I am so excited to finally be able to share our adventures in Singapore with you! We had an incredible time getting to know Singapore as part of Thomas Cook’s and the Singapore Tourism Board’s #GetIntoSingapore campaign. It was so surreal! One minute, we were in cloudy, grey London ... the next, we were lounging by an infinity pool as Singapore's bright lights twinkled below us. With that said, here are 10 of my favorite moments in Singapore - 10 experiences that you just can't miss while you're there.
Take a dip in a rooftop pool
Singapore is home to a bevy of
spectacular rooftop pools with stunning views of the city - the most famous
being the infinity pool at the top of Marina Bay Sands resorts, which is the
largest in the world. While we didn't get up to the top of Marina Bay
Sands during our visit, we were lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful infinity
pools at The Westin Singapore and luxury boutique hotel, Naumi - which both had
beautiful city views of the bay and beyond.
Cool down with a delicious mango
ice kachang
After a day of sightseeing, we were hot and
exhausted. Our guide for the day, Lynette, introduced us to a Singaporean
favorite at Maxwell Food Centre: mango ice kachang, a shaved ice treat flavored
with sweet, multi-colored syrup and topped with fresh chunks of mango. If you
make it to the bottom of this icy dessert, you're rewarded with sweet red beans
and grass jelly (two popular ingredients in East Asian desserts). So delicious,
but one that needs to be eaten quickly before it turns into a rainbow soup,
given the hot and humid weather!
Have a Singapore Sling in Raffles' Long Bar
Raffles Hotel is one of the most
beautiful examples of colonial architecture I've ever seen. Aside from the
hotel, the Raffles complex also houses several luxury shops, where guests and
visitors can get their retail fix. But more importantly, it is home to the Long
Bar, where the famous Singapore Sling was created. It’s also the only place in
Singapore where littering is allowed: you’re encouraged to throw your peanut shells on the floor, a tradition
that dates back to 1915 and one that I didn't feel entirely comfortable doing
until I'd consumed about half of my Singapore Sling!
Pretend you're in Jurassic Park at Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay
We woke up early one morning and
raced to Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay so we could beat the crowds. The
early start was worth it, since it meant we had the place to ourselves for
about an hour or so! Set to mimic mountain-top conditions, Cloud Forest is a
truly wondrous display. We took the lift to the top floor (aptly named,
"Lost World") and worked our way down the winding walkways as we were
confronted by a majestic waterfall (the largest indoor waterfall in the world),
dripping stalagmites, and stunning living walls which were filled with vibrant
flowers and lush vegetation.
Watch the Supertree Grove "Garden
Rhapsody" Show at Gardens by the Bay
The Supertree Grove - a
futuristic, man-made collection of "trees" that stand up to 16 storeys
high – is featured in nearly every photo of Singapore. It's even more
impressive at night, when the trees transform into a light show, complete with
music. Fun fact: there's a restaurant at the top of one of the trees, plus a
28-metre long walkway that connects two of the Supertrees - not your average
treehouse!
Get up close and personal with lions and giraffes
at Night Safari
Some of the best things in
Singapore happen at night: Night Safari is something everyone told me I
had to do when I got there. Sure enough, John and I headed over after dinner
one evening (the optimal time is after 9:30, when it's less crowded!) and
hopped on a tram that encircled the zoo, taking us right up to stunning
flamingos, scary hyenas, sweet elephants, and my personal favorite - the
Malayan tapir. The animals are very dimly lit so that they can sleep (though
most of them are nocturnal), but we still had terrific views as they snoozed,
grazed, and wandered about.
Luge downhill at Sentosa Island before relaxing on
the beach
Sentosa is home to Singapore's
most beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, and theme parks. Never ones to opt for
the "usual" experience, we left our beach towels at the hotel and
bought passes for the downhill luge instead (sounds much scarier than it
actually was), racing down two windy, paved paths and pretending that we were
in MarioKart. From the bottom, a "Sky Ride" took us back up to the
top (this was much scarier than I thought!) ... where we did it all over
again.
See the beautiful orchids at Singapore's Botanic
Gardens
Not to be confused with Gardens
by the Bay, Singapore's Botanic Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
boasts 74 hectacres of botanical and horticultural treasures. The National
Orchid Garden has the largest display of tropical orchids in the world and it's
here that you'll find SIngapore's national flower, the beautiful Vanda
Miss Joaquim, as well as the "Celebrity Orchid Garden", which
features the hybrid orchids created for visiting celebrities and dignitaries,
such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Catch the sunset at Singapore's highest rooftop
bar, 1-Altitude
As you know, I love catching a bird's eye view of
whatever city I'm in, including my own! Singapore was no exception. John and I found
the highest rooftop bar in Singapore, 1-Altitude and got there just in time
for sunset, which was magical. The bar has a super laid-back and friendly vibe,
plus the staff were more than happy to help us with a sunset selfie! Over
delicious cocktails, we watched as the sun went down and the city's lights
flickered on, displaying a magnificent, twinkling cityscape. Definitely one of
the most thrilling views I've ever taken in.
Have you ever been to Singapore?
What did you do there? I'd love to know! Next week, I’ll be sharing with you my
favorite shopping destinations in Singapore.
This post was written on behalf of Thomas Cook and the Singapore Tourism
Board. All opinions are my own. Find out how you can Get Into Singapore by
booking a trip with Thomas Cook here.