Fun things to do in Singapore

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You can take a wonderful cruise around Singapore's Clark Quay. We booked this through our hotel - it was a nice way to get your bearings in a new city. It also gave us a chance to pick a great restaurant for lunch as we passed by.

Depending on the time of year and, therefore, when the two monsoons that affect Peninsular Malaysia blow, you can get away to either the West Coast or East Coast.

The SW Monsoon blows from about late April/May to September/Oct and affects the West Coast, so this would be the time of year to visit the East Coast! The NE Monsoon blows from Oct/Nov to March/April and affects the East Coast states, so this would be the time of year to visit the West Coast.

However, although Langkawi will be wet and the sea rough and Penang less wet, most of the rest of the West Coast should be pretty OK to visit from April/May to September/Oct. Amd you can visigt Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Melaka practically the whole year round though some of the rain from the NE Monsoon does affect KL somewhat, resulting in heavy rain and slightly cooler ambient temperatures.

Depending on whether you like beaches or islands or culture, I can make appropriate recommendations. I think you can fly directly to KUA from SIN but do check the flight routes. And if you can fly directly to any other East Coast airport. If you can, I would suggest flying directly there from SIN. You can also fly direct from SIN to PEN and I think even LGK - but please double check the fligts available.

If you want to go to KL from SG, take the coach - flying is expensive unless you take AirAsia and book in advance. Better still, fly straight to PEN. And from there work your way down to KL. Make a separate post for what to see/do in Penang (like Melaka it is a UNESCO World Heritage City).

Forget about the bird park in SG - the one in KL is the largest open air netted aviary in the world! While there check out the Orchid Park. And Batu Caves, the Thean Hou temple in Seputeh and the Blue Mosque in Shah Alam. Check out Central Market, Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL, the old train station and court houses for Moorish architecture, FRIM for a jungle experience and savour the delicious local food!

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For a little wandering around some of my favourite haunts, down quiet alleyways and shisha insenced lanes, disappear between old shophouses and into a buzz of bars with delicious lychee martinis and peanut shelled strewn floors... the photographer or creative soul in you is here allowed to indulge and step back momentarily in time.

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Singapore has a large Indian population and you can sample their culture in Little India.

The architecture is predominently Chinese but the shops are full of Indian food, clothing, ornaments, artifacts, the restaurants are mainly Indian and it has the look and feel of an Indian city.

It's very different from the modern towers and hotels in the tourist areas, and you should spend time just walking around and soaking up the atmosphere of the real Singapore.

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This is one of the rides you could try at Clarke Quay. You will be sitting in a metal seats, then the seat will be swinging up and down. If you like excitement of heart beats, jut do it.

Price: S$40

Hours: Mon-Thu 2pm-1am
Fri 2pm-3am
Sat 1pm-3am
Sun 1pm-1am

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This year (2011), a Lantern Float display is being held at Boat Quay on the Singapore River.

A number of floats are "anchored" along Boat Quay with display on the Chinese Zodiac alongside the riverside bank between the Boat Quay and Central Mall.

The best time to visit it is in the evening after sunset.

When is it held? It is usually 2 weeks before the Chinese Lunar Calendar on the 15th day of the eighth month, which is usually, in September every year. Free display alongside the river.

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Another great location west on Singapore river is the Clarke Quay. This is the place where you can start you river cruising with Singapore River Cruise or Hippo River Cruise. Other than that, you can experience the Extreme Swing in here. There are plenty of shops, malls, outdoor and Indoor restaurants and food courts in the area. The north side of the river between Clarke St and Read St with the Central Fountain Square is the most interesting place to explore. It has some old buildings from the 60s converted into modern beautiful restaurants and shops. Don't miss the " Forbidden City" restaurant nearby with early Southern China Architecture.

Nearby Shopping Malls: Central, Somerset Liang Court, Riverside Point, Central Mall, Merchant Square, Central Square.
Nearby Attractions: Clarke Quay Old Shop houses , MICA Building.

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River House is the one of the two old southern Chinese style houses remaining in Singapore. It has been restored becomes bar and restaurant in Clark Quay. It is named " The Forbidden City", decorated with big statues of Terracotta Army from Xian. It is a beautiful way to restore the building, and famous for tourists to take pictures in front of the building.

The Singapore Heritage Signboard wrote:
"The southern Chinese-style house was constructed in the later half of the 19th century for a merchant named Tan whose identity has been lost to history. Having served as residence and godown for gambier, biscuits and other commodities, River House was faithfully restored by skilled craftsmen in 1993. It is one of only two traditional Chinese-style dwellings remaining in Singapore. "