Singapore

We made Singapore a long stop-over on our way to Indonesia, because we really wanted to explore this very special metropolis that’s a city but also a sovereign state. An old pirate’s nest and fishing village that in the early 1800s became a British hub for the Asia trade. It became a free country in 1965 and at that time its only natural resource was its harbour. Which wasn’t so bad, today Singapore is among the richest nations in Asia and a financial and technology hotspot.

Ethnically Singapore is a total mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European. This has created a paradise for foodies, and there’s a lot to discover here. Not least in the old key quarters where old and shabby warehouses have been demolished and modern buildings with restaurants and bars are now found.

For lunch try out the food courts that are found in most major shopping centres. This one is in located inside a shopping mall called Suntec City and it’s really busy at lunchtime:

Singapore has transformed rapidly and today not many of the old buildings are left standing. But there’s at least one exception, Little India, as you would expect an area with mostly Indian population. Here you’ll find wooden houses merrily painted and streets with small shops and eateries. The smell of curry and dhal is in the air. We seek out an old favourite, Komala Vilas which is a splendid but not so posh place. Their wonderful vegetarian food is served on banana leaves.

FÄRGGLATT I LITTLE INDIA — COLOURFUL IN LITTLE INDIA

SERVERING PÅ KOMALA VILAS VEGETARISKA RESTAURANG — LUNCH AT KOMALA VILAS VEG. RESTAURANT

VISDOMSORD. OCH MAN FÅR SJÄLV VÄLJA VILKA MAN SKRIVER UNDER PÅ — WORDS OF WISDOM INDEED. PICK THE ONES YOU LIKE BEST.

INDISKA BLOMSTERGIRLANGER, MEN SE UPP!! — INDIAN FLOWER DECORATIONS, BUT LOOK OUT!

RIKTIGA BLOMMOR OCH GETINGAR — REAL FLOWERS AND WASPS

BITTERMELON, BITTERGURKA, KARELA, DEN HÄR ASIATISKA GODINGEN HAR MÅNGA NAMN — BITTER MELON, BITTER CUCUMBER, KARELA, THIS UGLY FRUIT HAS MANY NAMES

SÅNA HÄR MILJÖER ÄR SÄLLSYNTA I SINGAPORE IDAG — HOUSES LIKE THIS ONE ARE RARE IN SINGAPORE TODAY

Another survivor from older times is of course Raffles Hotel. It opened in 1887 (!) and is probably best known for the cocktail Singapore Sling, that was invented here. Also famous for its long bar, unfortunately closed for renovation when we are there. But according to the ritual, the floor is covered with peanut shells. Customers eat the nuts from sacks and throw the shells on the floor.

Top 5 in Singapore:

Top park: The Botanical Garden is in every aspect a great and varied forest with over 1000 varieties of orchids, a tropical forest with a canopy walkway and a dedicated ginger garden(!) (https://www.nparks.<br>gov.sg/sbg)
Top wow: Gardens by the Bay, behind Marina Bay Sands. Here you’ll find the spectacular Supertrees, and two giant greenhouses, one of them containing a whole mountain with a cloud forest on top. And yes, you can use the elevator.
Food: Foodstalls are found in many shopping centers, serving great chinese, malayan and indian food. Note: they can be extremely hot! Or go to Komala Vilas vegetarian restaurant in Little India, It’s amazing!
Hotell: We stayed at super nice Wang’s near Chinatown, unfortunately they closed on 1 januari 2020.
Bar: Raffles hotell is a must. And order Singapore Sling, even though it’s too sweet and ridiculaously overpriced.

Stop-over in Fantasyland

Singapore part one

Travels with V

Stop-over in Fantasyland

Singapore part one

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