Singapore is hosting its biggest ever National Day
celebration this year in honor of the young city-state's 50th birthday
(August 9). The planned four-day Jubilee Weekend is "the perfect time
for visitors to witness Singapore's creative energy and spirit on full
display," says Kershing Goh of the Singapore Tourism Board. Jubilee
highlights include nightly fireworks shows over Marina Bay, free or
discounted admission to several museums, and a colossal Sing50 Concert
(August 7) performed by a nearly all-Singaporean cast. The can't-miss
event is the National Day Parade, which, for the first time, will span
the entire
Marina Bay area from Gardens by the Bay
to the Padang, the green, historic heart of Singapore. Key civic
buildings bordering the Padang include City Hall, where founding father
Lee Kuan Yew declared Singapore's independence from Malaysia in 1965,
and Parliament House, where Lee's body lay in state following his death
in March 2015.How to Get Around: Use the efficient Singapore MRT (mass rapid transit) system to travel from the airport to downtown and throughout the city-state. The Changi Airport MRT Station is located on the basement level of terminals 2 and 3, and most tourist attractions are located within walking distance of an MRT station. At the airport MRT station's TransitLink Ticket Office, buy a Singapore Tourist Pass for unlimited MRT travel for one, two, or three days.
Where to Stay: Built in 1928 as the General Post Office, the Palladian-style Fullerton Hotel Singapore
has 400 rooms and a prime Fullerton Heritage Precinct address. The
waterfront precinct includes upscale restaurants and shops, plus the
ultraluxurious Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore,
Fullerton Waterboat House, Clifford Pier, and Customs House. Book a
Golden Jubilee SG50 room package (through December 2015) to enjoy
special perks such as a daily breakfast buffet, dining credit, and
one-way limousine airport transfer.
What to Eat:
Singapore's hawker (street food) centers are impeccably clean food
courts serving fast and affordable local and international foods. Two of
the most popular are Maxwell Road Hawker Centre near Chinatown and the financial district's landmark Lau Pa Sat
food market built in 1894 and completely renovated in June 2014. Local
hawker specialties include Singaporean chili crab (stir-fried crabs in a
savory and sweet tomato-chili sauce) and Hainanese chicken rice
(typically served as separate small dishes of poached chicken, fragrant
rice, chili-lime sauce, ginger puree, and thick soy sauce). Inside tip:
Singaporeans use tissue packs to chope ("Singlish" for save or reserve) a table while they scout the hawker stalls for food.
What to Buy: Visit any Ya Kun location to try traditional kaya (the literal translation is "rich" in Malay) toast and buy a jar of kaya jam to bring home. Kaya toast
is a ubiquitous Singaporean breakfast staple and quick snack. Sweet and
creamy kaya jam is made from coconut milk, sugar, eggs, and aromatic pandan (screw pine) leaves commonly used in Southeast Asian cooking.
What to Read or Watch Before You Go: Kevin Kwan's best-selling novel Crazy Rich Asians
is a satiric, over-the-top look at the lives of three jetsetter
Chinese-Singaporean families. Dozens of footnotes explain Singaporean
words and expressions, including commonly heard Singlish terms.
Cultural Tip: Food
is essential to Singaporean culture. Instead of saying, "How are you?"
locals commonly use the traditional Singaporean Chinese greeting: "Have
you eaten?" The polite reply is, "Yes. Have you?"
Helpful Links: Singapore Tourism, SG50, and The Straits Times
Fun Fact: Singlish
is a verbal shorthand blending elements of English and other languages
(especially Malay, Hokkien, and Cantonese). In multilingual Singapore,
Singlish is widely used in casual conversation. English-based Singlish
expressions, such as "can die" (an exclamation of simultaneous despair
and horror) and "chicken feed or chicken" ("easy"), can be particularly
confusing for English-speaking visitors.