When the lion city roars?

Singapore is a fine city. Everywhere you go, you get a fine," so quips a Singaporean friend of mine.

Seriously now, I think Singapore really is a fine place. This I found out for myself during a recent four-day familiarization tour of the Lion City. Going around the place, I realized how much this city had to offer — lush green gardens, scenic parks, themed villages, good (make that great) food from all corners of the world, a unique nightlife and a whole lot of shopping centers. There’s always something to please the senses, nourish the spirit, and lure the purse.

Singapore may be small, but it certainly is big in attractions. Sentosa Island and Westin Stamford, just to name a few, give the visitor a unique panoramic experience. But it’s really true that the best things in life are free. I think the view from the bridge going to and from the airport is just as spectacular. Imagine two islands covered with trees and surrounded by clear blue waters which lead into the sea. Above, pigeons and ravens soar into the sky and back into the islands. There are also parks near the area where one can enjoy walking while taking in a whiff of seabreeze.

Of course, for shopaholics (like you and me), the best thing to do when in Singapore, especially at this time of the year, is to shop till you drop. Behold, the Great Singapore Sale! It is the biggest and longest sale in Singapore, attracting both locals and visitors from around the world. It usually starts at the end of May and ends either during the last week of June or the first week of July. This year, it started last May 24 and will end on July 7. I’m telling you, nothing gets better than this as both signature and local brands — clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, cosmetics are sold at 90 percent off their tag prices. Even bookstores, drugstores and supermarkets offer their goods at giveaway prices. Just to give an example, a Swarovski necklace went down from S$84 to S$23. Now, is that a good buy or what?!

As enjoyable as a shopping escapade may be, you always feel exhausted at the end of a shopping day. And it often leaves you hungry. Satisfying your appetite is not a problem in Singapore as it’s got a whole lot (and belly-good, too) to offer in terms of food. To name some: Chinese, Indonesian, African, Malaysian, Italian, French, Indian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Mexican and other European fare. Then there’s the Peranakan cuisine which was introduced by the Chinese who were born in Singapore, and the Nonya cuisine which is a fusion of Chinese and Malaysian cuisines.

A good dining experience here need not be expensive though. Food courts in the malls are made up of stalls which offer almost all the cuisines mentioned above. But if you’re not that adventurous and would rather play if safe, there’s always a McDonald’s, Burger King, Delifrance, Starbucks and Auntie Anne’s. You might also want to try the local coffee house, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

For upscale dining, there’s a wide array of restaurants to choose from. I have my top picks. First would be Al Forno Trattoria. There, Italian chefs make one of the best insalatas I’ve ever tasted. It’s made of greens, ricotta cheese, tomatoes, avocado and vinaigrette. This Italian restaurant also boasts a selection of stone oven-baked pizzas which have a rather rustic appeal. There are also lotsa pasta dishes whose tomato sauces are made with nothing but fresh tomatoes. Now, this restaurant certainly never runs out of tomatoes! To indulge your sweet tooth, there’s a lot of Italian desserts to choose from. I think their tiramisu is just heavenly!

A lighter fare is offered by Long Beach, which is No. 2 on my list. It’s a 56-year-old Chinese seafood restaurant where diners can devour all the seafood they want — lobsters, cuttlefish, mussels, clams, squid, etc. For me, nothing beats the baked scallops with tofu and shrimp as well as Long Beach’s signature dish — black pepper crab with black pepper gravy on the side. This place assures you of a seafood lover’s feast.

My last pick is for those who want to try Malaysian cuisine. The café at the Swiss Merchant Hotel serves great Malaysian specialties. If you like it hot (as in spicy), this is the place to be. You may wanna try the sautéed lobsters, grilled salmon with some sort of gingered barbeque sauce, durian cream and durian ice cream. This place is a must on the food itinerary of a gastronome. Of course, there’s nothing better to cap the night than with a good drink and good company.

Not to be missed, too, is the nightlife in this scintillating city. At night, Singapore is simply incredible, especially if you’re seeing it from the topmost floor of the 78-story Westin Stamford, the tallest hotel in Singapore. There, you can sit in the lounge, have some cocktails and chat with friends while you look out onto the lights of Singapore from the glass windows. If you’re claustrophobic, however, Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay or Boat Quay may offer a refuge at day’s end. All three quays boast a wide array of walk-in cafes and bars which are all situated by the Singapore river. At night, you can hear bands playing and see people dancing by the sidewalks. Another unique nightlife experience awaits all at Chijmes. This place used to be a convent and school. It was recently converted into an entertainment complex. From the entrance gate, you might think you’ve come to the wrong place since it looks more like a small church. But if you walk into the back gate, you know you’ve come to the right place after seeing all those restaurants, cafes and pubs located beside each other, closely vying for precious space and customers.

My trip to Singapore allowed me to experience a lot of things that our Asian neighbor has to offer. It’s given me the chance to bond with young people who share my dreams and hopes for the future. I chatted, shopped, dined, did the night scene, played tourist, shopped and ate some more. I did (okay, just a fraction of it) what the city has been roaring about and what visitors have been raving about. But like I always tell my Singaporean friend, the best part of leaving is coming home lah.