Thinking of Singapore

I read the article about Singapore by Marvin and Carole Feldman (July ’17, pg. 34). It took me back some years ago to when I visited Singapore on discounted transportation as a courier. Because Marvin was retired military, they got free transport (“space available”) on US military aircraft, but I wouldn’t want to have been a retired soldier to get it!

Here are a few places the Feldmans neglected to see in Singapore or just didn’t write about, ones I think are essential for any visit to that city-state.

The Raffles Hotel (1 Beach Rd., Singapore; 800/723-3537, www.raffles.com/singapore) was a port of call for W. Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad.

Anyone fortunate enough to visit Raffles’ Long Bar* should wait and order the requisite Singapore Sling at another bar in town, where it will cost half as much. (Did I really pay $17 for a premixed Singapore Sling at the Long Bar?!)

Across the street from Raffles, one can jump onto a city bus for a trip over to the resort island of Sentosa. 

One can also hop a bus out to the Singapore Botanic Gardens to view the great variety of tropical vegetation and maybe even see a monitor lizard.

Also not to be skipped are the Singapore Zoo as well as the Jurong Bird Park, where one can attend an extraordinary bird show.

Singapore is truly a destination full of surprises.

Since Singapore was an English colony, practically all signage is in English. Also, Singapore is SAFE, so get going, folks! And wear a hat; you’re near the equator.

BILL O’CONNELL

Mission Viejo, CA

*The Long Bar is closed for renovation until mid-December 2017. 

** Please see clarificaiton regarding this article.