Singapore 2011: City Highlights

To read all posts about our 2011 Singapore Trip click here

When I first went to Singapore with my sisters years ago, we went on a city tour and stopped by almost all of the city attractions.  We were all adults on the trip then so we did not mind all the walking, and packed our days to see as much attractions as our feet could take.   

But going there recently with the kids in tow, we just carefully chose the attractions to visit, bearing in mind the kids’ interest.  We were content with just viewing some of the city attractions from afar.  The Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade is a good place to bring the kids to catch a glimpse of the Merlion, the Singapore Flyer, the futuristic Helix Bridge, the floating LV store , the Singapore Street Circuit, and many other city sights.

Merlion Park is the archetypal representation of Singapore and offers a great photo opportunity with the Merlion statue, which has a lion’s head and a fish’s body.  Esplanade is Singapore’s premier performing arts venue, much similar to our own CCP.  It is also fondly called “durian” by the locals because the spiky domes resembles the tropical fruit when viewed from afar.  In the photo below, you can also see one of the tallest buildings in Singapore, the Swissotel @ The Stamford, dot the city skyline.

The lotus-shaped Art Science Museum is the newest museum destination in Singapore.

The floating Louis Vuitton Island Maison is the first of its kind in the world.  Even though I was not bag-hunting, I just had to see what the fuss is all about.  The store is huge, with three levels of merchandise display.  But more than the bags, what caught my attention were the artworks displayed at the underwater tunnel that joins the LV store island to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.  For book lovers such as myself, get ready to be delighted by the bookstore which carries a careful selection of books on travel, design, art and culture.

 

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 Somo photo-op at the Marina Bay promenade

 

The Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest observation wheel and offers one of the best panoramic views of the city from a glass capsule.  The futuristic Helix Bridge is a pedestrian linkway resembling the structure of DNA.  At night, the bridge is illuminated which highlights  the double-helix structure and creates a visual treat.

We did not feel the need to let the kids get on the Singapore Flyer anymore since we already stayed at the Marina Bay Sands, which allowed us to take the kids to the SkyPark.  And we have to say that the unlimited view afforded by the Sky Park is simply unparalleled.  Perched way up on the top of the Marina Bay Sands, the SkyPark offers an unrivalled 360-degree view of Singapore while we enjoyed the world's largest and highest outdoor infinity pool.

Since I arranged our itinerary with the days filled with attractions for the kids, I reserved the nights for shopping and sightseeing along Orchard Road.  I am quite lucky that the sun is still out even at close to seven in the evening.  We walked the whole stretch, with frequent stops to gratify each of our individual reasons.  For C and R, the benches were a comfortable pit stop.  For B, the elephants that lined Orchard, and the rest of Singapore, for that matter were a good excuse to stop and play.  For J and me, it was the shops and their beautiful display windows that invited us to come in. 

 

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