Destination: Singapore

Maybe you are traveling to Southeast Asia on a shoestring, enjoying the ancient cultures, even a bit culture shock. Many SE Asia countries share some commonalities...heavy traffic (more motor bikes than you can imagine), options to keep expenses MORE than reasonable, heavy rain that leads to LOTS of MUDD, ancient temples and limited English speaking populations. Don't get me wrong. Those descriptors are not meant to be negative. I love SE Asia and the adventure that comes from being in the region. But let's face it, Dorothy, when in SE Asia, you're certainly not in Kansas anymore!

But this is Singapore!

Singapore is unlike other SE Asian countries. English is spoken readily. Singapore is urban, modern, EXPENSIVE, incredibly clean and controlled. Even chewing gum is a legal infraction that can carry a heavy fine. Locals tell me this is because chewing gum is dirty. People spit it on the sidewalk, it gets black, sticky and tracked all over the place. Imagine that! No gum on your shoe in Singapore.

You won't find the traffic jams that you see all over SE Asia in Singapore either. Traffic is controlled by the government. In addition to the high price of buying a vehicle in Singapore (after all, they are all imported), you must obtain a certificate of entitlement in order to allow your vehicle on the road. COE generally run between $50,000 and $90,000 USD and are only good for 10 years. So only the wealthy are driving and the high cost of driving makes it prohibitive for most, thereby keeping the numbers of cars on the road low and traffic manageable. The taxi system is very reliable and cabs are metered (unlike most of SE Asia, where you had better negotiate a rate before taking the ride).  Likewise the metro system is cheap and very easy to navigate.

I've spent a fair amount of time in Singapore so let me take you on a tour.
We'll start in the Orchard Road area.  The Orchard Road area is home to many upscale hotels, including Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott, Grand Hyatt, St Regis and the Shangri-la. Orchard Road is a shopper's delight. The street is full of designers like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Cartier and Dior. It's not uncommon to see a Ferrari, Bentley or Lambourgini cruising down the street.

The central business district is bustling and nearby hotels include the Conrad, Ritz Carlton, Westin, Mandarin Oriental, the Marina Bay Sands and the famous Raffles Hotel.

http://www.raffles.com/singapore/

The Raffles hotel is worth a stop, if for nothing more than a drink at the bar. The hotel is named after the founder of Singapore and the Long Bar at the hotel is home the the original "Singapore Sling" cocktail. It's a beautiful bar but be prepared to pay a steep price for the "Sling" (about $24 USD on my last visit to the bar)

It's a wonderful location for a special celebration!

Another hotel worth a visit is the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino. It sort of reminds me of a cruise ship, dropped across the top of three high rises.

http://www.marinabaysands.com/

From the hotel, you can take a walkway back to the Gardens by the Bay.

http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/home.html

The Gardens are home to the Supertrees.

You can take an elevator to top of the trees and wander the elevated walkway between trees. The park is filled with flowers, ponds, sculptures, an indoor rainforest and restaurants. It's a beautiful way to spend the afternoon but the real treat comes after dark as the Supertrees become illuminated!

If you enjoy flowers and long walks, head to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

http://www.sbg.org.sg/

Singapore is know for the exportation of high quality orchids. The Botanic Gardens offer miles of walking trails, beautiful flora and plenty of shade to escape the heat.

                    

It's easy to forget. You ARE on an island! So how 'bout some time at the beach! Head to Sentosa island. You can reach the island by car/public transportation (via bridge) or by cable car. To date, I have only gone by car but the cable car looks exciting with stunning views and something I have to try on one of my visits!

http://www.singaporecablecar.com.sg/

To catch the cable car, or just to enjoy great walking trails (with lots of slope) and fantastic views, head to Mt. Fabor. At the top of Mt. Fabor is the Jewel Box with a great restaurant overlooking Sentosa and the harbour front. It's a great place to catch a sunset!

The Jewel Box

Spuds and Apron Restaurant

Sentosa is a playground. It is home to Unviersal Studios, an aquarium, trails through a tropic rainforest, a casino, shopping and BEACHES!!

From the beaches,you can cross a foot bridge to the Southernmost Point in Continental Asia.

     

Two towers provide a great lookout with 360 degree views! It also provides some much needed shade!

After a rest, head back to the beach and into the interior of Sentosa island.

The bridge wobbles a little. Try to stay balanced! Just adds to the fun and its over very shallow, clear water.











Once in the interior of Sentosa, head to Universal Studios, or shop, dine or hit the casino. The options are endless!

Hard to miss the giant merlion in the center of the island. 

You may recognize this creature from the beginning of this posting in Merlion Park in the business district of Singapore. It's the mascot of Singapore, half lion, half fish (the head of a lion, the body of a mermaid).

Let's head back to Singapore for dinner. Singapore boasts fantastic seafood and my favorite (and a Singapore classic) is Chili-Crab!

You can find chili crab all over the city but for the best chili crab, in my opinion, go to Jumbo Seafood. Make sure to get the fried buns. It's messy. They will give you a bib. Sop up the gooey chili sauce with the fried buns and wash it all down with coconut water and a Tiger beer. You will NOT be disappointed!!
 YUMM!!!

http://www.jumboseafood.com.sg/recommended-dishes.html

Another place to consider for a great meal, off the beaten track is the White Rabbit, in an old church.

 

http://www.thewhiterabbit.com.sg/


Then of course, there's also the famous Singapore street food. Head to the corner of Commerce Street and Shenton Way to find real Singapore street food. YUMMM.

Take one last glimpse of Singapore from the Singapore Flyer.

 

http://www.singaporeflyer.com/about-us/

So there you have it. A weekend in Singapore!


Hope you are enjoying the journey!
Join me on our next adventure.

Robin

(and yes, the pictures are all my own)

Destination: Greece part 2 - The Islands of Mykonos and Santorini

Greece is an archipelago of islands in the Agean Sea and each is quite different from the mainland and unique in its own right. Two of the more popular islands are Mykonos and Santorini. Unlike the mainland of Greece, where I have been many times, my visits to the islands were limited to a day in each port while on a Mediterranean cruise so my advice is limited but think you might enjoy it just the same. And the photos are beautiful!










Let's start on the island of Mykonos.

Mykonos is an island with crystal clear blue water and beautiful sandy beaches.

Agios Ioannis and Orno Beach was the first stop and the site of a beautiful chapel on the sea.

From Agios Ioannis, we head to Kalafatis. Stopped at the Aphrodite beach resort with beautiful beaches and a taverna on the sea.

http://www.aphrodite-mykonos.gr/

 

From Kalafatis, we headed to the interior of the island and the village of Ano Mera. There is a beautiful little monastery, Panagia Tourliani Monastery.

Take a stroll through the quaint alleys of the village and  enjoy the Greek cuisine at local tavernas.

Then its back to the port of Mykonos.

Next stop, Santorini!

Santorini is unique and completely different from Mykonos. In Santorini, we had to take a tender boat to the port of Athinios. The village of Fira is at the top of the cliffs.

You have a choice of how to make your way to the top of the cliffs. You can take the funicular. Note: lines tend to be long and VERY long on the way down. Plan in EXTRA time, especially if you have to make a cruise ship departure.

Or for the adventurous, take a donkey!

When we got to the top of the hill, we took a cab to Oia, instead of an organized tour. Oia offers panoramic views of the sea. Blue domed buildings dot the mountain side. 

Enjoy Greek wines in one of the many shops in Oia. This was my favorite spot in the Greek Islands. So picturesque! We then headed back to Fira for a quick bite in a local taverna, grabbed a few let photos and headed back down to the port.

Enjoy the view!

Robin

Destination: Greece

We're headed to the Mediterranean!
Today, I'll give you a sneak peak at Athens, Greece and a sample of what the Greek Islands have to offer.

A view through the ruins at the top of the Acropolis

Start your sightseeing in Athens by heading to the Acropolis first. The Acropolis sits atop the city of Athens. It is among the most impressive of the Ancient Greek ruins and it's quite a hike to the top. Wear sneakers. The terrain is rugged and the marble is very slippery. It gets VERY hot by mid-day (and crowded) so start your day here. The Acropolis is the site of several key historical ruins, including the Parthenon, the Porch of the Caryatids, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Theatre of Herodes Atticus.

The Acropolis

The Parthenon

Porch of the Caryatids

Temple of Athena  Nike

Theatre of Herodes Atticus 

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

At the base of the Acropolis is the Plaka. The Plaka is a historic district in Athens, full of cafes and shops. It's a great place to have some traditional Greek food and pick up souvenirs. When trying local food at a taverna, consider favorites like moussaka and spanakopita. Moussaka is a layered dish consisting of eggplant, potato, meat. Spanakopita is Greek spinach pie. YUMMM!! And of course, you have to have a toast to celebrate. Try ouzo or raki and say "OPA!" (cheers in Greek). The food is amazing and the locals will be warm and welcoming. Definitely carve time into you day to sit for a relaxed (not to be rushed) meal.

Across from the Plaka is the Temple of the Olympian Zeus. Absolutely worth a visit.

Temple of the Olympian Zeus

There are many other sites worth seeing in Athens. From the Acropolis, look down and toward the central district of Athens and you can see the Ancient Agora.

You will also find Byzantine churches all over the area.

St Catherine's Orthodox Byzantine Church (11th century)

You can visit the site of the first modern day Olympics.

Downtown Athens.

Parliament Building and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

When you are at the Acropolis, look up. even higher than the Acroplis, and offering spectacular views, is Lykavittos Hill. You can take the funicular or hike. It's popular with locals and although tourists typically see it from the Acropolis, less tourists are found on the Hill. A shame really, as it is a magnificent view and there is a restaurant at the top, the perfect place for a late afternoon drink, and a small chapel.

As with most cities that I visit outside the US, you may want to consider the City Sightseeing tour bus as a good transportation option. Do not confuse with other double decker sightseeing tours. I have used city sightseeing in several cities worldwide. There are a few benefits. In many cities, the sights are quite spread out. This means walking may not be an option and taxi fares add up quickly. For a single rate, you have an open air, double decker bus that hits all the popular tourists sights. You will be given a map and a pair of headphones and you can listen to a guided tour (in a variety of language options) or sit back and get out your camera. It's a hop-on, hop-off tour, so you can get off and spend as much time as you like before boarding again. The website gives you the route (sometimes more than one route option). Your pass is typically good for a full 24 hours and two day passes can sometimes also be obtained. Save your ticket. It's how you get back on board. And if you are headed to other cities within the year and you save your ticket, you get a discount on your next adventure. 

http://www.city-sightseeing.com/

I'll post for now and take you to the Islands of Santorini and Mykonos in part 2.

Safe travels!

Robin