Ask any Singaporean what is there to do or see in Singapore, and you are likely to get the jaded reply that Singapore is a boring place, with nothing to do or see.
And... in a sense they are right. For them.
But what would a tourist seeing Singapore for the first time be intrigued, if not impressed by?
Here are Singapore's, Seven Tourist Icons (Instagrammable!)
(my opinion).
1) Changi Jewel (featuring, The Rain Vortex)
Very likely, your first experience of Singapore will be Changi Airport (who comes to Singapore by sea now?), and if you're not too jet-lagged or pressed for time, you may want to take some time to experience Changi Jewel, and the Rain Vortex. Or if you don't have the inclination, catch it when you leave. Or just make a trip to Changi Airport and spend a day there. (Note: Think of "Jewel" as a mall linked to Terminal 1, 2 and 3 of Changi Airport, but NOT within the secured area of the airport. That is, do not go through immigration. Jewel is not in there. Once you are checked through immigration, you would not be able to get to Jewel. If you are flying off, come down a few hours early to explore Jewel. I understand there are luggage storage, but I have never had to use one. It's not lockers. Fees are for 24 hours. You can also have a meal before you fly.
[Jaded Singaporean comment: Sibeh Chum arh. Got hole in the roof, leaking so badly, instead of fixing, make bigger, call it "Lain Bortex" and say it's a tourist attraction. Limember, when you goes home, and it rains, and your roof leaks, just tell your wife, "nice, hor? Liminds me of Singarpoe's Changi Jewbel Lain Bortex. Sibeh sui ah! No need to go all the way to Singarpoe to see."]
2) Marina Bay Sands and Shoppes
Just like the first icon, the Marina Bay Sands is also free to look at and wander around in the "Shoppes" (these are just shops but maybe more pretentious?) At the centre of the "Shoppes", where the bumboats/ gondolas turnaround, you can experience the "Rain Oculus". At every hour, the huge bowl of the "Rain Oculus" would release water that swirls around, before pouring out of the central orifice to splash into the pool below. Lucky (?) riders of the bumboats/ gondolas gets a very close look at the "Rain Oculus". It's not as spectacular as the Rain Vortex at Jewel, but a jaded Singaporean might say that you do get a sewer rat's eye view of what a flushing toilet looks like! (Sans poop). But MBS (as Singaporeans call Marina Bay Sands) does not need to be enjoyed from within. Most instagram photos are taken outside of MBS with the iconic image of the three towers, and what looks like a ship perched on top of the three towers.
In the evenings, there is a water and light/laser show (and maybe fireworks?) And sometimes there are special events, like the launch of "Top Gun: Maverick" in 2022.
[Jaded Singaporean: He oledi say, "rat's eye view of toilet flushing". And he said "Shoppes" very pretentious. I think he oso getting jaded. Oso, the three towers very bad luck. Looks like ancestral tablets! And dat "Top Gun" show was one night only, lah! Tell people for what"? They won't have chance to see. You bluff them go, they will only see some standard light and water show. No Tom Cluse.]
3) Infinity Pool (of Marina Bay Sands)/Skypark
The Infinity Pool of MBS is for hotel guests only. So unlike the previous two Instagrammable Tourist Icons of Singapore (which is free), if you want a close-up view or even a dip in the pool, you will need to pay for a room, or at least S$24 (or $22? according to the video below. Prices might have increased since then.) to visit and enjoy the Skypark.
Alternatively, you can go to the bar "Ce La Vie", get a Singapore Sling, and enjoy the view (as recommended in the video below).
You may note that the couple in the video claims not to have paid anything or bought a drink. That might be still be possible, but the bar may also have found a way to close that loophole. So YMMV.
Also, at the Skybar (as of this writing it is still "Ce La Vie"), your movements are restricted to the confines of the Skybar. You will still enjoy the view, and you will be able to see the Infinity Pool (and the hotel guests enjoying the pool) but you won't be able to experience or enjoy the pool per se. But the price of admission is a hotel room. Which as of this writing, is about S$600 a night or more. So good luck with that.
[Jaded Singaporean: This one, I oso think is cool. But need money! A lot of money! Lich people swim in the sky. Poor people? Pay $20, and watch them soak in a pool in the sky?]
4) Gardens by the Bay/Supertrees
The Supertrees Grove is another free attraction. You can wander about the grove and admire the superstructures. Or you can come by in the evening and watch the light show (nightly at 7.45 and 8.45 pm).
The Supertrees Grove and the open areas of Gardens by the bay is free to walk about, but if you want to go up to the Skywalk, that is chargeable (I think it's S$5 per person, and you are given a limited (but adequate) time (15 mins? 30 mins?) to admire view. I don't think they are very strict in enforcing the time limit, unless there is a queue.). Sunset in Singapore is a few minutes after 7 pm (we are permanently on Daylight Savings Time for those of you from the US. For non-US, Singapore is 1 hours ahead of our ACTUAL time zone. Because Malaysia. Actually, more Hong Kong. To synchronise our stock markets. So if you want to catch the sunset from the Skywalk, go up at about 7 pm.
[Jaded Singaporean: Every morning I dun see the sun rise. The sky still get bright. Every evening I dun see the sun set. Sky still get dark. If I want to see light show, I just turn on and off the lights. Maybe play some music if shiok. Tourists ah, so easily fascinated, one!]
5) Flower Dome and Cloud Forest (Gardens by the Bay)
[Jaded Singaporean: This is velly smart! You know tourists will be very hot after walking in the Gardens, now you can offer them air-con... for a plice! Nothing in Singarpoe is flee! You wan air-con after a hot day? Pay!]
6) Sentosa Island, featuring the Cable Car
Sentosa Island is Singapore's leisure island. It's included here mainly because you could probably get some instagrammable pictures from the Cable Car. There're also beaches, Universal Studios, S.E.A Aquarium, some shows, a casino, and (because this is Singapore) lots of eateries.
If you take the cable car, you can visit Mt Faber, and there you can see where the port used to be, and the surrounding areas. There's also a trail you can hike.
But for instagrammable photos, take them from the cable car.
[Jaded Singaporean: You know what "S.E.N.To.S.A." stands for? "So Expensive - Nothing To See Anyway!"]
7) Merlion (Merlion Park).
This is like the Trademark of Singapore. A must-see for tourist. Like, see the Statue of Liberty or Sydney Opera House, or the Eiffel Tower, or Big Ben.
It's something to cross off your bucket list. But it's not going to change your life. It's not going to inspire you to write a song to the Merlion (Gawd! I hope not!) or affect you in such as to make you promise to be a better person (You're already perfect as you are!). And certainly, you're not going to win the lottery after seeing the Merlion! (Probably... but if you do, would you share the winnings with me?)
BUT... the point of going to see the Merlion (if there is a point) is after getting your instagrammable photos at the Merlion Park, you should look around. Behind the Merlion is Fullerton Hotel, which used to be the General Post Office of Singapore (back before emails).
Next to the Merlion is the Esplanade Bridge, leading to the architectural "Durian" or the Esplanade. It is not as famous as the Sydney Opera House, but its where we go for theatre shows.
[Jaded Singaporean: You know those T-shirts that says, "Singapore is a 'Fine City'? And there is a fine for spitting? Look at the Merlion.]
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Here's another video on "12 Things you must do in Singapore" by Jack Torr
His 12 things are:
1: Gardens by the Bay Light Show 7:45pm & 8:45pm Every Night: https://goo.gl/maps/RsdQo68f1o9trYQt7
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