Happy New Year everyone! It’s been awhile since I’ve written on the blog, but I thought it would be fun to reflect back on my trip to Asia for a few upcoming posts. Whenever I talk with people about my travels, the first question is always ‘what was your favorite spot’ in a certain city. It’s always too hard to pick just one, and I bemoan the blogs that have top 10 lists, because it’s always just a little too much, and the recommendations inevitably become diluted. I’m landing in the middle and planning to do a series of blog posts of my TOP 3 recommendations for each city I visited. I believe that narrowing down to three recommendations will force me to only share the very best, in hopes that you can try them on future trips of your own. So here goes - my Singapore Top 3!
1. Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove
Gardens by the Bay is one of the top attractions in Singapore, and rightfully so. Save yourself a hot death march through the beautiful park by going in the evening instead of during the day. Garden Rhapsody is a 15 minute music and light show running every evening at 7:45 and 8:45. I recommend the 8:45 slot because it will be a little less crowded (but still crowded). Walk all the way into Supertree Grove and find a spot on the ground to lay down (it really is the best view looking up). The skyway (as shown in the second picture below) is also a great option if you are willing to come early and wait in line for tickets. Request your 15 minute entry window to be during the show. For the best photographic results, use night mode on your iPhone or video the show. If you’re really serious, bring your DSLR camera and a tripod. Or better yet, simply enjoy it with your eyes. End your evening with a nightcap at a nearby restaurant or bar near the epic Marina Bay Sands hotel. It promises to be an unforgettable experience!
2. Chinatown and Maxwell Food Centre
Singapore is a city of multiple cultures and cuisines. It’s hard to pick just one spot to eat and drink. Visiting a Hawker (Food) Centre is an authentic activity, done by most Singaporeans every day. These are one-stop dining centers that have a great variety of food and drinks to offer, all at inexpensive prices. Chinatown is neighborhood that houses Maxwell Hawker Centre, one of the most popular. The dish I highly recommend trying here is the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice - piping hot rice with cool poached chicken served with spicy chili sauce. The rice is so good, in fact, that eating it on it’s own is satisfying. Anthony Bourdain raved about this spot, and their Michelin Star is really well-deserved. After lunch, explore Chinatown’s street markets and architecture. I’ll never forget seeing this neighborhood with the backdrop of sky scrapers - a unique combination that I’ve never seen anywhere else!
3. Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring
I really debated my third and final recommendation in Singapore. Haig Road Putu Piring just barely beat out the National Gallery Museum. However, in spirit of proving some off the beaten path recommendations, I’ll stick with Putu Piring. I was inspired to visit Haig Road Food Centre, a 20 minute ride outside the city center, after watching Netflix’s Street Food Show on Singapore. Haig Road is home to food stall serving the most authentic and delicious Putu Piring, which is a steamed rice cake made with palm sugar. Watching the ladies made these delicious treats from scratch was one of my favorite memories from the trip. The end result was a lightly sweetened cake that literally melts in your mouth and bursts with flavor. I almost went back for seconds, but was pretty full after tasting some delicious wantan noodles right before. Moral of the story - Singapore eats are amazing, especially here. Go out of your way to visit and you won’t be disappointed!
And that’s a wrap! I hope these recommendations are inspiring and helpful if you plan to add Singapore as one your travel destinations in 2020 or beyond. Reach out to me if you are looking for any further recommendations for this amazing city! More to come for Vietnam and South Korea!