Going from the very small Penang airport (currently undergoing a facelift and expansion), we arrived late at night at the Changi airport (very modern, and complete with moving walkways and expensive stores like Prada). We caught a shuttle to York Hotel in the Orchard Road area, famous for its world-class shopping and high-end stores. Needless to say, my three kids in tow and my own practicality prevented me from buying anything, but it was fun to browse!
On our first full day, we acquired EZ Link cards to facilitate navigating the subways. Mark loved watching the world zoom past and always had his face up to a window. We disembarked at the lovely Chinese gardens, where we wandered through footpaths, passed tiered pagodas and peered in koi fish ponds. It was hot, but we got some cute pictures!
Afterwards, we found our way to some welcoming air-con at Singapore's massive Science Center, where we spent the next 6 hours. Displays in sound, robotics, biology, and technology excited our kids, and they had fun with the hands-on exhibits. Our kids particularly enjoyed the exhibits on optical illusions, and the live Tesla coil demonstation was electrifying! We also enjoyed an IMAX about baby elephants and orangutans, so cute.
That night, we ate dinner in the happening Clarke Quay area, a wonderful menagerie of restaurants and bars surrounding a riverwalk. We cooled our heels and dined alfresco, enjoying some very yummy Mexican food and margaritas. (After doing without Tex-Mex for the past three months, this really hit the spot!) While we ate, we watched people walk by and observed that here, we weren't quite as outnumbered as we are in Penang. (Singapore has a much larger percentage of Westerners.)
The next day we headed out to Sentosa island, created to appeal to adventure and fun-seeking tourists. Attractions on the island abound, including Universal Studios, but our kids weren't quite old enough for that yet. Instead, we began our adventures on the luge, where we rode a ski lift up a hill and then zoomed carts down a track. Rachel rode on my lap, and the kids wanted to stay there all day!
Next, we explored the depths of Underwater World, an aquarium with a large variety of sea creatures. We all enjoyed the dolphin show, the touch tank at the front entrance, and riding the moving walkway through the underwater tunnel. Afterwards, we attended a fabulous Cirque du Soleil-style show called "Voyage de la Vie". At one point before the show started, some of the performers literally climbed over the top of our seats!
We concluded our evening with a nighttime cable-car ride from the island up to the top of Mount Faber. It was fantastic to see the city all lit up at night, and we ate a 5-star meal at Sapphire, where I toasted the evening with a Singapore Sling. Cheers!
Our last full day was spent at the world-class Singapore Zoo, which was designed in such a way as to allow for close encounters with the animals. There are no cages in the zoo, and enclosures are very spacious and comfortable for the animals. We all loved the white tigers, giraffes, and spider monkeys, though Rachel and Abigail loved the billy goats and rabbits in the petting area best. Perhaps the most interactive animal area was the orangutans. They were literally "hanging out" in the trees above our heads, and when we arrived, it was feeding time, so we got to stand right in front of them for a picture!
On our last night, we wandered over to Marina Bay Sands, a gigantic hotel with three towers and topped by a huge skypark. The whole bay area turned out to be pretty cool, with buildings lit up and even a free laser/water show with downtown as the backdrop. We dined at a restaurant with wonderful ambiance but mediocre food. Afterwards, my kids had fun running across the architectural Helix Bridge.
We had a fabulous weekend exploring this city, but there was so much we didn't have time to do! Guess we'll have to return . . .
First, Pei would love that you are referring to air conditioning or A/C as aircon. That's what she calls it too! You are becoming a true Malaysian! And ah, Singapore...I love that city and I didn't even do any of the things you did there. Next time you'll have to swing by the botanical gardens if your kids are up for it. It's gorgeous!
ReplyDelete