Page 44 - Explore Magazine Winter 2018

SURPRISING SINGAPORE
42

Stop the press, says Paul Robinson of helloworld Blenheim, Rolleston, Whanganui
& Whitianga. The southeast Asian hub of Singapore is an exciting destination that really has it all.

For years Singapore has been seen as a great “link” to Asia and beyond, It’s all topped off literally with a 340-metre-long SkyPark with a
either via a short stopover or just for using the many facilities of capacity of 3,900 people and a 150m infinity swimming pool set
wonderful Changi Airport as you filter through to your end destination. on top of the world's largest public cantilevered platform that
But stop the press! The Lion City is not only a convenient location (as overhangs the north tower of the complex by 67m. It’s quite a sight
Presidents Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un will attest) but also an to see. Don’t expect to rock up to the top for a swim as you’ll need
exciting destination in itself. to be a guest of the hotel to do that. Our budget didn’t extend
quite that far but given the views and experience it may be worth a
In April this year we embarked on another “Robinson Family Venture” booking someday.
and sailed from Sydney to Singapore on a 14-night cruise on Royal
Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas. It was a fantastic cruise with great While the Marina Sands complex is impressive, Singapore’s futuristic
weather and some fantastic stops along the way including Cairns and vision also extends throughout its CBD with a multitude of weird
Darwin, both of which are amazing gateways to fascinating hinterlands and wonderful-looking yet functional buildings that embrace
and worthy of further trips another time. technological advancement. This city is geared for the future
and it’s not hard to be impressed by the way it presents itself. At
Our initial plan was to stay just one night in Singapore because time was the same time, the past has not been forgotten and a gentleman
against us and well, what was there to do there in a place that covers named Sir Stamford Raffles is remembered across the city in various
only 130sq kilometres? The answer, it turned out, is heaps! Singapore monuments and buildings that recognise his founding of the modern
is an incredible city, very clean and secure, and a place that embraces city of Singapore in 1819. In particular, the famous Raffles Hotel
tourism with flair and style. Yes, it’s bustling but nowhere near as that bears his name is a beautiful colonial building and it’s also the
compressed as you would think. birthplace of the famous Singapore Sling cocktail created over 100
Singapore’s globally admired MRT (subway) system is easy to access and years ago by a local barman. Very tasty!
remarkably cheap and it will take you pretty much anywhere including
Changi Airport. Along with plentiful buses and inexpensive cabs it made Gardens by the Bay features gigantic man-
it very easy to get around the city. And while our issue of having too made super-trees plus dazzling flower
many offspring saw us using two cabs at times (there are not too many
minivans) it was still a cost-effective way to see the sights. displays and a sound-and-light experience.
It’s simply breathtaking.
Singapore is an incredible city, very clean
and secure, and a place that embraces Singapore’s knack for being exciting on so many simultaneous levels
– it’s working hard on becoming a world-leading eco-city as well as
tourism with flair and style. a techno capital – is evident in the Gardens by the Bay area close
to Marina Sands as well as at its renowned Botanic Gardens in the
Singapore has an interesting history. Once known as Singapura (the suburb of Bukit Timah. The latter is a stunning collection of exotic
“Lion City”) amongst several other names such as Temasek (“Sea plants that even non-gardeners can appreciate; the former features
Town”), this island at the foot of the Malay Peninsula came under British gigantic man-made super-trees plus dazzling flower displays and
rule from 1819 to 1963. After separating from the new Federation of a sound-and-light experience as you stroll along the SkyPath. It’s
Malaysia over “ideological differences” in 1965, Singapore became a simply breathtaking.
sovereign nation. This remarkable place is now a global commerce,
finance and transport hub, recognised for being the most "technology- You can’t talk about Singapore without mentioning its amazing
ready" nation and the second-busiest container port in the world. It also shopping and we purchased several electronic goodies in several
has a major claim for being the world's safest country, which we can precincts with subway access. For those who seek a more earthy
certainly attest to. shopping experience than multi-level malls the vibrant network of
shops in China Town is also sure to please. We met some people from
On arrival in Singapore we were blown away by the sight of hundreds Darwin who fly in annually just for the shopping.
(yes, literally) of large container ships waiting to berth in the
harbour, all of them on tight time frames for collecting or unloading I’m running out of time and words but of course Singapore has so
much more to offer like the night tour at the Zoo, and I haven’t even
their shipments. The other thing that captured us instantly was the
Marina Sands hotel complex – wow! Now probably one of the most got started on Sentosa Island which has everything from stunning
beaches, water parks and dolphin encounters to virtual skydiving.
photographed buildings in the world, this striking building includes a There is so much to see and do that you need at least five to seven
2,561-room hotel, a shopping centre, a museum, two large theatres, days here and you still won’t see everything. Singapore really does
"celebrity chef" restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, art and have it all and you will surely want to come back.
science exhibitions, and the world's largest atrium casino with 500
tables and 1,600 slot machines.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : WINTER EDITION