Posted by Helena on Wednesday, 3. February 1999 at 12:21 Bali Time:
In Reply to: Agree posted by Helena on Tuesday, 2. February 1999 at 18:11 Bali Time:
List of Things to Do and Nightspots. Please bear in mind that this is a PERSONAL list of SOME of my favorites and is not meant to be comprehensive
Things to Do:
* Night Safari. One of the best zoos I have every visited. Beautifully landscaped, no iron cages, open only at night when the animals are feeding and active (too hot during the day).
* Walk around Little India. I think this is one of the neighbourhoods which is still pretty authentic as opposed to Chinatown and the Malay Village (which have been redeveloped and touristy-fied. Visit Mustafa's Department Store for electronics, they have a great selection and good prices (no bargaining). Eat at Komala Vilas, vegetarian buffet lunch and dinner, both southern and northern vegetarian food. Walk through Tekka or Zhu Jiao market and see how Singaporeans buy their groceries.
* If you have the time, get on a ferry and go to Bintan Island. It is a 45 minute ferry ride, and is the closest nice beach area you will find (there are none on Singapore, no matter what anyone says). Stay at the laid back Mana Mana Beach Club, go snorkeling from the beach right in front of the hotel
* The National Museum - Peranakan exhibit. Peranakan or Straits Chinese are Chinese who settled in the ports along the Malacca Strait (Singapore, Malacca and Penang) and who adopted local/Malay customs. This exhibit is a fascinating look into how they live, what they ear and eat.
* Asian Civilizations Musuem, right around the corner from the National Museum. Great exhibition of jade pieces, also one on Chinese architecture. On Wednesdays, the National, Asian Civilization and Art Museums are all open till 9pm.
Places to Eat:
* East Coast seafood centre is a grouping of many seafood restaurants. I like Long Beach. Try chili crab and/or black pepper crab, drunken prawns. Ask for Sri Lankan crabs. These are HUGE and very tasty, expensive but worth the price.
* Sin Lee Garden at 55 Tiong Bahru Road, #01-37. 227-3237, open for dinner only. Tiong Bahru is one of the oldest neighbourhoods of government built housing (in which 80% of Singaporeans live) in Singapore. Ask for Gina to take your order. I'm sure she will suggest the seafood rolls, the steak done local style, fried udon. Wander around the neighbourhood; the "wet market" and hawker centre is one of the best in Singapore.
* Blue Ginger peranakan restaurant. There are two branches, the original on Tanjong Pagar Road, and the second in the Heeren Building on Orchard Road. If you go to the Tanjong Pagar one, you could take a walk up to a local red-light district (still operational!) but I can't for the life of me remember the name, and also (in the other direction) to Ann Siang Hill which although is redeveloped part of Chinatown, still has character. Cafe Beaujolais is a nice place if you get thirsty.
Night Spots:
* BRIX at the Grand Hyatt. A cigar/wine/jazz bar. See how Singaporean yuppies yup-scale it.
* Long Bar. OK, not one of my hangouts but I do approve of it as a tourist must-see. Take a walk around the famous Raffles Hotel.
* Mohamed Sultan Road. Is a street of pubs. I like Wong San's, Next Page and Sugar. This is where young Singaporeans hang out.
* Emerald Hill Road. There are three pubs in a row here, all very different in character. Number Five, a wine bar which I can't remember the name of, and Ice Cold Beer. Take a walk up the hill and look at the beautiful housing, some renovated, some as they have been for the last 50 years (probably more, I'm no expert).
* Hu'u Bar. Located in Singapore Art Museum building, which was converted a couple of years ago from one of the oldest boys's schools in Singapore. Also a yuppie and expat hangout. Friday nights are the busiest i.e. best for people watching and meeting. I like Saturdays better, the crowd is a little older.
Overrated things:
* Sentosa. Completely man made and just too contrived for my taste.
* Chinatown.