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The Draw
• The colonial romance of the city of Kipling and Maugham
• The entrepreneurial buzz of an Asian economic tiger
• The pepper pot of Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures
The Scene
At first glance, Singapore isn't fighting any stereotypes: spotless sidewalks, gleaming atriums, acres of perfectly manicured lawns. Accusations of sterility and conformity notwithstanding, this island nation of just over four million boasts a rich colonial past and a vibrant cultural life. The Victoria Theater and the Singapore Cricket Club speak to the city's Oriental fairy-tale past, but at night the hip clubs of Clarke Quay swarm with young locals and expat day traders. Getting to the Lion City has never been easier; Changi International Airport's new luxury terminal (the first in Asia) offers swift, dedicated customs and luggage service. But that's not the only way Singapore is looking ahead: The country has also announced development of Spaceport Singapore, which will blast people off into suborbital space. When it's complete, 90-minute flights (plus four days of training) are expected to run about $100,000.
To Be Seen
• Orchard Road. Southeast Asia's glitziest commercial strip is worth a look, if only for the people-watching. Note: Since most of the Western clothing is imported, you're likely to find better deals on technology.
• The Arab Quarter. A haggler's delight: antique stores, textile stalls and fruit stands. The sheesha (water pipe) bars stay open until the early hours.
• Chinatown. The spiritual home of the city's thriving mercantile class, most of whom were brought over as indentured laborers in the 19th century. Enjoy a cup of tea or a custom-mixed herbal remedy.
• Little India. A stroll down Serangoon Road will result in all manner of sights and sounds: naan stalls, spice markets and plenty of friendly conversation.
For The VIP
• Come down from your VIP suite at the Raffles Hotel to slip on a pith helmet, light up a cheroot and nurse a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar.
• Watch the local gentry (and the occasional visiting Malay royalty) ply their ponies at the Singapore Polo Club.
• A dinner at Au Jardin, housed in the former bungalow of a Cambridge botanist, offers moonlit views of Singapore's Botanical Gardens.
Overrated
Sentosa Island. History buffs may appreciate Fort Siloso, the famous British fort whose cannons face southward to the sea (too bad the Japanese rode in on bicycles from the north). Otherwise this place is a tourist circus.
Underrated
Changi Chapel. This understated exhibit dedicated to the 70,000 civilian and military POWs interned during the Japanese occupation features original art and photography.
Don't Miss
Clarke Quay. There are plenty of dishes to choose from along this lively waterfront promenade, but you can never go wrong with Singapore's signature meal: chili crab and beer.
When To Go
Seasons aren't a consideration here, since they don't exist. Go anytime.
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