An multiracial island state with Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians, Singapore is a cosmopolitan city state with a dizzying array of food and culture from all over the world represented in its migrant population. Home to Marina Bay Sands, one of the most iconic buildings in Asia, here are the top five places that you must visit if you’re ever on a stopover in Singapore.
1. ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM (MARINA BAY SANDS)
ArtScience Museum is one of the main attractions at Singapore’s iconic integrated resort, Marina Bay Sands. While it boasts some of the most avant-garde exhibitions around – the ArtScience Gallery, a permanent exhibition, consists of three galleries: Curiosity, Inspiration, Expression – the architectural structure itself is an oeuvre to behold. Its sustainable features include the harvesting of rainwater, which is then recycled for use in the building’s restrooms.
2. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (SENTOSA)
Only here can you experience cutting-edge rides, shows and attractions based on your favourite blockbuster films and television series, including Transformers The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle, Shrek 4-D Adventure, Madagascar: A Crate Adventure, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, and more. It is only the second Universal Studios theme park to open in Asia (Japan’s being the first) and the first in Southeast Asia.
3. HAWKER CENTRES
Food, glorious food, has been the distinctive soul of the citizens of this island nation. No one can eat as much or as long as Singaporeans do, more so because of the scrumptious array of food available on the cheap. In two words, hawker centres. Famous ones that have become part of the fabric of this city-state include Newton Hawker Centre, Adam Road Food Centre, and the historical Lau Pa Sat.
4. PARKS
As one of the most prominent green states in the world, Singapore boasts a large number of world-class parks, from the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Park and River Safari, to the Botanical Gardens, Fort Canning and Gardens by the Bay, among many others. These meritorious sites are central to Singapore’s goal of integrating greenery into the urban living environment. The parks of our Garden City remain a thing of beauty, preserving the island’s values and quality of life.
5. ESPLANADE
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is a 60,000-square-metre performing arts centre located near the mouth of the Singapore River. As one of the world’s busiest arts centres, Esplanade offers a wide range of programmes in its Concert hall, Theatre, Recital Studio, Theatre Studio and other facilities, such as library@ esplanade and outdoor performing centres, along with a mall.
Check out the rest of this article in Asian Geographic No.113 Issue 4/2015 here or download a digital copy here
