Singapore

The first thing you notice about Singapore is the heat, the second the humidity.  As our taxi pinballed between lanes on the way into the Orchard Road district I was glad I'd followed the advice of numerous websites and come armed with a wardrobe of cotton.  The roads are framed with lush tropical vegetation, the place is a botanist's dream.  As we left the taxi the humidity hit me again, imagine running a really hot bath, minus the extractor fan okay now quadruple it and you have some idea why you don't see many people running in Singapore.

During our stay which included the Singapore Grand Prix we elected to use public transport and it was a revelation.  This system (the MRT) works, we bought visitors passes which give you unlimited travel on the subways and buses.  The stations are clean and so are the carriages.  There are massive fines for eating and drinking in the subway so Singaporeans don't do it.  Not that you can't eat and drink underground. You see there are two Singapores, the city on top and the underground.  Most shopping malls have several basement levels including massive food halls, you can watch the food being prepared right in front of you and unlike US fast food this is actually good for you with more emphasis on spices and colourful fruits and veggies and it tastes so good.  We had a fantastic lunch with some friends at Lau Pa Sat a whole gallery of hawker food.  Tom Ga, a spicy soup with various fish, carrot cake (which doesn't contain carrot - it's a kind of local white radish) Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Mutahbak, Octopus, star fruit, and much more. It was pick and share and it was great.  Also had a wonderful barefoot indian meal at Lagnaa in the Little India district and some fantastic tapas out at Clarke Quay.

Weather - it rains in Singapore every afternoon for about an hour.  You can't set your watch by it but a day without rain is rare.

Things to see in Singapore,
You have to go to at least one mall, this doesn't sound very touristy but they have to be seen to be believed.  Gucci, Prada, Woolford, Chanel, Zara, Jill Sander, Rolex, Longines, every high end retail outlet you can think of.  They have a branch in every mall.  Ngee Ann City mall has the largest bookshop in Asia - Kinokuniya - 43,000 sq feet of books and magazines.

The Sky Park at Marina Bay Sands Hotel -  stunning views, gardens and an infinity pool (you can't swim in it but you can look) $20 Sing buys you a ticket.

The Singapore Flyer, Singpore's very own big wheel around $30 Sing for one trip.

The Singapore Science Centre.  It's a bit of a hike, take the MRT out to East Jurong and either bus or walk it from there, but well worth it.  Admission depends on the type of package you want, snow city, CSI experience, IMAX or just plain Science Centre.

Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, 18 Raffles Quay.  Dive in to the local food and don't be afraid to try something new.

Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road, we MRT'd to Ang Mo Chio station and got bus no 136 from there or the hotels run a shuttle.  Lots of different areas but worth the price of admission ($18 Sing) on it's own was the Fragile Forest exhibit, I was buzzed by butterflies and red and green parrots, watched flying foxes from the lookout and even got pawed by a ring tailed lemur.  We didn't go on the night safari but I wish we'd had the time.

Sentosa Island - take a cable car from Mount Faber (the only time we took a taxi)  Aquarium, Butterfly House and we did the Sky Ride, which is like riding a ski lift and gives you some great views of the island.  Admission again depends on the package you pick, there are zip line rides, a sky tower, luge rides, an Images of Singapore exhibit, Songs of the Sea, dolphin shows, a fort, you'll need a day at least.

A must visit is the Singapore Visitor's Centre on Orchard Road.

Tourist Traps are Lucky Plaza and Sim Lim Square.  Buy any electronic goods from them at your peril.  If you do buy anything - a camera say - the warranty will only work in Singapore.

Singapore is one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world. I'm already saving for my next ticket.