I remember I was just a kid when somebody in the school told me about the strange place far far away in the world, where are chewing gums legally forbidden! Now I know that the place they talked about really exists and it’s Singapore! I would have never believed one day it would’t look so strange and far away to me…

Well, I spent too many layovers in Singapore but still it is a fascinating city to me. You don’t even have to leave the airport to get feeling you just entered completely different land, literally a wonderland. Beneath a giant glass dome, where a waterfall plunges 130 feet through forest, and a winding path leads past palms and fig trees, orchid and anthurium, a robot come rolling around a bend. With a lilting voice it encourages passers-by to grab a drink. Welcome to Changi airport in Singapore! And so futuristic is all the city…

 

City of Future

To me, Singapore is one great example that couple of different cultures (Muslims, Chinese, Hindu and western people) can coexist next to each other in a one colorful and clean environment, in respect & harmony. I’ve heard from one captain on one of plenty flights I operated to Singapore that Singaporeans hired professionals from all over the world to rule their country and then they overpay them just no to create a greed to steal money from the project for country. And the result? Here we have the city of future, so clean, safe and economically prosperous despite the mix of cultures and nationalities. Great example for the Europe, I would say. We don’t have to be scared of global migration, we just need strong working rules, good strategy, more openminded people and uncorrupted politicians! Question is, are we, ordinary people who vote, responsible for the system or the system can override the power of people? 

Giant Supertrees

Have you seen the movie Crazy Rich Asians? Singapore has three characteristic landmarks or national icons. And the first one is definitely futuristic Gardens by the Bay full of well known giant Supertrees. Gardens by the Bay is part of the nation’s plans to transform Singapore to “City in a garden” with the aim of raising the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in he city. Nowadays it is one of the most popular tourist attraction in Singapore (no admission fee). All nature park covers 101 hectares. Surreal structures, known as Supertrees, are actually vertical gardens spanning 25 to 50 meters in height with two of the towering structures connected by the dramatic arch of OCBC Skyway (small entrance fee and long lines at the sunset time). When dusk falls, the grove lights up with the Garden Rhapsody, a spectacle of light and sound. Be there at every full hour. The part of the park is also Flower Dome – the world’s largest Greenhouse and the home to plants and flowers from five continents – and Cloud Forest, another jungle under the glass with a huge waterfall. You need to have entrance tickets for both houses. 

The world’s mots famous infinity pool

Is the definitely the one on the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands Hotel with characteristic shape of ship. Unfortunately, pool is only open to hotel guests and you need to have a hotel key card to be able to get that perfect shot of Singapore’s Marina Bay and city skyline. On the 57th floor, at 150m long, the Infinity Pool is pure indulgence. One night in the hotel is pricy but I’ve heard worthy. Or you can have a cheaper sneak look while visiting Spago Marina Bay Sand. This bar and lounge on the 57th floor by the Infinity Pool is open to public and the view is the same. Every day from 7:00 am till 10:30 there is breakfast buffet for 45 Singaporean dollars per person or you can come afternoon for a drink and bite. Be careful, dress code is smart causal during the day and business causal for the night, so refrain from wearing pool or gym attire. Access from Hotel Lobby Tower 2. And guess who is manager of this place? Of course, Slovak guy! 

Art Science Museum

The iconic postcard view of Singapore is also defined by modern building in shape of lotus flower – Art and Science Museum. I love museums, but this one is really special. It’s definitely a place where art meet science. You can find there many interesting permanent or temporary exhibitions but one of the most interesting exhibitions I’ve ever seen (and it’s permanent) was definitely Future World consisting of 16 out-of-world installation, including instagrammable Crystal World. It’s the journey to the science-fantastic future, to the world of fantasy and creativity, it’s the game of lights and colors. And it’s a journey to the past, too. Making adults to remember how it used to be when we were kids and everything around us was so colorful and fascinating. Admission fee S$14. Kids friendly! 

Merlion Park 

The best place for clicking postcard-like photos is Merlion Park overlooking the Marina Bay. The view is amazing from here, especially at the sunset. Merlion, mythical structure with the head of lion and the body of a fish, is widely used as a mascot and national personification of Singapore. In the park there are two Merlion statues. The original statue of Merlion is almost 9 meters tall and spouts water from its mouth. It has been joined by a Merlion cub, which is located nearby. 

World of colors

I love Singapore because it’s super colorful, multicultural, tolerant, clean, warm and sunny (maybe too humid and rainy sometimes), but it’s also safe so you can walk alone in the streets even in late night hours, not that expensive (you can find very good street food here), English speaking and I have always something new to explore here… That colorful background like Colonial history, Chinese, Malay or Hindu influence together with very modern society create perfect space for Instragrammers and travel-bloggers. So let’s have some closer look…

5 colorful Insta worthy places

Here I have found five buildings in Singapore for you to snap the perfect #ootd or selfie against these colorful buildings:

1. Tan Teng Niah house in Little India – The most colorful building I’ve ever seen. Photographers would love its potential, romantics its story. One of the last Chinese villas left in Little India was built and brightly painted in 1900 by prominent Chinese businessman, Tan Teng Niah, for his wife as an act of admiration for her. Villa is only 8-minute walk from Little India MRT station. Later you can get your grub on at an Indian restaurant nearby… 
2. Alkaff Bridge – bridge situated at Robertson Quay is an another testament to the nation’s vibrant landscape. I always walk there at night and tipsy on my way from tour-de-bar back to hotel.
3. Joo Chiat – Peranakan tale in pastel shades. (Peranakan refers to ethnic Chinese with Malay influences.) There’s more to this line of shophouses than its colorful facade. Take a closer look and you may find yourself enchanted by the intricate details of the ceramic tiles plastered over its walls.
4. Old Hill Street Police Station of the 1930s.
5. Haji Lane – Vintage boutiques full of trinkets you want but never needed, hipster cafes and bars that comes alive after sunset. Haji Lane bustles with life, but it wasn’t always like that. Haji is the Malay word for Muslims who have completed their pilgrimage to Mecca and Haji Lane used to be home to Malay families and provide refuge to pilgrims.

Masjid Sultan Mosque

Just few blocks away from Haji Lane via Arab street (another great photogenic area) stands the focal point for Muslim community in Singapore. Masjid Sultan is a prominent mosque in Singapore and one of the country’s most impressive religious building. In front of the Mosque there is very nice walk aligned with Turkish restaurant and delicious Turkish food.

Tour-de-bar

London, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong… but also Singapore belongs on the map of the best world’s cocktail bars. And Slovak bartenders belong to the world’s best bartenders. And I’m not saying this because I’m from Slovakia. My good friend Rusty Červeň used to work as a bar manager in a chic award-winning Connaught Bar in London where he got also personal award for the best bartender of the world in 2013 and now he is opening SKAI bar at Swisshotel The Stamford in Singapore. New restaurant and bar on the 70th floor offering the best view overlooking Marina Bay is officially opening on 3rd September 2018 and I have a chance to have a sneak look just two days before the grand opening. Guys, make sure you visit this place once you are in Singapore! Then we are visiting Rusty’s wife working in another great cocktail bar of Singapore – Manhattan, inspired by the Golden Age of cocktails and fine drinking with touch of old New York glamour. We are having couple of glasses of champaign and some Manhattan cheesecakes on the house and we are ready to visit another Slovak friend Adam Eddy Bursik working as a bar manager in Origin Girll & Bar in Shangri-la Hotel. This one has stylish décor inspired by old classy train-station and live jazz band from New York every week. I’m tasting lot of interesting drinks like Masala cocktail, cocktail from the distillate of peach blossom or a mix of green tea, raspberry, pistachio and Pisco liquor. After so many drinks I’m grateful for three things in Singapore:

1. Safe streets. I prefer to walk than take a taxi back to my hotel as I need to walk out all that alcohol I have drunk and get sober. In the streets of Singapore I feel safe even alone in the middle of the night.
2. Handy. Our hotel (like many other good hotels in Singapore) has in every room free full charged cell phone with 4 G net. You can use it all the time during your stay and take it even outside your hotel room. Its navigation is very handy, even drunk people can’t get lost.
3. Spize. My favorite street food restaurant is opened every day till 6 am which is very handy after drinking night. Spicy Asian food is the best for any hangover. 

The cleanest city in the world, the tax haven, the financial center, the city of the future… City where smoking or chewing gum is strictly forbidden and for the litter dropped outside the trash bin, you might have your hand cut!

At least, I’ve heard on the board during the flight. Singapore is the country that has a world-famous name. It is spread over one of the main islands and a few other small islands, adjacent to Malaysia and the islands of Indonesia. The city has long been one of the British colonies; later, as part of Malaysia, it has gained independence from Britain, but for religious differences it finally separated from the country in 1965. Separated sovereign city state has been formed and now belongs to the most developed countries in the world. Singapore also belongs to Asian tigers, it is the third largest financial center in the world and the city with the highest living standard. There are several languages ​​spoken here – Malay, Mandarin, and especially English. It is a multicultural center, but the distinctive Chinese influence is reflected in the predominant Buddhist religion. Although the official Republic of Singapore is in hands of elected parliament, for a strong leader’s hand the country is considered as a semi-authoritarian regime. Singapore is one of the Asian tigers, but many call it Lion’s land. Why? No one knows, lions were never seen in this area… At least as much as I read about Singapore on the Internet. But what kind of impression I will really have, let me find out soon…

 

The city of future

We arrive to the city of the future right before lunch. The hotel is ecological and strictly non-smoking, just like most of the city. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas. The waste is strictly recycled. After short rest, I go downstairs for an early dinner, and with the metro map I head to downtown. Even though I’ve had very nice crew on the board, this time I want to enjoy Singapore by myself. I head to Marina Bay, famous Gardens by the Bay. As soon as I get off of the subway, I feel like I’ve just travelled by time machine and find myself in next future. Everywhere around me there are magnificent giant trees (artificially built but with living plants). Entrance to the park is for free, but you must pay a fee for the Botanical garden and the Rainforest. I’m in. I walk through the park and feel like Alice in Wonderland. From the bridge, overlooking the canal, I have a view of the most iconic Singapore building with a ship-shaped roof and a Singaporean eye. 

When I enter the Botanical Garden, it’s getting dark slowly. In Flower Dome, plants from all over the world, even baobabs, are all under one roof! In the another Rainforest Dome, there is real rainforest growing in the middle with a huge waterfall. As it is dark outside, everything is beautifully enlightened and the park moves into another dimension. On the way back, I still catch up a fantastic laser show on the the gigantic trees with all the colors of the world while music says: “Singapore, my city of future…” Before I get back to the hotel, I go check the futuristic bridge over Marina Bay Sands with a gorgeous panorama view of the Marina Bay Sands Art Science Museum, which floats directly on the water like a lotus bloom. Later in my bed I have to think how our planet will look like a few centuries later. Perhaps it will be full of magnificent, advanced technologies and newly built gardens, forests and parks. In the future we will not need strict rules and prohibitions, but in our own interest will be to treat our nature more responsibly, because we will still remember the desperation when we have almost lost it…

Lotus bloom on the water

The next morning I want to see the beauty of Marina Bays Sands one more time, but this time in the daylight. Again, with the feeling of Alice in Wonderland, I walk through the park. This time there are less people in the gardens; finally, I have the chance to get on the bridge in the crowns of gigantic trees without queuing. For safety reasons, only a certain number of people are allowed to go up at one time. You have exactly 15 minutes to enjoy the view from the bridge. Visitors usually keep the limit responsibly. I feel a bit dizzy coz of the height, but the view is worth it. Again, I want to go back to Art Science museum and the futuristic bridge. In the daylight everything looks different. In the fountain beneath the museum there are thousands of real lotus blooms floating. On the other side of the shore, there is a statue of the Merlion, the symbol of Singapore, but nowadays he takes a shower as is stays on posters covering the reconstruction work around it. Since I still have time, I also take the metro to the popular China Town. Before our flight back to Abu Dhabi, we meet with colleagues in hotel lobby and exchange our experiences. While I was walking around the gardens, my colleague was swimming with dolphins. I immediately got an idea of ​​what I will do in Singapore if I get the another chance to fly here again.

Santosa Island and swimming with dolphins

And I didn’t have to wait for too long. Here we go, after a month I’m in futuristic Singapore again! Because I have made plans for next day, the first day after arrival I just spend resting and having good Asian dinner. In the small restaurant right opposite our hotel, I have Malaysian Nasi Lemak, a chicken with coconut rice and an egg and some Indonesian pudding made from black rice and coconut milk as a dessert. Excellent choice! The next morning, I’m going to choose Singapore’s entertainment island, Santosa. There are plenty of fun and water parks, even Universal Studios. People are here to feed rays or observe sharks. And I have a date with dolphins today! I’m really looking forward to it. As an animal lover I have a little reproach that I’m going to support the business with captured animals but I can’t resist to see dolphins for the first time in my life. I also strongly believe that in a country where people care about environment so much, dolphins must be well looked after, too. I’ve just booked a date with dolphins online. To Santosa Island I have to take metro, then change for special Santosa train. Part of my ticket is free access to the water park, but I don’t feel like go for slides on my own, so I just relax in the sun. 

Ten minutes before the 12 o’clock, they will let us enter the Dolphin Complex. We are very small group. All dressed in neoprenes watching the dolphins playing in the pools. As soon as these cute animals see people watching them, they literally start performing. Even though there are no trainers around, the dolphins leap out of the water. Without the trainers’ approval, however, we have the respect to touch them. After a while the trainers show up on the scene and divide us into two smaller groups. Gradually we all jump into the pool and get acquainted with the dolphins. We can touch them, take pictures with them (own photos are not allowed, but there is an official photographer at the pool all the time, from which you can later buy framed photos or photos on CDs or USB), and trainers even teach us some tricks how to dance with them. I am fascinated by these intelligent, friendly and playful creatures. The trainer tells us that every dolphin has its own personality, some are more charming, others keep a distance. Many of them were born among people and therefore they are used to life in captivity. And who would not love dolphins? It can be seen that the all the trainers adore their work with them. From now on I will have a beautiful memories framed in pictures forever…