Singapore Sightseeing Guide by newsdesk A tiny island just offshore, Sentosa is approachable by bus, cable car, or hired cars. Sentosa’s literally chockfull of attractions- there are water amusement parks, landscaped gardens, beach clubs with live throbbing music, a butterfly garden, an ethnic village, a fabulous aquarium (Underwater World) and a huge 37m high Merlion statue. Sentosa is an exhilarating daylong trip that will leave you tired, joyous and satisfied.The Haw Par Villa Tiger Balm Gardens is a treat for anyone who’s fascinated by Chinese mythology. The gardens are spread out over extensive landscaped parkland, and feature interesting stories. A popular attraction is the 'Ten Courts of Hell’- a Chinese representation of the afterlife. Haw Par Villa Tiger Balm Gardens The Singapore Zoo, one of the best in the world, spreads over 28 hectares and houses over 3000 creatures- mammals, birds and reptiles. The zoo has a very animal-friendly with barriers like moats and rock walls instead of wire cages. Two of the main attractions are the `Fragile Forest’- an excellent display of endangered ecosystems, and the orang-utans enclosure, where breakfast (or tea) with the orangs is a real crowd-puller. Try it- you wouldn’t have had more interesting partners at the tea table. The Night Safari is the only one of its kind in the world – a night zoo; you can travel through either on foot (there are three walking trails) or by tram. The safari park is set in eight geographical zones and includes a bat enclosure, a leopard trail, and regular animal shows. Jurong Bird Park: Easily one of Singapore’s best-known attractions, the Jurong Bird Park stretches over 20 hectares and is South East Asia’s largest bird park. There are regular bird shows, and a simulated thunderstorm everyday at noon. Go armed with birdfeed and lots of camera film- it’s a great place.Flamingo Pond at Jurong Bird Park The park has over 8000 birds of more than 600 species, including some colourful (and noisy!) collections of owls, kiwis,flamingoes, parrots and hornbills, besides the world’s highest manmade waterfall. Adjacent to each other, the Japanese and Chinese gardens are lovely representations of two very different landscape designs. The Japanese Garden is typically minimalist, with Zen rock gardens, shrubs, and quiet summerhouses. The Chinese Garden, on the other hand, has a tea gallery, opulent imperial-style architecture and a Penjing Garden. Come to Merlion Park for a breath of fresh air and a walk down memory lane. The Merlion, half-lion, half-fish, is symbolic of Singapore’s past: the lion stands for the ‘Singha’ (Sanskrit for lion) after which `Singapura’ was named by a long-forgotten Sumatran prince, and the fish represents Singapore’s past as a maritime trading post (which it still is, to a great extent). The Merlion has come to be a symbol of Singapore Tourism, and the huge white statue, surrounded by a park, is one of the city’s important tourist attractions. The Chinese Ming dynasty was renowned for the exquisite porcelain that was produced during its reign. In the Ming Village in Singapore porcelain is still made by artisans using the ancient techniques developed at the time of the Ming emperors. You can buy pottery and also watch the artisans at work. Orchard Road is Singapore’s main shopping hub with lots of stores all along the way; the larger shopping centres include Orchard Plaza, Ngee Ann City and Orchard Towers. At night, it gets transformed into the entertainment district of town - loud music, bright lights and merry crowds- with bars, discotheques, and nightclubs by the dozen. Among these, the most popular ones include Sparks, Pleasuredome, Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Café. Either way, day or night, it’s a vibrant, `happening’ place to be. Little India, all the way from Lavendar Street to Rochor Canal, is inhabited by immigrants from Madras, Calcutta and Malaya- all of them contributing to making this part of Singapore a very Indian locality. You can see and buy lots of Indian handicrafts, sample some delicious food, and catch some typically Indian sights- especially in the Hindu temples of the area. On the coast of Singapore, Mount Faber is the point from which cable cars go to Sentosa. Its main attraction is the splendid view it offers of Singapore, the harbour, and the nearby islands. The mount has a convenient teahouse for weary tourists and is a nice place to take a breather after all the hectic tramping around the sites of Singapore. Other than these, there are any number of parks, gardens, Buddhist and Hindu temples, museums and memorials to see around Singapore. Take your pick- there’s something for everybody. Singapore Sightseeing Guide by newsdesk.