Singapore Fling - August 2024 - Kaarie Stephens - Hostess Round Up

We started our 7 Day Singapore Fling with a bang. On arrival at Changi airport, we went across to Jewel to experience the magnificent display of lush plant life and art installations with glimpses of humidity from the outdoors. Our favorite feature was the Rain Vortex in the cool of the Shiseido Forest Valley where we sat in the gentle spray of the falling water, marveling at the engineering. Early the next day we headed to the National Orchid Garden set in the Botanic Gardens, loving everything we saw. Having fun with our new friends, we explored Singapore’s many faces, so happy to be warm and on holiday together. Marina Bay was a definite highlight; the focal point of the cityscape with the Merlion spouting water not far from the iconic building that is Marina Bay Sands. Our days ran into each other with lots of wonderful food experiences. Singapore’s signature dishes of Hainanese chicken rice, satays, laksa, oyster omelet and stir-fried noodles were on offer at the food courts and hawker’s markets, a foodies’ paradise. It was great to see the city from our bumboat and experience the buzz at night along the Singapore River at Clarke Quay. Gardens By the Bay was spectacular too, both by day and night with the illuminated Super Trees music and light show. So much to be experienced; cocktails and lunch on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands gave us sweeping views of the busiest port in Southeast Asia. Bird Paradise was another example of how well Singapore designs and creates nature spaces with the latest technology and beautiful aesthetics. Raffles Hotel for high tea and later a Singapore Sling at the long bar took us to the opulence of the early colonial times in Singapore when the trade route was being developed between the east and west. Another favorite was the lesser seen Peranakan neighborhood of Kantong settled by the indigenous Singaporean people with their heritage shop houses of all colors. Little India and Haji Lane in the Arab Quarters with the golden domed mosque were two other cultural neighborhoods we enjoyed in this small, multicultural island country. Great news that we are returning to Singapore in 2025 and we'd love to welcome you!.