representing the influences both cultures have on the food and people here. It’s something completely different to Southeast Asia; it’s clean, organized, modern and functional.
Don’t you dare try to chew gum here or even think of littering, you may end up getting a fine or even worse a few lashes and public shaming. A far cry from the bustling, dirty metropolis that is Bangkok or the chaotic streets of Hanoi, where any and everything goes.
The thing that stands out most between this trip and my last, was the cost. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, prices have increased dramatically. I tried booking the same hotel I stayed at during my last trip but this time it was way, way out of my budget. As I was only going to be there for 2 nights, I booked a fairly cheap (by Singapore standards) 2-star hotel, L Hotel@BugisVile for £98pn. On my return leg, it was practically impossible to book a hotel, which I later learned was due to Taylor Swift being in town, with her Eras tour. And while I’m (at the time of writing) in my villain era, I was unwilling to pay £350 to see her, I don’t like her that much!
The receptionist at my hotel was pretty rude and unhelpful, when I asked him for help with swapping over my SIM cards, as I couldn’t tell which was the Singaporean number and which was the serial number. My room had no windows and felt a bit like a prison cell and apart from the exceptionally loud moans and groans of a woman who was clearly making her rent money, it was pretty unremarkable. She was loud enough that you could hear her down the hall and around the bend. I guess the guy wanted to extract maximum value for his short-term investment… But the location was perfect for exploring the city, with most of the downtown attractions within walking distance.
Chinese New Year had passed a few days before I arrived and, the Year of the Dragon decorations were still on display with some sections of the city decorated with red lanterns and dragons.
I unconsciously navigated to the same restaurant in Chinatown that I visited during my last trip. The little old lady seating the tables was still there, she looked like a 172-year-old terracotta warrior but she was still working cracking jokes and talking about how much you’d need to eat, based on your size, to be full. Let’s just say that I’m considered an elephant here.
The obligatory visit to Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion and a couple of pics of Marina Bay Sands followed.
If you’re planning a trip to Asia, I would recommend adding a few day’s stopovers to Singapore and staying in the downtown area, as everything is within walking distance. Head to Chinatown and try the chilli crab or the black pepper crab, you’ll thank me later. Try a Singapore Sling in Raffles, if you’re feeling bougie enough, but make sure you have your wallet handy as it ain’t cheap!
Even though this is one of the smaller countries and tourist destinations in Asia it is packed full of things to do and the way of life is unbelievable, with only Japan being comparable in my eyes.
This was a quick pit stop (36 hours) in Singapore before moving on to my next destination: Pattaya, Thailand, for 5 days with my Russian friends!
Zaddy’s Adventures…
Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur
Sym J2024-10-27T16:20:00+00:00
I almost got arrested – for prostitution! On my last night in KL, we’d finished dinner, and I wanted to swing by Chinatown. Choo’s niece kindly called me a taxi...
Ubud – Bali
Sym J2024-10-27T16:17:13+00:00
Bali, the land of the gods, is an intoxicating blend of verdant rice paddies, ancient temples, and a thriving arts scene...
Thailand – Pattaya
Sym J2024-05-12T10:06:36+00:00
After a couple of months of planning, it was finally time for my extended (Only 3 weeks) vacation to Asia. It’s been 7.5 years since my last visit, and like always my first and last stop of many, would be Singapore.