Singapore crams a lot of variety into its tiny borders, and there is no better way to get to know this misunderstood country than to go for a walk. Check out this list of the best walks in Singapore, which pass by beaches, mangrove forests, historical districts, skyscrapers and a whole lot of trees.
Singapore
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore: The Coolest Gardens in the World?
Gardens aren’t usually the most exciting of places. Sure, if you are a huge flower fan or are really into ponds, they might be the highlight of your holiday, but to your average person they are just pleasant places to kill an hour or 2. Gardens by the bay is different, a futuristic wonder beamed down from space that might just be the best tourist attraction in Singapore.
Kampong Buangkok: The Last Remaining Traditinal Village in Mainland Singapore
The pumping pistons of the Singaporean dream machine are in full swing, turning this former rural backwater into the modern metropolis we know today. This sweeping modernisation definitely has its good points; Singapore has become the safest, cleanest and richest country in Southeast Asia, but at what cost?
Turn the clock back 50 or 60 years and a different picture of Singapore emerges. Dirt roads wind through small villages (kampongs), chickens roam through overgrown gardens, the only thing dominating the skies are the heat and the haze, and people don’t work insane overtime hours just to get ahead. Some would call this paradise, but some would rather destroy this way of life in favour of progress. That progress has bought wealth to the nation, but such a large lifestyle shift, in only 1 or 2 generations, left a hole in the soul of the country.
Exploring The Historical Districts of Singapore
A lot of Singapore’s history has been buried under endless high rise buildings and other urban developments. Life has changed a lot here in the last 50 or so years, and while many would say the progress is a good thing, it seems the soul of Singapore has been diluted in the process. A few pockets of the past remain, and these are where Singapore breaks free from its robotic suburbs and becomes something truly interesting. The historical districts of Singapore have a great mix of colour, chaos and expression, something that is sorely lacking in other parts of the country.
Searching For Crocodiles at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore
You might think it’s crazy to search for crocodiles at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore, but recent evidence might get you thinking…
Exhibit A: A wild elephant swims over from Malaysia and ends up on Pulau Ubin.
Exhibit B: Locals (also on Pulau Ubin), report sightings of a tiger prowling the island. While never verified, experts claim Pulau Ubin is within swimming range of Malaysia for a tiger.
It’s not much of a stretch then that a crocodile, a creature whose bread and butter is actually swimming (and eating, and fighting snakes) could swim over from the wilds of Malaysia and make its home in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. It wouldn’t be the first Malaysian to cross the border in search of better wages and a more comfortable standard of living, and with this thought in mind I started my search. I actually had no idea there might be crocodiles lurking until I saw sign after sign warning people about them. I’d received my challenge and was determined to spot one in the wild.
Is Haw Par Villa the Weirdest Tourist Attraction in the World?
Are you looking for something different in a tourist attraction? How about something a little bit weird (and a bit scary if you’re a kid!) Haw Par Villa might be the place for you, it’s definitely one of the strangest places in Singapore!
The Ten Courts of Hell
For some reason I thought Buddhism was a peaceful religion. That all changed when I entered the Ten Courts of Hell exhibit at Haw Par Villa, Singapore. Models of decapitations, people getting thrown on spikes, chucked into pools of boiling blood and almost every other gruesome torture you can imagine greet those who enter. The fact that punishments for things like cheating on exams and wasting food seemed just as harsh as the ones for rape and murder confused me, and I walked out of the exhibit completely rethinking my view of Buddhism. In reality that view was based on almost nothing, as the only time I’ve come in contact with the religion is at temples, and I’m not really one to ask too many questions about the spiritual side of them; I just like how they look. The Ten Courts of Hell is definitely one of the scariest places in Singapore, make sure you visit but warn your children first!
A Day Trip to Pulau Ubin: Escaping Singapore City
Five million people crammed into an area four times smaller than my hometown Dunedin (which has a population of around 120,000). People everywhere, all the time. This place has energy, a stir-fried charm that clings to your skin and makes you feel alive and exhausted at the same time. Every now and again, to stop … Read more
Tampines: Life in a Singapore Suburb
I can almost guarantee that of all the photos you may have seen of this tiny island nation, none were taken in the workmanlike Singapore suburb of Tampines. While there is probably good reason for this, I’m here to show you that a seemingly boring area can be a great place to live and a … Read more