This week, I'm returning to my friend Jenn's bucket list and one of my favorites also is Singapore and the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. To be fair, my husband turned 50 this year, and this was supposed to be where we were going for his birthday. Thank you covid-19; that never happened. It is still a dream location, and let me tell you why I chose it for my husband.
There are many things about Singapore that make it attractive to my husband and other American travelers. First, is the obvious. Gaining sovereignty in 1959 from the British makes it an automatically wonderful situation in that they speak English. It's also one of the busiest ports in the world, so they continue to speak English. I like that, because my husband isn't fond of language barriers. Second, Singapore is a distinct melting pot, and there are representative communities from all over Asia in the tiny island nation. This means that there are all different kinds of Asian foods available. This is the main reason why I wanted to take my husband there. He's a foodie and he loves Asian food most of all. There are giant markets and all kinds of ethnic neighborhoods in Singapore, leaving foodies with nothing but endless options.
Singapore is one of the most modern cities in Asia, and it sits in a tropical zone along trade routes just off the southern tip of Malaysia. Most of us see it as a city state, but there are 63 separate islands involved in this country, so there are places where you can somewhat get away from it all. There are beaches to hang out on, and professional grade golf courses available. Sentosa Island has been a resort area for decades and is still a great place to stay and enjoy seaside entertainment.
But one of the things that Singapore has that as Americans I think we sometimes overlook is history. The country is largely Buddhist and that goes back centuries. There are beautiful temples in the country that are well worth a look. There are also many churches and temples of other faiths that are well worth visiting both for their beauty and historical significance.
Other places that provide historical significance are the neighborhoods. There you will not only find good authentic food from a number of countries, but also colonial architecture and traditional architecture that originated in other countries. One of the most famous or infamous historic colonial buildings is The Raffles Hotel, named after the British trade magnate that first discovered the significance of Singapore's geographic location as a European.
Singapore is one of the most progressive countries in Asia, with one of the highest percentages of millionaires in the world. The country provides a good tax base for residents, and is becoming a tax haven for people from other countries that have far higher fees and taxes on income. However, the country also has one of the most dense populations in the world and doesn't have a minimum wage, therefore it also has one of the highest gaps between rich and poor anywhere. Singapore gained its financial station from being a necessary port on the way from China to Europe centuries ago. The people of Singapore have made a fortune in the trade and ship building businesses for decades. Everything from container ships to cruise ships stop in this tiny country. As a tourist, if you like, you can take a more traditional boat around the canal areas of the city.
With all the money floating around Singapore, one of the favorite activities for both residents and tourists is shopping. Malls are everywhere in Singapore, and many of the top brands are on display. You can buy anything here that you can buy in New York or London, but the price will be a bit cheaper. You can find anything you're looking for, so whether you frequent a local market with local merchandise as a tourist, or an expensive designer neighborhood or mall for a deal on top of the line wares; Singapore is one of the shopping wonders of the world.
Now, what to do for activities in Singapore? Well, you can start by taking a ride on the giant wheel. Popular in many cities around the world, they have an eye. Also, there are the Marina Gardens; the botanical and shoreside garden that is on almost every single picture taken of Singapore these days. They have all kinds of plant life to look at and also the lighted wonders that we all see in the photos. Nestled in those electric trees are walkways for an amazing view of the rest of the city and the harbor.
Another location where you can find amazing activities is the airport. Changi Airport is known for being far more than an airport. They have world class shopping, a botanical garden and all kinds of activities while you wait. You can spend all day in there and have a great time. They even have a waterfall, which is great for people like me.
There are museums in Singapore and theater and amazing walkways along the harbor and shore as well. There are many many things to do in Singapore, and I could never cover them all in one short blog.
But, the place that Jenn specifically mentioned and the place that Singapore has become most famous for is the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This amazing wonder has a ship built right on top and that ship is a deck and infinity pool. It's probably one of the most famous swimming pools in the world, and the hotel is one of the most photographed buildings in any country. The hotel is connected to the gardens filled with electric trees and has the best view of the city that you can get anywhere.
This luxury hotel has spa, casino, clubs, restaurants, shopping, activities and everything else you need to keep you busy. Truth be known, you could spend an entire vacation right at the hotel and on the grounds directly around it. It is so Vegas like, that if you don't go out and look around after dark, you're missing half the beauty of this amazing venue.
So, in a post covid-19 world, I too am putting Singapore on my bucket list. It's one of the cleanest, safest, most diverse countries in the world, and it's tiny and compact, and everything is close by. So, for convenience of language and activities being close by. For variety of food, shopping and culture; Singapore is a great place to get your internationalism on. Enjoy!
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