‘SINGAPORE’ calling!!!!!

My first sight seeing encounter was with the Singapore Zoo also known as the World’s best rainforest zoo and you will surely agree with this when you experience it. Singapore Zoo has been known to have among the most beautiful settings in the world, where animals roam freely in open and natural habitats. There are other interesting activities (of course paid) which you can be a part of like wildlife tours, camps, dining with animals, animal feeding, etc.

Another major attraction located just opposite the Zoo is ‘Night Safari’ - As dusk falls at the Night Safari, the world's first park for nocturnal animals comes vividly to life which you can experience through the ‘Tram Safari’ (A guided tram ride that takes you across 7 geographical zones of the world. See nocturnal animals in their naturalistic habitats and look out for the free-ranging ones which may just be an arm’s length away from the tram) and ‘Creatures of the Night Show’ (A must-see! The Creatures of the Night Show is a 20-minute animal presentation showcasing the amazing natural abilities of nocturnal wildlife from owls to binturongs and civets. This is an interactive show where you can watch, discover, participate and be entertained!)

Though I was not fortunate enough to cover the other two major attractions ‘River Safari’ a river-themed zoo and aquarium and ‘Jurong Bird Park’ because I started my day a little late but one should not give them a miss.

Jurong Bird Park often referred to as Asia’s largest bird paradise has almost every species to impress avian lovers, along with fun exhibits, interactive shows, and of course, its charming residents.

All the attractions lies in the same vicinity so one can go and enjoy these in a day however do remember to make an early start because all these places take a good 2-3 hours each (minimum) but to enjoy thoroughly you should divide this itinerary into two days as covering all the places in one day would turn out to be hectic.

I started my next day exploring Chinatown, it is a bustling mix of old and new, filled with traditional shops and markets as well as cool stores and cafes and as its name implies it certainly gives you the feel as if you have entered China. There are many places to explore in this area like Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple (oldest Hindu temple in Singapore), China Street Market, Jamae Mosque, Thian Hock Keng Temple, China Town Heritage Centre, to name a few. If you’re a foodie, try 'char kway teow' (stir-fried noodles) and 'satay' (barbecued meat skewers) at Chinatown Food Street, a row of hawker stalls, shophouse restaurants and kiosks along Smith Street. Buy souvenirs in Pagoda Street.

From Chinatown to Downtown also known as the Central Business District situated in the south of the city-state of Singapore. It is one of the most densely populated areas much of it is filled with skyscrapers. It forms the economic core of Singapore, including key districts such as Raffles Place and key administrative buildings such as the Parliament House, the Supreme Court and City Hall as well as numerous commercial buildings and cultural landmarks. This area also houses some of the big multi-national firm’s offices.

While walking down the Downtown area via Marina Blvd and Fullerton Road you will reach Merlion, it depicts a creature with a lion's head and a body of a fish attracting visitors from all around the world. When reached Merlion you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Marina Bay Sands, Arts and Science Museum, Esplanade, The Float @ Marina Bay, Helix Bridge with Singapore Flyer in the background.

I also happen to enjoy the Singapore River Bumboat Cruise, an iconic bumboat which has a connection to Singapore’s history as it used to ferry cargo at Singapore’s historic trading port. One can cruise down Singapore River to Marina Bay on these boats and enjoy this 40 minutes journey which throws light on Singapore’s rich culture & heritage and aims to bring to life the trans-formative story of Singapore.

After enjoying the scenic bumboat ride and having learnt about Singapore’s rich culture & heritage, it was time to experience the other iconic tourist attraction ‘Singapore Flyer’ standing 165m tall, is one of the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel (approx 30m taller than the world famous London Eye) and also one of Asia’s biggest tourist attractions. There are fixed capsules the size of a bus, the spectacular icon is capable of holding up to 784 passengers. Each capsule has a 28-person capacity and each revolution takes approximately 30 minutes. As the wheel turns, you’ll be treated to a visual 360° feast of iconic and historical landmarks and views from the Marina Bay to the Singapore River, Raffles Place, Merlion Park, Empress Place and the Padang. There is no other place in Singapore that offers these breathtaking, magnificent day and glittering night views.

Walking down the Helix Bridge I reached The Float @ Marina Bay and ended my second day in Singapore joining locals as well as some tourists celebrating Lunar New Year and it was truly a delight to be a part of such celebrations and relishing on to some of the best local dishes, a perfect ending to a hectic day.

I started my third day in Singapore from ‘Gardens by the Bay’, if there is heaven on earth here it is. This place has various international awards and accolades to its name. Featuring the best of horticulture, sustainability, architectural design, Gardens by the Bay provides the perfect edutainment opportunity for all ages. There is so much to discover here. From diverse plant life in the award-winning Cooled Conservatories (Flower Dome & Cloud Forest), to towering vertical gardens that extend into the sky, this must-visit destination will awaken the explorers and inquisitive minds alike. It also houses world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Another sought after attraction the ‘OCBC Skyway’ stands 22 meters tall above the ground and these Supertrees are perfect for panoramic skyline views. ‘Garden Rhapsody’ comes alive in the evening with its exhilarating visual and audio effects.

(TIP: Flower Dome and Cloud Forest conservatories along with the OCBC Skyway are the paid attractions.)

The Marina Barrage is a dam in Singapore built at the confluence of five rivers, across the Marina Channel between Marina East and Marina South. Though this is not a celebrated tourist spot in Singapore however it lies near the two conservatories (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome) and if you are going to miss this place, you are surely going to miss a lot. Once you reach at the top of this barrage, there is a lush green field which plays a perfect role of a wonderful picnic spot, you can see locals enjoying with friends and family, having food, flying kites.

After witnessing the beautiful sunset on Marina Barrage, I directly headed to Clarke Quay, Singapore’s hotspot to enjoy the nightlife. There is no dearth of good pub, bar, clubs, restaurants in this place. If anyone wants to witness how Singapore comes alive at night, this is the place to be. After spending sometime here I directly headed to my Hotel to catch some good sleep as I knew that my next two days will be very tiring.

It is impossible for anyone to come to Singapore and not visit ‘Sentosa Island’ and ‘Universal Studios’; hence my last two days in Singapore were completely dedicated to these two attractions. The experience I have had here cannot be stated in words. It’s a different place altogether. There are whole lot of activities one can enjoy here ranging from adventure to leisure to edutainment.

Sentosa is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by millions of people a year. Attractions include a long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses, the Merlion, hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.

So, that was the wrap of my trip to Singapore and this was the time when I actually realized time flies but never mind as I have created so many wonderful and unforgettable memories here which I am going to cherish for so many years to come or even a lifetime. Every day I spent in Singapore is still as fresh in my memories as if it had happened yesterday.

“Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember and remember more than I have seen” – Anonymous