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Singapore never fails to serve up an electrifying experience, constantly refreshing and enhancing its enticements. After paying my respects to Singapore’s beloved water-spout mascot, the Merlion, overlooking Marina Bay, I ventured over to the jaw-dropping botanical blockbuster of Gardens by the Bay, armed with my Go City Explorer Pass. Like being handed the keys to the city, you can take your pick from a feast of experiences, from food tours to big-bang attractions like Singapore Zoo and Gardens by the Bay. You’ll save up to 50% on sights and attractions with a Go City in over 25 destinations. To check out all available Go City experiences, and a pass to suit, head to

Boasting over a million plants from 19,000 species, Gardens by the Bay is an architectural frenzy of aerial walkways, supersized steel trees and mega-conservatories. The giant domed cloud forest and flower conservatories engage all senses, tripping you across the planet’s botanical wonders. Jurassic World: The Experience has ramped up the escapist wonder of mist-shrouded Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay. The cinematic verve of the Jurassic World film franchise has added thrill-factor, with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs nestled within the landmark cooled conservatory.  

Cloud Forest featuring Jurassic World. Photo / Gardens by the Bay

Highlights include an awe-inspiring 8.5-metre-tall Brachiosaurus, and a face-to-face moment of fearsome intimacy with a Tyrannosaurus rex. While you’re there, keep an eye out tiny Compsognathus, or “Compys,” hidden throughout lush garden pathways. More than 72,000 plants thrive in Cloud Forest, with more than 50 species with lineages that can be traced back to the Jurassic period, such as ferns, cycads and conifers. These plants once thrived alongside dinosaurs and even served as food for them. Gardens by the Bay is also swooned over at nightfall with the Supertrees Grove unleashing an electrifying choreographed light and sound show. It’s a great appetiser for Marina Bay’s free nightly light and water theatrics, Spectra. 

Take a stroll through Kampong Glam. Once the seat of Singapore’s first sultan, the neighbourhood's colourful shophouses are home to a jumble of cafes and boutiques wedged among decades-old perfumeries and fabric merchants. In 1989, the government moved to protect the heritage-heavy neighbourhood, gazetting Kampong Glam as one of Singapore’s first conservation areas — forever preserving its five-foot timber-shaded ways, pastel façades and verandas that drift from Arab Street to Baghdad Street to Haji Lane.  

Bussorah Street, Kampong Glam. Photo / Supplied

Nowadays, amid the district's transformation, it’s not unusual for the mosque's daily loudspeaker calls to blend with belted karaoke bar ballads drifting through the alleyways – a duet that perhaps sums up the spirit of this pocket-sized precinct. Two of my favourite spots? Situated on Bussorah Street, the award-winning. Beirut Grill plates mezze, charcoal-inflected shish taouk and lamb shanks beneath a view of the mosque’s golden domes. On Beach Road, the Coconut Club turns humble nasi lemak into coconut-perfumed rice, and slow-cooks marinated for 12 hours over charcoal chicken in a restored shophouse. A short stroll away on Kandahar Street, Cichetti slings supple, leopard-spotted Neapolitan pies and trattoria plates in one of the quarter’s most handsome rooms. 

Thread the narrow seam of Haji Lane into your stroll. Once lodging for Haj pilgrims and brokers, Haji Lane is now a hipsters’ hotpot, with a riot of indie boutiques and cheerful wall art. Only a few metres across in sections, it’s reputedly one of Singapore’s tightest streets. Look up for old timber louvres, and down for tiled five-foot ways that kept traders shaded long before the advent of air con. If you’re strolling down Orchard Road and feeling peckish head straight to the venerated Food Opera dining court at Ion Orchard shopping centre. It has a trove of the city’s best food stalls – including hawkers who have been in business for half a century, like Sergeant Hainanese Chicken Rice and Thye Hong Fried Prawn Noodles.  

Colour of Haji Lane. Photo / Supplied

Italy has gelato, Singapore has the ice-cream sandwich. And Orchard Road is home to a couple of old-school street carts that have operated for more than 30 years. Expect local flavours such as durian, red bean, yam and sweet corn, spooned between wafer biscuits or slices of pillowy pandan bread. Need decaffeinating? Check out the super-cute and super-chic Ralph Lauren café, Ralph’s Coffee, on the corner of Orchard Ave and Scotts Road. 

Singapore Zoo has long been regarded as one of the world’s best. It needs little introduction. But if you’re heading out there, add River Wonders to your wildlife journey, which is embraced by a Go City Explorer Pass. The two venues form part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve and River Wonders mixes the entertainment factor with a strong focus on raising awareness about endangered species and protecting river ecosystems. 

Highlights include the Mississippi River exhibit which transports you to heartland USA, complete with snapping alligators and frolicking turtles. The Amazon Flooded Forest is a showstopper, headlined by manatees. Their slow, graceful movements through the water had an almost therapeutic effect. But my favourite attraction was the Giant Pandas Forest – home to Kai Kai and Jia Jia. They seemingly work the crowd, posing for admirers like professional models. What a life they lead, lounging around and happily chomping down on bamboo. So calm, so serene, and drop dead gorgeous. 

Giant Pandas at River Wonders. Photo / Supplied

A truly great hotel needs to feel like home, a place you’re not only reluctant to leave but one that you could happily move into. If you’re Singapore-bound, let The Fullerton sprinkle its stardust on you, where location, service, style and soul are all immediately apparent. Despite nearing its centenary, the Fullerton building, retains its classic allure in a highly connected world. Taking a stroll along the Singapore River at night, the building which originally served as the General Post Office before becoming an iconic hotel, glistens like a wedding-cake on the waterfront.

With its stately Doric columns, coffered ceilings and cornices, this masterpiece of neo-classical architecture was the largest structure ever built in Singapore, 97 years ago. This showpiece hotel is anything but pickled – it hums with a playful buzz. After being chauffeured from the airport in the hotel limousine, I was whisked straight to my room, where the sign-in formalities were swiftly attended to.  

Fullerton Hotel, Singapore. Photo / Supplied

Stylish and soothing and with a ringside seat on the waterfront, my spacious Marina Bay suite with terrace was the meticulous blend of heritage, luxury and comfort, with a cream and caramel colour palette, heavenly bedding, sumptuous bathroom loaded with Diptyque toiletries, Nespresso coffee and fresh tropical fruit, delivered daily. But to step out onto that expansive terrace for the dazzling view across Marina Bay is worth waking up to – and staying up late to revel in the lights. Push the boat out and enjoy access to the Straits Club, for a plethora of indulgences including a classic afternoon with freshly baked scones, and a lavish nightly selection of sublime canapes and cocktails.  

Mike and the lights of Marina Bay. Photo / Mike Yardley 

After an early morning stretch of the legs on the riverside trail, I was ready to retox with a champagne breakfast, where a lip-smacking buffet of assorted goodies, strung across pedestals, complemented the eggs benedict, I ordered off the a la carte menu. Other headline dining experiences include Town Restaurant, which offers a sublime Spice Odyssey buffet dinner extravaganza. There’s a stack of seafood on ice like baby crawfish, scallops, prawns, clams and black mussels. Don’t miss the ghost pepper buffalo wings with blue cheese aioli, or the Masala fish curry.  

Town’s Signature Laksa is absolutely sensational – a fusion of lobster balls, purple scallops, quail eggs, fishcakes and beansprouts. The array of options is head-swirling, but you must reserve some belly room for dessert. Their cakes are like gifts for the gods, running the gamut from ondeh-ondeh cake and raspberry lychee bandung to pistachio joconde and chocolate chiffon cake. I also treated myself to a superlative three-tier English afternoon tea at The Courtyard. Artfully executed finger food included burrata cheese and parma ham sando; smoked salmon tarte, caramel banana mousse; black forest choux and strawberry pistachio tarte. 

Afternoon tea at the Fullerton. Photo / Mike Yardley

The atmospheric Post Bar is another alluring spot – an effervescent haunt for mingling and mixology. If you’re partaking in some cheeky nightcaps, don’t forget to enjoy the signature Merlion Cocktail – a tequila-based drink with honey ginger syrup. After a long-haul flight, my body was gagging to be pressed for pleasure. In the dimmed light of The Fullerton Spa, I savoured a 90 minute signature Asian Heritage massage, which is intensively applied. My limbs felt so relaxed, I felt as if I might levitate after having so many kinks ironed out from my travel-weary body. Across the hotel, staff are unfailingly obliging and engaging, catering to your every whim, including sharing with you a plethora of heritage nuggets and anecdotes, that permeate the building.  

Take time to immerse yourself in the Heritage Gallery, which offers so many charming insights on the importance role this building has played in the Singapore narrative.  But within this jewel-box of hospitality, my runaway favourite haven was the knock-out infinity pool lording over the Singapore River, backed by the statuesque grandeur of those Aberdeen granite pillars, and flanked by loungers. Every time I called by for a restorative dip, it took an age to tear myself away from this insatiable happy place.  

I jetted my way to Singapore with the award-winning flag-carrier, Singapore Airlines. All of my flights ran to time, all checked bags were faithfully waiting for me on the carousel and the in-flight experience was impeccable. The illustrious full-service carrier has not only fostered a world-beating reputation for its exceptional customer service and in-flight product, but also its innovation, across all classes. You’d struggle to find a better Economy class experience in the skies. 

Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines. Photo / Singapore Airlines 

If you’re toying with upgrading to Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines, you’re absolutely in for a treat. The KrisWorld entertainment system brims with over 1000 movie, TV, music and gaming selections, plus live news and sport. Equipped with noise cancelling headphones, the high-definition touch screen monitors are supersized at 33cms, from which I devoured so much content. The in-flight WiFi worked a trick too – complimentary for KrisFlyer members. It’s a class of its own.  

Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.