Things to see in Singapore

[Waylander]

I am going onto a trip to Singapore at the beginning of March for 10 days.

I know that we have some Singaporeans here and so I thought that it might be a good idea to ask this question here.
I hope that I can at least get half a day from my girlfriend to see some interesting military stuff. Don't ask what I have to do for this favor...

Are there interesting things to see? It doesn't has to be a special branch or item I want to see.
Just something interesting like a good museum or an open day at a base or maybe a good place to photograph some ships/planes/tanks, etc.

Thanks alot for every advice I get.

 

[Chino]

Army Museum. I have never been, so I don't know how to prioritise it.
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/microsites/armymuseum/index.html

What's more interesting in Singapore are the WW2 stuff.

You're from Europe, so you probably don't know as much about the other WW2 "Blitzkreig" here in Asia.

The Japanese invaded Malaysia and swept down to Fortress Singapore in record time that would make the Nazis envious.

 

[eckherl]

I am going onto a trip to Singapore at the beginning of March for 10 days.

I know that we have some Singaporeans here and so I thought that it might be a good idea to ask this question here.
I hope that I can at least get half a day from my girlfriend to see some interesting military stuff. Don't ask what I have to do for this favor...

Are there interesting things to see? It doesn't has to be a special branch or item I want to see.
Just something interesting like a good museum or an open day at a base or maybe a good place to photograph some ships/planes/tanks, etc.

Thanks alot for every advice I get.

I am not from Singapore as you already know but I got a idea for you, sneak around and try and find out where they are keeping those covert Centurion MBTs, just do not get yourself arrested.

 

[Waylander]

@Chino
I read some stuff about it.
Are there interesting WWII fortifications which have lived through the times?

@Eckherl
With the penalties they have for just litter onto the street I don't want to know what would be my punishment for spying out their tank depots...

 

[Chino]

Singapore was known as Fortress Singapore. This means that Singapore had a lot of defence fortifications. Here are some WW2 sites.

All of them are located in nice bits of forest or charming hills with names like Fort Canning, Opium Hill etc. The British have a good eye for picking the best spots. So even if the site or the museum itself is not great, the trip itself will be interesting. You can bring the girlfriend for a walk or a picnic and then "accidentally" discover that there are all these WW2 military sites!

Reflections At Bukit Chandu.
The museum itself is an old English colonial bungalow.. I didn't go inside as it was closing time. It is not big. Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill) is a lovely little hill with forest and even a very high bridge that is at tree top level that you can walk. This place itself is not easy to find. And once there, try to find a old AMX-13 tank and a old 155mm howitzer that are displayed for children to play.
http://www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/bukit_chandu/homepage.htm
http://www.livelife.ecitizen.gov.sg/culture/heritage/bukitchandu.asp
http://www.museums.com.sg/MRM_bukitchandu.asp

Fort Canning Hill bunkers - The Battle Box
Fort Canning Hill is the most historic part of Singapore. Its location is perfect, near shopping centres and the National Museum. This is a lovely hill where the top British Command had their HQ built under a hill. The Fort itself, very little left, was a British Fort from 100 years ago or more and some parts of it are still there like the huge gateway etc. WQalking up the hill you will see beautiful old trees and many 100 - 200 years old stone engraved with name sof Europeans whom died in Singapore or on the long sea voyages to reach Singapore. Beautiful typography. Of course, many old colonial buildings.
http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_858_2004-12-15.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_Box
http://www.streetdirectory.com/stoc...rt_canning_hill_park_the_battle_box_entrance/


Fort Siloso on Sentosa Island
This is where the infamous large naval guns of WW2 are located. Many people used to say these guns are located in the wrong place and poitning the wrong direction (South) because the Japs came from the North.

But the truth is that the Japs came from the north precisely because we have these guns in the south. The large naval guns were able to turn 360 degrees to shoot north but they had mostly armour-piercing shells useless for shooting against ground forces.

Fort Siloso is also from a earlier time but used as a fort until WW2. You'll find the large turntables for the guns still there. This is probably the best military site for WW2.

http://www.fortsiloso.com/

Sentosa Island itself is a watered-down Disney-type island. So there are lots to do including some beach clubs with clubbing music at night etc.

PS Leave all drugs at home.

 

[Waylander]

Thanks a lot.
We already planned to go to Sentosa so your plan of "accidently" finding the Fort sounds like a good idea.

And Fort Canning is just 800m away from our hotel so it is going to be a fast trip to it. I am just going to put an emphasis on the old colonial buildings to sell the idea of seeing it.

BTW, I don't even smoke. And alcohol is a medicine and not a drug.

 

[Chino]

Thanks a lot.
We already planned to go to Sentosa so your plan of "accidently" finding the Fort sounds like a good idea.

And Fort Canning is just 800m away from our hotel so it is going to be a fast trip to it. I am just going to put an emphasis on the old colonial buildings to sell the idea of seeing it.

BTW, I don't even smoke. And alcohol is a medicine and not a drug.

Happy discovery!!

 

[Red]

I would like to suggest that you take an MRT(our version of the subway accept that it runs above ground as well ) around Singapore to see the real sub-urban areas where the majority of Singaporean live. Most stations stop at town centres where there are many local shops and shopping centres(which are not really too different from the ones in the city centres) and sometimes cheaper. Here are some good stations to alight;

1) Woodlands MRT Station in the north where you can see Woodlands New Town(it is not that new though) in the North-South Line.

2)Sengkang MRT Station(very new) in the North-East line. Plus you can ride the LRT( a smaller version of the MRT system(town based) which hooks up to the main MRT line).

3)Tao Payoh Station in the north south line(old town).

4)Tampines in the east-west line(relatively new town and `the' hub in the eastern part of the island.

If you`re in the Woodlands area, you might see chinooks and Super Pumas and Apaches flying in the area above it as they do it everyday for training from Sembawang Airbase. Depends on your luck though.

You might be able to see F-16s, F-5Es and Fokker 5 MPAs if you`re in the Malay cultural village of Geylang as Paya Lebar Airbase in nearby.

If you want to see Singapore navy ships, you can try the SAF Changi Yatch club. But that is at the eastern most tip of Singapore and you`ll need a vehicle to get there and most importantly to get out. It is far from civilization You can see a part of Changi naval base from there. Beautiful place and great food. Love it.

But security is very high and you`ll need to declare your intentions and show-proof your travel documents. As a matter of fact, you would most likely not be allowed in.lol. But Im just saying this if you want to try have a look. There`s a shuttle service from Tanah Merah MRT. Google it for more information. Can give them a call.

Feel free to PM me if you need any help. Cheers.

 

[weasel1962]

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[Waylander]

Thank you very much for these excellent tips. They are defenitely going to be helpfull.
I really appreciate this!

I am sure we are going to enjoy this trip a lot.

cheers

 

[Aussie Digger]

Thank you very much for these excellent tips. They are defenitely going to be helpfull.
I really appreciate this!

I am sure we are going to enjoy this trip a lot.

cheers

10 days seems like an awful long time to spend in Singapore itself. I was there back in October and only spent 3 days there, and saw virtually everything, all the big things anyway...

I liked the place, but personally I'd rather see a bit more than just Singapore on a 10 day trip. If it's for business reasons, fair enough I suppose.

If I had 10 days to spend there personally though, I'd be ducking over into Malaysia as well, check out Kuala Lumpur etc...

 

[gf0012-aust]

I tend to want to just trawl around the shops - and you just can't go past some of the night time food stalls.

Word of warning though, the last tailor made suit I bought was not up to the usual standards. So if you are tailor made clothes buying make sure you get in early to leave some negotiating days if the jobs a bit dodgey.

 

[LazerLordz]

If you love places off the beaten path, do check out Dempsey Hill (watering hole just out of town), Arab Street (shisha, arab cuisine).

Katong has great Peranakan (Straits Chinese with Malay blood/cultural influence) cuisine too.

Dempsey Hill

Arab Street

Katong District

Have fun in Singapore. The weather's pretty unpredictable these months or two though..

 

[weasel1962]

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[Waylander]

Thanks, folks.
I really appreciate your tips.

I bought enough clothes and stuff some months ago in Shanghai so I think I just have to reserve some space in my luggage for the excess luggage of my girlfriend...
I hope my experiences from several China trips help me with deciding which stuff to buy and which not.


And while I tend try and eat nearly everything I am going to have a hard time pushing my girlfriend to try all the interesting stuff. But I am going to try everything (Except seafood...) you advertised. And forks instead of chop sticks are not needed.
We are defenitely planning to make a trip to Malaysia we are just not sure about where to go and how.
Is a tour by Bus over the Johor Causeway in to Malaysia even an option or is a short trip by plane (maybe to Malakka) the only viable option?
Kuala Lumpur is maybe not the best idea because I am not sure if we want to make a trip into another huge city when we are already a long time in Singapore.

In fact this is my first non-business trip to Asia so my budget is tighter than usual. So big jumps are not within range for us. But the Pate Mase Villa looks nice though...

I hope I am not going to catch a cold during the first days because of the excessive air conditions. Usually that happens to me pussy north/middle european when I come into a sub/tropical country.

 

[weasel1962]

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[Waylander]

3-4 hours seems to be a reasonable travel time and the prices look good, too.
Malacca looks more and more inviting to me.

I have to say that I am very glad that I live in a country which is probably among the countries which need the fewest visas around the world.

 

[searchfun]

I was back from Melaca hoilday last month, would like to suggest you stay in Holiday Inn (just open). It provide free transport to some of the tourist areas (Jonker st is part of it) at specific hour. Try to get a room facing the ocean, you may enjoy it during early in the morning. Malaca is a peaceful & relax small city town.

Take note that you need to very careful & on guard if you are in Johor(JB),crime rate is very high.

 

[barra]

Make sure you check out the Changi Museum whilst there. Gives a great, though sobering, perspective of the Singaporean as well as Commonwealth experience of WW2.

Also check out the Chinatown and Duxton Hill areas for eateries and kareoke bars. Can't believe you won't try the singapore chilli crab whilst you are there!!! Expensive but worth it. My favourite place to eat at though is called "Fatty Wings" right next to Sim Lim square. Try the chicken claypot....exquisite.

 

[kotay]

Romantic hotspots in Singapore...

If I'm not wrong, the new Singapore flyer should be launching in March. You could be one of the first to go up if you can get tickets. Suggest you check schedules/book via their website. That's at the Marina Bay area (South).

http://www.singaporeflyer.com.sg

From what I understand, the Flyer is fully booked for the first 6 months ...

Speaking of gourmet, Paulaner Brauhaus restaurant in Millenia Walk, Marina Centre (south) has a wicked German brew + sausages. Bakerzin (nearby) for dessert - try their warm chocolate cake (have to wait). If you're adventurous, suggest the chilli crab at the Long beach restaurant in East Coast that caters for tourists.

Having just returned from a week in Germany, I'd say the last thing you'd want to have more of in Singapore is German food

I'll make good on an offer I made half a year ago ... I'll PM you my contacts and if you're free on a Saturday or Sunday, I'll play chauffeur-tour guide.