SINGAPORE — It took Singapore, an island city-state of nearly 5 million people in southeast Asia, about 50 years to transform from a poor outpost into one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
For a tourist, two days will be enough to fall in love with this Asian paradise.
The city-state only gained independence from Malaysia in 1965 and immediately started its ascent into the club of the world’s richest and safest countries.
Lee Kuan Yew, the country’s first prime minister, initiated huge changes and established the key factors that led to Singapore’s success: meritocracy, pragmatism and honesty. Now, guided by these rules, Singapore is leading the world’s rankings in education, ease of doing business, happiness, economic freedom and more.
It is indeed unlike any other state in the world: a city of innovation, commerce and delicious food, where modern technologies mix with ancient traditions.
Even though Singapore is an expensive city for travelers (prepare to spend up to $100 per day per person on food and entertainment), it is worth the money. And it is one of the best places to escape the cold Ukrainian winter.
The weather in Singapore is pretty much hot and humid all year around. I traveled to Singapore at the beginning of January, during the rainy season. But in my case, even the occasional tropical rains could not spoil a weekend in this heavenly place.
Changi wonder
The warm tropical wind is the first to welcome travelers upon arrival; second is the Changi Airport, which has been rated the world’s best airport for seven years in a row.
Greenery is a big part of Singapore’s high quality of life, so trees and bushes are everywhere in the city: on skyscrapers, inside industrial buildings, in shopping malls and in the airport.
Changi Airport is a massive modern building with lots of greenery and entertainment. The recently-opened Jewel Changi is a must-visit spot. Located on the landside of Changi airport, Jewel is a nature-themed entertainment complex, with shops, restaurants, and attractions.
The world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, is here, too. It is located right in the center of the complex and surrounded by gardens and railways for the airport’s trains.
People take photographs of the Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, located at Jewel Changi in Singapore on October 30, 2019. (AFP)
Food paradise
Singapore is a great destination for foodies. It offers plenty of Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai and Indonesian eateries on every corner. No need to opt for fancy restaurants to try the best food Singapore has to offer.
The city houses many hawker centers, or outdoor food halls, where all the dishes are authentic and much cheaper than in regular restaurants. But in Singapore, cheaper doesn’t mean worse. The hawker centers were designed to make it easier for the authorities to control the quality of street food.
Everything here is clean, safe and cheap.
The prices for most food at hawker centers are around $3–6 per dish. All the portions are big, often enough for two people, and extremely tasty.
I was thrilled with Singapore’s special Laksa soup — a coconut curry soup with rice noodles and shrimp, topped with fresh cilantro, bean sprouts and mint and served with lime wedges and some hot chili sauce (about $10).
Moreover, the Michelin star-awarded fast food Liao Fan Hawker Chan is located in Singapore’s Chinatown. The eatery is known for its savory soy-sauce chicken rice: tender chicken meat in a crispy crust with thick, delicious soy sauce, served with rice or noodles (about $5). However, prepare to wait in a long queue to try it. The place is highly popular among tourists and locals, so the queue often starts even before it opens at 10 a. m.
But with all the advantages that Singapore’s hawker centers have, they can be a little loud.
In this case, the Atlas bar in Singapore’s downtown is perfect. One of Asia’s best bars, Atlas is also among the 50 best bars in the world. And no wonder why. I was truly impressed with its chic interior design, excellent service and, most importantly, great cocktails.
But Atlas is among Singapore’s pricier venues. For three savory cocktails, prepare to pay nearly $80. Tipping isn’t necessary: a 10-percent service fee is included in the check.
Picturesque city
Singapore is not all about food. It is also the city of entertainment and beauty.
The Marina Bay Sands hotel, which is well-known for its infinity pool, is among the most popular places in Singapore. The rooftop bar and the infinity pool are located on the 57th floor and offer an amazing view of Singapore.
Make sure to visit the futuristic Gardens by the Bay, a spectacular nature park with a collection of trees and greenery from all around the world.
It is also home to 18 so-called Supertrees — huge, colorful, vertical tree-shaped facilities reminiscent of alien creatures. The Supertrees are even more mesmerizing at night, especially during the light show that starts every day at 7:45 p. m. and 8:45 p. m. local time. Entrance is free.
This place is a little touristy and crowded, but definitely worth a visit.
Singapore’s Sentosa Island, where Universal Studios is located, is a must-visit place as well. It is an island with great beaches accessible from Singapore by train, bus or cable car.
Singapore is also a very “instagrammable” city. The Haji Lane, for instance, is a little street with cute and colorful buildings, and the Orchard Road, Singapore’s major shopping street with luxurious stores and shopping malls, is among the city’s most picturesque places as well, thanks to its mix of greenery and modern architecture.
At Chinatown, one can find Singapore’s greatest street food courts along with cheap souvenirs and Chinese temples. Little India is home to Indian temples, restaurants, and brightly-colored houses adorned with Indian art.
In the evening, take a walk around the bay and enjoy the magnificent sunset and a light show at Marina Bay Sands.
Rules must be obeyed
Laws in Singapore are famously strict.
Singapore has the death penalty for drug trafficking, and each person who enters the country is warned about that. Also, be sure not to eat or drink inside the metro or on public buses, or smoke on the streets — it’s illegal. Chewing gum is also forbidden here.
But on the other hand, all those rules and laws make Singapore a completely safe place. In Singapore, one can see what Germans call “Ordnung,” or “the order” — all the rules are obeyed, the country runs like a clock and public transport always comes on time. Everything in this city-state is perfectly convenient and people-oriented.
Singapore has managed to combine the best of Europe and Asia, becoming the perfect site for a short vacation and a great place for living.
How to get there
There are no direct flights from Ukraine to Singapore. Tickets from Kyiv to Singapore will cost $400–900 per person on average, with a stopover in Frankfurt or Munich.
Ukrainians need a visa for Singapore. There is a stopover option: Ukrainians can stay in the country for up to 96 hours without a visa if they leave to a country different from the one from which they arrived.
Where to stay
Accommodations are expensive in Singapore. Five-star hotels can cost from $400-$700 per night. However, for those who are not ready to pay a fortune for a hotel room, some cheaper options are still available all around the city for $50–100 per night.
Getting around
Metro and buses are the easiest and cheapest options to get around the city. They operate on a single ticket — a card that one needs to purchase and refill. A one-way ticket from the airport to the city center costs about $2.
Taxi in Singapore is the most expensive way to get around the city. But one can also try Grab — an Asian taxi app cheaper than Uber.
A cab from the airport to the city center can cost about $20.
