A concrete jungle or a garden city (Sightseeing in Singapore)

Member Name: genmil

Product:	Sightseeing in Singapore
Date:	27/03/09 (165 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: unspoilt part of Singapore

Disadvantages: none

I have come across many people who would usually says that Singapore is clean and safe but very few know that lying within the concrete jungle, are interesting places off the beaten track to visit.

When I was in Singapore, I used to travel to many parts of the country and I enjoy finding places that are unspoilt and not popularly known. These are places which most tourists wouldn't see unless they are informed.

Here are some of the off beaten tracks in Singapore:

Farms

There are over 200 working farms in land scarce Singapore. Most of these farms are located in the north western part of Singapore. There are fish farms, hydroponic vegetables farms, tropical fruit farms and farms that grow ornamental plants. It would be an interesting sightseeing day to see how farming is done in this land scarce country.

These are two of my favourites:

Before I went to Bollywood Veggies, I imagine it to be a bollywood themed farm. I was pleasantly surprised. The 10 acre farm is filled with tropical fruit such as mango, banana and papaya, various types of vegetables and herbs that are unique in the region. After a walk in the farm, visitors can enjoy a refreshing glass of cold aloe vera drink and indulged in their popular organic banana curry.

Information on how to get there can be found in their website - http://www.bollywoodveggies.com

Another farm which would interest many is Orchidville, the largest orchid farm in Singapore. Located near the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, the farm has over 2 million orchid plants. Besides immersing in the splendour of the orchids, visitors can also participate in their orchids workshop, hybridization and cultivation and orchid craft.
Find more info from their website: http://orchidville.com

Nature Reserve

There is a significant area of primary rainforest in this modern city. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is located 6 miles from the city and is a good place to get away from the busy city sights into the world of exotic birds, monkeys, squirrels and flying lemurs. Visitors can hike up the Bukit Timah Hill, the trail is easy and all you need is stamina to reach the top.

There many other nature reserves in different part of the country ranging from mangroves reserves to wetlands. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is located in northwest of Singapore and it is a stopover point for migratory birds. There are several sheltered viewpoints in the wetland, enabling visitors to observe the behaviour of the birds without disturbing them. There is a diverse collection of flora and fauna ranging from mangroves to rare tropical flowers and plants.


Islands around Singapore

There are several islands around Singapore where you can do a day trip. Beside Sentosa Island which is a theme and tropical resort, currently developing as a intergrated resort with hotels, casino and Universal studio, there are also lesser known islands such as Kusu Island, St. John island and Pulau Ubin which are unspoilt and still retained its original charms.

My personal favourite is Pulau Ubin. The island reminisce old time Singapore where village (Kampong) living is the norm. The village is a reflection of the days when life was simpler. Visitors can move around the island either by cycling or walking. The quiet ambience, natural vegetation and swaying coconut trees give this island its rustic charm. The island is also well known for its seafood dishes, a selection of chilli crabs, butter prawns, crispy squid, grilled chilli sting ray and more.

The island is situated in the north eastern coast of Singapore and can be reached on a 10 min boat ride.

Other things you can do in Singapore

If you ever wonder how spices like turmeric, tamarind and cumin looks like in its natural form, why not go on a Spice Garden walk. There are two Spice Garden, one in the east, Pasir Ris and the other in the city, Fort Canning Hill. You can either explore the garden yourself; there are descriptive signs on each plant and tree where you can learn more about the spice and its uses.
Alternatively, you can participate in a guided tour.

As most locals live in flats located in suburban estates, it will be interesting to visit one of these estates. It is here where you can get the true sense of the local way of life. No suits and tie but men in t- shirt and shorts hanging out in coffee shops, mothers with children snipping out to the neighbourhood grocer for something small.

Fancy a bit of cycling or rollerblading by the beach, the East Coast parkway is an excellent place to rent a bicycle or rollerblade. Ease through the entire stretch of the beach, stopping periodically for a cold mug of Tiger beer.

It is easy to get to these places even though they are not the common tourist trails. As all signs are in English and most locals speak and understand English, you can move around in Singapore easily.

There are definitely more to see and experience in Singapore, so look out for these places the next time you are in the region.

More info can be obtain at http://www.visitsingapore.com

Summary: Not the usual tourist trails.