Before my first Singapore visit in 2013, I'd heard one constant thing about this place, over and over again - "It's a very clean city."
Is this something you've heard too?
Surely it's impressive if each time you say Singapore you hear "clean". I was so eager to see how clean this place really was.
Did the buildings shimmer? How clean were we talking?
I remember finally arriving and almost being let down. But sure - it's clean comparative to it's neighboring Asia countries. However, I do believe that there are way better words we can use to describe this city.
I'd call it - "Diverse", "affordable (and extremely expensive at times)", "having amazing food", "easy to get around", "great place to travel to other countries" and best of all - an "endless summer".
Today I'd even use the word "home".
Singapore (also known as the Lion City or the Little Red Dot), is made up of one island, with 62 smaller islets.
It sits right above the equator, making it always hot and humid, and next to Malaysia and Indonesia, both close enough to take day trips to.
There are approximately 5 million people living in Singapore, with English being the common language spoken.
After 3 years of living in Singapore, I'd like to share my top 3 reasons why you should find your path here... And then once you do - what to check out!
1. Amazing food
There is so much good food, with so much variety in both cuisine and price.
Here are my top three picks, covering off all bases, and some of my favorites in each category.
Hawker Centres:
Hawker Centres, (Or what you might refer to as a food court), are where you can find tasty, cheap and local eats.
My 3 favorites:
1. Maxwells
Maxwell Road Hawker Centre, Maxwell Road, 069113
2. Timbre+
3A Ayer Rajah Crescent, JTC LaunchPad @ one-north
3. Lau Pa Sat
18 Raffles Quay, Singapore, Singapore048582
Local Cafes:
There are plenty of artsy/trendy cafes in Singapore where you can enjoy a coffee with friends, or find a place to read or write by yourself.
My 3 favorites:
35 Kampong Bahru Rd, 169356
4 Everton Park, #01-40, 080004
1D Yong Siak St, Singapore 168641
Expat Influence Eateries:
With such a large number of expats (foreigners) living in Singapore, there are heaps of restaurants on offer. Mostly these aren't cheap eats - but they do range in price, from affordable to 'save for a special occasion'.
My 3 favorites:
20 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore 088391
120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa Island, 098942
70 Collyer Quay, #02-02 Customs House, 049323
2.diversity
One of my favorite things by far - is the little areas you can find yourself in that are so different from one another.
Here are my top 3 areas to explore and what to do there:
1. Tiong Bahru
Walk around Tiong Bahru, through its streets and back alleys, and check out the heritage homes and cute stores.
Find a small cafe to relax in.
Buy some local food at the Wet Market.
2. Little Arab Quarter
Stroll down Haji Lane and browse in the shops.
Eat Mediterranean food sitting out on the street.
Soak up the colors and diversity of this area.
3. Little India
Eat some of the abundant amount of authentic Indian food. Explore the crazy 24-hour shopping centre, Mustafa. Visit the wet market.
3. Cleanliness & accessibility
Some more general tips and info about why I love Singapore and what to expect.
*Getting around
While cabs are super cheap, the public transport system is even cheaper and very efficient. You'll rarely have to wait longer than 2 minutes for the MRT (local train).
*Take a day trip overseas
Make the most of being able to explore the neighboring countries. Look into a day trip to Indonesia (where you can get day spas at half the price of Singapore) and Malaysia (where you can go shopping or get a seafood lunch).
*Explore Singapore's parks, islands, and open spaces
If you're looking for something outside of shopping and eating explore some of the many beautiful walks and parks in Singapore.
My top 3:
I hope you enjoy exploring Singapore as much as I did!