{"id":97205169,"date":"2019-05-30T14:00:20","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/?p=97205169"},"modified":"2019-05-30T18:58:01","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T18:58:01","slug":"reasons-to-visit-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/reasons-to-visit-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to Dive into Asia? This Is Why You Should Visit Singapore First!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With its unique mix of the best parts of the old and the new Asia, Singapore<em>\u00a0<\/em>has got\u00a0millennials scrambling for cheap international flights to tick the city-state off their bucket lists. At roughly 276 square miles, the bustling island is one of the smallest countries in Asia. But, the metropolis packs a punch, and is not your average island destination with its big-city feel and unique architecture. In addition, there are very few places on earth that can offer such a unique blend of opulence, energy, and history, along with an unbeatable food scene and eye-opening cultural diversity. So why should YOU visit Singapore? Read on to find out more!<\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s Instagram Heaven<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BvdCyKNnaGy\/\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;\"><a style=\"color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BvdCyKNnaGy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Golden hues in Kampong Glam. &#x2728; Photo by @mariann_yip &#x1f4f7; #VisitSingapore<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\">A post shared by <a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/visit_singapore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> VisitSingapore<\/a> (@visit_singapore) on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2019-03-26T01:54:04+00:00\">Mar 25, 2019 at 6:54pm PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Not that you travel just for the gram, but as far as photo-ops go, Singapore is tops. In fact, it was recently voted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/lifestyle\/travel\/singapore-is-worlds-10th-most-instagrammable-country\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10th most Instagrammable Country<\/a>. Fact is, it\u2019s just a gorgeous place with so much color and life that it reads well in photographs. The country is clean and the public aesthetic so thoughtfully designed that any public place, especially in highly populated areas, is likely to be photo-worthy. The modern buildings are also coveted photo opportunities. Some favorites among the Instagram community include:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Marina Bay Sands Hotel (and infinity pool)<br \/>\n\u2022 The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay<br \/>\n\u2022 The ArtScience Museum<br \/>\n\u2022 Koon Seng Road<br \/>\n\u2022 The Helix Bridge<\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s the Destination for Foodies<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97205185\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1069254713.jpg\" alt=\"Delicious Singapore style noodles with curry, shrimp, bbq pork, carrots, red pepper, onion and scallions.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1069254713.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1069254713-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1069254713-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Simply put, Singapore is food heaven. It\u2019s famous for its hawker centers &#8212; basically a scaled-up version of American food courts. At these centers, spread throughout the country, you can feast on a variety of cuisines. If you want to find the best, use the Singapore website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hungrygowhere.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HungryGoWhere<\/a> (the equivalent of America\u2019s Yelp.) We recommend the Old Airport Road Market and Newton Hawker Center.<\/p>\n<p>And if made-to-order hawker food isn\u2019t your thing, no problem. Singapore has upscale restaurants and dive bars that all serve some of the most interesting, succulent dishes you\u2019ve ever tried. And if you want a good blend of the two, dine at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com\/straitskitchen.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">StraitsKitchen<\/a> &#8212; a\u00a0buffet line-up of hawker favorites from Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines. It will give you a chance to try whatever you want without paying for the dishes individually, or wondering what to order.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few must-try dishes when you visit:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Singapore chili crab (think noodle soup with chunks of crab &#8212; so good!)<br \/>\n\u2022 Hainanese Chicken Rice<br \/>\n\u2022 Laksa (noodles in spicy coconut broth)<br \/>\n\u2022 Popiah (Singapore\u2019s \u201cburrito\u201d)<br \/>\n\u2022 Rendang curry (dry curry)<br \/>\n\u2022 Roti prata (flour pancakes)<br \/>\n\u2022 Goreng pisang (fried banana fritters)<br \/>\n\u2022 Ice kachang (shaved ice with condiments)<br \/>\n\u2022 Nonya kuehs (Peranakan cakes)<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Ready for your next adventure abroad? Find some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/deals\/cheap-international-flights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cheap international flights<\/a> to get you there!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s Crazy Clean<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97205186\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_671071573.jpg\" alt=\"Fine by law series, Sign No littering in Singapore\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_671071573.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_671071573-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_671071573-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Not that long ago, there was an urban legend that you could be thrown in jail for throwing chewing gum on the sidewalk in Singapore. Obviously that\u2019s not the case &#8212; but word travels that they value cleanliness. It\u2019s a pristine place, and that makes it a wonderful experience to visit Singapore. There are fewer big city smells (New York, we&#8217;re looking at you) since it\u2019s so clean, which makes walking the city more pleasant. It does mean, however, that tourists should be aware of laws since they too can be fined for littering (up to $1,000 for the first offense!). But if you\u2019re an environmentally aware person, you\u2019ll reap the benefits of the collective cleanliness and get the chance to enjoy the country without the pollution, trash, and smells of some the world&#8217;s other major cities<\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s Diverse, and that Brings Color to the Whole Country<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97205198\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_98428529.jpg\" alt=\"Detail of the Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown, Singapore \" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_98428529.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_98428529-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_98428529-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Singapore is culturally and religiously diverse, especially in comparison to most Asian countries. There are four official languages spoken in Singapore; English, Tamil, Malay and Mandarin. It nationally celebrates the holidays of multiple religions. The food, as mentioned, is culturally diverse, making it easy to find nearly anything you\u2019re looking for. And the people are diverse, which is the best trait of all. The neighborhoods reflect the country\u2019s rich diversity. Visit any of these districts to fully understand the power of Singapore\u2019s rich and diverse fabric:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Little India<br \/>\n\u2022 Arab Street and the Masjid Sultan Mosque<br \/>\n\u2022 Chinatown<br \/>\n\u2022 Sri Mariamman Temple (not a neighborhood, but the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore and absolutely a must-see!)<br \/>\n\u2022 Tiong Bahru (charming neighborhood that is quintessentially Singaporean)<\/p>\n<h2>The Shopping is Some of the Best in Asia<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97205187\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1221404296.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of a young and pretty Asian woman trying on a hat as she browses the shelves of a fast fashion outlet store in the city.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1221404296.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1221404296-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1221404296-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t have to be crazy rich to enjoy Singapore\u2019s shopping (though it doesn\u2019t hurt!). Orchard Road is the most famous street for shopping, boasting almost two dozen malls in just two kilometers. The malls are connected by an underground tunnel network, so if it\u2019s hot (and it usually is in Singapore) you don\u2019t even have to go outside. And with the architecture and food and performing artists, even those who despise shopping have something to look forward to. And if you\u2019re not into high-end? The narrow street of Haji Lane is a great place to find unique and interesting clothes, accessories, and much more. It\u2019s quirky and colorful &#8230; and decidedly not Gucci!<\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s Safe<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97205188\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1367034056.jpg\" alt=\"Indian Asian woman taking the train alone\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1367034056.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1367034056-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shutterstock_1367034056-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In our world today, that is no small statement. It\u2019s most likely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelsafe-abroad.com\/singapore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the safest country in Asia<\/a>, and petty theft is the most common crime (although even petty theft is rare here since the clean streets and constant monitoring limit crimes on the street). Transportation is safe and reliable. Uber and Grab make getting around affordable, but public transportation is the easiest and cheapest. It\u2019s safe for women traveling alone &#8212; even at night.<\/p>\n<p>You may have made up your mind about Singapore after reading all about it being a glitzy modern society. And yes, there is a lot of wealth. But it\u2019s also rich and vibrant culturally. It\u2019s the kind of place that makes you want to check out the local real estate, just in case you decide you might need to relocate. Pack a large suitcase after you&#8217;ve booked cheap international flights. You may be staying for longer than you planned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With its unique mix of the best parts of the old and the new Asia, Singapore\u00a0has got\u00a0millennials scrambling for cheap international flights to tick the city-state off their bucket lists. At roughly 276 square miles, the bustling island is one of the smallest countries in Asia. But, the metropolis packs a punch, and is not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":97205181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1361,1416],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97205169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia","category-travel-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97205169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97205169"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97205169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97205211,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97205169\/revisions\/97205211"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97205181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97205169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97205169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97205169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}