Nostalgic trip to Singapore

Will be spending 4 nights in Singapore from 1st May 2009, staying at the Shangri-La. We%26#39;ll then be going to the Melia Bali villa %26amp; spa resort in Bali for a further 8 nights. It will be a very nostalgic trip as well as a holiday for my husband as he was in the British Royal Navy in the mid 1960%26#39;s, as he was based in Singapore for 2 years. He knows it has changed vastly since he was there, and sounds like an even more wonderful place. He hoped there may be someone going who was in submarines and in particular HMS Ambush at the same time as he was there, a tall order I suppose.

I gather there won%26#39;t be much that he%26#39;ll recognise, and the huge old base at HMS Terror has obviously gone and is now a shipyard I think.

Apart from the nostalgic trip, we are wondering about our itinary.

We%26#39;ll arrive in the morning on 1st May after a long flight, what should we plan for our first day?

Do you think a visit to Clarkes Quay? A wander around Orchard Road?

Over the next 3 full days, we have in mind the zoo and/or the night safari, Sentosa Island maybe Johore Bahru, botanic gardens?

As we%26#39;re only there 4 days I feel a bit panicky thinking we must really plan before we go what we%26#39;ll be doing, rather than thinking when we wake up, what shall we do today.... Partly because we%26#39;ll need to work out how to get there.

Also what can we expect weather wise, I know it%26#39;ll be hot but is it unbearable with the humidity?

We don%26#39;t plan to eat at the hotel, and plan to sample food in the hawker centres. What is a reasonable sum of spending money for food in Singapore for those 4 days. Would £100 a day be enough for food,(our hotel is room only).

We%26#39;re flying on the new Airbus A380 with Singapore air and really looking forward to that, can%26#39;t wait.

Would be interested in receiving any advice about how to plan our itinary, amount of spending money for food and trips we%26#39;ll need, the humidity and whether any veterans will be there! Thanks.

Nostalgic trip to Singapore

Hi Bonnie,

you may visit this official website to plan you visit, I is very useful: www.visitsingapore.com

May I suggest you visit ethnic quarters: chinatown, arab street, little india, bugis.

The zoo and the night safari are often quoted in this forum but you may also consider the Jurong Bird Park: it%26#39;s worth the visit!

In food court, a meal costs around 4 SGD. Beers and alcohol are more expensive.

Expect higher prices in restaurants tahn in food courts.

Nostalgic trip to Singapore

Forgot to add, as your husband was in the Royal Navy, may be he would be interested to visit the Singapore Navy Museum: visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home…

I%26#39;ve not visit it myself so I can%26#39;t tell you if it%26#39;s worth the visit.

Hi,

You definitely don%26#39;t have to spend £100 a day if you were to eat simple meals at the Hawker Centres!

For example, a plate of chicken rice (S$3) and a drink (S$1.20) would only cost you S$4.20 a meal.

There is quite a good open-air hawker centre next to The Esplanade along the river. You could venture this region first by delighting from the City Hall MRT Station, enter the City Link (underground tunnel shopping linked to the MRT Station), exits from this tunnel will lead you either to Marina Square (shopping), The Esplanade (Arts Theatre) and the Suntec City (shopping).

Other Good Hawker Centres also include:

Alexandra Village Food Centre, Amoy Street Food Centre, Changi Village Market and Hawkers%26#39; Centre, Chomp Chomp Food Centre, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Haig Road Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, Lavender Food Square, Marine Parade Market and Cooked Food Centre, Maxwell Road Food Centre, Newton Food Centre, Zion Riverside Food Centre.

The Clarke Quay and the Boat Quay had been developed into a touristy area. Albeit it looks very clean and modern now, somehow some of the old nostalgic had been compromised. But these are the norms with modernisation. Well-worthed a visit if you would like to see how it has changed. Alot of pubs, clubs and restaurants in this area now. There is also a shopping mall now named The Central.

For historical places to visit you might want to take a trip to the Battle Box at Fort Canning Hill legendsfortcanning.com/fortcanning/battlebox…

Or if you are visiting the Sentosa Island, dont miss out the Fort Siloso. tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g294264-d324…

The Singapore Changi Museum:

http://www.changimuseum.com/Home.aspx

Also take a walk to the Chinatown and visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre. I loved it personally as I thought the props looked very real and was depicted the life of the early settlers vividly.

http://www.chinatownheritage.com.sg/

The Singapore Zoo and its Night Safari is well worthed the visit if you are an animal lover! For all you know you could also have an experience of dining breakfast with the Orang Utans!

Singapore is a humid country almost all the time... it can be pretty unbearable sometimes (for me as a Singaporean). And if you are used to the cool weather in UK, it might be a ';Suana'; experience for you! But not to worry, Sg has lots of places with air-conditioning. Having said that, there are some westerners who adore the sunshine and so find the weather in Sg perfect for them. =)

You could have a good shopping time in the Orchard Road in May... but I%26#39;m not sure if the Great Singapore Sales would have started! It usually starts in Late May till mid July.

I don%26#39;t find the Singapore Botanical Gardens particularly impressive, however, there are some westerners I met who loved it.

Another fun activity not to be missed is the Musical Fountain at Sentosa. Interesting magical show with a little fireworks. Lovely!

Rest assured for a fun-filled trip in Singapore!

Cheers,

Suying

On the First day after U have arrive, both of U might want to check out The Istana Open House on 1 May 2009 (Labour Day)%26gt;

Details: istana.gov.sg/IstanaGrounds/…index.htm

Follow by a wander around Orchard Road Mall (starting from the Plaza Singapura Shopping next to Istana Main Entrance) and all the way up to Centrepoint (Towards Concorde Hotel side).

Spend 1 day visiting Fort Canning Park %26amp; a walk by Clarke Quay to The Merlion park (passing by the Raffles Landing - Raffles Statues behind Asian Civilisation Museum) %26amp; check out ACM before going on to The Merlion park.

http://www.acm.org.sg/home/home.asp

As for Sentosa, it is full of construction now at the main area where there is Casino building but the other area are still good to visit. There is NO more Musical Fountain (Make way for The New Casino building) however there is a Song of sea where there%26#39;s Laser display on Siloso Beach (Which happen after 1900hr, check www.sentosa.com.sg for more details.)

As for Botanical Garden, I highly recommend the National Orchid Garden nestled inside there.

www.sbg.org.sg/centralcore/centralcore.asp

I say Give JB a Missed (Not worth the effort going over for a day shopping).

As for eating at Food Centre %26amp; Food Court, allow both of you S$10 each %26amp; U will be able to eat comfortably. As for Dining in Japanese, Chinese or Other type mid range restaurant, allow about S$15 - S$25 each.

Have a fun time remiscing the past %26amp; admiring the present Singapore.

Oops.

Yes, it is not the musical fountain but it is known as the Song of the Sea now. Thanks for the correction!

Cheers,

Suying

TravelWithSuying and MeOnly -

I read your replies to this post with great interest. YOu have provided some excellent information!

Suying - Thanks for mentioning all those Hawker Food centres - I am actually looking forward to trying all the different foods, too!!

:-)

I%26#39;m very sure your husband will not be able to recognise Singapore at all! My bro-in-law was in the RAF in the early %26#39;60s and he lived on-base in Seletar. When he was visiting with us 15 years ago, we brought him to Seletar and the only road he remembered was just off Jalan Kayu.

My dad worked for the NAAFI from the mid 50s to mid 80s. Towards the end of his career (70s), he was based in Sembawang Naval Base. Back then, the Terror Club was still in existance. Sadly it isn%26#39;t any more.

Singapore has changed dramatically and keeps changing every time I go back. Your husband will probably get a sense of dejavu especially if you take time to head out to Sembawang (northern part of the island, very close to Malaysia). Whatever you choose to do with your short 4 days, have a fab time!

Oh yes, it%26#39;ll be hot and humid (35C daytime, 95% humidity) so wear light cotton clothes (shorts, dresses, pants) and drink lots of water!

If your husband ever visited the Civil Service club on Dempsey road he may be interested to know that it is now an excellent Indian Restaurant called Samy%26#39;s Curry house. This is worth a visit of an evening.

My husband was based in Singapore in 1966 with the British Navy and we have been back many times during the last 10 years, as pointed out there is no resemblence. We went back to Semberwang Park and he recognised where they ship used to come in but everything is different or gone altogether. Singapore is still a fantastic place but unfortunately I didn%26#39;t see it as it was in the 60%26#39;s. My Father was based at HMS Terror in the 50%26#39;s so Singapore is definitely in my blood.

Hi Bonnieandtoby,

£100 a day should cover food, drink, transport and you should have enough over for a nice top or 2 from one of Singapore%26#39;s huge malls. Food is very inexpensive and of the highest quality. If you enjoy a drink or 3 (alcohol) you can spend a lot. So if you do drink make sure to take advantage of your duty free allowance.

As far as planing your days sightseeing you will find most tourist attractions are no more than 30 minutes away by the best transport system it has been my pleasure to use, the MRT is outstanding.

I liked Sentosa. It%26#39;s a place to go for a meal a drink and a swim in the warm ocean in beautiful surroundings, a nice place to go to escape the city for an hour or 2.

I flew the Singapore airlines A380, a wonderful aircraft. Be sure to try a Singapore sling while on board from the cocktail menu, it was as good as the one I was served in Raffles that cost me a small fortune!:)

Have a great trip,

Billy.