Without a doubt, Singapore is one of the best places to explore in Asia.  The Singapore Tourism Board made sure all avenues (and foot paths and rivers) are exhausted for the delight of first-time and repeat visitors. Not only has it preserved its heritage sites and developed events, but it has also partnered up with local entrepreneurs to give sightseers multiple means to lap up the spectacles of Singapore.

BY FOOT:

The Original Singapore Walks - Choose from 9 different trails exploring the lesser-known sides of the Lion City. Whether visiting a 14th century tomb or the red-light district of Chinatown (no kids!), this unique experience designed by Journeys will reveal aspects of Singapore that you won’t get through books.

BY BUS:

SIA Hop-On - a tour bus service that offers unlimited air-conditioned rides to over 20 of the most popular attractions. Get down from any pre-selected point, visit as long as you like, then get hop on back up the next incoming bus.

Free City Tours - Exclusively for transit passengers who have at least five hours to spare, this two-hour city tour operates daily at regular intervals. There are two fascinating choices:

• The Colonial Tour retraces the momentous footsteps of the island’s colonial past, from its days as a quaint fishing village to a metropolis on the go.
• The Cultural Tour takes you around the ethnic cultures and architectural wonders of Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Little India, and Katong.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Featured, Singapore, Things to do |

Thailand, a Kingdom that lies strategically in the heart of Southeast Asia, is another interesting destination that is a favorite among tourists in Asia. The capital of this amazing country is Bangkok and it is also the center of political, business, and tourism-related activities. Thailand’s lovely tropical climate, rich history and culture and the hospitality of its people attract thousands of tourists to flock to this place each year.

I can still vividly remember my first trip to Thailand. I cannot wait to leave my things at my lodging place and grab a cab to experience the exotic Thai culture. I was excited to try as many things as I can in my short stay. Since I was not only concerned with shopping, I asked my hotel’s concierge for recommendations on what places I’m supposed to visit. The concierge highly recommended the Safari World Bangkok.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Thailand, Things to do |

Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah in Malaysia, has a lot of surprises in store for all its visitors. A trip to Kota Kinabalu will not be complete without taking time to visit one of its tourist destinations, the Poring Hot Springs.

You will find the Poring Hot Springs at the southern end of the Kinabalu Park. “Poring” is a Kadazandusun word for the bamboo species that is abundant within the area. This exotic place is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) away of the Park’s Head Quarters which is around 2 hours driving distance from most Kota Kinabalu hotels. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do |

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park of Kota Kinabalu is a marine park that is made up of a cluster of five idyllic islands namely: Palau Manukan, Palau Mamutik, Palau Sapi, Palau Gaya and Palau Sulug.

There are also tours that are being offered by various travel agencies. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is labelled as the Island Hopping Tour and rates range from RM 100 (US$ 31) to RM 150 (US$ 46 ). The most expensive tour would include the following: Entrance Fee, Port Fee, Boat Fee, Land Return Transfer and even a buffet BBQ lunch at the island of your choice.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Beaches, Malaysia, Things to do |

You can tell a lot about a city by what it chooses to celebrates. The Philippine cities hold fiestas to honor their patron saints while Japan holds peach blossom festivals every April to cherish the blooming of its floral heritage . Singapore, which doesn’t have the centuries of culture, instead celebrates what its best known for: shopping and food.

Playing with its strengths, the Lion City holds The Great Singapore Sale (GSS, for short) this May 23 to July 20. For eight shopping-filled weeks, this event, co-organized every year by The Singapore Tourism Board and many other retail companies, stores, and malls, invites shoppers from all over Asia and beyond to participate in the many activities, discounts, and promos. GSS is definitely established as a shopping event that is not to be missed, even among international visitors who spent some $3.7 billion in 2006 on shopping in Singapore.

Here is a sample of the activities you can expect during the GSS:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Events, Singapore, Things to do |

Kampong Glam is known as the ”Muslim quarter” of Singapore. Designated by Stanford Raffles as the residential section for Malays and Muslims way back in the 19th century, Kampong in Malay means “village” while Glam is short for ”Gelam”, a type of eucalyptus tree that once flourished in these parts. It is now a heritage site for its many mosques, palaces, and distinct buildings, and one of the best places to immerse yourself in Singapore.

A walking tour in Kampong Glam starts at the Malay Heritage Center at Sultan Gate. Once the palace (istana) of the ruling Sultans of Singapore, it has been restored as a heritage museum, with eight themed galleries, dioramas, multimedia, and other showcases. Cultural performances and workshops are held every Wednesdays and Sundays, such as sarong tying, batik painting, Malay martial arts (silat), and native music. The grounds are free to traverse but the museum entrance costs SGD 3.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Singapore, Things to do |

It’s to the benefit of Singapore that it contains completely different cultures within reach of a train ride. Walking tourists can thus experience a little bit of Asia all within one island. Such a great example would be the community of Little India.

Little India started off as the designated community for Indian laborers and immigrants under the urban planning of Sir Stanford Raffles back in the 19th century. Although the Indian populace is longer required to reside in this area, efforts have been made to keep the cultural heritage of this place alive. Little India is now the focal point of the Indian community of Singapore, and the last area where many of the traditional trades and practices still thrive.

The best place to start your walk is right off Little India MRT station at Exit C, facing Bukit Timah Road. A few shops down the path and you will see Tekka Market, a wet market that provides for the daily needs of the residents in the area. Along Dunlop Street is the Masjid Abdul Gapoor, a mosque that is fitted with a sundial at the entrance. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Singapore, Things to do |

So you want to go to Japan, but do you know the acceptable manners by Japanese standards? These manners are very much different than in other countries. One must know them in order to not offend or embarrass your host and other people around you.

BOWING

Bowing is probably the most well-known Japanese etiquette outside of Japan. Bowing is extremely important in Japan. Even though kids learn to bow at a very young age, companies still provide training for their employees on how to bow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Food, Japan, Things to do |

Among the Asian cities I’ve traveled to so far, it is The Lion City that has most gone out of its way to welcome visitors like me. Through the support of the Singapore Tourism Board, this island-state offers a wide array of means to see the sights. From DUCKTours to bumboat rides, any tourist with even a few hours to spare can check out the cool places and historical sites Singapore has to offer.

For travelers who wish to immerse themselves into the true SG experience, nothing beats a walking tour among its heritage spots. And one essential place for any SG walking tour would have to be Chinatown. Singapore’s Chinatown is unique in that its middle kingdom culture has harmoniously blended in with the other ethnic groups in the small island to create a wonderful blend of Asian influences.

A good spot to start your personal exploration is right off the Chinatown MRT station along the blue line. From Exit A, visitors will immediately see Pagoda Street, so-named because of the Sri Mariamnam Temple located at its end. This festive street is bedecked with colorful red lanterns criss-crossing along its length, and packed with an assortment of Chinese shops on both sides. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Singapore, Things to do |

Your ultimate Asian tour will never be complete without stopping by Malaysia. You can sample Malaysian culture and tradition by visiting its wonderful capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL).

As a first time visitor in KL, I can still recall my excitement when I was on-board my flight to KL from Manila when the plane’s captain announced that plane would be landing in a few minutes. I immediately looked out of my window and strained my neck to catch a glimpse of the famous Petronas Twin Towers of KL. I was disappointed when I didn’t get to see the Petronas Towers. I must have been seated on the wrong side of the plane.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do |