I´m at Bangkok´s international airport, just minutes from boarding a plane to Singapore.
What to do, see try and DON´T DO? (they are rather silly about strict laws over there)
I´ve heard it descrived as “Disney Land with the death penalty”, so I´d like a few suggestions on how to spend my time (3 days) there.
Funny, I’m actually going to Singapore next weekend. There is a night-time zoo that is suposed to be pretty cool and the airport is one of the best I’ve ever been in. Orchard street is supposed to be great shopping. I wouldn’t spray paint any cars or you’ll get a caning. Have fun.
Tear up your ticket and stay in Bangkok. Singapore is boring - unless you want to go there and shop, then once you’ve done the standard musem-garden-temple tour, there’s nothing to go back to there. Not like Bangkok, certainly.
And yes, don’t run afoul of the law. No chewing gum, no bothering the police, no smuggling drugs . . . Whatever you do, the Lees are scowling at you.
It’s reaaallly hot and humid. Be sure to go to the Raffles Hotel to the Long Bar and order a Singapore Sling. Notice the ceiling fans! It’s one of the few remnants of colonization, and is a beauty. Read a little Maugham beforehand. This is nearly an uber-touristy thing but should be experienced.
Take a side trip to Sentosa and watch a light show. You may have seen something similar before but never with this humidity.
I like Singapore and found that the daunting rules and restrictions weren’t as bad as advertised, but then I’m a good little soldier. The food is great and diverse, the people are friendly and there’s great shopping.
A friend just told me he had a good time at a place called Tanjoon Beach, about 25 minutes from the city center, bars, discos, hot tubs. He’s more of a partyier than I am, but he had a good time.
If you have any drugs, take 'em ALL or flush them.
[QUOTE=madmonk28]
Funny, I’m actually going to Singapore next weekend. There is a night-time zoo that is suposed to be pretty cool and the airport is one of the best I’ve ever been in. Orchard street is supposed to be great shopping. I wouldn’t spray paint any cars or you’ll get a caning. Have fun.
[/QUOTE]
I´ve just returned from Orchard Road, indeed it´s consumism paradise; however it took me an awfully long time and walked distance to find a stinking power outlet adapter and a new travel mouse for my notebook. The power adapter I found it on a small shop inside a shopping mall, when I say small I mean reaaaaaally smal, like I couldn´t walk on the aisles (both of them) straight, I had to move sideways, not good for claustrophobics.
As for that place, Tanjoon Beach, nah, I´m not that kind of guy; I mean, I love parties and all that, but not with total strangers.
[QUOTE=Jaochai]
Tear up your ticket and stay in Bangkok. Singapore is boring - unless you want to go there and shop, then once you’ve done the standard musem-garden-temple tour, there’s nothing to go back to there. Not like Bangkok, certainly.
And yes, don’t run afoul of the law. No chewing gum, no bothering the police, no smuggling drugs . . . Whatever you do, the Lees are scowling at you.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, the place certainly looks… nice, in a Duloc kind of way; I was rather appaled at the seemingly unending rows of MacHouses on the way from the airport.
[QUOTE=straykat23]
It’s reaaallly hot and humid. Be sure to go to the Raffles Hotel to the Long Bar and order a Singapore Sling. Notice the ceiling fans! It’s one of the few remnants of colonization, and is a beauty. Read a little Maugham beforehand. This is nearly an uber-touristy thing but should be experienced.
Take a side trip to Sentosa and watch a light show. You may have seen something similar before but never with this humidity.
I like Singapore and found that the daunting rules and restrictions weren’t as bad as advertised, but then I’m a good little soldier. The food is great and diverse, the people are friendly and there’s great shopping.
[/QUOTE]
Dude, I´ve been living in Bangkok for more than three months now, I laugh at the “hotness” and “humidity” here.
I may go to Sentosa, not sure; it depends on how fast my founds run out; I found out when leaving that I made a miscalculation on the days I had overstayed my visa in Thailand, so I had to leave a good chunk of cash right there… miscalculation my aunt´s panties!; I requested a two month visa and they gave me just one month, I should have checked though, but they could have pointed it out. :mad:
[QUOTE=China Guy]
If you have any drugs, take 'em ALL or flush them.
[/QUOTE]
I only had a pack of M&Ms on my backpack, I flushed them on the plane´s toilet… no, actually I ate them, I´ll flush them later. 
So far, as I said, the place looks nice; the metro system is quite handy. The contrast between filthy and lively Bangkok and this place is very… hmmm… contrasting. I miss the food stands every two steps, I was very hungry out on the street but I couldn´t be arsed to get into a restaurant.
There is a place called East Coast - up near Changi - the sea food restaurants are mind blowing - and Ok price wise (they are for locals).
The Botanical gardens are worth a visit, I find something about them that relaxes me.
There is a comical little museum - it is good for a laugh
And if you visit Raffles the rickshaw drivers will offer you every known illegal substance on earth. In my view Sing is more fun with a partnerette.
The Ancient Civilizations Exhibit is not to be missed, it covers not just S’pore but, most of SE Asia.
Bird Park and Zoo are each quite a nice days visit.
Eat, eat and eat some more. The best food in SE Asia, in my opinion, far better Indian than in India (where the chickens are all grisle and bone!). Satay, chicken rice, hokkien mee, won ton mee, bbq squid, curry crab… I could go on all day! Colour me jealous!
[QUOTE=Jaochai]
And yes, don’t run afoul of the law. No chewing gum
[/QUOTE]
I’ve heard more than once that gum is illegal there. Is that really true?
Skip Sentosa. It’s a bore. Unless you like putting your bare feet to the test on their manmade beach.
2-day city at best…
[QUOTE=Johnny Hildo]
I’ve heard more than once that gum is illegal there. Is that really true?
[/QUOTE]
Yes, it actually was true. It was banned in 1992 because chewing gum was being used to vandalize the metro system and it was also cited as a major source of problems for high-rise housing complex cleaning and et cetera as many people stuck it on floors and such.
Its import and sale was completely banned with a small conversion period in which store owners were allowed to sell out their stocks.
In 2004 the Wrigley chewing gum company lobbied to have the gum ban put on the agenda in the talks between the United States and Singapore that lead to the US-Singapore free trade agreement. The removal of tariff barriers between Singapore and the U.S. saves Singapore around $150m/year. This lucrative bargaining chip caused Singapore to reduce the ban, certain brands of gum which can be shown to have medical benefits (gums containing lactate, for example) can be sold, but only at pharmacies and the buyers have to register with the government.
I like Singapore, sanitised though it is. People thinking about visiting make a big deal over the laws, gum etc. Yes they’re horribly oppressive for residents, but few tourists actually run afoul of them.
I will say, though, that Sentosa sucks. The cable car to get there is cool, and the aquarium is OK, but it’s tiny. There’s also a pink river dolphin show that is OK. But the rest is dull as ditchwater.
The Night Safari up at the zoo is excellent though, though the condition of the elephants is quite upsetting.
If you have an open mind, you could find Singapore’s underbelly at “Four Floors of Whores”.
In actual fact, don’t. It’s gross.
Changi is an interesting area - there’s a good museum up there. And Little India is great too - fantastic curries. Clarke Quay and that other one nearby whose name eludes me, are really good for a drink (though hellishly expensive to eat at). And Chinatown - the “hawker” restaurants are fantastic. And have a Singapore Sling in Raffles bar. It’s a must.
[QUOTE=elbows]
The Ancient Civilizations Exhibit is not to be missed, it covers not just S’pore but, most of SE Asia.
Bird Park and Zoo are each quite a nice days visit.
Eat, eat and eat some more. The best food in SE Asia, in my opinion, far better Indian than in India (where the chickens are all grisle and bone!). Satay, chicken rice, hokkien mee, won ton mee, bbq squid, curry crab… I could go on all day! Colour me jealous!
[/QUOTE]
Yep. I halfway lived at Newton Circus when I was there. Great food and great prices.
Not sure where you are staying, but a few things to try
See you have already done Orchard ROAD,
Next, get directions from your hotel and go to No Singboard Restaurant, (around Lorong 19 Geylang) and eat the Chilli Crab,
Go and eat durain
Get some Frog Leg porridge from Geylang.
The Zoo is a must see.
Also be sure to try Bak Kut Teh (get directions from your porter to a good one)
Also try carrot cake and fried oysters. For the carrot cake, take a white one, with Chilli.
Take all of this from a coffee shop / hawker centre.
As to the sites to see? Not so much to look at - if it doesn’t offend your religion do go to the Bugis Street Temple.
By the way, the beach is Tanjong Beach, but the bestest place for nightlife is Zouk - you really shouldn’t come to Singapore without at least having a look.
The housing is not really all that bad - I live in one. At least I don’t have to pay cash for my mortgage (yippee)
The dolphin show is really a waste of time, you will see better at Seaworld in Australia or any of the American ones.
If you are into war history there are a couple of good museums - one on Sentosa.
THe only other place to visit is Haw Par Villa (all taxi drivers know it) - an interesting afternoon walk, taking a look at the gates of hell.
If you have been on the “Metro” (MRT) just take taxis - they are way cheap 
Cheers
I’m in Little India now, I’ll try to find some place to eat, I’m feeling hungry.
I went to Canning Park, visited a WWII bunker and walked around town for quite a long time. I’m leaving tomorrow at 8:something so I don’t know how much time I’ll have to see all the places you’ve mentioned… =/
By the way, jjim, are you still going diving in Koh Phi Phi in June?
Not June, but I’m still coming: I’ll be there in the last week of July (20th - 29th). I’m diving with this crowd - I know the owner and they’re excellent.