Crash-Course: What to do in Singapore???

Alright!

For those of you who haven't been to or had been and will be coming back to Singapore,
there are some important things you have to experience while you are here.
Other than doing business and/or shopping.

And for those who are in Singapore, but haven't done these things yet.
What? Are you kidding me???

Yup, there are a lot to do.

#1 Changi Airport

If by any chance, you are from overseas and coming in by air,
there's high chance that nearly all of you will pass through the infrastructure 
that most Singaporeans are proud of. The Changi Airport! 
You can come here too, even if you are coming by land and sea.
It is open to public(Except for the transit area). =]

Terminal 3

No matter if you are coming from Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 or the Budget Terminal,
make sure to put it in your itinerary to tour around our world-class airport.
Even if you don't have any time, at least make a half to an hour for it.
If you really really don't have the time, at least go to Terminal 3, 
our latest, newest, greenest airport in Singapore.
All the terminals are linked with the skytrains and shutter bus, so it's no excuse not to go there.
If you are directionally challenged, just ask any of the helpful ladies at the information counter.
You can get a candy while you are at it.

Yes, you can do your shopping but you just got here! What's the hurry?
Or you could be on your way back, waiting for your flight and had nothing to do...

1.   Go there, take a seat (there's plenty), get a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the indoor greenery,
Go Green!

2.   Feel at home with the nice carpet, looks so comfortable and tempts you to just lay on the floor
and sleep there, it'll probably be nicer than the budget hotels you booked.
(If you did book a budget hotel).

3.   Linger awhile longer, stay cool and enjoy the air-con and crowd-less-ness,
you'll start perspiring the moment you step outside (No kidding!),
and there won't be anywhere else that would allow you to have so much space to yourself.
(Especially if you are going shopping)

AND OF COURSE! Who would forget?
4.   Please use our airport toilets!
I don't know why, but I'm really proud of our airport toilets.
Just go in there, wash your hands, refresh your makeup, comb you hair, pee, poo
look at yourself in the mirror, whatever.

#2 Food (Hawker Centre)

Another thing that we Singaporeans are proud of, our food.
Whichever country you go to, how else to experience one's culture?
Whoever you approached in Singapore and ask what food they recommend,
the answer will always be...

Chicken Rice



Chili Crab

Yes, they are good food that represents us, but don't you think it is a little overused?
Also, there is much much more to that in Singapore's food culture.

• Bah Kut Teh
• Fried Kway Teow
• Satay
• Bubble tea (Koi and Gong Cha are trending right now)  
• Sambal Sotong/Stingray
• Roti Prata 
• Rojak
• Laska
• Prawn Noodles
• Hokkien Mee
• Wanton Mee
• Ba Chor Mee
• Curry Puffs
• Pandan Cake
• Carrot Cake (The fried ones)
• Ice Ka Chiang
• Curry Fish Head
• Fish Head Steamboat soup
• the list is much longer...

In Singapore, the most common places where we eat is the hawker center,
or the coffeeshop, also widely known as kopitiam.
Most of them would be selling food from the list above.

It is a big eating place with lots of stores.
They'll usually have a specialized noodle store, chicken rice store, Malay food store,
drinks store, desserts store, Japanese food store, Korean food store, economic rice store,
Indian food store, I have also been seeing more and more of the Philippines food store....
It demonstrates our multi-culture and multi-racial society.

There are over a hundred of coffeeshops over the island!
Obviously, food is not any problem to us. There is never a lack of food.
However, as human beings, we know how and we love to differentiated good food from better food
and the Number 1s in Singapore.

Of course, it is depends a lot on personal taste.
My dad says that the good food in Singapore are spread all over different hawker centers in Singapore.
Without a doubt, the chicken rice store near my house will not taste the same as the one 5 blocks away.
And the Ba Chor Mee will also be very different for every Ba Chor Mee store in Singapore.
That is a lot of stores.

I am no pro to tell you where you should go to if you want to eat carrot cake or roti prata,
but if you do find any food that interest you or anything that you want to try,
hop in a taxi and ask the driver uncle.
There is a high chance that they would know where the good and cheap food is,
since they are always on the go.

Don't say you have been to Singapore if you haven't tried any of our food!

#3 King and Queen of fruits: Durian and Mangosteen

Food again, okay, but it is fruits this time.
Durian and Mangosteen, they are not called the Kings and Queens for no reason.
Actually the shape of the fruits could be reasons enough, but I don't think that's all.

Durian

Mangosteen

Singapore is right on the line of the Equator. (Not exactly but still.. it's near)
Best region for topical fruits! There are others too, like pineapple or rambutan, etc.
But durians and mangosteens are unique.

Personally I got the fear of mangosteen, but it doesn't change the fact that you should try it.
Also, durian is so significant to us that one of our favorite landmark is built with the inspiration of it.

The Esplanade, Theaters on the Bay

Don't forget to drink lots of water cause of the hot and humid weather, and also durians are heaty.
You can also try coconut juice or sugar cane juice or glass jelly drink.

#4 MacDonald

Food again? Cos' it's what keeping you alive. It's important!

When you are away from your country, fast food will be the easiest way to connect back to home.
It is also the easiest choice one could make in an unknown place,
where the food culture is unknown to you (where they might make you eat weird things).

And speaking of fast food, who else would I talk about other than MacDonald?!?
Who don't have MacDonald in their country?

I'm don't know where you are reading this from,
but Singapore's MacDonald's menu is a whole lot lesser compared to other countries like UK or USA,
the menus should be more similar if you are from around Asia.

But to us, it really doesn't matter no matter how limited the menu is.
Even if we go to MacDonald and eat the same meal every single time, we would gladly eat it.
BECAUSE TO US, it's all about the sauce!

Curry sauce!
It used to be free, but now they are charging. Damned.
Who cares? We are Singaporeans and we love our curry.
I know that there are more sauce out there but seriously?
Curry sauce! Hands down!
You don't agree? You wanna see war?

There was almost a riot when curry sauce went out-of-stock national wide sometime ago.
It is that serious.

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/got_service_or_not/816518/customers_outraged_at_curry_sauce_no_longer_available_at_macs.html

So some things to do and try out while you are here. =]
If you are already here and you have yet to try it...
Are you an alien or do you live under a rock?


Hope that it is useful to you, and enjoy your trip! (If you are coming~)
If you are planning a trip and haven't decided on where to go, come to Singapore!
=]


Happy 47th Birthday, Singapore!


God Bless~