Before taking a look at some things to do in Kuala Lumpur
and Malaysia, I’d like to go over some general advice
for the visa-run visitor in Singapore. First off, get a bus
and MRT guide and a map. A combination packet is available
for S$8.00 at most newsstands, and public transport will save
you a bundle on cab fare, starting with an MRT ride from the
airport to town for S$1.50 (versus S$15-S$20 for a taxi).
Travel light if you’re planning to use this option;
it’s a long walk from the airport terminals to the MRT
and you’ll have to transfer at the Tanah Merah Station
(EW4).
Second, buy a Straits Times newspaper and check out the Life!
section. Otherwise, you may miss a traveling Guggenheim exhibit
at Singapore’s National Art Museum. When I was last
in Singapore, a guest pianist was playing Rachmaninov with
the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, a jazz guitarist was performing
at a Boat Quay pub, and an adaptation of Shakespeare’s
Twelfth Night was on at Jubilee Hall in Raffles Hotel. It’s
a mix of entertainment that’s available in only a few
Asian cities. A visa run to Singapore is a good opportunity
to take advantage.
Singapore’s annual festivals are something else to watch
for when scheduling a trip. If you have to make a run in the
second half of April, check www.filmfest.org.sg to see what’s
on at Singapore’s International Film Festival (buy tickets
on-line to guarantee a seat; some films sell out within days
of the opening of ticket sales). Likewise, there’s a
comedy festival to check out at the end of March, an arts
festival in May and June, and a food festival in July. Sports
fans should check if any rugby, golf, or tennis tournaments
coincide with their visa jaunt. Take a look at www.whatsonwhen.com/pages/singapore.jml
to see what’s on across the range.
The same Web site also gives a rundown of the city’s
cultural events. Thaipusam, the Hindu procession where devotees
pierce themselves with weighted hooks and spikes in honor
of Lord Subramaniam, is probably the most dramatic. In 2006,
it will be held January 25 (to be confirmed). Chinese New
Year and the annual Taoist pilgrimage to Singapore’s
tiny Kusu Island are other religious and cultural celebrations
to look for.
My fallback recommendation is a visit to the three best pubs
in Singapore, which are right next to each other on Emerald
Hill. Exit onto Orchard Road at the Somerset MRT Station,
cross Orchard, and walk up through the al fresco café
between the buildings (slightly to the right of the street
crossing). Past the café’stables and awnings,
you’ll find No. 5, Que Pasa, and Ice Cold Beer (ICB
to regulars). Happy Hours are five to nine pm, when most beers
and standard drinks are S$5. ICB and No. 5 are straightforward
pubs; Que Pasa is a wine and cigar bar. ICB has darts downstairs
and two pool tables upstairs (serious players on the table
furthest from the stairs). Clientele at all three places are
mature working professionals, not the 20-somethings you’ll
find along Mohamed Sultan Road and Boat Quay.
The al fresco café itself is considered to be one of
the best weekend people-watching spots in Singapore. Almost
everyone out shopping on Orchard Road will use the Centre
Point street crossing at least once during an afternoon.
Hint: For detailed maps of any areas of Singapore, visit www.streetdirectory.com.sg.
The Web site also gives bus, MRT, and walking directions from
any point A to any point B.
