Singapore is often described as “Asia for beginners” or “Asia 101″. Indeed, I often wish that Singapore was the first place that I visited in Asia instead of Bangkok – which was entirely overwhelming!

A friend recently asked for some suggestions for her Asian adventure, so I thought I’d share my top picks from Singapore here.

Singapore is a haven for luxury shopping and luxury hotels, and Orchard Road is the main drag. At the corner of Orchard and Scott’s road is Tang’s - Singapore’s first high end department store, which is definitely worth a visit! Wheelock Place, one of the many malls on Orchard Road, houses both the country’s biggest Borders as well as a Marks and Spencer.  There are no fewer than 3 M&S’s on Orchard Road, and I believe 4 Louis Vuittons. The high rise shopping malls alternate with hotels ranging from the Holiday Inn to the Four Seasons.

Singapore has a massive expat population, and you will find that many expats frequent the high end hotels. I particularly love the Grand Hyatt - at the corner of Orchard and Scotts Road. This hotel was plagued by bad luck and low occupancy when it first opened, so they brought in a Feng Shui master, who recommended that they change the entrance of the hotel.  According to the Chinese monk, because the lobby entrance was a wall of flat glass doors that ran parallel to the long reception desk in front, all the hotel’s wealth was flowing from the desk right out the doors and into the street. To solve the problem, the doors were set at right angles to one  another, a fountain was built in the rear, and the reception was moved around a corner to the right of the lobby. The result is one of the highest occupancy rates in Singapore!

I’ve stayed at this hotel a handful of times – and find the service faultless. One of my favourite restaurants in the world is mezza9 – which is really 9 restaurant kitchens serving one restaurant. It’s a perfect place to dine if you’re with a large group with different tastes! Of course, one of the best features, in my mind, is the walk in wine cellar! The cigar and martini bar is a popular place with local expats.

On one of my visits to Singapore I was lucky enough to find the “Karaoke Cab”. Yes, you read that right. It’s a taxi with a built in karaoke machine, so you can sing your heart out as you drive around Singapore’s streets. I definitely recommend that you sing, as the driver will take the microphone and perform for you if you don’t!

Of course, no visit to Singapore is complete without a visit to Raffles – and specifically, to the Long Bar. Raffles colonial architecture is overwhelming – you feel as though you’re stepping back in time. That is, if you can block out the (other) slack-jawed tourists! Give yourself time to wander around the magnificent grounds of this iconic hotel, and then retire to the Long Bar for a Singapore Sling. The original recipe is still posted above the bar! At S$25, it won’t be the cheapest drink you’ve ever had, but definitely one of the most enjoyable. Grab a handful of peanuts, and do as the locals do – throw the shells on the floor!

When you venture beyond Orchard Road, you’ll find a more “authentic” Asian experience, complete with street food and hawkers. Singapore’s street cuisine is a great example of fusion with influences from Indian, Malay, Chinese and Tamil cuisines. Local foods are diverse, ranging from Hainanese chicken rice to satay. Amongst locals, popular dishes include bak chor mee, mee pok, sambal stingray, laksa, nasi lemak, chili crab and satay. Most can be found at local hawker centres around Singapore.

All in all, Singapore is a perfect place to begin an Asian adventure. It’s clean and quite Westernized, but there are less commercial pockets when you look for them!

Tags: Grand Hyatt Singapore, Orchard Road, Raffles Singapore, Singapore, Tangs, Wheelock Place