Singapore did not disappoint

So today I am back from my Singapore trip and wow what a city.

On arrival the first thing that struck me (after how hot it was!) was just how clean everywhere is and how friendly the people are. Singapore is a very diverse city with tourism at its very heart. Astonishingly most of the buildings are less than 50 years old and most never get any older than that as the government are constantly tearing buildings down in order to make way for new ones that fit better with the infrastructure. There are protected buildings and some structures which can be moved and routinely taken down and rebuilt in areas where it is felt they are better suited.

The city moves on very quickly, construction is all around especially where public transport is concerned. There are currently 3 new metro stations being built with more planned for the future in order to make getting around without having to use cars easier for tourists and locals alike. Our tour guide told us that if we were return in 10 years time the city would have changed greatly and I could easily believe her.

We stayed at the Dorsett Hotel on New Bridge Road which is just on the edge of the fascinating China Town with a metro station just nearby which can be accessed via a lift within the hotel itself – very handy for when the heavens open as you can make your way from the hotel right the way to the Marina Bay area without having to go outside and get wet (as we found out one evening!) The hotel provides you with a mobile phone (Hand Andy as we called it) to take out and about which allows you to make free calls back to the UK as well as having free WIFI using the phones own hotspot. It gives you great information on things to do and see, places to eat, transport links and even maps so you can find your way around.

The hotel itself was lovely, large airy rooms with huge windows to let in lots of light. A great spread at breakfast with the usual delights on offer such as pastries, toasts, cereals, cold meats and salads and a hot cooked breakfast to include eggs (all ways), bacon, beans, has browns and sausages although they were chicken sausages and not the usual pork variety, quite common for this area of the world we found.

Nearby to the hotel are hundreds of places to eat. Lots of traditional Hawker Centres where street sellers have set up permanent kitchens to offer everything from noodles and rice to fried carrot cake and soups. Some of these have even been awarded Michelin Stars. One of them was featured on Gordon Ramsay’s tv series last year where Gordon has a cook off with the chef and a blind taste test determines the winner – Gordon lost!!

For those who like to stay closer to home cuisine wise there are McDonalds, KFC as you would expect but also plenty of Pizzeria’s and Western restaurants offering fish and chips, steaks, burgers etc but it would be a shame to not sample the local delights and there are that many you will be spoilt for choice.

I will go into more detail over the next few blog installments on my time in Singapore, but within 4 short days we saw a great deal so I would say its a perfect opportunity if you are taking a cruise from or Singapore to do a 3 or 4 night stay so you can see the sights.