Singapore Christmas Activities

Our kids' top two favorite Christmas in SIngapore outings:

Orchard Bus Christmas lights double decker bus tour

Tanglin Mall - look on their website for what time the snow comes,

be sure to have kids in swimsuits and bring towels.

A new attraction this year is the German Christmas market at

Gardens by the Bay. They have the German wooden huts selling

foods and snacks.  The supertrees are lit up with Christmas lights

and set to music.

There are some Christmas shows that are kid friendly this year:

PeterPan looks like a good one, we may go if we find time,

and Junor Claus at DBS looks festive and I've never been disappointed

with shows at DBS.

Marina Bay Sands Shops has a great corner for winter wonderland

to meet Santa and see elves.

I think all clubs do a Santa visit, American, British etc. I'm sure Tanglin

does as well.  

We are taking the kids to Raffles High Tea this year (never done with kids) 

becuase they have Christmas caroling and beautiful decorations and the

high tea has Christmas goodies.

I heard that you can skate with Santa at JCube ice-skating rink.

The Dutch have their Sinter Klaus come by boat early in December

to visit the Dutch kids but we have never been because we are 

usually at the Danish Christmas Fair on the same day.

I noticed this year, the decorations are very girly in front of Orchard Central,

pink, unicorns, etc.  We might walk over there at some point to show our girls.

Lastly, I saw posters for Christmas on the river, I think that might

be new this year but along the river looks like they have Christmas lights

up and a schedule for performances.

Hi all, you were asking me about Christmas events / concerts so this is what I have so far:

Sadly this year, NO Handel's Messiah :-(  I spoke to the organizers last year, wasn't it good Robin?  They just didn't have the manpower to do it.  Norah, is your choir doing a concert?

The choir leader suggested the SSO Christmas concert on 11, 12, 13, and 14 December that is at the Victoria Concert Hall, he said it's VERY popular.  I called to get tickets only single seats left, but Mateo and I are going on Thursday if you are interested to join us but you won't sit by your loved one, not sure how many single seats are left, but I did see that it is sold out on the 13th and 14th.

This same choir director suggested Requiem this wknd, but we are busy already, if you want info, let me know I will forward you his email.

If we were free, the Saturday 13th Dec concert of the Lyric Opera and the Children's choir is our all-time favourite event every year but both 1st and 4th ward Xmas parties are on that date.  They only have ONE show.

Every year our family goes to the Danish Christmas Market, it's crowded, but very European. It is this Saturday and Sunday at the Danish Seaman's church (a beautiful building), at 11am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday 22/23 November.  I have invited friends in the past and they do feel overwhelmed by the crowds, but we go right at 11am and the kids do a couple crafts, I grab all the abelskivers and Sandinavian goodies, and we eat some smorgasborg open sandwiches.

Since Mateo is part Swedish, we celebrate Santa Lucia.  This year the Swedish Santa Lucia girls will have a concert on Friday 12th of December.  Tickets are not available yet but they are around $15.  Every year, we are the only Asian family there, everyone is tall, beautiful and nordic.  We feel like shrimps.  Erika and Norah, this seems like something you wouldn't want to miss.  It's not professional or anything, but very authentic.

Here's a good list of Christmas events / concerts:

http://www.expatliving.sg/things_todo/family_fun/Christmas-shows-in-Singapore-Pantomimes-musicals-and-concerts-in-December-2014-63428.ece

Let me know if you hear or know of other concerts.

Handel's Messiah 2014
Sing-along concert
The Japanese Assoc Ladies Chorus
Eunice Ng 97307261

Singapore with Kids

There is so much to do with kids in Singapore!  I do like exploring Little India and Chinatown and other local neighborhoods with kids, it's not always easy, but we find kid-friendly corners.

These activities are divided up in general neighborhoods/areas:

CITY:

The National Museum has one room on 3rd level designed for kids (Kids at Play)

The Philatelic (stamp) museum near Armenian street is a great little museum for kids.

The Asian Civ has hidden corners for kids - dress up in Asian clothes, play on instruments etc.

The Firestation opens it's doors on Saturday mornings and kids can climb fire trucks and explore.
The river cruise on bumboats is only 45 minutes so it's a great way to sightsee with guests and see the Merlion, etc.
Everyone heads to MBS to see the view, but we prefer The Pinnacles on Duxton with kids because they can climb on structures and adults can enjoy amazing views.  

BUKIT TIMAH:

Head to the Botanical Gardens and let the kids run around and use their "trotinettes".  The Jacob Ballas Gardens is especially for children with a playground and very small splashpad.  On some week-ends they do concerts at the Shaw Theater.  Bring a picnic (bring picnic blanket) or grab pizza/pasta at Casa Verde and enjoy the music while the kids run around.

While shopping on Orchard, it's good to know there is a tiny playground on the top level of Paragon.  Kids can play there for a few minutes, it is right beside the Toys R Us.

Our favorite place to brunch is Rider's Cafe.  It works with kids b/c they have a kid's menu, there is a small playground outside the restaurant, and afterwards, we go and watch the horses at play.

MacRitichie park we love!  There is a reservoir here where you can rent kayaks/canoes, kids at a certain age can ride with an adult.  The 10km round-trip trail gets you to the tree-top walk, it's beautiful up there.

Mini golf at Fairways - off of Eng Neo - eat afterwards at Picotin.  Lovely leafy setting.
http://www.championsgolf.com.sg/#!btgc-minigolf/c14sx

SENTOSA:

There are loads of activities on this island, our family's favorite is iFly indoor sky diving and the Luges.

Our kids love Universal Studios (if you don't have a fast pass go early, right when it opens at 10am). Best ride is Transformers and the Mummy, favorite show is waterworld.

Adventure Cove is a great waterpark for kids.

SEA Aquarium and the Maritime museum is a lot of fun, but the kids felt like one visit was plenty, we didn't need our annual passes.

Tanjong Beach Club - great place for early on Saturday or Sunday before crowds arrive to play on the beach, dip in pool, and eat pancakes off the brunch menu.

VivoCity - the mall has a splash pad / playground on the upper level, great for little tots (2-5).

On Palawan Beach, there is Port of Lost Wonder.  The best water splash park in Singapore with a giant pirate ship that tips a huge bucket of water.

Mount Faber park is a great area to explore the Henderson Waves.  The cable cars is very touristy but kids think it's fun.

MARINA BAY:

Gardens by the Bay - has a great Children's park and excellent splash pool.

A good place for kids to try local food is the eateries right underneath the Singapore Flyer.

They have done the hawker stands in old-fashioned 1960s Singapore.

There is a koi pond in the middle where kids can feed the fish.
We like catching the General Cheng Ho boat (around 10am) for the morning glory cruise to Kusu Island.  This ride is a few hours long but a great way to see Singapore skyline.

WEST COAST:

West Coast park is loads of fun but we prefer other parks because of accessibility.

Haw Par Villa is an unusual Chinese mythical statues park where kids can run around.

JURONG:

The Science Center is a great indoors place for the kids, a good day to go on a rainy day.  There is actually a splash pool area outside.

The Chinese Gardens is a lovely place to see pagodas/temples with water/bridges around it, but it's the Live Turtle Museum that is a unique stop.  You can feed turtles with vegetables and fish (koi) in the water.

Kids Amaze (in the SAFRA building) is an indoor playgound with a huge slide, guns that shoot foam balls, etc.

Amped is an indoor trampoline park with about 30 trampolines all joined together.

CENTRAL:

Singapore zoo of course!  I think with kids it is wise to get the tram pass so you can take breaks and see animals while riding around.  It's hard to see all the shows, so if limited with time, the elephant one and rainforest fights back are both very good.  After seeing the animals, head over to Kidzworld to cool down - there is a KFC and a Ben & Jerry's cafe with a wonderful splash zone.

The night safari is great but if kids are used to going to bed early, it's hard to keep them awake and there are always crowds.

The new River Safari is an easy outing, it is next door to the zoo.  If you only have time for one, pick the zoo. River Safari is an extra bonus if you have time.  It is an easy loop around the park on a board walk and the boat ride is great, be sure to get a timed ticket for it.

EAST COAST:

East coast park is a fabulous playground for kids.  You can rent bikes, roller blade, and picnic/beach here.  Once we rented a bike that could sit our whole family and the kids loved that.  There is a skate park here (Extreme Skate) that is the best one in Singapore.

There's a new dining area/strip mall between Splashpark and Burger King that has recently opened and has lasertag.

We do like going from Changi by bumboat to Palau Ubin to rent bikes and have lunch and do the Coastal walk.

In the Katong area there is an indoor trampoline park outlet (Amped) same as Jurong.

PASIR RIS:

This area is quite far away but there are two reasons to go.  The Pasir Ris park is the largest outdoor park for kids and it is nice and shaded. There is horse back riding in one corner and also kampong fishing in the neighborhood.  This is the old-fashioned way kids used to catch fish in the streams with little fishing nets. The park also has a mangrove boardwalk.

ROAD TRIPS:

Kuala Lumpur has a KidZania that is an indoor playground where kids can try all sorts of professions.

Legoland is just an hour away.

Malacca can be fun with kids.

We went to Kuala Selangor (firefly park) on our way to KL.

BOAT TRIPS

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/feb/06/top-10-day-trips-singapore

Blogs and websites and apps I want to keep

ILLUSTRATOR
Annie Poon

Puppy.net, (cartoons) and AnniePoon.com.

App – speed touch, keeper/password safe

Seth Pitman for iphone

SINGAPORE BUSINESS CARDS

BANK
OCBC
Kelvin Ong relationship manager
Tel for Premier is 1800 773 6437


CAR REPAIR
Recommendation from Nicholas Wong
They have moved - they fixed my bumper
ACE Chrome and Restorations
Carol Tan 9029 4487
2 Kaki Bukit Avenue 2 #2-24
spraypaintingsingapore@gmail.com

CHOIR - Filipino Choir I heard at Astrid's fund raiser

FVS Filipino Voice Symphony

Maria 8499 9480

filvoicesymphony@gmail.com

COSTUMES from Lachlan / Darth Vader
http://number1costumecostume.com.sg/index.html

CULTURAL:


Paper/Lantern making:

Yeo swee huat
Blk 6 toa payoh industrial Park lor 8 #01-1317 sg 319058
6255 7512/7592

There were two shops right near each other,
Aparna - do you remember if it was next door
or across the street from this store?

LION GUY, it's his private home,
Hong Nam World Handicraft Trading
Ng Hong Kiang
Tel 9662 661
Blk 552 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #24-1978
Tel 6453 8298
liondanceartist@gmail.com

WeeKean, the friendliest were the JOSS stick people,

I think they even have classes come in to make things.

Their address is on their FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/TGHwoodclay

CHOCOLATE
Truffs - chocolate bar - from Channing
179A Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068627
Tel. 9088 2736

DOCTORS

Dr Melvin Ee, becky’s derma, expert on cancer

EDUCATION / TUTOR

Robison tutor, Dotsie Poli  dpolicore@gmail.com

FESTIVAL
Nine Emperor Gods
End Sept/Beg Oct
Kim San Tze Temple Association
25 Jalan Ulu Siglap
Tel 6445-0037

LANTERN & PAPER MAKING
Saw this on local crafts tour

Yeo swee huat

Blk 6 toa payoh industrial Park lor 8 #01-1317 sg 319058

6255 7512/7592

LAUNDROMAT
Wonder Wash
Block 345 Clementi Ave 5 #01-96 Singapore 120345

MASSAGE
Arab quarters new spa
Rule of Thumb
289 Beach Road
Tel 6295-5000

MASSAGE - Arab quarters
Wayan Retreat - the one Jonna loves
61 Bussorah Street
Tel 6392 0035

MASSAGE
Cheap foot massages in Arab quarters for a group
Xi Yuan Foot Spa
4 Pahang Street, near Sultan Gate
Tel 6396 8707
Branches on 87 Jalan Sultan and 91 Jalan Sultan

MOVING COMPANY

Jane and Adam used
9855 9053  Lisa
It was 200 sgd/10 foot truck

OSTEO - Carrie Gammons' person
Niel Wafer 6314 4440

RESTAURANT - Arabic
Alaturka
16 Bussorah Street
6294 0304

RESTAURANT - Arabic
Beirut Grill - they have belly dancing wknds
72 Bussorah Street
Tel 6341 7728

RESTAURANT - Arabic
Derwish, the one Jonna likes
60 Bussorah Street

RESTAURANT - Seafood, Dora Ellis
Happy Crab
12/13 Pahang Street
Delivery service available
Open 6pm to 10.30pm
Closed Sundays and PH
TEl 9620 3417

RESTAURANT - Arabic
Sufi's Corner, Turkish, Geri's fave
56 Arab Street

SEWING LESSONS
Nice Kiwi Lady Ella went to
Jokamamo Textiles
19 Faber Grove
Singapore 129236
Tel 9737 8697
sales@jokamamotextiles.com

SHELF

Custom made to fit shelves
http://www.yee-sin.com/

SPODE PLATE FACTORY
Claytan Ceramics
 Tel 019 773 3006, 57th Mile, Jalan Johor, 86100 Ayear Hitam.

WOOD
where to buy wood/timber
from Nicholas Wong
All the wood factories are in Sungei Kedut area, 
near Sungei Buloh wetlands.  Ask them to google
 timber yards and merchants, and they'll be able to find one.

Restaurants

AMERICAN (desserts)
Mike Daynes said he loves Morton's

CHINESE

Cheng's @27
Ate with Ilona in Tion Bahru
Love the chicken shop, some soup, etc
Great flavors
27 Yong Siak Street
Tiong Bahru Estate

Jing at One Fullerton - looks like it has big round tables, never been, but nice area

Ming Jang - Rochester - Peking duck we liked with ex-Firmenich couple




DIM SUM

Recommended by Queenie Chan
Luk Yu Tea House (Hong Kong dimsum)
Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road #01-41/42 s059413

Ate with Queenie chan, a dim sum place near Tooth Buddha
Jing Hua Restaurant
2 Neil Road
11.30 to 3pm and 5.30 to 9.30pm
Closed on Wednesdays
Tel 6221 3060
They also have an outlet at Palais Renaissance and Bugis Village

FRENCH

Crepes - le comptoir
79 Circular Road

INDIAN

New favorite place after we ate at Sherma's by Missi'shouse
Bar Bar Black Sheep
Cluny Court
Excellent Indian plus they also have Thai and western
Great patio.

Excellent Indian / Colonial / Western food
The Tiong Bahru Club
Went with Ilona and Ben
Block 57 Eng Hoon Street #01-88
Tel 6438 0168
There is the counterpart of it called
The Namly Club we need to try
64 Namly Place
TEl 6469 0168

The Village
Boat Quay
Great view
SEW recommendation

ITALIAN

aPompeii
Went with Channing and Spencer
20 sixth avenue
Bukit Timah

JAPANESE
The Sushi Eatery - Hidden Japanese Gem
Good value for money.
Juicy grilled sirlion steak, salmon aburi, torched salmon roll with mentaiko.
Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road, 04-28 Far East Plaza
12.30 to 3pm, 5.30 to 9pm Mon-Fri Sat 12.30 to 9pm, Sun closed, text 9653 6464 for reservation

Fried Sushi!  Basically sushi in tempura

Watami - multiple outlets
Maki-san - raffles and cathay basement

THAI
Ying Thai (recommended by Meghan from Ambassador uncle) Fancier Thai
36 Purvis street, tel 6337 1161

Soi 60
Robertson Quay
Ilona recommendation
Great view


CIRCULAR ROAD AREA

MEXICAN
El Rocho's
36 circular road, 6438 7879
Opened lunch and dinner Mon to Fri, dinner on Sat, closed Sunday
Same chef-owner previously from Les Amis
Rooftop drinks on same road at Amber 21

TELOK AYER

Truffes - chocolate bar

Urban Bites - Lebanese (Mona)

Pho Pho - Vietnamese (Mona)

VIETNAMESE:

Sandra said in Joo Chiat Long Phung, Casual
http://eastcoast.canalblog.com/archives/2011/06/11/21369062.html

L'euPHOriz in Tanjong Pagar

#01-21,, Axa Tower, 8 Shenton Way

Ms. TEO recommendations for hot pot, local food, etc.

http://thediningtable.sg/2015/02/10-chinese-new-year-pen-cai-try-year/

Hai di lao at 313. Call to make reservations too otherwise you might need to queue for an hour. Not all outlets are nice but the 313 one is pretty good. 

http://www.haidilao.com/sg/

At these places I will avoid mussels, crabs & shellfish. They kind of make the soup dirty like your soup will turn greyish after puting them in if they are not fresh. So it's kind of like luck. Anything else feel free to try.

Sauces here are vv yummy but be daring to mix them. So usually I'll stir & mix the sesame oil, peanut sauce, chinese chilli sauce & if you like garlic sauce all together. Then when you dip your meat slices into the sauce, yummy! 

Bugis steamboat BBQ.

This is not a place you want to bring your friends to & impress them with steamboat. More like an adventurous try with you kids & family which can be a hit or miss.

At places like this, other than prawns & fish, the other seafood is kind of like try at your own luck/risk as some can be not fresh at times. So if there are really any seafood you want to give a shot there, take a piece cook it & try if it's good as I've eaten really unfresh ones which of course means diarrhea the next day. You will realise quality of food is really much lower as compared to the others but it's a good place to start with kids as they have BBQ. & some can be quite yummy either but just not at the quality of food as the hai di lao & especially not the joo Chiat one. 

You can also just try mookata beside udders ice cream & carpenter & cook area. The food there is surprisingly very fresh so will be a good try with family, they open only after 5pm. Kids have to be patient to wait for food though so you might not want to bring them when they are starving but just reasonably hungry.

The dessert place at bugis is a must try!! It's called ah chew's dessert This is one of the best chinese dessert shop. I love their cold water chestnut with egg dessert, the kids will love their mango sago with ice cream, other good chinese desserts: yuan yang paste= sesame paste & almond paste; yam paste, cold ginkgo barley. If the kids have not try it yet, along bugis street, there's also this shaved ice dessert which I'm pretty sure they will love it.

This is the one at geylang/joo chiat.
http://www.sgfoodonfoot.com/2012/12/teochew-traditional-steamboat.html?m=1
The fish kuay tiao is the must try as well as their fish paste. But generally anything handmade there is nice & meats are fresh. If it's your first time, this is the authentic steamboat place you want to try. This place is always crowded so give a call to make a reservation. Staff there are friendly too so if you are not sure how to go about, you can ask them to help you.

So these are some suggestions on what you might want to get & sequence to put them in.
Red garoupa - more expensive but very yummy & fresh
Prime beef, pork belly & chicken are all yummy.
Prawns, Chef recipe meatball, hand made squid ball, hand made fishball, crispy bean sheet, fish kuay tiao!, golden mushroom, cabbage, tang or, and any other vegetables you like, egg.

Things to throw in first:
1) cabbage, golden mushroom, any balls, when they are softer or half cooked
2) chicken, pork, fish kuay tiao: when these are cooked you can start eating & cooking
3) prawns, fish, are then to be put in pot & monitored so they don't overcook
4) use the ladle with lots of holes to to cook beef. Hold on to the ladle with beef in it to prevent overcooking. We like our beef medium rare so usually we just dip it in the boiling broth for awhile then eat it with the dipping sauce. You can also use chopsticks to cook
5) make sure food are cooked before you eat at each round if not Hee its diarrhea the next day due to uncooked food. So like if we put pork, chicken or fish/prawn, we wait for everything to be cooked then start eating & drinking soup. But it's like eat & cook at the same time? So other than 1) & 2) where you really wait, the rest you can eat & cook at the same time but just take note if any put food in to cook then do the same so when they are cooked then you start taking the other food out to eat.
6) sauces are important. So I like to half boil my egg & mix in with the sauce but you can also just put into the soup & scramble it in to make the soup nice & eggy. If you like your soup clear though then don't scramble the egg in.
In other places they have more sauces but here is fixed.
This is a lot of food ordered so just order what you think you'll like & probably add more other vegetables you think you might like. If you order all you will probably not be able to finish.

& since we are on about food, if your friends are over & you all would like to try some very good crabs, Melben seafood has amazing crabs. They have the singapore chilli crab & black pepper crab which is OK but what's really nice is their CLAYPOT CRAB BEEHOON & CREAMY BUTTER CRAB. Order these 2 & some deep fried man tou (bread) & their coffee pork ribs is also good. My friend likes their chilli crab but I still prefer jumbo's & long beach's but the ones here are pretty good to try too. I still think the Toa Payoh branch is best so you might want to give that a call. Can't vouch for the other branches as this is the original branch & the only I've tried. Give a call for reservation if they allow for that day otherwise just have to head in early & queue. It can be as long as an hour to an hour half wait. If there's 6 of you, 3 crab dishes will be ok & not too much. Pricey though at about $50+ per crab if I remember correctly, used to be $38 but I remember the last time I went they upped it to $58 or something along those lines. Not too sure about that so you might need to head down to know price range.

Places to do Volunteer Work

VOLUNTEER LIST FOR MATEO FIRMENICH

2013:   Melrose Home

        503 Clementi Road

        Singapore 599488

        Tel: 6466 5758

2012:   Singapore Red Cross Home for the Disabled

        Family Link @ Lengkok Bahru

        8 Lengkok Bahru #04-01

        Singapore 159052

        Ms Siti Mariam Saiful Haireen - Administrative Assistant

        Tel: 6762 1029

2011:   Singapore Children's Society (We painted the Youth Centre)

        Youth Centre (Jurong)

        Blk 552, Jurong West St 42, #01-321

        Singapore 640552

        Tel: 65666 989   Fax: 65666 386

        Contact:        Harveer Kaur [hkaur@childrensociety.org.sg]

                        Indra Gopalakrishnan [igopal@childrensociety.org.sg]

2008:           Loving Heart Multi Service Centre (Partner for Food Ration Distribution Project)

&2010           210 Jurong East Street 21 #01-389

                Singapore 600210

                Tel: 6897 4766

2009:   Dahrul Ihsan Orphanage

        23 Wan Tho Avenue

        Singapore 347552

        e-mail: adminMTFA@mtfa.or

2008:   Kwang Wai Shin Hospital & Nursing Home

        705 Serangoon Road

        Singapore 328127

        Tel: 6299 3747

Mateo's list

RESTAURANTS

Artsy, fusion food in a black and white - http://restaurantandre.com/

Modern European/Japanese - WAKU GHIN at Marina Bay Sands (same category as above, celebrity chef)

If here this week, recommend Chinatown for the Chinese New Year stalls and decorations-Year of the Horse.

Arab Quarters - Great palm lined street, Mosque, go at sunset. Beirut Grill is our favorite though it is casual. Also visit Haji Lane (hip/trendy street with great local designers and curio shops-local Soho).

Explore Little India & visit Mustafa's (24/7 department store with everything stuffed in there-thinking "Indian Carrefour without all the groceries-some groceries)-you can even buy a car there

On Sentosa Island:

-       Try iFly for indoor skydiving for a bit of a thrill
-       Go to Roblechon for great French food or the L'Atelier for more casual dining
-       Rent a yacht at the Marina in Sentosa for a few hours in the evening (if interested, let us know and we can give more details on this)
-       Spa Botanica (massage, lunch, hang out at the pool, cover yourself in mud)-probably Singapore's best Spa
-       Rent Segways with a guide (can't go solo).


WILD HONEY (orchard scotts or Mandarin hotel)-- Excellent NY style brunch place

Luke's Oyster Bar - it's not just about the seafood at all, great American dishes and desserts

Kilo on Kalang River - delicious comfort food

GREEK

Blu Kuzina on Bukit Timah Road

INDIAN

Muthu's on Dempsey
Laagna - barefoot dining in Little India

JAPANESE

ICHIGO (Japanese Bistrot Food)
Business hours 18h-23h30(so no lunch hours)
399 River Valley RoadTel 6736 1340

AMERICAN CHINESE

Chopsuey on Dempsey - Excellent American Chinese dishes

Singapore Chinese
Palm Beach at One Fullerton-- ChilliCrab (nice more formal)
No Signboard Seafood-at the Esplanade

FRENCH

Bistrot du Sommelier - Very good French bistrot food, good steaks (Cote de boeuf for 2 is delicious)


OTHERS

Salt Grill on Ion - great view

Halia in Botanic Gardens

Graze in Rochester Park


ARGENTINE:

Bochinche-new Argentine restaurant-fusion-one of best new restaurants in town


WHERE I TAKE OUT OF TOWN GUESTS

CHINATOWN - Visit Sri Mariaman Hindu temple, walk around Temple, Smith and Trenganu Street.  Look at markets/stalls, shop for touristy knick knacks, Chinese baked goods etc.

Ice desserts (Debbie F recommendation) 67 Temple Street
Best bakery Tong Heng Confectionery 285 South Bridge Rd
(right in front of Buddha Tooth temple)

Temples - Buddha Tooth temple.
Favorite temple - the one on Telok Ayer Street.

DIM SUM - go to Yam Cha - an institution if in Chinatown but favorite dim sum places:
4th floor Takashimaya - Teow Chow Imperial Cuisine
1st floor Plaza singapurea - Tim Ho Wan, famous HK place, long lines

NOODLES - go to the Noodle Man @19 Smith Street, fun to take a photo of him stretching his handmade noodles

LITTLE INDIA -  Visit Indian Hindu temple on Serangoon, show Bangle Shop, show Mustafa, do Henna tatoos.

INDIAN FOOD - Banana Leaf is great b/c you can eat on banana leaves so a cultural experience.

GARDENS BY THE BAY-visit indoor gardens + go up the super trees for excellent views

BOTANICAL GARDENs-some of the best gardens in world & the best in Asia

MUSEUMS - So many fantastic museums!  Our favorite is Asian Civilizations Museum.  For a more unique experience, head to the Peranakan Museum, much more unique to the Singapore story.  Afterwards, you can eat at True Blue Cuisine, it's Peranakan food so order Rendang and pomelo salad, this is also on Armenian Street.

TOURS - Hop on and off bus is fun, I send people on that if I can't spend the day with them.  The Bumboat ride is an even better way to see parts of Singapore.  For those with more time in Singapore, I think there are so many choices of walking/historical/cultural tours.

MODERN - it's fun to show the CBD skyline, Merlion, Marina Bay Sands area, Clarke Quay etc.  Walking down Orchard Road is always fun for shopping.

VIEWS -

go up the Pinnacle on Duxton, you need an MRT card and have at least 5 sgd on it to get up the turnstiles...a bit confusing how to get up there, but ask the 7/11 guy for the right elevator

Top of Marina Bay Sands-pay SGD 20 to view it and can also go to the Ku De Ta at the top and have a drink at the bar-make reservation.

SHOPPING:

Malls are everywhere-but Orchard Road remains the hub. Ion mall, Takashimaya on Orchard are key malls.

Marina Bay Sands has developed large mall complex as well.