While the world is still reeling from the pandemic and travel is still predominantly not allowed, we have so much to plan and so many destinations to dream of until borders are once again opened. With that in mind, we’ve decided to take you to Singapore, the city-state that has a stellar reputation for how they’ve handled the pandemic, a place that is rapidly recovering, and one of the safest countries to visit and to find itself on your bucket list when travel is once again possible.
Singapore is known for its cultural diversity, embracing everything in its vast heritage and history all the way to the innovative edge that it fosters, building a thriving scene of gastronomy, theater, technology advancements, and overall enjoyment in life. Singapore is all about the passion for living and thus this destination is brimming with opportunities to experience a whole new dimension of life. Here’s what you need to add to your itinerary when you head over to the east.
Get to know the Peranakan culture
Once upon a time, back in the 15th century when the Chinese immigrants were settling in Malaya (now Malaysia and Singapore), the culture of Peranakan was born. Today, this is a blend of colonial British influences and the local Malaysian world, bringing a unique taste of both Europe and Asia to Singapore.
The Emerald Hill and Joo Chiat neighborhoods are brimming with homes that boast Peranakan architecture, while you should also add the Peranakan Museum to your list of must-visit places. This is where you can travel back in time to see their traditional everyday artifacts, wedding garb, all the way to traditional embroidery.
Immerse yourself in the food scene
The cultural diversity of Singapore has certainly inspired more than museum visits. It has also created the perfect foodie scene, one that is as colorful and versatile as you can imagine. With influences from all over the globe, but especially from a range of corners of Asia, you need to make sure to visit Singapore hungry.
In addition to the hawker centers, where food is the main reason for people to visit, you should also leave room for visiting Little India, with restaurants such as Mustard that serve delightful Indian cuisine. If you’re brave and curious, go for frog porridge or sambal stingray, and of course, don’t leave Singapore before trying durian – the famously smelly fruit with a sweet flavor that’s worth the journey.
Explore the world of dating and pleasure
Singaporeans are no strangers to dating apps as well as innovative dating solutions to help locals and guests have fun and find their soulmates, whatever might be your cup of tea. Being career-oriented, people in Singapore often don’t have the time to actively date, so apps and even paid companionship are the norm, allowing people to connect in the most efficient ways possible.
Add to that, single people and couples alike love exploring sex toys in Singapore, as the idea of pleasure is far from taboo, and it inspires couples and single people to enjoy themselves. Even the sex toy scene is all about innovation, so you’ll find that they’ve taken pleasure to a whole new level in terms of design and versatility — there are all sorts of clamps, ropes, and dildos for sale!
Travel during Singapore’s beloved festivals
Having four official languages is not enough for Singapore: they also have a bunch of annual festivals that celebrate the many cultures from Europe and Asia, merging in this one, harmonious place. If you’d like a genuine taste of those cultures and ethnicities, you can book your next trip to match some of the most visited festivals that celebrate these cultures.
- The Lantern Festival falls on the 26th of February this year and coincides with the final days of the Chinese New Year, and it’s certainly one of the most spectacular sights to behold.
- The Singapore Food Festival is held during summer towards the end of June and the beginning of July. You can expect foodie competitions, spotless food stalls, and a range of culinary experiences to please all of your senses.
- The Thaipusam festival is celebrated by the Tamil community in Singapore, and it starts early in the morning, and you can expect a four-kilometer walk from Sri Perumal Temple to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.
Diversity in Singapore isn’t limited to food or street communities. The notion of diversity is woven into Singapore’s fabric, and the society is a growing melting pot of ethnicities, enabling all globetrotters to enjoy the colorful scene at every turn. Whenever and wherever you decide to land in Singapore, you’ll find its many experiences rewarding and memorable, inspiring you to come back as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
I’ve always thought seeing Singapore would be an amazing adventure. I’ve seen lots of documentaries on it, and it’s a gorgeous place.
I’ve been trying to get a trip to Singapore lined up for years. I have a friend who visited, and she loved it. She couldn’t stop raving about it, and ever since then, I’ve been trying to get there.
One of my best friends from high school moved here to be a lawyer so it’s really neat to read up on information regarding the area. Thanks for this post!
This is very amazing. I would love to go there and see all that cultural diversity.
Great post! I’ve been to Singapore once for a day, and it wasn’t enough to explore the whole city. Thank you for sharing your experience there, it seems you’ve truly enjoyed your stay!
I would love to visit singapor!
Or anywhere for that matter, I cant wait to travel again!
Singapore sounds like a wonderful place to visit and explore. I would love to be able to travel there sometime.
Singapore seems like an amazing city. I’d like to visit once this COVID situation is resolved. Next time I visit Malaysia I’ll make sure to visit SG as well.
Thank for this review.
Update to my previous comment:
I’ll be going to Southeast Asia in June this year. Maybe I’ll visit Singapore.
I’ll see!
I can’t wait to be able to get out exploring, to see places like this again first-hand! Thank you for sharing this post. 🙂
I’ve always loved Singapore since it’s the first foreign country that I visited. Love the food and the mix of cultures there. I hope I’ll be able to return there soon! Thank you for sharing this, it’s so inspiring and makes me wanna travel again!
I love Singapore and it’s diversity! It’s like being at an amusement park, the whole country! Well I haven’t visited the whole country, but from what I’ve seen, it’s pretty cool.
I was one time went to Singapore for holidays. Really great country and the food is tasty. And very clean too. I love it.
I have visited Singapore and I just loved the country. I think I have to next time visit during the festivals, want to be part of the enjoyment.
I would love to visit Singapore one day. I’ve read all kinds of travel books and watched tons of travel shows about it. It’s so beautiful there.
I think a trip to Singapore would be amazing. I love their culture, the architecture, and the natural beauty of the area.
Singapore has been on my bucket list for years. One of these days, I’m going to make it happen for sure. It’s such an amazing place.
I would love to visit Singapore. It’s definitely on my travel list.
I’m actually thinking about moving to Singapore. I love that it is the Land of Cultural Diversity. How hard is moving there?
The Lantern festival looks like a dream. Also I am in love with the sushi roll!
This would be a once in a lifetime trip for sure. Singapore is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Oh I miss travelling so much. This post brings back all my Singapore memories. I went there once, had a layover for few hours and explore the city with my sister. I would love to revisit soon. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Singapore is indeed a beautiful country. I wpuld love to visit again soon. Great blog, thanm you for sharing all this valuable information.
I haven’t been to Singapore yet. There is so much to see and do there. I would love to see the Lantern Festival! This is a very informative post!