SINGAPORE

FANTASY ISLAND

Beat the heat in this water park, with activities for the entire family. There's a kiddie pool for toddlers and action-packed slides and chutes where you ride down fast-moving water on river rafts, or inner tubes. Big kids will want to try the "Black Hole," slide through a completely dark tunnel.

HARBOUR CRUISE

Pick up a boat at the World Trade Centre. From Clifford Pier, you can buy tickets for a cruise around the Southern Islands on an ornate Chinese junk, a replica of an imperial Ming Dynasty boat. This cruise also includes high tea, and a stop at the island of Kusu.

HAW PAR VILLA (TIGER BALM GARDENS)

The kids will love the Tiger Balm Garden’s statues depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, including the "Ten Courts of Hell" which show what happens to kids who don't listen to their parents. There are puppet shows, performances by Chinese acrobats and a dragon boat ride. Visit this site for further information about the Haw Par Villa in Singapore.
 

JURONG EAST SWIMMING COMPLEX

Dive into the Lazy River, slide down the tubes, get totally soaked in the Wave Pool and let your kids go wild at the fun-filled play pool. There are regular pools for swimming laps too.

JURONG BIRD PARK

This park features more than 5,000 birds from all over the world in a lush parkland setting. Highlights include the world's largest collection of Southeast Asian Hornbills and South American Toucans and the world's second largest penguin exhibit. Allow half a day to visit the main attractions. Visit this site for wonderful photos of birds in jurong bird park.

MARITIME MUSEUM

Singapore has always been a maritime city and today is one of the biggest ports in the world. Check out the fantastic display of ship models. The museum also has boats of all kinds, fishing equipment and outdoor exhibits.

MARINA CITY PARK

This park, along the water is the perfect place to fly a kite, a national pastime in Singapore. Throughout the park, look for statues of legendary Chinese heroes, including the philosopher Confucius, the lady general Mulan, and Zheng He, a Ming dynasty admiral. The park also has a large pond with fountains and children's playground.

MOUNT FABER CABLE CAR STATION AND VIEWING GARDEN

Mt. Faber has views of Singapore Harbour and islands in the distance. Relax in the restaurant at the top of the hill or run around the gardens. Take a ride on the cable car to Sentosa Island.

MERLION STATUE

Take the elevator to the top of the 37 metre high Merlion statute for views of Sentosa Island. There are two viewing decks, one from inside the lion's mouth! Little kids will like the Merlion Walk lined with fantasy creatures, or the Enchanted Grove of Tembusu, where you can drop a coin in the wishing cell.

MINT COIN GALLERY

The Singapore Mint's exhibition gallery displays a collection of coins, medals and medallions from all over the world. Visitors can also mint their own souvenir coin at the gallery's coin press. This is an interesting spot to visit with the children and a souvenir coin will last many "show and tell' sessions in class when they get home.

SCIENCE CENTRE PLANETARIUM AND OMNI THEATRE

Four breathtaking audiovisual shows engulf viewers with space journeys and overviews of the world's most fantastic natural wonders.  Located at 15 Science Centre Rd., Jurong. Phone 65+(0)4252500. You can book ahead by calling the Science Centre directly.

SINGAPORE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

Singapore's renowned open zoo is a haven for both animals and visitors and a must-see when visiting Singapore. More than 2,000 creatures are housed in landscaped enclosures, with rock walls and streams instead of cages. Special attractions include Children's World, where kids can interact with animals and enjoy excellent playgrounds, the six island Primate Kingdom, the sea lion and penguin gallery, the air-conditioned polar bear exhibit and a miniature railway. Special bookings can be made to have breakfast or high tea with an Orang-utan. www.zoo.com.sg/ or check this site for fascinating photos of Singapore Zoo.

THEME PARKS

Big Splash has the longest water slides in Southeast Asia. Telephone: 65+3451211 for more information. CN West Leisure Park Water slides, bumper boats and other amusement attractions.

UNDERWATER WORLD

This aquarium has a large collection of tropical marine life, including a Touch Pool where you can pet banded-bamboo sharks (they feel a bit like sandpaper), sting rays (very slimy) and starfish. Watch turtles being fed at the Turtle Sanctuary

ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS

BEACHES (ON SENTOSA ISLAND)

Bring your swimsuit, and play in the warm tropical waters at Siloso Beach, Central Beach, or Tanjong Beach. At Central Beach, you can see pink dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon, or take the bridge to a bit of land that is "southernmost point of the Asia." Rent bikes, umbrellas and beach chairs at Siloso or Central Beach. Ride the Beach Train (goes on the road) between the beaches. To get to Sentosa Island, take the cable car from Mount Faber or the World Trade Center. Ferry or bus services are also available to the island.

BOWLING

Singapore has over 200 bowling centres, each offering more than 20 lanes. Most bowling centres open as early as 9:00 a.m. and close between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., though there are some 24-hour centres, mostly in the Marina South area.

CLIMBING

Climbing can be accomplished at various venues on Singapore, whether in town, at nature reserves or visiting the offshore islands. For more information contact Singapore Mountaineering Federation at +65-6220 9505. Visit this site for further information about Climbing in Singapore.

CYCLING

Cycling paths link many parts of the island. Those with a strong sense of adventure can go mountain or dirt biking. Bicycles can be rented at a number of public parks, including those at East Coast Park, Sentosa, Pasir Ris, and Bishan. Pulau Ubin also offers mountain and dirt biking. Visit this site for more information about Cycling in Singapore.

GOLF

Singapore has some of Asia's finest golf courses. Fees range anywhere from S$40 to S$200. There are several world-class golfing facilities in Singapore. If these are not enough, golf courses in neighbouring places, like Bintan and Batam in Indonesia are just a short ferry ride away and Johor in Malaysia is just across the Causeway.

HORSE RACING

On-site racing as well as live telecasts of Malaysian races can be enjoyed at the Singapore Turf Club. Visitors must observe a strict dress code: Shorts, singlets, and slippers are not allowed in the public stands. Smart casual is the dress code for the Members' Enclosure. Races take place on weekends only and start at 1:30 p.m. with the last race at 6:00 p.m.

NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT

If you're not totally exhausted from eating, drinking and sightseeing, there is plenty of nightlife to choose from in Singapore. Big hotels feature discos, lounges, cabarets and theatre restaurants. For a pleasant, high-class evening, symphonies, operas and ballets are abundant. Other popular night-time activities include late-night tours, catching a movie at the local cinema, or relaxing on a starlit harbour cruise.

SCUBA DIVING

Most local diving schools conduct courses sanctioned by NAUI or PADI, two internationally recognized scuba-diving associations. Day and night diving in local waters and nearby diving spots in Malaysian waters can be arranged.

SINGAPORE CRICKET CLUB/PADANG

This was the recreation hub of the British during the colonial heyday. Built in 1852, the club has distinctive bungalow-style architecture. Admire it from the outside because it's a private club, there's no touring inside the building. The historic Padang, the large open area fronting Empress Palace, City Hall and the Supreme Court is open to the public. On weekends, rugby, soccer and even field hockey games are held at the Padang. Connaught Drive.

WATER SPORTS

Some of the most popular sports on the island are water-based. Round-the-island canoe trips are currently a rage, as are water-skiing off Sembawang and Kallang River (venue of previous world championships), windsurfing, and sailing. The best areas for these water sports are in the north of Singapore.

SHOPPING

Singapore offers a variety with value for money, quality and excellent services. Be it European high fashion or Asian designer products, traditional crafts or the latest, high-tech electrical and electronic goods, Singapore has it all. The best thing about shopping in Singapore is that it is a duty-free port offering all goods at prices lower than those existing in their original country of production. Many shops are open seven days a week and for at least 11 hours a day.

TIP

Before you begin shopping get your Singapore Visitor's Card and save money throughout the country. For more information or to purchase the Visitor Card online, visit www.thevisitorscard.com

ART AND ANTIQUES

A wide range of hand-woven carpets from Persia, Afghanistan, Turkey, India and Pakistan are available. Singapore is also a centre for Asian antiques which include some priceless articles like Chinese porcelain and ceramics, jade, bronze items of the Tang and Qing dynasties. Interesting Thai, Indian, Indonesian, Burmese and Vietnamese antique pieces are also available at Tanglin Road, Orchard Road, Raffles Boulevard and hotel shopping arcades.

ELECTRONIC GOODS

Cameras, computer hardware and software are on sale at good bargains. The Funan Centre is a favourite with buyers for computer-ware. Timepieces, jewellery, exotic fabrics, batik, cosmetics, pewter-ware, foot-ware and leather goods are all available at good bargains.

GREAT SINGAPORE SALE

Between June and July Singapore is the place for the Great Singapore Sale. The entire retailers industry of Singapore comes together to put up an island-wide sale. This is a celebration of shopping as an art form and everything from clothing, electronic goods, toys and food items are marked down by heavy margins. At the same time other exciting events are also organised and the sale also coincides with the annual Singapore Food Festival. For an interesting shopping experience Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam offer traditional goods, everyday articles and interesting goods.

ORCHARD ROAD

The name comes from the nutmeg and pepper plantations of 1800s. In those days the streets were lined with trees and the area was sparsely populated; now they are lined with shops. From international, local and Asian designer clothes to inexpensive fashion jewellery and Oriental arts and artefacts or Asian antiques; you have it all in this area.

LITTLE INDIA

The area covering Serangoon Road and its environs is Little India. Here you can experience the scents and sounds of India as well as the wonderful fabrics, spices, silks and saris or gold jewellery, jasmine garlands, silverware and brassware.

TIP

A 5% GST is levied on goods and services purchased in Singapore. It is advisable to shop at establishments that are part of the GST Tourist Refund Scheme. Participating shops display a "Tax Refund" sticker. If goods of at least S$100 are purchased from the same shop or the same chain of shops then the visitors can apply for a GST refund.

DINING

The food of Singapore reflects its multi-ethnic society. The hotels contain restaurants that specialize in dishes from all over Europe and Asia. The famous hawker centre, however, are possibly the best place to sample the various Singaporean cuisines. You can taste Indian, Malayan and Chinese dishes all in one night. These food centre can be a great experience and are part of the reason why Singapore is considered by many to be the food capital of Asia. There are very strictly enforced official Public Health controls in Singapore, so it is safe to eat food from any of the restaurants or stalls. Additionally, tap water is safe to drink. It is important to note that smoking is completely banned in all air-conditioned restaurants. Visit this website for further information about Singaporean food.

restaurants in Singapore open and close with amazing rapidity, and key staff, responsible for a restaurant's success, job-hop with similar speed. Independent establishments pop up everywhere, in everything from restored shops to warehouses, called go-downs. Try visiting one of Singapore's neighbourhood food centre and bazaars with stalls offering food from India, China, Indonesia and Malaysia, all at very low prices. The food centre are either open air, with a common area for diners, or air-conditioned food courts occupying the basement or the top level of shopping centre.

Two enclaves along the Singapore River-Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, offer more than 35 establishments serving international fare. The Boat Quay is an especially lively place at sunset. Most food outlets stop serving dinner by 10 pm, although some hotel coffee houses are open 24 hours. Reservations at most of the restaurants are not required but are recommended for large groups, on weekends and during public holidays.