When Nigel and I were travelling a lot in the 1990s we used Singapore as an absolute stopover on the way to Europe. It was clean, warm, safe and we could upgrade all our technology to the latest and greatest at a fantastic price.  It was also really organised and efficient so it made stopovers easy and a great break to the long hauls. We would spend our day on Orchard Road and Lucky Plaza to barter prices on the latest video camera or camera lens or pair of binoculars.

We went to Singapore a lot during those years but the last time we were there was 2005, so it had been a while between Singapore Slings. In 2005 we took 7 year old Stefan to Raffles Hotel where he lived his best life eating peanuts and throwing the shells on the floor.  We got a couple of Singapore Slings that cost a fortune and ticked that one off the list. A lot of things have changed since then, and the price of a Singapore Sling at Raffles has gone up (currently $37 each, we didn’t pay it) . Technology and devices are accessible online via the web and New Zealand doesn’t charge massive duty on goods anymore so it’s not a drawcard to buy electronics in places like Singapore any more.  What Singapore is to us now is a melting pot of multiple cultures amidst a sea of designer brands.

It’s still clean, warm and safe and incredibly organised and efficient. It’s a great spot to swim in the evenings and wander about during the day. The MRT underground transport system is immaculate, frequent and covers the whole island. Also you don’t need a travel card just tap on and off with your visa.  The Uber equivalent called Grab is really reliable and only takes minutes to find a ride.  It also delivers food but we didn’t try that.

What Singapore has done of late is added some amazing architectural landmarks to the skyline. The architecture of the early 1800s of three story buildings with shutters and awnings is still there but the retailers have been replaced by Prada and Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.

Marina Bay Sands the iconic ship in the sky hotel is absolutely stunning and beneath it the Gardens on the Bay conservatories are a lovely respite from the heat and an absolute marvel of rainforest and desert inside. 

We stayed close to Clarke Quay which use to be the old red light district which is now home to bars and restaurants and river cruise boats. Comes alive in the evenings. 

The food. Yum. Chinatown. Enough said. 

Rules! Singapore is renowned for its fines for simple things like littering, spitting and feeding birds but dang that shit works! Having a no talking rule on the tube is quite strict but is adhered to by everyone (We had to whisper “is this our stop” to each other) During Covid times all indoor areas require a mask and it is strictly enforced, there are no rule breakers it just happens.  The best way to deal with almost 6 million people in an area 1/3 smaller than Auckland is with tolerance and compliance and Singapore has mastered that to a tee.