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If you only have two hours to escape the boring conference or on a layover, between meetings or before you have to be at the airport, rather than spending it walking in circles in some charmless part of town or sitting at the departure gate reading a cheap paperback, here are some suggestions to make a memorable time of a short time. 2 hrs in... is a series of travel articles and future book on hyper-travel tips.
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Singapore is a major Asian business and air travel hub. Many of you may have reason to visit for work, conferences or as part of a tour of the region - en route to Australia, etc. If you don't have time for a leisurely tour around - not to worry - this hyper-efficient island makes a quick tour possible and pleasurable. Taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap and the wide roads are not prone to traffic jams - so for a 2 hour trip I would recommend sticking with them. Although the MRT (mass rapid transit) is easy to use, clean (everything is Singapore is spotless in fact) and covers most of the main areas. Assuming you're starting at either the airport or the nearby Changi Convention Centre take a taxi or MRT to the City Centre - tell the driver to drop you at City Hall or Raffles Hotel. The weather tends to be very hot and very humid all year around - so keep long walks for after dark (when it cools slightly). Take a look at the world famous Raffles Hotel - maybe grab a Singapore Sling cocktail - which was invented here - in the Long Bar. Many think of Singapore as a "shoppers' paradise" - you'll hear that phrase repeated often - ignore it. There are a lot of malls - mostly along Orchard Road - some high end - but it really is no different than what is on offer at every major city around the world. And unlike nearby Bangkok which has a thriving fashion scene, Singapore's indigenous design scene is non-existent. For unique shopping - better to go to Arab Street, Little India or Chinatown - although they can be a bit touristy - you can still find some interesting things of each significant culture in this multi-ethnic city.
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   1:30hrs
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The best part about Singapore's large Chinese, Malaysian and Indian communities however - is the range of excellent food available. So from the Raffles area - depending on your schedule and heat tolerance take a 20 minute walk - or quick air-conditioned taxi ride over to Boat Quay for a wide range of casual restaurants with outdoor seating and fantastic cuisine. I recommend Kinara for Northern Indian and Harvest or Forum for Cantonese - try the Chili Crabs - but not if you're wearing a white shirt. The restaurants are under shade umbrellas and overlook the Singapore River. Cool your palatte with a tall can of local Tiger beer. From there a short walk toward the Esplanade will have you pass The Fullerton Hotel - Singapore's newest - in the grand former Post Office and central government building built in the 1860s. In the extensive enclosed courtyard it is still possible to make out the original function of the building - the developers operated under strict heritage regulations. Both as a civic landmark and a proper five star hotel - The Fullerton is well worth at least a visit - or if your budget allows - a stay. Less tourist-bus-ish than Raffles - more character than the rest which mostly cater to the business traveller. Stop for a drink on the patio here - where silent fans blow a mist of water to cool the patrons. |
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Next stop - cross the bridge in front of the Fullerton to the newest landmark - The Esplanade Theatres on the Bay (known locally as "The Durians" for their resemblance to the pungent Asian fruit). Built at a cost of $600 million Singaporean dollars (U.S. $350 million) - the complex is Singapore's answer to the Sydney Opera House - housing the performing arts centre, shops and restaurants. In fact, possibly the best Chinese food in town is within the complex - in My Humble House - a high-style modern Chinese restaurant which is as dramatic and attractive a restaurant as I've seen anywhere. Two years after completion, The Durians remain a controversial extravagance to many - even taxi drivers can tell you exactly what they cost. One government minister who strongly advocates greater expenditures on the arts says of the controversy - "Singaporeans know the price of everything, but the value of nothing." From here take a taxi over to Lau Pa Sat Festval Market - an outdoor food market of hawker stalls which is busy all day and late into the night. Along with the Newton Hawker Centre - this is one of the best places to eat with the local population without driving out of town. If you decided to eat at either Boat Quay or My Humble House - you can still grab a fresh lychee crushed ice dessert drink - or coconut with a straw in it. Delicious - and now you're ready to go see what all the fuss is about on Orchard Road. |
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Take a taxi - or the MRT - up to Orchard Road - get out anywhere - it is mostly concentrated on a 500m long stretch from the Far East Shopping Centre to the Orchard Shopping Centre. All the major brands are here - Gucci and Dior, Gap and Benetton, etc, etc. and has some, toned down elements of Tokyo - such as a large video screen playing movie and other ads. But the area is worth a visit even if not shopping - Orchard is bustling until the early morning hours - and makes a great spot for people watching. Straightlaced Singapore is trying to lose its "all business" reputation and has recently extended bar opening hours to 4am - attracting party seekers from Kuala Lumpur - and even Bangkok - which is trying to re-adjust its image in the opposite direction from Singapore. In Singapore however, the revelry feels a little forced and synthetic. All films and television, newspapers and magazines are subject to strict censorship - which is quite apparent. Strangely, a new "Coyote Ugly law" has been introduced - allowing bar goers to dance on table tops - like in the less than classic American film "Coyote Ugly". Other petty, though strictly enforced laws include no chewing gum (none is for sale on the island), jay-walking, spitting or "congregating" in a group of six or more! Trangress these laws at your peril - your stay could be considerably longer than two hours.... . You're getting low on time, and maybe want to get a gift for someone back home before you go. One spot I'd recommend is Shanghai Tang - in the Wisma Atria Shopping Centre on Orchard. Fashion for both men and women are a modern take on traditional Shanghai designs. Or you could head back through Chinatown, Little India or Arab Street. These areas are particularly interesting on weekends - when Singapore's perpetually warm weather allows for outdoor markets and stalls.
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There, you've covered more than 10 kms, seen the most historic sites in town, briefly visited maybe ten or more of the best local shops, sampled great local foods at three or four places. Now settle back into the conference - or head to the airport or wherever is next. You can't say you didn't get a chance to see anything.... |
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Of
course we all wish for the days of The Grand Tour - and to have the
time and money to spend two weeks or two months exploring the world's
great cities. But times have changed and so has travel. 
0:20hrs