by Samantha Jamie

Created on: June 24, 2009

My first trip to Singapore was year 2005, with my husband and relatives. It was a wedding gift from a relative. It was a bit exciting because unlike going to Hong Kong where you know what to expect - Disneyland, Ocean Park, and shopping, we do not know what to expect in Singapore. All we know was that foods are expensive, and that the government is very strict - no jaywalking, no gums, smoking is prohibited in most areas, no littering, among other things. That was why I was a bit hesitant to go.

But one thing I did not expect was the beauty, cleanliness and orderliness of the place. On our bus ride from the airport to the hotel, I was amazed by what I am seeing from the window. Tall skyscrapers, condominiums and HDBs clustered together, trees and concrete walks, all in order. Coming from a poverty-stricken country with pollution as one of its major problems, and beggars lining up the streets, coming to Singapore is a breather.

Like other tourists, our first stop was the Sentosa Island. We went there via the cable car from Harbor Front. Here, we saw the biggest replica of Singapore's symbol - the merlion. We went to the Underwater World where more than 2,500 fishes from 250 different species are seen. We ventured into the ocean depths via a moving travellator where there were sharks, stingrays, eels and schools of fish gliding past engrossed in their own world. There was also a Dolphin Show where live dolphins performed to the satisfaction of the audience. The beaches- Palawan Beach, Tanjong Beach and Siloso Beach also captivated our nature loving side. The highlight of the day was the Musical Fountain (now called Songs of the Sea), where we were mesmerized by the show with a live cast and dramatic effects pyrotechnics, water jets, brilliant lasers, special computer imaging, captivating music and stunning flame bursts. It's a one-of-a-kind entertainment that's not to be missed.

There are other places we visited while in Singapore - the Singapore Zoo, the Bugis street market, the Jurong Bird Park, the Esplanade and the various shopping centers scattered strategically all over Singapore, but nothing compared to the beauty of Sentosa Island on my opinion. But nevertheless, traveling to Singapore is indeed a very pleasurable experience. In fact, it made me love the country enough to consider working and living here. And so a year after I first traveled to Singapore, I went back, look for a job, and is now living in Singapore for over 2 years now.

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