The Singapore stopover might once have been about shopping, but now it’s about gardens. Add these to your itinerary.
Supertrees at night
The incredible structures of the Supertrees dominate the Gardens by the Bay. See them by day to admire the complexity of the planting, and don’t miss them
at night, when their solar panels power up a light show. The show runs for about 10 minutes twice every night, at 7.45 and 8.45.
Supertrees. Photo - Robin Powell
Kranji wetlands
Discover what the island would have looked like in its pristine state at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Spot estuarine crocodiles, smooth otters, mudskippers, monitor lizards and hornbills - and Malaysia just across the strait! A million-dollar refurbishment is adding egg-shaped bird hides and an elevated timber boardwalk above the marshes and mangroves.
National Orchid Garden
Singapore Botanic Gardens was involved in pioneering economic botany. The big hit of the 19th century was rubber and in the 20th century hit it was orchids, now a major horticultural industry throughout south-east Asia. The Orchid Garden in the Botanic Gardens is fascinating
and full of inspiration for gardeners – and not just about growing orchids.
Eating
It’s hard to go hungry in Singapore! Here are a few of our favourites:
Halia: This is the restaurant in the Botanic Gardens, overlooking the ginger garden. Don’t pass up the frozen ginger parfait for
dessert.
Food Street: Smith street in Chinatown is now a hit parade of Singapore’s best hawker stalls so in just one short street you can
taste your way around Singapore’s top dishes.
True Blue: Peranakan, or Nonya, food, is Singapore’s contribution to world food. Our favourite dish is Ayam Buah Kelauk, in which
the deep flavour of soaked, pounded, stuffed black nuts does amazing things for chicken.
Text: Robin Powell