With a high population and not much space, wildlife and rainforests are not readily associated with Singapore, but seek and ye shall find. Aside from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Singapore is said to be the only city in the world to have natural rainforest within its boundaries. Admittedly, there’s not much of it left, but some stretches have been deliberately preserved.

Singapore Zoo

Inside one of these remaining patches of rainforest is Singapore Zoo. Regularly cited as one of the best – if not the best – in the world, the zoo gets a lot of things right.

The first key aspect of it is that the animals are presented in what is as close to their natural environment as possible. Instead of locking the animals away behind barred cages, most are separated from visitors by deep moats that they are not able to get across. Because the moat is essentially obscured from view, you feel as though you’re right up close with the creatures and could potentially interact with them should you wish.

Of course, not all animals can be safely contained in this manner. Leopards, for example, are rather good at jumping. But instead of hiding them in a dismal cage, they are put behind a see-through acrylic barrier. This way, you get incredibly close to them, with only a window between you. Prepare for a frightened jump/ yelp if the big cat moves suddenly.

The other thing that the Singapore Zoo gets right is that it has plenty going on for when you get bored of wandering from enclosure to enclosure. The ‘Rainforest Fights Back’ show is a slightly cheesy tale of tribesmen and native animals fighting to reclaim their native habitat, but there’s far more on offer than that. It’s possible to have breakfast with the orangutans and watch a whole host of animals being fed.

You can hand feed many of the animals yourself. The giraffes, kangaroos and baboons are amongst those who will gleefully take food from you.

The elephants will do so as well, but they are the stars of the show in another way. The Elephants At Work And Play show demonstrates how the big grey giants are used in South-East Asian logging camps, although there’s an element of fun too. Get lucky, and you might get to see an elephant with a brush in trunk, attempting to paint something that Picasso would be proud of.

Singapore Zoo’s reputation is entirely justified – the whole thing is extremely well done, and your only regret is likely to be not leaving more time to explore it.

The Night Safari

Right next to Singapore Zoo, but separate to it, is Singapore’s other highly innovative wildlife attraction. One of the major problems with zoos is that they can be something of a letdown during the day. Many of the animals you’re most excited about seeing are nocturnal beasts, and in the daylight hours they can often be found in the back corner of the enclosure having a sleep.

The Night Safari, as the name suggests, is only open at night. And this means that it’s possible to see the nocturnal creatures at their most active.

The best way to get around – at least initially – is to hop on board one of the trams that completes a circuit. The rhinos, Himalayan goats, hyenas and hippos all tend to be up and about.

The key thing is that they’re brilliantly lit up. The enclosures are illuminated by low level lighting that makes it look as though the animals are bathed in moonlight. No flash photography is allowed, as it disturbs the animals and annoys other guests, which means you’re unlikely to get great photos. But put the camera down and use your eyes, and it’s magnificent.

Like at Singapore Zoo, most of the animals are in moated enclosures, which give the real feeling of being on safari and peering out upon creatures in the wild.

Not all of the animals can be seen from the tram, however, and it’s advisable to take a few strolls along the specially-created walking trails to see the rest. Porcupines, hog badgers, gharials and otters are amongst those that can’t be seen from the road, and the same applies to the fabulous flying squirrels.

To get to these amusing little scamps, you need to pass through two security doors. The reason becomes abundantly clear once you get inside the enclosure – they glide right over the path from tree to tree.

Another great thing about the Night Safari is that it hosts a lot of bizarre animals that most visitors are unlikely to have heard of. You end up leaving with plenty of new favourites – capybaras, pangolins, sloth bears and binturongs are amongst the most lovable.

Viator offers two Night Safari options – one with the buffet dinner and one without. Those taking the buffet dinner option should be aware that it will eat into their time available at the Night Safari; you’ll inevitably have to make choices about what you’re going to see. For example, if you do the tram rides and walks, you’re unlikely to be able to squeeze in the tribal fire dancing performance or Creatures of the Night Show.

Pulau Ubin

For a natural escape without lions and tigers, Pulau Ubin is Singapore’s best bet. Reached by ferry from Changi Village, this offshore island has a far more relaxed feel than the rest of the city state. It’s largely green, and has great views of both the main island and Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

Most people tend to get around by bike, and there are plenty of places to hire one near the jetty. For those who find Singapore a little too claustrophobic – and it undoubtedly can be – Pulau Ubin is a beautifully refreshing escape.

Dine on the Singapore Flyer

Given that rivals are being constructed across the world, it’s unlikely that the Singapore Flyer will hold onto its title as the “World’s Biggest Observation Wheel” for long. But for now, it is the king of big wheels – 30m taller than the London Eye – and a ride on it is a great way to look out over Singapore.
One revolution on the wheel takes approximately half an hour, and the glass capsules ensure great views of the city as it goes round. It’s possible to see highlights such as the starting grid of the Grand Prix circuit and the remarkable Marina Bay Sands resort, with its giant rooftop boat on top of three sleek towers.
It’s spectacular in itself, but for the hungry there’s another unique option available. The Singapore Flyer offers ‘sky dining’ where you eat as you go round.
Taking the sky dining option gives you two revolutions – one for starters, one for main – as a butler serves drinks. It feels somewhat absurd; tablecloths are a starched white, the butler is dressed at his smartest and the food comes in lovingly presented form. Yet at the same time you’re on an enormous wheel, watching the light show on the arms that hold the capsules.
Dessert is served in a special VIP lounge once the second rotation is completed, and the views from the terrace outside are equally good – Singapore looks pretty special once lit up at night.

Haw Par Villa

Set up by the founders of the Tiger Balm dynasty, Haw Par Villa is an exceptionally strange Chinese take on a theme park. The grounds are full of pagodas and odd statues of round-headed tigers, rats and smiley dragons. But the real highlight is the Ten Courts of Hell exhibit.
This is supposed to be a lesson in morality, but it ends up being a graphically gory romp through the punishments that naughty boys are believed to undergo in the afterlife.
A series of a dioramas feature heavily-painted demons instigating numerous grizzly tortures under the watchful gaze of kings, who also act as judges.
The figurines undergoing the marvelously unpleasant procedures – such as having their hearts cut out, being sawed in half or being impaled on a mountain full of knives – are punished according to the crimes they committed while they were alive.
Some would argue that the punishments are somewhat disproportionate to the crimes – especially given that some of them are meted out to people who disrespect their siblings or fail to adhere to a rulebook.
Haw Par Villa is the first stop on Viator’s Round Island tour.

Kranji War Cemetery

The second stop on the Round Island Tour is the Kranji War Cemetery, where thousands of Allied soldiers who died defending Singapore in the Second World War are buried. It’s a somber place, with the headstones lined up in neat rows. The sheer expanse of these rows brings a lump to the throat.
At the top of the hill is the Kranji War Memorial, and this is inscribed with 24,346 names. All of them belong to soldiers who died in the World War II, defending Singapore and Malaya.

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, also known by brevity fans as the Bright Hill Temple, is a remarkable complex of Buddhist temples, stupas and meditation halls.
It’s the biggest temple in Singapore, and the mishmash of architecture is fascinating. Only one of the buildings has been made in traditional Buddhist style – and that’s the pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas. The central stupa is golden from the outside, but inside it is decorated with thousands of Buddhas as the name would suggest.
The other buildings are constructed in a Taoist style – they’re colourful and covered with intricate carvings of dragons.
But the major highlight is the Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall. It is the size of a football pitch and has no interior pillars. That the giant Buddha in the middle manages to dominate the room is testament to how impressive it is.
The Buddha was specially made to order in Taiwan and then reassembled in Singapore. It weighs 55 tons and stands at 13.8m tall.
The hall itself is used as a meditation and prayer area – visitors are requested to remove their shoes and keep silent as they walk through to the Buddha.
Outside, the scent of joss sticks fills the air while the Bodhi tree – a scion off the sacred Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka – is worth a look too. It is surrounded by paper leaves on which hundreds of people have written down their hopes and wishes. It’s rather touching.

Changi Memorial and Chapel

For a truly moving experience, however, the Changi Memorial and Chapel is a must visit. Though no longer on the site of the Changi prison where thousands of Allied servicemen and civilians were held during World War II, it still packs a powerful punch.
The chapel itself is a rather simple outdoor affair, but the museum tells the tale of life under Japanese occupation beautifully. The brutality of the Japanese regime saddens, but the spirit of the people gladdens.
An air of stoic defiance permeates. Quilts made by the female inmates to send simple messages about how they were doing to the men they were kept apart from are on display, while accounts of the concerts put on by the POWs to keep morale up bring a smile to the face.
There are many moving stories on display, and none more so than that of the murals on St Luke’s Chapel. These were painted during the period of Japanese occupation, and were discovered again in 1958.
There was a worldwide search to find the artist, and it turned out to be Stanley Warren – an arts teacher at a London secondary school.
Warren was persuaded to come back and restore the paintings in 1963, but broke down when confronted by the memories of the horrors he and his fellow prisoners were subjected to. They were completed nonetheless, and now the walls of the chapel have been moved – murals and all – into the museum.

From somber to spectacular, there are a number of activities to do while in Singapore. So make a point to visit at least one of these attractions – even if you are in town just for a stopover.

The hotel recently started a mini eco-garden within its complex, and has been planting edible plants and herbs since early June. Staff members from every department have been trained to maintain the garden. The sustainable farming and planting of these organic crops uses only natural vegetables compost, no artificial fertilizers and no pesticides.

Each department has planted a different herb, spice of vegetable, which are harvested and used by the chefs at the Four Seasons Singapore to add a fresh twist to their dishes. Basil, tarragon and dill do surprisingly well in Singapore’s climate, as do limes and chilies.

The efforts to go green are not just that. Having refurbished all of its guestrooms, Four Seasons Singapore has also replaced its old light bulbs with energy-saving ones. The hotel has implemented numerous measures, both big and small, as part of its efforts to go green. These efforts are in perfect harmony with the property’s location, just a healthy jog away from Singapore’s Botanic Gardens.

Fours Seasons Singapore spans an impressive 6,000 square meters, and offers a total health and leisure experience, with a 24-hour gym, lap pool, two indoor air-conditioned and two outdoor tennis courts, and five treatment rooms where you can pamper yourself with an indulgent spa treatment.

A stay at Four Seasons Singapore means enjoying the best that world has to offer, from the dim sum at Jian-Nan Chun to the spa at The Club to the shopping on Orchard Road. Stay happy, stay healthy.

Singapore has experienced an eventful and tumultuous history, which commenced with the establishment of a trading post on the site by the British East India Company under the leadership of Sir Stamford Raffles. Due to its strategic position on international waterways, with the passage of time Singapore developed into a crucial military and commercial hub of the British Empire.

During World War II Singapore was a major bastion for British and Allied forces and due to its strategic location overlooking the south-east Asian region was the target of a major Japanese attack from sea, land and air. Massive numbers of Japanese forces converged on the defenders and although Allied forces outnumbered the attackers, the Japanese superiority in strategy, technique and attacking power overwhelmed the Allied forces.

The Singapore Battlefield Tour takes visitors through all the historical World War II sites enabling them to gain an intimate understanding of these momentous events. The tour brings to light the true atmosphere at the time of the fall of the ‘Gibraltar of the East’ as Singapore was known. Taking into consideration the strategic importance of Singapore, the numerical advantage of the defenders and their consolidated position it may be difficult to comprehend how the Allied forces in Singapore could have capitulated. This and many other questions are answered by the Battlefield Tour.

The tourist guides are friendly and knowledgeable and provide a wealth of pertinent information about the background of these events. Major historical sites on the tour include the Alexandra Hospital, the World War II gun battery (also known as the Labrador battery), the Kranji War Cemetery and Mount Faber.

One of the finest luxury hotel Singapore has to offer, the Raffles Hotel Singapore provides lavish accommodation, delectable dining and service of a premier standard. This superb Singapore hotel is a truly memorable experience, satisfying the expectations of the discerning traveler.