Destinations, Travel tips, Festivals and Public Holidays
Places Of Worship
Holiday Destinations & Tourist Attractions in Singapore
Jul 20th
Where to go in Singapore? What are the popular destinations? What are the places of interest in Singapore?
We got asked these questions quite frequently.
Singapore is one of the most amazing places in the world to go on a vacation with incredible tourist attractions, great nightlife, awesome cuisines and wonderful spa retreats.
A lot of people like to go on a Singapore holiday in order to make the best of their vacations and have a great time with their friends and family. It is a shockingly modern city and a fantastic place to visit during the holidays. It has a great deal of almost everything to offer to its visitors. The major tourist attractions will leave you bewitched with its charm.
So to give you a bit of overview, here we compile a list of Popular Holiday Destinations & Tourist Attractions in Singapore
Sentosa Island
Sentosa island is the undisputed No 1 most popular holiday destination of Singapore. In brief, it is a whole island converted into an attraction park. It is big and will probably take you 1-2 whole days to explore everything. Sentosa Island is the answer of Singapore to Disneyland, and will be even more so with the opening of Universal Studio with the Integrated Resort (IR) next year.
Beach lovers can enjoy exciting games and sea sports along the 3.2-km long sandy beaches stretching across Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong.
Fort Siloso is the Singapore’s only preserved coastal fort stands as an important window to our colonial past and a poignant reminder of the war years.
What else to do ? Ride a movie (Cinemania) / Join the army (Fort Siloso) / Spot sharks without getting wet (Underwater World) / Admire butterflies / Erupt yourself (VolcanoLand) / Splash yourself (Fantasy Island) / Fall for dolphins (Dolphin Lagoon) / Climb the Merlion for a panoramic view / Walk on a dragon / Have a look at other countries (Asian Village) / Relax on spotless artificial beaches / Rollerblade on the alleys or rent a bike / Spot skeleton on a nature walk / Have a photo with a snake / Watch monkeys getting coconuts / Walk a suspended bridge / Admire a collection of shells / Cool off by one of the numerous fountains or manicured gardens (orchid, scented, spices,…) / Bike on water / Dream at the musical fountain / Stand on the southernmost point of the Asia continent / Ride the monorail around for free / Dance on the beach in swim suit at the two beach bars (regular foam parties as well) / Swim in the laguna
Orchard Road
From the world famous city, comes the world famous shopping destination – the Orchard Road Singapore. There are over 30 malls and shopping centers located in the stretch or road, closely connected to each other by pavements and underground pass. Here, you’ll find everything like the stylish Louis Vuitton, the exquisite Bergdorf Goodman, the elegant Tiffany & Co., the ever popular Prada, the immaculate Versace, Cartier, Fortunoff, Dior, Fendi, and Chanel. And the list goes on and on…
Ethnic quarters
As a multiracial country, Singapore host a number of unique destinations which celebrates the cultural diversity of the different races. Here are some places where you can experience the culture, customs and traditional festivals.
1. Geylang Serai
It was earlier known as the Geylang Kelapa; Geylang Serai was an abode to many of the Malay Kampongs. It is famous for the exquisite quality of lemongrass that grows here in abundance. There are traditionally made Malay-Kalimpong houses and a cultural museum as well.
2. China Town
China Town was historically the home to Chinese population who lived here. The place can be best explored on foot and can be marveled at the various interesting areas of Chinese worship. The main places of worship include the Thian Hock Keng temple, Sri Marimman temple and the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. The China Town market is very popular for its cheap bargains where you can buy a lot of stuff like the textile, medicinal herb and Chinese handicraft.
3. Little India
Little India is a district endowed with Indian culture’s ethnic elements. The most attractive features of here are Sri Veeramakaliamman temple and Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. The latter is known more for its massive Buddha statue. Exquisite Indian silk, brassware, gold jewelry and trinkets can be bought from the exotic market. Little India’s cuisine and henna are also very popular.
4. Arab Street/ Kampong Glam
The colorful district of Kampong Glam got its name from a local tree, Gelam. It has a Malay Heritage Centre and Sultan Mosque. Also known as the Masjid Sultan, the mosque excels in architectural splendor. The textiles, fabrics and the baskets made of cane, straw and rattan of the market, trinkets, and perfumes are very famous here.
Nightlife
As for a taste of Singapore nightlife, some popular night spots highly recommended are Chijmes Singapore , Singapore Boat Quay, Mohammed Sultan Road, Singapore Robertson Quay and Holland Village Singapore. Arguably, some of the most popular party destinations currently are Zouk, St James Power Station (coal-fired power station turned into large entertainment complex), and MoS (Ministry of Sound)
Food
As a metropolitan where most of the population dines out, Singapore naturally has huge array of gastronomical offers. From posh five-star restaurants to economical food hawker centers, you can find and enjoy international as well as local food almost everywhere in Singapore.
Other destinations
You will never go wrong with the well-known Singapore tourist attractions such as the Singapore Zoo, Singapore Night Safari (Night Zoo), Jurong Bird Park and the Singapore Flyer etc.
Cambodia 2010 Public Holidays Calendar
Jul 17th
List of Public Holidays in Cambodia for year 2010.
Please note that many public holidays in Cambodia are either traditional festivals or Buddhist holidays, which are based on lunar calendars, thus the holiday dates change from year to year.
We do not and cannot guarantee accurate of the calendar. Use it at your own risk.
International New Year’s Day
The celebration of New Year’s Eve has become more and more popular in Cambodia, and although not an official holiday, many offices are closed.
Friday, 1 January 2010
Victory over Genocide Day
This national holiday commemorates Vietnamese-backed troops taking the capital from the Khmer Rouge in 1979. It marks the end of the Khmer Rouge regime after their defeat to the Vietnamese.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Meak Bochea Day /Magha Puja Day
An important Buddhist holy day, celebrated in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Buddhist Calendar. The month is known in the Thai language as Makha (Pali: Magha). Bucha, also a Thai word (Pali: Puja), meaning to venerate or to honor. As such, Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings.
Sunday, 30 January 2010
Chinese New Year
First new moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. An important celebration to Cambodians with chinese origin.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Not a public holiday
Women’s Day
This United Nations-inspired holiday, International day for women has become a big deal. Don’t hope to get anything done.
Monday, 8 March 2010
Cambodian Khmer New Year/Chaul Chnam Thmey
Possibly Cambodia’s most important holiday. The cities empty as Cambodians rush to spend the holiday with family. The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year’s Day. This time of the year is at the end of the harvesting season. The farmers enjoy the fruits of their harvest and relax before the rainy season begins. Gifts and tips are especially auspicious during April and should be accompanied with the phrase ‘Sok Sabay, Ch’nam Tmey’ (Happy New Year!)
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Friday, 16 April 2010
Visaka Bochea / Visaka Buja Day
Vesak Day, Buddhist observance commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Labour Day
A relatively minor holiday. Embassies advise avoiding large labor-related gatherings and rallies falling on this day as union disputes can occasionally turn violent.
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony
Known in Cambodia as Pithi Chrat Preah Neangkol, this public holiday corresponds to the start of the planting season. Royal astrologers will predict the coming season’s weather.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
HM King Sihamoni’s Birthday
Commemorates the birthday of King Norodom Sihamoni on 14 May 1953. The current king was crowned in 2004 after the abdication of his father, Norodom Sihanouk.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Friday, 14 May 2010
Saturday, 15 May 2010
HM the Queen Mother’s Birthday
Commemorates the birthday of The Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. Cambodians have a deep affection for the queen mother. Even so, this is a minor holiday which does not usually affect travel.
Friday, 18 June 2010
Cambodia Constitution Day
A public holiday called to celebrate the anniversary signing of the Cambodian new constitution by King Sihanouk on 24 September 1993
Friday, 24 September 2010
Pchum Ben Day
Festival of the Ancestors. Buddhist tradition demands Cambodians visit many pagodas over two weeks. Food, flowers, rice and gifts are given to the monks to convey to the afterlife so the dead do not haunt the living. This is a particularly poignant celebration given Cambodia’s recent history.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Friday, 8 October 2010
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Cambodia Coronation Day
Cambodia Coronation Day is the anniversary of the coronation of current King Norodom Sihamoni.
Friday, 29 October 2010
Former HM King Sihanouk’s Birthday
Retired king Sihanouk is indisputably Cambodia’s most important modern monarch and still widely regarded as divine.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Cambodia Independence Day
Marks anniversary of independence from France. King Sihamoni visits Independence Monument in Phnom Penh.
Thursday, 9 November 2010
Water Festival / Bon Om Thook
Millions teem into Phnom Penh from the provinces to celebrate the end of monsoon season. Dragon boats race for three days with the king overseeing. Perhaps the best time of any for meeting the people and enjoying the culture of Cambodia but the capital is impossibly crowded!
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Monday, 22 November 2010
Human Rights Day
A United Nations-inspired holiday. Unlikely to affect travel plans but government offices are closed.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Also check out 2010 Public Holidays in other countries.
Hari Raya Puasa Holiday 2010
Jun 18th
Friday, 10 September 2010 is a Ministry of Manpower (MoM) public holiday in Singapore Calendar. The holiday is to celebrate the Muslim and Malay Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday. In Hijriah (Islamic Date) calendar, it falls on 1 Syawal 1431.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri (also known as Hari Raya Lebaran, Hari Raya Idul Fitri, and Hari Raya Puasa, literally “Celebration Day of Fasting”) is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr.
It is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan / Ramadhan, the Islamic holy month of “Puasa” (fasting). The holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated starting on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal / Syawal.
Muslims in Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term “Hari Raya” literally means “Day of Celebration” — it is also occasionally used to refer to Eid ul-Adha in the form of “Hari Raya Aidiladha” or “Hari Raya Idul Adha”.
On this day, Muslims all over the world offer a special prayer in the morning and later visit their relatives and friends. The young will seek forgiveness from elders for their past misconduct.
In Singapore, the first day of the Hari Raya is celebrated as a public holiday, where civil servants and private sector workers alike are mostly not required to work.
In Indonesia and Malaysia, it is a long holiday period, with some companies are not working for as long as 2 weeks.
The main greeting used by Muslims in Singapore and Malaysia is “Selamat Hari Raya” which means “Happy Eid” in Malay. Another greeting is “Maaf Zahir dan Batin” which translates loosely to “I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually”, for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.
In Indonesia, the more commonly used greetings are “selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri”, “Selamat Lebaran”, and “Maaf Lahir dan Batin”.
During the Muslim month of Ramadan leading up to Hari Raya, it is mandatory for Muslims to fast from dawn to dusk. All Muslims except the young, old or infirm must fast. Many Muslims also abstain from pleasures such as smoking cigarettes and sexual activities during the daylight of the fasting month.
Widely, markets, or ‘Ramadan bazaars’ are held in many areas around the country, where all sorts of food and kuih — traditional Malay delicacies — are sold for breaking fast or buka puasa. Hotels and restaurants have also exploited this situation to offer exorbitant Ramadan buffets.
The main attraction place to observe the Hari Raya and the preparations prior to festival is best observed at Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai, a bustling outdoor market and the Hari Raya Light-Up, as well as various Mosque around Singapore.
For more information on Singapore mosque, check with Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.
Buddhist Vesak Day Year 2010
Jun 17th
Vesak Day Year 2010 falls on Friday, 28 May 2010.
Vesak day is celebrated by Buddhist around the world, and in different manners all over the world. Though some countries occasionally use different date for this festival, most would fall on this same day.
Vesak is an annual public holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in South Asian and South East Asian countries like Nepal, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Pakistan and India. Sometimes informally called “Buddha’s birthday,” it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.
The Vesak Day is an extremely important occasion observed in Singapore. Huge crowds will usually assemble at various Buddhist temples around the city. Inside the Buddha temples the monks chant sacred hymns and a large number of devotees set caged-birds free. Setting the imprisoned birds free is considered as a graceful gesture which serves as a mark of respect to all living creatures in the world. On this day, the Buddhist youths organize blood donation camps and distribute gifts to the poor people. During the evenings, candlelit processions are found walking across the streets of the city and this is how the festival is ended.
The entry to observe the Vesak Day festival is free of cost as people can enter the temples free of cost. Some of the best points in the city for observing the festivities of Vesak Day in Singapore are the Buddhist Lodge at River Valley Road, The Thai Buddhist Temple at Jalan Bukit Merah and Lian Shan Shuang Lin Temple at Jalan Toa Payoh.
The Singapore Vesak Day is always celebrated in the month of May and is a yearly event.
Veeramakaliamman Temple
Apr 7th
 |
uilt as early as 1855 by Bengali labourers, this magnificent temple was constructed for the worship of Goddess Kali, the consort of Lord Shiva. Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is thought to be the first temple in Singapore to venerate her.
Getting there: Take the MRT to NE7 Little India and head toward Serangoon Road. The temple is a short walk from the station. Click here to view MRT route map. |
Thian Hock Keng Temple
Apr 7th
 |
This Taoist temple, erected in 1821 by seamen grateful for safe passage, stands where Singapore’s waterfront used to be before reclamation. Getting There: A short walk from Raffles Place (EW14/NS26) or Tanjong Pagar (EW15) MRT Station. Click here to view MRT route map. |
The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
Apr 7th
 |
The oldest Catholic church in Singapore, the Cathedral is also the revered home of the present Archbishop. But when the church’s foundation stone was initially laid in 1843, few people expected that it would give rise to an architectural design showdown between colonial architect-greats, D.L. Sweeney and J.T. Thomson.
Getting There: Take the MRT to City Hall MRT Station (EW13/NS25) and walk along Bras Basah Road. Click here to view MRT route map. |
Thekchen Choling
Apr 7th
 |
Founded by Singapore-born Lama Thubten Namdrol Dorje in 2001, Thekchen Choling Singapore is a Tibetan Buddhist Temple that encompasses both the Tibetan & Chinese tradition.
Getting There: Bus Services: 2, 7, 12, 32, 33, 51, 61, 63, 80, 107, 133, 145, 197, 21, NR7, 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 125, 130, 139, 147 |
Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
Apr 7th
 |
First established in 1889 in a rented shophouse in Boon Tat Street, the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church has played a significant role in the birth of Methodism in Singapore through English and American missionaries who preached in Chinatown.
Getting There: A short walk from Tanjong Pagar (EW15) MRT Station. Click here to view MRT route map. |
Central Sikh Temple
Apr 7th
 |
The chief place of worship for Singapore’s 15,000 Sikhs, the Central Sikh Temple was built to commemorate the 518th anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. The temple boasts a skilful blend of modern and traditional architecture. Getting There: Take MRT from Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station (NS24) to Boon Keng MRT Station (NE9) and follow the sign boards pointing to the temple. Click here to view MRT route map. |
