Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There (Singapore)

Welcome to my Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There Blog.

Today I’m off to Singapore—just the name conjures up images of exotic flowers, heat and tuk-tuks in my head.

Highlights:

The Botanical Gardens. The hothouses were absolutely incredible. Everything was green and lush, and with eye-popping colors. Fabulous—especially for someone like me who can’t even keep a pot plant alive.

Orchard Road Shopping. Mall after mall after mall. So many shops, but there were pushy sales assistants in a lot of them, trying to get you to buy, buy, buy. But bartering is fun – I was like, ‘Hah!’ when I bartered with an old Chinese lady and got a souvenir mug down from $6.50 to $5.90 – go me!

Thian Hock Keng Temple. The oldest temple in Singapore and very beautiful. 

Sentosa Island. We took the cable car which was really, really high above the water (not that I’m scared of heights or anything…) and on the island I was brave enough to hold a lovely, buttery yellow albino python. My husband thought the python was neither buttery or lovely, and nearly keeled over in terrified revulsion—I mean, he opted not to touch the snake as he was taking photos…

Raffles Hotel. I think it’s mandatory to visit the famous Raffles hotel, drink a Singapore Sling, and toss a few peanut shells onto the wooden floor...Luckily the Singapore Sling came with a tour we were doing as there was no way I was going to pay $18 for another. A Singapore Sling is comprised of gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, Grenadine, a dash of Angostura Bitters, and is garnished with a slice of fresh pineapple and a cherry—in case you want to save yourself eighteen bucks. I have to say Raffles did have an old-world elegance about it, a very tropical Bogart movie type thing.

Chinatown and Little India. Colorful and cheaply cheerful. Some things to make you go, ‘OMG, really?’ but a fascinating place regardless.

People. Singaporeans are very friendly and smile lovely white smiles at you, but many of them just have no idea what you're trying to ask, and when they do reply they talk with a strong accent and very, very fast! Needless to say, we got lost a couple of times following directions.

Singapore really was a fascinating city to explore, with many different cultures and customs, and a vibrant energy purely its own.

Tracey