One of the "must-do" things is to enjoy a 'Singapore Sling' cocktail at the Raffles Hotel. This old colonial building does transport you back to what it must have been like in those early days and the cocktail is nice, though a little on the pricey side. A river cruise by a traditional bumboat (small cargo boat) is worth the ride just for the experience, though I did get chatting to a few different people on the trip. When sightseeing round Singapore, you will see many temples including Chinese (mainly Buddhist), Indian (Hindu), Muslim, Sikh and Christian. Some are extremely ornate and it is possible to look inside.

Public transport is very efficient here - the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport railway system) is much like the London Underground but cleaner and with air conditioning (a welcome bonus). The buses are good, but can be very overcrowded, though there is a mobile TV system so you can watch something other than the scenery on long journeys!

The Singapore Discovery Centre requires 3 or 4 hours to enjoy properly, because it includes Motion Simulator Rides, Outdoor Exhibits, IMAX-type cinema screening 2D and 3D movies, Shooting Gallery (computerised simulated firing range using real M-16 rifles) and other exhibits with a military theme. Apparently the Science Centre is much the same minus the military theme but I cannot vouch for that.

Over the causeway is the town of Johor Bahru in Malaysia - a bustling city much like Singapore but not so clean, though much cheaper.

Intro | Islands | Nature | Misc