Every visitor to Singapore ends up doing two things. The first is visiting the legendary raffles Hotel. Secondly is enjoying the absolutely amazing food and its huge variety that is literally available on the street. If you are planning a trip to Singapore, then take the time to enjoy both.
Raffles Hotel is a total throw back to elegant times gone by, and should perhaps not be taken too seriously. The atmosphere is positively colonial, and you almost expect Somerset Maugham or Noel Coward to come ambling in. It has been almost completely restored and yet it still manages to retain the old world charm it is famous for.
Entering from the street where 4 lanes of traffic zooms past it is hard to believe that British servicemen once played rugby there. The coolness and hush that is immediately apparent is quite a shock in itself. Add to that the high ceilings, the teak floor boards, and the overhead fans, and you have instantly been transported back fifty years or more.
As a visitor what you are seeing is a tourist attraction, but of course raffles is a luxury hotel as well, and what a peek into the past you have, whilst staying in expensive luxury. Everyone who visits Singapore goes to Raffles at least once to drink the famous Singapore Sling in the Long Bar, whilst sitting ankle deep in pea nuts. It's expensive but not to be missed.
Whilst in Singapore it is absolutely necessary to literally eat on the street, something it is famous for. You don't actually eat on the street as you would have done forty years ago, but in Government approved areas. These are known as hawker centres where there are literally hundreds of stalls and booths prepare an amazing variety of food, which is then brought to your table in the open air. All this done under strict hygiene regulations.
The smells and aromas of garlic, ginger, fish paste, curry,and the noise of the trays crashing and banging, is something you will only ever find in Singapore. This mixture of Malayan, Thai, Chinese, Indian food is something only really found here. You will discover everyone in Singapore has their personal hawker centre, and sometimes will even travel out of town to the middle of a housing estate to get the food they crave.
These two different experiences are very much part of what Singapore is all about, and should not be missed on any account.
Ian has returned to his first love travel writing, and discovering new places to go and say. Take a look at 10 Top vacation Spots, 10 top vacation spots you may not have heard of. Also check out Alternative to Hotels where you will find some amazing places to stay worldwide that are not hotels
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