History and Culture:  From 1959 to 1990, Lee Kuan Yew served as Singapore’s first Prime Minister leading the country through its transition to full independence from the British in 1965.   He drove industrialization via the Economic Development Board, attracting foreign investment with incentives, low taxes, and a corruption-free environment, boosting per capita GDP from about $500 in 1965 to to $97,000 today, the 4th highest globally. Along with reforms in housing and urban development, social security policies, the country has been on a continuous upward trajectory with its mandarin culture, but a mandatory English-speaking nation, referred to as the Switzerland of the East.  The government promises that if you work hard and stay within the system, you’ll do fine, and you’ll not need to worry about your future.  And the government delivers.  The educational standard is equal to the best, where students head to Oxford, MIT and Stanford.  Even Deng Xio Peng marveled at Singapore’s economy when he visited in1978, stating that China could learn from the Singapore model, and decided to put China on a path towards capitalism, while still being ruled by the Communist Party.  Today, Singapore is a destination for conferences on global finance, international trade, and global tax planning.  The country is often referred to as the Corporation of Singapore, or Singapore Inc, due to the almost fanatical drive to continue its economic growth, but that aside, there’s a lot to do and see, and the country is becoming a destination resort.   My past trips to Singapore have been ‘en route’ to other destinations, like India, Bangkok and other South Asian destinations, but on my next trip through, am definitely going to hang around and enjoy the food, shops and entertainment.  Despite a closely controlled government, Singaporeans are liberal types, and definitely enjoy their life, as portrayed in the movie, Crazy Rich Asians.

 

The hotels in Singapore are top class for service and efficiency.  On one trip, years ago, Andrea (wife) and I were booked into the 4 Seasons Hotel.  That year, the government was tracking tourist satisfaction and was watching and clocking the time from the airport to the hotels.   We met a hotel employee as we walked through the airport towards the luggage pickup area.    She and an assistant picked up our bags and walked us out to a waiting taxi that zoomed us to the hotel, where to my surprise, the same attendant was standing there to open the taxi door.  She took a faster route so she could meet us at the hotel.  She ushered us past the check in desk to our third - floor room, which was spectacular.   As I signed the check-in form, she looked at her watch and smiled and said “23 minutes from airport to room check-in.” Singaporeans realize their commercial positioning in Asia is growing fast, as Hong Kong is challenged by China’s increasing control.   Businesses are often choosing to headquarter and bank more in Singapore.  The spectacular skyline is a testament to the success of a business- driven economy promoted by very hard working and educated work-force and is helped along with low corporate and personal tax rates at 17%.  A “must see” is a visit to the top level of the famed Marina Bay Sands Hotel.  Look out over the Singapore Strait, where dozens of ships wait for docking, with products going to and from China and other destinations, partly incentivized by reduced tariffs.  It’s a thrill to gaze out, overlooking one of the biggest shipping hubs on the planet where a sizeable part of global commerce takes place, and if you can, return at night and be dazzled by the lights and energy illuminating this high-tech city.

 

Where to go - Singapore offers a vibrant mix of futuristic architecture, lush gardens, cultural enclaves, and great entertainment that make it a top destination for first-time visitors.   

 

Food and Drink:  Be sure to take time one evening to visit No Signboard Restaurant where you’ll feast on the best crab dinner of your life.  Order up their famed pepper crab dinner.  You’ll get a large hand towel, not a napkin, so you can roll up your sleeves and gorge yourself.  The place was named many years ago by the owner, Ong Kim Hoi, and his wife, in the 1970s.  Due to a lack of funds for a proper sign, locals came up with their own temporary name, that stuck.   The place is a few miles out of the main city center, in the tougher side of town, but Singapore is a model of safety so walking around is encouraged.  Be sure to walk along the local traditional avenues and shops dating back to pre-World War II and enjoy the atmosphere that has been preserved, watching a good part of the population sitting on the sidewalks with their friends and neighbors.   Back to the food, this is where I got hooked on the famous Singapore seafood stew where the sidewalk cafes and small shopping center takeaways serve up this delicious meal in a plastic bowl, but the quality and taste challenges the best gourmet restaurants on the West Coast.  Street food is an A+.

 

Each trip, I typically take a taxi ride to the famous Raffles hotel, a time warp that takes you back to the posh English colonial days, and definitely worth the time, if only to have the required Singapore Sling in their plush bar to kick back and listen to local musicians and the chatter and accents from around the globe.     The British influence continues with pride.  Noel Coward came up with  his witty comment,  “Mad dogs and Englishmen out in the noonday sun” probably thinking about his time in Singapore where the mid-day steam heated weather can certainly beat you down, or alternatively, you’ll get soaked in a monsoon deluge that will come and go within an hour, depending on the time of year. Leave all your wool suits at home!

Gardens by the Bay is an iconic waterfront garden paradise that features massive Supertree Groves that light up during the nightly Garden Rhapsody show with music and synchronized lights. The Flower Dome houses the world's largest columnless glass greenhouse, showcasing Mediterranean and arid biomes with baobabs, cacti, and seasonal floral displays. Nearby, the Cloud Forest dome contains the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 meters, misty boardwalks through a tropical highland mist, and interactive exhibits on biodiversity.

Marina Bay Sands is the three-towered Marina Bay Sands complex is Singapore's architectural marvel, topped by the SkyPark Observation Deck offering 360-degree panoramic views of the skyline. It includes the infinity pool, a casino and luxury shopping.   The adjacent ArtScience Museum blends art and technology in immersive exhibits like Future World with interactive digital installations.

 

Merlion Park is home to the Merlion statue—a mythical half-lion, half-fish symbolizing Singapore's origins— this compact park along Marina Bay provides postcard-perfect photo spots with the beast spouting water into the bay. Views extend to the Esplanade's durian-shaped theaters, Marina Bay Sands, and the Singapore Flyer, especially stunning at night when skyscrapers illuminate.

 

Sentosa Island is linked by cable car, monorail, or causeway, Sentosa is a resort island packed with beaches like Palawan—boasting a 1.2-mile sheltered stretch—and adventure spots. Universal Studios Singapore delivers Hollywood thrills with rides based on Transformers, Jurassic Park, and Battlestar Galactica roller coasters. Other highlights include the S.E.A. Aquarium with 100,000 marine animals, Adventure Cove Waterpark's slides and snorkeling, and the new Singapore Oceanarium exploring ocean past and future.

 

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari: The open-concept Singapore Zoo houses over 300 species, including orangutans at breakfast shows and white tigers, with riverboat safaris through mangroves. Adjacent Night Safari, the world's first nocturnal zoo, features tram rides and walking trails past 900 animals like lions, pangolins, and flying foxes under moonlit lighting. Shows such as Creatures of the Night highlight animal talents, with keeper talks adding educational depth—perfect for evening visits.

 

Cultural Enclaves: Chinatown buzzes with heritage shophouses, the ornate Buddha Tooth Relic Temple housing a sacred relic, and Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu site. Little India dazzles with colorful shops, the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, and markets selling spices, saris, and banana leaf rice. Kampong Glam, the Muslim quarter, centers on the golden-domed Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane's street art and hip cafes, and Arab Street's fabric shops.

 

Botanic Gardens and Changi Airport: A UNESCO site since 2015, the 1859-founded Singapore Botanic Gardens boasts 1,000 orchid species in the National Orchid Garden and serene rainforest trails.

 

On my last trip, I was stuck at the airport for a 10-hour layover.  I didn’t complain as the airport shops had top of the line fashions to empty your wallet and excellent food, but looking back, am sorry I didn’t take a 3 -hour bus ride through the city, specially geared to tourists or business travelers like me on a longer layover.   The airport staff and shops promoted this first-class bus tour, with a guarantee that you won’t miss your connecting flight. In most places I’d laugh that off,,, but in Singapore, you can bank on that guarantee. I’ll be back to Singapore this year, and this time, I’m taking that bus tour! 

 

So should you!