miss b loves ..... Singapore, the final day (Part 3)

Our final day in Singapore began with a stroll around Little India. It's one of the most colourful and vibrant districts of the city and the air is filled with the aroma of exotic spices. 

It's a riot of colour too with local ladies wearing traditional saris ........ 

It was fascinating to watch the flower vendors making the traditional garlands from jasmine, marigolds and roses. Garlands are placed on the statues of deities as prayer offerings and they are used at weddings and other special occasions. 

More colour greeted us at one of the oldest surviving Chinese villas in Little India. Built in 1900 for the wife of Tan Teng Niah, a prominent Chinese businessman, who owned a successful confectionery business in the area...

We stopped for a while at the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, built in 1881 and dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, wife of Shiva. 

miss b loves .......Singapore, a city of contrasts (Part 2)

What makes Singapore so interesting is the contrast between the old and the new .... the melting pot of cultures. Some might say that Singapore lacks soul and is too sanitised but I would disagree .....A traditional Singapore still flourishes and we headed to Chinatown on Day 2 of our recent visit....

In complete contrast to the mainly low-rise buildings of Chinatown, the three 55 storey towers of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is an integrated resort complex topped by a SkyPark. Designed by Moshe Safdie, it's the world's most expensive building....

It's an eye-catching, iconic design which has transformed the city's skyline.

miss b loves ....... Singapore, a city of contrasts (Part 1)

I'm back from my travels! 

Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures. We visited this fascinating city a few years ago on a two night stopover from Bali, but having read about the new ambitious architectural projects, we decided to go back and spend more time there. 

It's a city of contrasts with old and new buildings sitting side by side .......stunning colonial buildings and a futuristic skyline. 

There's an array of world-class restaurants and high quality street food which we were keen to try too.

Day 1 began with a stroll around the local area. The Merlion statue is the symbol of the city with the body of a fish (representing Singapore's origin as a humble fishing village) and the head of a lion from the Malay Singapura (meaning lion city.)

Next stop...another Singapore icon...Raffles Hotel, a colonial style building established in 1887 and named after Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore.  

During our last visit we had enjoyed afternoon tea in the Tiffin Room but this time we planned to return the following evening for a Singapore Sling or two!

miss b loves .........Luxe City Guides

Plannning a holiday or even a short trip is always part of the fun and excitement of travelling. I love to do my research so that we can make the most of our stay whether it's a weekend break or a more leisurely two weeks away from home.

There are always places which are a definite 'must-visit' but we like to wander off and find our own unexpected gems too.

Luxe City Guides are compact yet so informative and reliable. They are a world away from the usual bulky travel books with information overload and far too many photos and maps. 

I like the elegant covers and the fold out concertina-style design .....

These stylish pocket-sized guides easily slip into the smallest of bags without the need to rely on an internet connection for on the spot information ......

When folded the guides are just 7 mm thick....

The lighthearted witty style of writing appeals to me too. 

Recommendations come from the resident editor and contributors who really know their city and who provide short, sassy reviews and they are very selective about the entries.....