Singapore: where to go & what to do?

Abe Olandres May 10, 2007 · 1 min read

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Next week, I will be doing a week-long ICT Workshop in Penang, Malaysia for a youth group {related story here} from May 17th to the 22nd. This marks the first leg of my out-of-country travels for this calendar year and my first time to visit Malaysia.

Penang, Malaysia

During our return trip, I was told I can opt to stay in Singapore for a day or two. Of course, I will be the one spending for that side trip but it’s something I am heavily considering. Will an overnight stay suffice to check out the city? Where do I go? What’s the best thing to do while I’m there?

The closest I got was at the Changi Airport last year so I thought it’d be nice to really get off the airport and see the city. I haven’t really decided yet. Any recommendations?

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Abe Olandres

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Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

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38 Comments

Male Reproductive System · 15 years ago

you can always buy cheap foods on any supermarket these days because food production is mechanized already ‘~’

Angel Viloria · 19 years ago

Eat at Red House Sea Food at East Coast Park. Try the crispy squid, the steamed shrimps, and the crab with black pepper instead of the usual chili crab.

jio · 19 years ago

Been living here in Singapore for more than a year, and I could really say this tiny island has so much in store for visitors and tourists.

Changi Airport itself is already a must place to lounge around – too many facilities to use and enjoy that it seems you’re in a mall instead of an airport (restaurants, gym, swimming pool, arcade games).

Shopping? Recommended is Orchard Road where rows of high-class malls vie for shoppers’ attention. But yes, do visit Lucky Plaza for Pinoy items and food. You could also visit Mustafa for Indian things to shop (Little India) or Chinese trinkets around Chinatown MRT station. Sim lim/Funan Malls for gadgets and computers.

Food? If you’re adventurous, try any Makan / Hawker places scattered in Singapore, found mostly near MRT stations. Cheap food, yes, but some taste really good. Chili crab, roti prata, laksa, etc.

Others? Sentosa Island. Singapore Zoo / Night Safari / Jurong Bird Park.

Or even getting lost around Singapore and discover exotic sights is recommeded. It is very safe here, Abe.

Lauren · 19 years ago

Singapore is a food trip and shopping paradise! If you’re into books, visit the huge Kinokuniya bookstore over at Orchard street. It’s not cheap, but that store must carry every single title in existence. If you like beer, I recommend that you grab some Baron’s over at the nearest 7-11. 8.9% alcohol content! There are also two places that have their own microbrewery and serve excellent beer–Brewerkz and Archipleago. The next time I go to Singapore I’ll be visiting those places first. :D

Thoughts In Binary · 19 years ago

I suggest Geylang Road! :D

Andrew · 19 years ago

Come to think of it, since you only have a few days there, you can go on a gadgets binge at Sim Lim Square. :D

Ferdz · 19 years ago

I’ve got a series before called “A day at SG” maybe you could find something interesting there :)

http://www.ironwulf.net/2006/07/08/a-day-in-sing-01-china-town-and-sri-miriamman-temple/

quezacolt · 19 years ago

night safari and sentosa island

Aileen Apolo · 19 years ago

Ask me! I’m so sawa na with Singapore and I’ve plenty of friends there! Tell you about it tomorrow night :p

ajay · 19 years ago

Penang is good enough. I plan to go there myself and try all the street food… the street food there is legendary.

eric · 19 years ago

Abe, ang pasalubong! btw, if you need prnted matters about singapore, maps, itinerairs, where to go, whre to shop, meron ako sa bahay, madami.

Cathy · 19 years ago

i think the question is, what to eat!? There’s always the famous chili crab:)

ManuelV · 19 years ago

The Night Safari’s great, particularly because of the humorous safari guide. :-)

Be sure to also catch the “Creatures of the Night Show”, and grab a scoop or two of Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream. Yum!

Willy Prilles, Jr. · 19 years ago

You may want to touch base with our former City EDP chief Dune Padre who now works for an IT company in Singapore.

Dune blogs at http://saintdune.blogspot.com/

Stephen · 19 years ago

Hello. I just surfed on it a few weeks back while searching on something related to WordPress and have been reading through some of your old posts.

Anyway, I just came back from Singapore a month ago. Though it was a business trip, I did manage to get some sightseeing in.

If you’re into animals and nature, I’d suggest the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari. They’re right beside each other. Unless you plan to take pictures of all the animals you see (like we did), going to the zoo at around 2:00 p.m. would get you enough time for dinner there and then cross the street to the Night Safari, which opens at 7:30 p.m. I wouldn’t recommend the Jurong Bird Park. Aside from the penguins, there’s nothing really special there.

If shopping is your cup of tea, then you could go to Orchard Road. Make sure you visit Lucky Plaza (which is the unofficial mall of Filipinos in Singapore) for some Filipino hospitality. If they recognize you as a Filipino, don’t be surprised to hear greetings of “Kababayan” after every shop or so.

Now if it’s shopping for electronics, then forget Orchard Road and hit Sim Lim Square (SLS), which has got to be the electronics hub in Singapore. Prices are quite competitive too. I got a 5.5 Generation 30 GB iPod Video for my sister for around PhP11,500 net of taxes. I basically ended up getting a lot of stuff at just one store since I found that they had the lowest prices for iPod accessories. As much as possible, buy as much as you can from a single store, as a single receipt over S$100 gets you a tax rebate which you can claim at the airport.

I wouldn’t recommend visiting Sentosa Island if you only had a day or two. It will take you the entire day just to go around, and it’s like one huge theme park.

Hope that helps.

Andrew · 19 years ago

Night Safari!!

ChrisH · 19 years ago

Abe, you can check out AJ of janep.org who is over in SG right now… though it was his first time, too, maybe you and him can check out SG together… :D

Migs · 19 years ago

No recommendations myself (since it’s been a long time since I visited SG) but I’m sure the whole bunch of Pinoy IT folks (and bloggers?) there can help out!