Posted by Dawn on Tuesday, 2. March 1999 at 00:36 Bali Time:
In Reply to: tell me more .. posted by Annika on Sunday, 28. February 1999 at 19:20 Bali Time:
With only a couple of days in Singapore I'd suggest you give Sentosa a miss. It's a little used( except for tour groups) island that was developed as a sort of amusement park. You have much better alternatives unless you really want to see an aquarium, or mock cultural villages. It isn't representative of Singapore.
Walk little India, what's left of Chinatown,and the colonial area. Visit a wet market,eat at a hawkers stall, check out the Asian Civilization Museum or the History Museum. Get a Singapore Sling if you're inclined. Walk around Clarke or Boat Quay in the evening. You'll find Chinese opera at Clarke Quay at night around 7:30PM , open to all.Visit the Botanical Gardens, especially the orchid garden. Take a taxi up to the Night Zoo. Visit Changi and see the small chapel and exhibit that remain from the Changi prison camp, circa WWII.
Just enjoy the multicultural experience of Malay women in modest muslim dress, side by side with old Chinese men in singlets and flip flops and young people dressed in the latest western fashion.
Check out all those expensive shops on Orchard and marvel at all the things bought by some rich tourists and less and less by locals who continue to suffer in the Asian crisis.
Singapore may not be the most exotic place to visit, but it is unique in SEAsia and well worth visiting and trying to grasp just what has been accomplished since they dumped Colonial rule and got kicked out of Malaysia. Have fun!