8 minute read
Family Friendly SINGAPORE
Singapore Doesn’t Brag About Being Family Friendly, It Shows You ...
It shows you with clean public restrooms and kid sized toilets and sinks. It shows you with a clockwork public transport system, clean streets and free attractions.
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From the taxi driver who didn’t want to charge us because my husband bonded with him over rugby, to the bag stealing monkeys on a little time-warped island ten minutes off the coast, Singapore turned out to be absolutely fantastic!
Families will find it comforting to know that SafeAround, a website that assesses risk levels in more than 100 countries and cities worldwide, lists Singapore as the fifth safest country in the world. To compare, Australia comes in at No. 12 and the U.S. comes in at No. 49.
Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay
Photo: Jessica Palmer
Go Back in Time on Pulau Ubin Island
“Mum look, that monkey has a bag!” yelled my son. Sure enough, the little long-tailed macaque monkey sitting in the middle of the dirt road was up to his shoulder rummaging around in the bag. Not a fancy one, but the reusable fabric kind you get from the supermarket.
I suspect that someone had put the bag down fully expecting their lunch to be waiting for them upon return. I couldn’t help myself. I started laughing. He didn’t look in the slightest bit guilty that he had just been caught red-handed stealing.
We were on the island of Pulau Ubin, and despite being only a ten-minute boat trip from the Singapore mainland, it’s nothing like modern Singapore.
Pulau Ubin is best described as rustic, although many will tell you it’s reminiscent of Singapore’s Kampong (village) life six decades earlier.
The most popular activity for visitors on Pulau Ubin Island is to hire a pushbike and spend an enjoyable morning exploring the islands back roads. Like many others before us, we headed to Chek Jawa wetlands to experience nature at its best.
Chek Jawa Boardwalk on Pulau Ubin Island
Photo: Jessica Palmer
Here you can take a stroll over two different wooden boardwalks, one of which weaves through the mangroves and the other which heads out over the ocean where at low tide, the marine life can be viewed underfoot.
Expect to see monkeys, lizards, birds, and all sorts of weird and wonderful wildlife. Also, don’t believe anyone who tells you it’s a ‘flat’ ride to Chek Jawa. It’s not!
Spend a Morning at the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Although mainland Singapore is green, it’s about as far from rustic as any city or country could possibly get. It’s not often families can enjoy an extended city break whilst surrounding themselves in nature.
I make it my mission to visit the Botanical Gardens of every city we visit, enjoying the native plants and landscaped gardens. The fact they are nearly always free to visit and usually have plenty of space to let the kids loose is a huge bonus.
Entering the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
Photo: Jessica Palmer
Singapore has taken it one step further and created the first garden in Asia dedicated to children. The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is located in Singapore’s Botanic Gardens and is hands down, one of the best places to visit in Singapore with kids.
It’s completely free to visit and the gardens feature lots of interactive activities such as a hedge maze, zip-line, obstacle course, playground, waterplay area, plant potting and a sensory garden.
Chill With the Locals at the East Coast Park and Beach
Singapore’s East Coast Park is one of those great places the locals know about but isn’t really on the tourist radar. The beach is no French Polynesia or Cook Islands, but it’s still a pretty 15 km stretch of beach and park area that doesn’t cost a cent to visit.
The massive playground ensures there are other kids to play with and like many coastal parks, there is sand, grassy areas, restaurants and great walking paths which double as skating and cycling paths.
East Coast Park and Beach
Photo: Jessica Palmer
Visit Singapore’s Premiere Attraction
‘’What did you think of the lights?’’ I asked my son as we sat on the MRT, aka the Mass Rapid Transport system or Singapore’s rail system.
‘’It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my life!’’ he enthusiastically replied. My daughter had fallen asleep in my arms but had enjoyed the night-time light and sound show at Gardens by the Bay just as much as her older brother had.
Gardens by the Bay is 249 acres (101 hectares) of world-class nature park. In my opinion, families need to visit Gardens by the Bay twice.
The first time during the day to visit the two spectacular domes, wander around Supertree Grove and gardens, and let the kids play in the zero-depth water-park. The second time at night, to watch Supertree Grove light up with sound and music in a world-class show.
Although this is a popular nightly event, there is still plenty of room to move despite the crowds. This is absolutely worth keeping the kids up past their bed-time for.
The Cloud Forest Dome at Gardens by the Bay
Photo: Jessica Palmer
Gardens by the Bay is free to visit, but there is a cost to enter the two domes or walk on the OCBC skyway high up among the Supertrees. Both are worth the additional costs, especially the domes which are cooled to a sublime temperature which sees families escaping Singapore’s humidity.
Take in the Views From the Singapore Flyer
It was a blustery afternoon when we boarded the Singapore Flyer, a giant Ferris wheel in the heart of Singapore. The grey clouds were looming, the humidity was oppressive and the kids were at the end of their patience. It seems we chose the busiest time to visit, so the line to board the 30 minute ride took longer than the ride itself.
All was forgiven when we stepped into the glass-walled capsule. The Singapore Flyer is a world apart from any carnival-type Ferris wheel you have ever ridden, this is both sleek and modern with a large bench seat in the middle and a decent amount of standing room.
There are two i-pads mounted on opposite sides of the capsule, allowing families to learn more about different areas of the city.
Gardens by the Bay with the Singapore Flyer in the background
Photo: Jessica Palmer
I feared the kids would miss the view as they were engrossed in the technology, but when we reached the highest point at 165m they tore themselves away to take in the views of the Colonial District, Marina Bay, and the South China Sea full of giant ships.
Luckily they did, as the heavens finally opened and the flyer’s descent featured heavy raindrops racing down the glass dome, mostly obscuring our view.
Marvel at the Beautiful Mosques in Little India and Kampong Glam
For a healthy dose of atmosphere and culture, head to the Little India and Kampong Glam areas of Singapore. Masjid Sultan (or the Sultan Mosque) is one of the country’s most impressive religious buildings and judging by the street leading to it which is overflowing with restaurants and nik-naks, it’s also one of the most visited.
Head to the Tekka Centre in Little India to buy some beautiful Indian style dresses, or organise a tailor to custom make something special.
Little Princesses will find Disney themed dresses and little men will find brand names and superhero-themed clothes. Judging by the low prices, I doubt the brand names are the real deal.
The "Sultan Mosque" or Masjid Sultan
Photo: Jessica Palmer
Splurge on Sentosa Island
It’s easy to burn a hole in your wallet in Singapore, but despite popular belief, it’s actually easy not to as well. Unfortunately, paying a visit to Sentosa Island is not one of the places that’s kind to your wallet.
Sentosa Island deserves its title of ‘’The Island of Fun’’ and if you’re going to splurge in Singapore, this is the place to do it. There are lots of attractions packed into this small island, including Universal Studios Singapore, SEA Aquarium, Wave House, Adventure Cove Waterpark, Kidzania and more.
Although the beaches are man-made on Sentosa, once Singapore’s humidity kicks in, you won’t care one bit. Head to Palawan Beach for its family-friendly playgrounds, parks and beautiful lagoon.
Enjoy the Greenery at Fort Canning Park and Macritchie Reservoir
After a day or two spent on Sentosa, pay a visit to Fort Canning Park or Macritchie Reservoir to give your wallet a break.
Fort Canning Park makes for a shady, green retreat and features a fascinating war history within the bunkers located inside the hill the park rests on. Families are able to tour the underground bunkers throughout certain times of the day. It’s an ideal picnic spot with green grassy areas, a spice garden and museum, historical buildings and steps to wear the kids out.
Macritchie Reservoir is another green retreat, although this one is popular with locals looking to keep fit. It features hiking tracks, exercise equipment, canoe hire and bike trails. Families can stroll around the reservoir or if up for a decent hike, could aim for the Tree Top Walk, which will see you traversing a 250m long suspension bridge 25 metres up in the air.
Historical Building at Fort Canning Park
Photo: Jessica Palmer
More Than a Stopover …
Singapore is so much more than a stopover en-route to somewhere else. Despite its small size, families can easily spend a week here and still have plenty to see and do. You can forget about the oppressive concrete jungle feeling that usually goes hand in hand with cities, it just doesn’t exist in Singapore...
FACTS
GETTING TO SINGAPORE:
Qantas, Virgin and Singapore Airlines fly regularly from Australia. Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Qatar and Etihad fly regularly from the USA.
GETTING AROUND SINGAPORE:
Download the MoovIt App for public transport directions. If you prefer Taxis, the Grab App works a treat in Singapore
Walking on a break wall at the East Coast Beach and Park
Photo: Jessica Palmer
