REVIEWED: Lonely Planet Singapore
A compact size, pull-out map and an excellent focus on the city-state’s food scene make this an invaluable guidebook for the Lion City
A stopover city can be tricky to explore. Especially when it’s Singapore, a city roundly called boring. And if you stay in an upscale hotel in the Colonial District or Orchard Road and do little but eat in western-style restaurants and shop in international malls, it can be crushingly disapointing. Which is why the Lonely Planet Singapore’s inclusion of a big section on Eastern Singapore – where all the cool kids are now staying (and eating) – is so refreshing.
Eastern promise
But while the eastern communities of Katong and Joo Chiat – a heritage area where Peranakan culture continues (don’t miss the laksa) – are well covered, there are plenty of interesting things to do downtown. Walking tours of Little India are other areas are excellent, and so is the section on the zoo.
Island life
However, our favourite section – and out best day – was a tour of Pulau Ubin, a tiny bicycles-only island just a 10-minute bumboat ride away from Changi Village near the airport. It’s a world away from Singapore-proper, and it’s even possible to visit this island of wild pigs, kampong villages and monkeys while in transit at Changi Airport (use their left luggage service … and the airport’s showers afterwards).
Under the skin
With some informative sections on lesser-known areas of Singapore, a great pull-out map and some excellent walking tours that help the traveller get right under the skin of this a city often dismissed as dull, Lonely Planet Singapore is an excellent way to get more out of trip to the Lion City.