A Must Side Trip

APACRS 2023 welcomes you to the beautiful Garden City of Singapore

by Tan Sher Lynn

As you embark on a fulfilling academic sojourn at the 35th Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS 2023) annual meeting, why not take the opportunity to explore and enjoy the vibrant and intriguing city-state of Singapore?

Even though Singapore is one of Asia’s smallest countries, it packs a lot of punch — offering a rich, urban, and cultural experience like no other.

As a modern and dynamic city set amid lush greenery, boosting sophisticated infrastructure and avant-garde architecture, Singapore is the perfect destination for shopping, dining, and sightseeing. Attractions are ample and easily accessible, transportation is convenient, and local cuisine is a musttry! What’s more, there is no shortage of art and heritage and cultural landscapes in Singapore.

The crown jewel of Asia

As you step out of the Singapore Changi Airport arrival hall, taking a short 10-minute walk will lead you to the tallest indoor waterfall in the world — the 40-meter high HSBC Rain Vortex at The Jewel. You will surely find yourself in awe of this architectural marvel while you enjoy the cool breeze, as water pours from a massive hole in the roof into an indoor rainforest that is the Shiseido Forest Valley.

More than a shopping center, The Jewel also boasts a host of entertainment and recreation activities like the Canopy Park, located on the top floor. Here, you can let the child in you run loose as you bounce on nets and go down giant slides, all while taking in the views of the naturethemed entertainment and retail complex.

Less than 20 minutes car ride from the airport will take you to the city center where you’ll be greeted by the iconic Marina Bay Sands, standing so majestically against Singapore’s modern skyline. This architectural wonder is the epitome of the ultimate, luxurious lifestyle. Offering posh hotel rooms, suites, restaurants, and shops boasting luxury brands, Marina Bay Sands also provides breathtaking views of the city at the SkyPark Observation Deck. In addition, it boasts one of the world’s most spectacular rooftop infinity pools, the world’s largest greenhouse — Gardens by the Bay, and the spectacular and innovative ArtScience Museum.

Home to a diverse collection of over 1.5 million plants that hail from every continent except Antarctica, the 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay nature park is mesmerizing, to say the least. It is also worth a visit at night, when the Supertrees are illuminated, offering an experience like no other.

Modern buildings and attractions aside, Singapore is also rich in culture and heritage. Take a taxi to Chinatown for its Peranakan-style shophouses, traditional food, historic temples, and hip bars. Or visit the many enthralling museums in the city, such as the National Museum of Singapore, which tells the history and culture of the country, as well as the National Gallery Singapore, which owns the largest public collection of modern art in Southeast Asia (over 9,000 works).

From hawker to fine dining

Although small in size, Singapore is certainly not lacking in a wide range of dining options, from cheap but legendary hawker dishes to Michelinstarred restaurants. The food the city-state offers is as diverse as its multicultural heritage, which is made up of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian ethnicities.

For the best of local cuisine, you certainly do not want to miss a trip to the hawker centers, which are the heart and soul of Singapore’s food scene. In fact, Singapore’s hawker culture is so distinctive that it became a part of UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.

We suggest that you check out these hawker centers: Hong Lim Market & Food Centre for pork noodles and curry puffs; Maxwell Food Centre for Hainanese chicken rice, roasted meat, and crispy fritters; and Amoy Street Food Centre for rice dumplings, char kway teow, and fish soup.

Other favorites that you should try are chili crab, nasi lemak, bak kut teh (meaty pork ribs cooked in a broth of herbs and spices), biryani rice, Indian rojak, fried radish cake, and fried oyster omelet. Meanwhile, those who have a sweet tooth should definitely go for the ice kacang, cendol, or an assortment of Nyonyah kuihs (traditional cakes).

It’s noteworthy that Singapore also has one of the best bar scenes in Asia, if not the world. Those that make it to the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 include Jigger and Pony, Mo Bar, Manhattan, Republic, and No Sleep Club. So, if you are into creative cocktails and liquid inspiration, be sure to check out these award-winning watering holes.

Getting to Suntec Convention Centre

Suntec City, which houses the Suntec Convention Centre where APACRS 2023 is held, is an exciting destination by itself — offering diverse shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences in one location.

From Changi Airport, you can reach Suntec Convention Centre via taxi, city shuttle, mass rapid transit (MRT), or bus. A taxi or private transfer takes about 20 to 30 minutes, the city shuttle takes about 40 minutes, and the bus takes about one hour.

All in all, we wish you a fruitful meeting and a smashing time in Singapore!