by Andre Sanchez

If you want something different this year, why not escape to Malaysia with a Singapore vacation? Ever since Sir Stanford Raffles landed in Singapore in 1819, the city has drawn people of a wide variety of races from all over the world, from the colonial British to Chinese traders; from Indian migrants to a whole wave of Southeast Asian adventurers and North Africans seeking to trade their wares.

Signs of these diverse cultures are everywhere in Singapore, with old mosques and temples mingling with the modern architecture of a bustling cosmopolitan island city. There is an intermingling of the old with the new, and the exotic fragrance of incense and spices tells you that you are in a city of many cultures. So, you have opted for a Singapore vacation – where do you go and what do you see?

Chinatown is like most other Chinatowns round the world: lots of temples, markets and shops where you can buy just about anything Chinese and, of course, the restaurants. The traditional shops are gradually being replaced by the more upmarket boutiques and restaurants, but you can still find family run eateries where the food is delicious and completely authentic.

Singapore can provide a wealth of entertainment, the variety of which reflects its international population. You could try the Esplanade, where the Theatres on the Bay provide artistic performances in a purpose-built entertainments complex, or take in one of the many shows and cabarets provided by Singapore’s night life. This city is a mix of the traditional and the ultra modern, and you can fine practically every form of entertainment here that you could possibly want. Try Clarke Quay for some traditional pubs and a night of great entertainment.

You can’t visit Singapore without making a visit to the zoo. Singapore Zoo is world famous, and tends to separate people and animals by means of moats, rather than metal bars, which gives more freedom to the animals. The night-time safari is fabulous, but there is plenty to see in daylight, with more than 2000 animals kept in their natural habitat wherever possible.

The restaurants are out of this world, and you can get anything ranging from traditional forms of western cuisine to the full range of aromatic spiced foods of the orient. You can stumble across small eateries offering home-cooked traditional Malaysian and Chinese food, or you can dine on the best that a standard five star hotel can offer. Singapore has everything, and the east-west fusion food is absolutely delicious.

If you’ve got the children with you, take a visit to the island of Sentosa, just south of Singapore. This is a beach resort and great fun for the kids with Underwater World and lots of other attractions. If you prefer a bit of peace and quiet, on the other hand, take in the Botanic Gardens and enjoy a quiet stroll round the displays.

No trip to Singapore would be complete without a visit to the world-famous Raffles Hotel. The epitome of colonial grace, Raffles is practically synonymous with Singapore luxury and contains fourteen bars and food outlets. It is where the Singapore Sling was invented, and it is reputed that the very last tiger in Singapore was shot and made extinct in the Long Bar here. Pay it a visit, have a drink and join an illustrious crowd of others who have done so including Queen Elizabeth II, Charlie Chaplin, George Bush and Michael Jackson.

Take a break and escape to Malaysia with a Singapore vacation that you will remember all of your life.

Escape to Malaysia with a Singapore Vacation was originally published at http://www.globallifenow.com