9 Days! What to Do?

Old Jul 19th, 2004, 11:45 AM
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9 Days! What to Do?

Following a 4-day business meeting in Singapore, my wife and I will have 9 days to vacation in the region. Our vacation days will be September 3-11, 2004. We are experienced international travelers, but this will be our first trip to Asia. Please help us with suggestions on how to make the most of our vacation time. We will not have any time to see the city during the business portion of the trip. We want to enjoy Singapore, but we also want to see some of the other areas this region has to offer. Our interests when traveling include history and archaeology, architecture and design, art and culture, food (of course!), and nature. We're not really beach people, but we enjoy sailing and snorkeling very much. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Old Jul 19th, 2004, 12:01 PM
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Pull up my previous post entitled,"Great shopping guides to Southeast Asia and the guide Treasures and Pleasures...which I've listed has a list of 101 things to do while in Singapore. Singapore is a great place. Lots to do. And the food is FABULOUS! You must try Indochine restaurant on Club Street or the one in the Asian Civilizations Museum...the Club Street one is around the corner from the Sri Mariamman Temple which you should visit and Club street is also lined with interior design stores.Also try Thanying Thai restaurant. There's one at Clarke's Quai which is a lively place and there's one inside the Amara Hotel...right as you get off the Tanjong Pagar MRT(subway) station. Also try Lei Garden (Chinese) Restaurant in the Chjimes Complex...across form the Raffles Mall and Hotel complex. It's reportedly the best Chinese restaurant in Singapore. Reservations recommended...although I just walked in without one...but they asked if I had made one. While in Chjimes Complex check out Peter Hoe-Evolution boutique for shopping and the Vietnamese restaurant... a few steps past Peter Hoe...great for a snack or drink. The fried bananas are great...as is the decor of the place. And there's a great grocery store in the basement of the Raffles Mall. They have a whole sushi section so I load up and stick it in my fridge at my hotel.They also have a great bakery and premade sandwiches and tons of western items if there's something you're absolutely craving...like for me Kettle Chips to go with my sandwiches.Happy Travels!
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Old Jul 19th, 2004, 12:03 PM
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Oh, I forgot. Get an MRT (subway) pass. They are about S$20.00. Before you leave Singapore, just take it back to any MRT station and they will refund you the portion you didn't use...a win-win situation!Happy Travels!
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Old Jul 19th, 2004, 01:48 PM
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Guenmai has lots of good suggestions and he didn't even mention any of my favorite restuarants (try Doc Cheng's in Raffles and Les Amis Au Jardin in the botanical gardens).

It sounds like you're interested in getting out of Singapore for part of your time. Indonesia is closeby. You might go to central Java to the old cultural capital, Yogyakarta, to visit Borobudor (the largest Buddhist monument in the world and a World heritage site) and Prambanan (a goupf of several hundred Hindu temples). Both are over a thousand years old and are stunning. Yogya has the best crafts of any place I've visited in the world. You can also see the Ramayana ballet at night in an open air pavillion.

Another option would be to go to Bali. Bali is the only island of Indonesia that is Hindu. You can stay by the beaches or on the "mountains" but the culture is the attraction.

Pick up a guidebook to Indonesia and see if it appeals to you.
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Old Jul 19th, 2004, 06:10 PM
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Sounds like a trip to Angkor Wat would appeal to you, just a couple of hours flight and you can get all-in flights/transfers/hotels packages from Singapore flying with Silk Air. Sabah might also be of interest.
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Old Jul 20th, 2004, 02:37 AM
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I'd second Kathie's suggestion: go to Indonesia. Bali has everything you're looking for (though I wouldn't recommend the snorkling) and Yogyakarta / Borobudur is one of the cultural wonders of the world. Singapore is interesting and has a lot of history, but it's been highly sanitized. A couple of days there after your conference would be enough; then you can fly non-stop to Bali and be in a whole other world.
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Old Jul 24th, 2004, 06:21 AM
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Haven't gotten to Guenmai's generous post yet (will print out later), but I highly recommend the Equinox on the 71st floor of the Swiss 'Otel.
They have a lovely bar/nightclub and 2 great restaurants with fantastic views.

Catch the night safari at the zoo as well.

There's an Indian place in Boat Quay that serves a mean curry. Last time I was there the waiter asked if I wanted it spicy, I told him to tell the cook "to melt my head off." He smiled and said OK, but I then exacerbated things by adding "Tell the cook that if I'm able to walk out of this place alive he hasn't done his job."

He did nearly kill me that night. Mmmm, death by curry... Lovely way to go.

This is assuming that you have nights free from the business stuff.
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Old Jul 24th, 2004, 11:55 AM
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One day city tour in Singapore and Indonesia for the remaining 8 days.

Try to arrange to directly fly to Yogyakarta, Java from Singapore and leave Indonesia from Denpasar, Bali. In Yogyakarta, you can enjoy the things mentioned in previous posts, quite impressive. Then work your way towards Bali over land. Visit Mt. Bromo and Mt. Ijen on the way, especially Mt. Ijen, one of the most beautiful volcanic scene in the world, you wont't regret it, guaranteed. Then Bali, very colorful cultural stuff and food as well. Overall, it would be a far more rewarding Asia experience.
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Old Jul 24th, 2004, 12:09 PM
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Itinerary:

D1: Yogyakarta
D2: Yogyakarta
D3: take a mini tour bus in Yogya heading to Bromo
D4: early morning, Mt. Bromo. Continue on to Mt. Ijen. Overnight in the viliage near Mt. Ijen
D5. climing(moderate) Mt. Ijen in the morning, ferry to Bali at noon, local bus to Denpasar. Should arrive in Depasar by 4pm, then probably take a taxi to Ubud
D6-D8 Bali.
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Old Jul 24th, 2004, 03:30 PM
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Hi Kathie- The two restaurants you've listed I haven't eaten at. One of them I assume, by the name of it, is French and I'm totally not into French food.When I'm in Paris I eat at
macrobiotic/vegetarian/Japanese/and some Italian restaurants. The other restaurant, Doc Chengs, I know of quite well, but just haven't eaten at it yet.There's just so much eating to do in Singapore and I've been there many times and have even stayed as long as nearly two weeks!One could eat oneself into the next millenium there. Oh,by the way, I'm a "she". Many Happy Travels to you all!
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Old Jul 24th, 2004, 03:41 PM
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Oh,Ed..let us know how your trip went. I'll be zipping back over to Singapore and Bangkok next month for vacation and if there's anything new and exciting going on, I'll post it while there. Happy Travels!
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Old Jul 24th, 2004, 04:04 PM
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My apologies, Guenmai for guessing you wer ea "he." Yes, Les Amis Au Jardin is French. You are so right, there is enough fabulous food in Singapore to keep us all happy!
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