One night in Singapore and the world’s your oyster!
Singapore…the Sin City (used fondly in this context of course). Oh, let me enthuse how many reasons I love you, and your rich blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture (okay, I just copy and pasted that but it doesn’t mean I don’t love our neighbors down under!)
I’ve been to Singapore a few times, and I have had one memorable experience as a kid where all the hotels were fully booked and my dad was trying to get a roof over our heads. Most of the Singaporean hotel receptionists were rude and downright fucking condescending to Malaysian tourists (we’re like 10th rate travelers to them or something) back then. My dad, being the head of the family slogged on to hotel after hotel with us trudging along behind him.
I am sad to report that being young (was 10 at the time) and not fully appreciative of my dad’s efforts, I snapped at him for not having the foresight to book a hotel beforehand. My dad took it in his usual stoic stride. He didn’t say anything. You know how many years back that was? 18 years, my friends.
I still remember it and feel guilty about it coz my dad is a really solid all around nice guy.
However, the thing I remember the most was the patronizing tone the Singaporean hotel receptionists took to my dad and to this day I feel like choking them and their holier than thou attitude. It’s like they feel they’re part of a higher purpose, riding on their high horses, and generally acting like the fucking smiting left hand of God.
However, with age, I’ve come to accept that not all Singaporeans are like that, so here’s your chance to prove me wrong okay? 😉
I’ll love to go to Singapore on a one day itinerary as listed below:
0900 hours
I shall be waking up (grudgingly dammit) and head out for some roti prata.
1000 hours
With some food in the tummy, it’s time to hit…erm, Geylang can? :p
1200 hours
(space left intentionally blank)
I know the math doesn’t work here, but hell, if I decide to spend 2 hours sightseeing in the famed street, who’s gonna stop me? :p
Next up: Chilli crab lunch!
1230 hours
I’m going to the famous Long Beach restaurant for chilli crabs! I’ve got something else planned for dinner so I’m going to eat this (and black pepper crabs) for lunch instead!
1400 hours
After a nice, leisurely lunch where I eat at least 6 crabs, it’s time to churn the undigested food at the reverse bungee at Clarke Quay! G-MAX is supposed to be the ultimate reverse bungee, and having tried the one in Sunway as well as the real thing, I feel it’s my duty to see how this measures up.
1500 hours
Okay, now we’ve come to a crossroad. Difficult decisions to be made and what not. Do I do the tourist thing and head to Sentosa? Or do I go to St John’s Island instead? Well, since I’m alone in this scenario, I’ll head to Sentosa. St John’s Island would be ideal with a loved one though.
Sentosa would take up most of the afternoon so after all the rides and attractions over there, it’ll be time for…DINNER!
1900 hours
I’ll be going for the world’s first full butler service sky dining experience on the Singapore Flyer! I’ve never been on the Singapore Flyer before so it’ll be fun…besides they have bottles of wine and champagne upon request.
2000 hours
This is the time to head to Orchard Road to do some shopping before painting the town red. I remember buying some great He-Man toys here as a kid. I think my tastes have evolved but Orchard Road has evolved with me so I’m sure I can get some fine looking threads for the next destination. 😉
2200 hours
Zouk! One People, One Tribe, One Dance, 1Malaysia(n). It’s practically an institution so not hitting this club would be akin to going to Egypt and not visit the pyramids, going to Paris and bypassing the Eiffel Tower, going to Rome and…well, you catch my drift.
Open till late so I’m going to drink, party, dance and see if I get lucky. 😉
Photos stolen from too many sources to list via Google Images.
Indulge in the Uniquely Singapore experience!
*drools*! That chili crab looked so delicious!!!! Anyway, my only pet peeves when dining out at Singapore is the long queue of peeps! That is(almost) enough to put me off.
I’m sure you’ll get lucky at Zouk. You’ve always been lucky(a hit) with the gals. 😉
i was there many many years ago, then it was ok. i remember it was a heavy rainy day and i got stuck somewhere at china town, the shop owner offered me an umbrella and told me no need to return the umbrella to him. i like singapore for many reasons better than KL. but guess, they are ppl like- ‘holier than thou’ everywhere. you make me miss sin city 🙂 cheers!
lucky you didn’t call it “SINGAPORE” chili crab, heehee
there are so many malaysians working/living/emigrating here that the ‘local’ singaporeans or anybody else really have to be careful when they say anything about malaysians.. that arrogant attitude has been replaced by careful inquiring in a softer voice with somewhat glazy trying real hard not to betray look in their eyes.. it would take real guts to try discriminating because it is difficult to tell malaysians apart from singaporean cos our culture is very similar and we share the same roots.. and just count how many corporate leaders here are from malaysia (penang in particular for some weird reason).. i think people of other southeast asia countries gets it worst.. what i see is more of a class barrier here.. e.g. ref malaysian factory workers/labourers who travel in/out of singapore from jb daily.. who contributes to the island states economy but gets more flack than any deserved credit.. i can tell you no singaporean (or not) at a Louis Vuitton store will turn away an obviously Indonesian couple fully clad in LV.. however they might refuse entry to an obviously Singaporean guy with shorts and sandals ( the default weekend wear).. in Sin City.. it’s all about the money.
Long Beach – as far as I’m concerned its a restaurant called No Name or No Signage that is is nice as per local and in Lrg 9 for a wonderful frog porridge. . .
You dont have to go to Long Beach to have Chilli Crab. Why pay service charges and GST!!! You can get Chilli Crab, Frog leg porridge, beef kuay teow and tau huay (bean curd) at Geylang. I dont remember the lorong but it’s near some durian stalls. Food there is really fantastic.
Clarke Quay for drinks?? Good choice. You can pub crawl too 🙂
HB, unless you speak Cantonese or English well they would be more nice to you. Since I came from states they try very hard to be more polite to you. I spoke Cantonese to them with no problem and or course English.
I think No Name seafood is kinda overpriced though. HAHA. Oh well, been here in Singapore too long already. Hope to see you here, Huai Bin!
will you take me to singapore?
With the present exchange rate, it’s too expensive… For RM200 plus, I would have to stay in some small dodgy hotel…but here, I can pamper myself – 3 or 4 star, at least with buffet breakfast! Besides, I find that it has lost its heritage, its identity – now it’s like some giant theme park! The Singapore I knew when I lived there in the 70s is gone…
I know this might sound lame.
But your pic of Roti prata looks crazy delicious!
Not to mention, I am crazy starving now…
Maybe I should head to the nearest Asian grocer and grab one for myself later..
Cheers: Heh! Thanks for the vote of confidence! =D
jg: Singapore is safe, that’s one thing. You’ll be reasonably safe walking around in the middle of the night, which is kinda one of its downfalls. The gangs tend to congregate in Johor – have a friend who’s based in JB but travels every day to KL for…er, his…well, work. 🙂
KY: Haha! Just like roti prata is roti canai. 🙂
at: Thanks for sharing that! It’s very enlightening. So it’s all about appearances then, will work on that this trip. 🙂
FOODCRAZEE: Thanks mate! Will check that out one instead. 🙂
Magnolia: Okay, Geylang is is then! Thanks for the tip Magnolia! 🙂
Vickie: Unfortunately, I don’t speak Cantonese…it’s just one of the dialects I’ve never been able to master. :S
Kevin Chan: Hey Kevin, see ya in Singapore! 🙂
Dylan: There are not enough invites! I’m bunking with a Nuffie, was supposed to go with Eiling but plans changed (apparently not enough tickets) so me and Cheesie will be sharing a room with a Nuffie each.
suituapui: I haven’t been to Singapore in the 70s…coz I wasn’t born yet, but I know what you mean. We went on family vacations when I was young and the Singapore I remember has changed too. 🙁
Mizz Sharon: Enjoy! 🙂
I’m sorry your dad had to put up with typical, nasty Singaporean rudeness! I apologize on all Singaporeans’ behalf 🙁 but don’t take it personally, many receptionists haven’t even graduated from secondary school and they treat all foreigners as second-rate scum (when they’re the real scum). Us women have it worse actually, they usually take me for a prostitute until I reveal my nationality. But that’s not the point. Singaporean or not, you should never pre-judge your customers. Nice post on my country, hope you’ll encounter better service next time round 🙂
Thanks Kerry! You don’t have to apologize for other ignorent Singaporeans, I totally understand how it goes. 🙂
I still feel bad about the words I said to my dad all those years ago while we were trudging with our suitcases though. 😡
Hey, sorry to hear about your experiences and cheers for sharing them!
Yup, I’m going to Singapore again this weekend and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.
Have a great week ahead Kerry! 🙂