Selma Roth Saudi Gazette If you have ever set foot in Singapore, chances are you only saw the airport on the way to another exotic destination, whether it be the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, or Japan. Handling over 50 million passengers yearly, Singapore's Changi International Airport is among the busiest airports by international passenger traffic worldwide. It is also one of the most enjoyable in the world, with plenty of shops, themed gardens, entertainment, and dining options. But the island located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula deserves more than a transit visit. If Changi International Airport amazes you, this is merely a foretaste of what to expect when visiting the sovereign city-state. Consisting of one main island and over 60 smaller islets, Singapore is one of the tiniest states in the world, and with more than 5 million inhabitants it is also the second most densely populated country. Despite this, over half of Singapore's area is covered by greenery, and the country looks rather spacious. Sure, the glittering skyscrapers are there, and no less than 80 percent of Singaporeans live in high-rise public housing apartments, but the countless lavish parks, tree-lined roads, nature reserves and stunning waterfront constitute a perfect contrast to the hubbub of this rapidly developing Southeast Asian “tiger,” as the state is commonly referred to. And there is more. Its countless shopping malls, entertainment parks, and fine dining venues traversed by impeccably clean and orderly streets make Singapore a true tourism paradise. Add to this its ever-smiling citizens, exquisite local cuisine that combines Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian flavors, and flawless public transport system of trains, metros and buses, and you may wonder why you would ever leave this place. Family fun Singapore is a typical family tourism destination, with things to do and see for young and old. Here are five of the most fun activities tailored to children, though adults will also surely enjoy themselves. Breakfast with orangutans Where else do you have the chance to enjoy breakfast among orangutans? Take your chance for a snapshot with these monkeys while learning everything about them, from their behavior to how to protect this endangered species that lives in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia. The breakfast with orangutans takes place every day between 9 and 10:30 a.m. at Singapore Zoo, which, apart from these primates, houses over 2,800 animals held in natural environments. The zoo offers plenty of other photo opportunities, shows, and animal feeding sessions — enough for an entire day of edutainment for kids and adults alike. More info: www.zoo.com.sg/dining/jungle-breakfast-with-wildlife.html Cultural cooking class To truly understand a culture, one has to know its foods, they say. If that is the case, no one will argue Singapore's culture is delectable. Its mix of ethnic Chinese, Malay, Indians, and Eurasians — in addition to the so-called Peranakans or “mixed-race descendants” — has led to a very rich cuisine, which visitors can get a grasp of at one of the many cooking schools for tourists. Food Playground, one such school, aims at creating dignified employment opportunities for stay-at-home mothers and senior citizens by hiring them as cooking instructors. Apart from learning some typically Singaporean dishes, such as Chicken Satay, Char Kway Teow (a stir-fried noodles dish), or Kueh Dadar (pandan pancakes with coconut filling), you will get to know the stories behind the food, making it a truly cultural cooking class. The instructors ensure even those who never cook will be able to create their own dishes and replicate them at home. More info: www.foodplayground.com.sg Sentosa Island Throughout the years, Sentosa Island, also known as Singapore's playground, has been going through significant refurbishments to make it an attractive getaway from the main island for locals and tourists alike. With a Universal Studios theme park, Adventure Cove Waterpark, S.E.A. Aquarium, and Dolphin Island, at least for children this goal has been achieved. The fun already begins on the way. While the most economical way to the island is by taking the Sentosa Rider from various places in the center and the Sentosa Express monorail is another easy access to the must-visit playground, the Cable Car is by far the most fun way to travel from Mt. Faber and Harbor Front to Sentosa. Download the “Fly with the Super Heroes” app prior to boarding and you will fly with Superman, Batman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman by scanning the QR codes in the cabins. Once landed on Sentosa Island, you could easily spend a few days exploring the various amusement parks, pristine beaches, hiking trails, and dining venues that can all be found on this island. It is even possible to book accommodation here. More info: www.sentosa.com.sg Gardens by the Bay Singapore boasts of an impressive number of gardens and natural reserves, but its most alluring must be the award-winning horticultural attraction Gardens by the Bay. Comprising three spaces — Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central — it is hard to believe the entire area sits on reclaimed land known as Marina Bay. Iconic are the Supertrees in Bay South, three giant artificial trees that collect rainwater, generate solar power and act as venting ducts for the park's conservatories. A suspension bridge between two of them provides captivating views of the Gardens and the Marina Bay skyline. To cool down from the Singaporean heat and humidity, head to Bay East for the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. The former is an enormous greenhouse that replicates a semi-arid subtropical climate and is home to an array of flowers, plants and trees from Australia, South America, South Africa, and the Mediterranean, among other regions. The Cloud Forest, on the other hand, is a 35-meter tall mountain surrounded by fog where children can learn about the unique biodiversity and geology of cloud forests. The nearly vertical walls of the mountain are covered by plants such as orchids, ferns, bromeliads, and begonias that have adapted to this particular habitat. The Cloud Forest also houses the largest indoor waterfall. More info: www.gardensbythebay.com.sg Marina Bay Sands Lights and Water Show Marina Bay Sands has everything you may dream of — a luxurious hotel, over 300 shops, world-class dining options, convention and exhibition services, theaters and art galleries — wrapped in extraordinary architecture. Of course, everything comes at a price, but a fun and free activity for children is the Wonder Full Lights and Water Show held daily at 8 and 9:30 p.m. at Marina Bay Sands. On Fridays and Saturdays there is another show at 11 p.m. as well. Held against the backdrop of Singapore's dazzling skyline, the water show includes dancing fountains, video images projected on the water walls, and bursts of fire set in colorful lights and music. The light show, consisting of laser lights and music, can be even better seen from across the bay, where you have a wonderful panorama of Marina Bay Sands and its surfboard-shaped Sands SkyPark on top of it. While the 150-meter long infinity swimming pool, exclusive restaurants, and lush gardens are only open to guests, the sky park also houses a public observatory deck that provides stunning 360-degree views of the city's skyline. More info: www.marinabaysands.com and www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/see-and-do/family-fun/attraction/wonder-full-light-water-spectacular.html Where to stay Singapore is a crowded place and accommodation prices skyrocket, especially during summer peak months June and July as well as the November and December winter peak. Luckily, the city-state has plenty of hotels that offer competitive prices during the low season. For ultimate luxury, Marina Bay Sands hotel is the place to be. With over 2,500 rooms spread over 55 floors, the hotel offers everything you might need during your stay in addition to outstanding views of the city. The Sands SkyPark on top of this iconic building including the infinity swimming pool is the hotel's most spectacular attraction. Apart from this and the famed Raffles Hotel, most international hotel chains offer accommodation near Orchard Road's shopping malls, the waterfront, or elsewhere near the center, while less expensive accommodation can be found in China Town and around Arab Street. A good deal is the Village Hotel Bugis located right next to Singapore's largest mosque. It offers decent room rates, a large swimming pool, gym, shopping mall, and three restaurants.
