For those who are curious about that posting, the original text is reproduced below. Feel free to agree, disagree or add to her list of Singaporean takes on Singapore.
A common question that overseas Singaporeans receive from their foreign friends and acquaintances is, "What do you recommend I do when I visit Singapore?"
Following many interesting exchanges over the years, Una Ragazza was recently invited by a travel website to blog about a Singaporean's perspective to favorite things for a first-time visitor to the island to consider.
Her friend George -- a travel writer for OneTravel that offers cheap tickets to travelers who are tight on money -- doesn't travel much anymore but loves to share wonderful stories he has accumulated through the years and network with travelers.
Fellow Singaporeans and travelers who had previously set foot on the Lion City, feel free to share your must-sees, must-dos and importantly, your must-eats.
Un Ragazzo, who will make his virgin visit in the winter, thanks you in advance.
TRAVEL NOTES FROM A SINGAPORE GIRL
Today’s Guest Blogger Una Ragazza lives in New York. Together with a group of female Asian expatriates spread across three continents, she manages www.eatshopplaylove.com, a blog that tells tales about eating, shopping, playing and loving well. A native of Singapore, she shares her list of 10 things to do for a first-time visitor to the Asian island.
10. Ride the MRT to get from the country’s east end to its west end
Singapore subway or metro system is aptly called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) as it efficiently transports about two million people around the country on a daily basis. For an affordable US$2, one can embark on a one-hour tourist ride that conveniently whisks you off from the airport on the eastern end of the diamond-shaped island to the western coast, gliding smoothly past highways, public housing estates, food markets and shopping complexes. The scene on the MRT is also a real cultural treat: hear the local accent (Singlish), check out the local hipster fashion and observe kiddie behavior in a very crowded space. You’d be amazed how similar and different things are from back home.
9. Eat the very good hawker fare in Newton Circus
If I could somehow transport myself back home to Singapore for a meal and have only time to visit one place, it will likely be Newton Circus. From delectable sambal stingray and oyster omelette to prawn noodles and fish ball soup, this place can inflict a food orgy on an adventurous seafood lover. Bring plenty of napkins.
8. Walk the underground mall in Orchard Road
With year-round temperatures of 80-95 degrees fahrenheit and humidity rates in the 90s, ducking into the never-ending row of air-conditioned Orchard Road shopping malls is a respite. A great experience is to walk, shop and eat your way through the subterranean malls linking Orchard Road MRT to Somerset MRT and then Dhoby Ghaut MRT. Emerge at the other end in your fresh and dry clothes, ready to conquer the cluster of museums within easy walking distance.
7. Crash a beach wedding in Sentosa
Sentosa, the island-playground that is a hop, skip and a jump from the city, is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. On a weekend evening, make your way to the beaches close to the resort hotels and get in the action with the locals celebrating wedding nuptials on the toasty beach.
6. Drink plenty of coffee and stay up for the Night Safari
The award-winning Night Safari is a one-of-a-kind experience. As a country which has pulled itself from third-world to first-world status within two generations, Singapore is known for creating plenty of firsts and other superlatives: the world’s best seaport, the world’s best airport, the world’s best airline, the world’s largest artificial waterfall... The action at the world’s first wildlife park for nocturnal animals starts late, so load up on the Starbucks to enjoy a ride into Africa on the equator.
Welcome to the car park: A glimpse of what's inside
5. Ride a bike in Pulau Ubin
When I was growing up, Pulau Ubin was seen as the backwaters of Singapore, with nary to offer beyond mosquitoes. The only people I knew who visited the island were foolhardy adventure seekers: boy scouts! Nowadays, Ubin’s image has received a face lift: people see it as a cool alternative to Sentosa -- more rustic, less crowded. Bring lots of deet because the mosquito problem has not gone away.
4. Catch a morning assembly at a primary school
Whenever I ask my friends in America if they sing the national anthem other than during sports games, I usually get blank stares. I often respond with my own look of surprise, since singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge is part and parcel of every school-going kid between the ages of 5 and 18 in Singapore: we do it every morning before the start of the first lesson. The sight of several hundred little tikes singing in earnest and in unison should be quite an eye-opener for those who are not used to such discipline and linguistic capabilities (the Singapore anthem is in the Malay language, which makes up about 15 percent of the population; the other main races include Chinese and Indian).
3. Buy a sari in Little India
About one in ten Singaporeans is Indian, so it is only apt that there is a thriving Little India that feels authentic enough for me to have outfitted myself with two saris here. For those who are less familiar with the Indian costume, the sari comes with a choli -- a tiny shirt that is meant to squeeze every bit of fat out onto your belly. It is considered sexy to have a belly when wearing the sari. Nasi biryani before a visit to the tailor, anyone?
2. Visit the brewery of one of Asia’s best beers, Tiger Beer
For a young country of under 200 years old, Singapore has a rather respectable beer. So much so that when I visited Cambodia and Vietnam recently, tourist vendors were selling T-shirts with the logo of the Singapore beer all over town. Beer drinks would appreciate this beer trivia: decades before the popular US beer slogan, “It’s Miller Time” was known, the “It’s Time for a Tiger” slogan inspired a book by the British author of A Clockwork Orange.
1. Get to Changi Airport 5 hours before departure!
You heard it right -- check in with a few hours of spare time at the airport that provides arguably the world’s best retail experience. With more than 300 shopping and dining establishments spread over three terminals, as well as a full-size tourist information center, beauty salon, music bar and lounge, spa, nature trail and hotel, there is frankly plenty for Tom Hanks to do if he ever were to get stuck here for a while.
So there you go -- try the above when you make it down to the Lion City. Don’t forget to leave the chewing gum at home.
(Some pictures taken from the Internet)
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Good work Una, something a bit different from the usual fare.
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