FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 21

Quick FactsLANGUAGESEnglish, Mandarin, Hokkien, Bahasa Malay and Tamil.

TIME2 ½ hours ahead of IST.

CURRENCYSingapore dollar ($ or S$). We have used $ to refer to Singapore dollars in this book.

MOBILE PHONESLocal SIM cards can be used in unlocked GSM phones. Purchase them from convenience stores.

INTERNET ACCESSWi-fi is widespread and sometimes free. Internet cafes are found in many of the shopping areas.

TOURIST INFORMATIONSingapore Visitors@Orchard Information Centre (%1800 736 2000; cnr Orchard & Cairnhill Rds; 9.30am–10.30pm; mSomerset).

Need to Know

When to GoSingapore has the same weather around the year: humid with steady rainfall. The temperature never drops below 20°C. Keep these pointers in mind:

• February–May and August–October: These are the quietest months and the closest to a low season. A good time to visit if you want to save money.

• June–July: To be avoided, since these are the hottest months. It's school holiday time too, so streets and shopping centres are crowded.

• Special Events: Avoid visiting during the Chinese New Year (February) since everything is shut for a week. Rates go sky high during the Formula 1 race (September).

• Weekdays vs. Weekends: Airfares and hotel rates are higher on weekends.

First Time in Singapore• Passport: Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your date of entry.

• Visa: Apply for a visa at least three to four weeks in advance. You need to pay a processing fee of $30, along with two photographs, bank statements for three months, a leave letter from your company (where applicable) and a covering letter. For more details on the visa process, see p236.

HEALTH & SAFETY• You can expect high standards of hygiene everywhere, including at roadside eateries (called hawker centres). The tap water is generally safe.

• There is very little crime in Singapore, but take basic precautions such as not carrying too much cash and valuables with you. It is very unlikely that shopkeepers will cheat you.

ADVANCE PLANNING

Two to three months before • Book your air ticket.• Plan your itinerary and budget.• Book accommodation.

Three weeks to a month before• Apply for your visa if you haven’t done it already.• Book a table if you hope to eat at a trendy top-end

restaurant. • Book tickets if you plan to watch major

theatre shows or big-ticket events such as the Formula 1 race.

One week before• Buy Singapore dollars. • Start packing.• Print your tickets.

WHAT TO PACK• Light and loose wash-and-wear clothes.• Comfortable sandals or shoes.• A dressy outfit and formal shoes for entry in some

posh places.• Sunscreen and sunglasses.• Insect repellent.• Waterproof holder for passport and money.• Camera and batteries.

For detailed information, see Travellers' Helpdesk on p234–245

The Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay

Dos and Don’tsSingaporeans can appear

a little brusque and even rude, but take this in your stride; it's not personal.

Use both hands to give and receive visiting cards. This is a sign of good manners here.

If invited to a home, leave your footwear outside.

In a work environment, everyone will shake hands. In the social sphere, it’s OK not to shake hands. Just a slight bow is fine.

Do greet taxi drivers when you get into a cab. It’s the done thing.

Do not carry chewing gum with you as it is illegal. You shouldn’t be seen chewing it either.

Do not smoke in public except at the clearly designated areas.

Jaywalking is not allowed.

Tipping is not necessary. A service charge is included in most bills.

Don’t protest if a stranger sits next to you at a food court or hawker centre table. It's a common practice.

Do not haggle over prices in most shops. We have indicated specific places where it's OK to bargain.

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experiences in themselves. We have pulled out the top highlights for you to explore.

3

Singapore at a Glance

BOTANIC GARDENS, HOLLAND VILLAGE & DEMPSEY HILL PP156–169 Sprawling greenery, upscale restaurants, delightful arts and antique stores.

SOUTHWESTERN SINGAPORE PP170–179 Nature parks and a scenic cable car ride equal a great getaway.

ORCHARD ROAD PP116–135 Singapore's biggest collection of malls, plus some lovely bars and sights nearby.

JURONG & AROUND PP192–199 A bird park and some top sights for kids.

To Jurong

Queenstown

Pasir Panjang

Sample chapter

4

LITTLE INDIA & KAMPONG GLAM PP98–115 Beautiful buildings, budget shopping options, all types of Indian food.

EASTERN SINGAPORE PP136–155 A hub of Peranakan culture, authentic cuisine, beachside activities.

COLONIAL DISTRICT, THE QUAYS & MARINA BAY PP58–81 Grand old buildings, modern marvels.

SENTOSA ISLAND PP180–191 Theme park rides, beach activities, a casino, seaside bars and more.

CHINATOWN & THE CBD PP82–97 Charming temples, bustling hawker centres, tons of souvenir shops.

Marina South

Geylang

Marina Bay

Keppel Harbour

Strait of Singapore

FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER

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65

Marina Bay Sands, with the boat-shaped SkyPark perched on top

Why Go?The Colonial District is the heart of Singapore: an urban treasure-trove of colonial buildings, museums and shopping centres. Also in the area is the sprawling Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, where culture, commerce and casinos go hand in hand. The three riverside quays are famous for their nightlife and are home to some of the hippest party spots in the city.

Getting There & AwayMRT: City Hall MRT is walking distance from all attractions in the Colonial District. It is also connected via underground malls to the Esplanade, from where

• Bayfront MRT station at Marina Bay Sands is due to open some time in 2012.

Bus: Hotel and St Andrew’s Cathedral along North Bridge Road.

Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

Top 5 Highlights• (p62) Drink a Singapore Sling at one of the bars here.

• Peranakan Museum (p65) Take a peek at local immigrant culture.

• Clarke Quay (p65) Party the night away at the many clubs and bars.

• Marina Bay Sands (p69) Shop, gamble, eat, drink – and more.

• G-Max Reverse Bungy (p79) Great sights and some frights!

FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER

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87

This neighbourhood is packed with enough variety to keep everyone

museums and admire the beautiful colonial architecture

around the Padang. For buzzing nightlife and a whole

bunch of exciting activities, Clarke Quay and

Marina Bay are your best bets. We’ve spread this

itinerary over two days, but you can cover the

sights of your choice in one or even three,

depending on the time you have.

Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

The whitewashed facade of the grand

Culture & QuaysDay 11 Hotel2 Padang and Around3 Asian Civilisations

Museum4 National Museum of

Singapore5 Peranakan Museum6 Clarke Quay7 Boat Quay8 River Cruise (not on map)

Marina Bay & AroundDay 29 Singapore Flyera Esplanade–Theatres

by the Bayb Marina Bay Sandsc Robertson Quay

FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER

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109

5 Eating

budget eats on the street. There are plenty of mid-range restaurants too.

Kopitiam cnr Bencoolen St & Bras Basah Rd; 24hr mCity Hall A top spot in the

district for a late-night snack, this

branch of the Kopitiam chain is brisk

and bright. The food is uniformly good

and you won’t pay much more than

$6 for a meal.

Gluttons Bay Hawker Centre $%6336 7025; 01–15 Esplanade Mall; mains $10–20; 6pm–3am; mEsplanade Selected by the

Makansutra Food Guide, this bayside

collection of the best hawkers (or

street-food masters) is a great place

to start exploring the island’s food

culture. Everyone has their own

favourites but you can’t go wrong with

dishes such as oyster omelette and

satay. Try the satisfyingly rich kaya

(coconut jam) fondue.

Seah Street Food Outlets Local $–$$Seah St mCity Hall This short street

of good eating options. Standouts

include chicken rice at Sin Swee Kee and Swee Kee (no relation to each

other). Order the Hainanese pork

chop at Swee Kee: fried pork cutlet

slathered with a spiced tomato-based

sauce. If you eat beef, a visit to Hock Lam Beef Noodles will not disappoint.

Purvis Street Outlets Local $–$$$Purvis St; mCity Hall Neighbouring

Seah Street, Purvis Street is packed

with good restaurants. Those with deep

pockets will want to splash out on Italian

at Garibaldi or French at Gunther’s. The

chicken rice at Yet Con is superb and

you get good Thai food at Jai Thai.

Marina Bay Sands Food Outlets International $-$$$Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave; www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Restaurants; meals from $10-500; mPromenade, Bayfront

If you want to see what the celebrity

chef fuss is all about, this cluster of

restaurants is your best bet. Daniel

Boulud’s DB Bistro Moderne is by

with an American twist. Famed Aussie

chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s Waku Ghin and

Wolfgang Puck’s Cut are also regarded

highly. For modern Asian cuisine and

great views, head to the rooftop for

Justin Quek’s Sky on 57. There are

mid-range options too, including

pizzas at Osteria Mozza. Expect to

spend at least $300 (without alcohol)

at the big-name restaurants. End your

at the Chocolate Bar at the SkyPark.

Places to dine• Gluttons Bay (p70) One of the better hawker centres around.

• DB Bistro Moderne (p71) The best among the celebrity-chef restaurants at Marina Bay Sands.

• Artichoke (p72)Tasty Mediterranean fare, including some vegetarian items.

• Equinox (p73) Fine dining paired with stunning views.

Indian RestaurantsPANGAT $%9028 3574; www.pangat.com; Suntec City, 3 Temasek Blvd; 11.30am–9.30pm; mPromenade, Esplanade This vegetarian

parathas and raita.

BOMBAY CAFE $%6238 8239; www.bombaycafe.com.sg; B1-020, Suntec City, 3 Temasek Blvd; 10.30am–9.30pm; mPromenade, Esplanade

This little restaurant only serves

vegetarian food but has a fabulous

included in the set menu. À la carte

options are available too.

RANG MAHAL $$$%6333 1788; www.rangmahal.

6.30pm–10.30 pm mEsplanade

One of the best Indian restaurants

impeccable service and outstanding

food. The restaurant also does a

but is shut on Saturday afternoon.

Always book ahead.

stalls than most hawker centres

FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER

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