by Timou

Created on: July 03, 2009

It is a well-known fact that youths around the world are increasingly getting bitten by the travel bug, and seek cheap and exotic travel destinations. Being a young citizen of Singapore, perhaps I could give a youth's perspective of what there is to do in Singapore.

Perhaps a brief background of the country is in order. Singapore is quite literally a rocky outcropping located between Malaysia and Indonesia in South-East Asia. Singapore is one of the smallest countries in the world, but it is also one of the most urbanized and densest cities. The population consists of a rich mix of ethnic group, religions, cultures and beliefs, making for a vibrant and exciting city-life all year round.

Young shopping enthusiasts will find much to cheer about. Orchard Road offers 2 kilometres of pure shopping pleasure, with large shopping malls and smaller boutiques lining the streets. Orchard Road has recently undergone a 'facelift', making shopping in this area more aesthetically pleasing and convenient. Come end 2009, three more mega-malls with internationally known brands as tenants will open, making Orchard Road the densest shopping area in Southeast Asia.

If the soaking in the sun is your preferred vacation activity, then consider a short trip to Sentosa. An offshore island theme park, Sentosa can be reached by taking a monorail ride from Singapore's largest mall, Vivocity. Sentosa offers three main beaches, and one can have a dip in the lagoons, play beach volleyball and frisbee, have a beach picnic, or simply enjoy the sun lazing at the beach chairs. If one gets bored, Sentosa offers many other exciting attractions, such as the Underwater World (a underwater tunnel that presents a whole new look at marine life) or the nightly musical fountains.

Perhaps heading off the beaten track is your idea of a vacation. If so, then Pulau Ubin will suit you perfectly. Yet another offshore treasure, Pulau Ubin is accessible via a short bumboat ride from the Changi Jetty, located at the eastern part of mainland Singapore. Pulau Ubin is a popular destination for leisure bikers, and is perhaps one of the last places in Singapore where you can see how people used to live fifty years ago before the massive urbanization drive. Nature enthusiasts will also want to explore Chek Jawa, a small mangrove conserve in Pulau Ubin that promises a wealth of wetland wildlife, flora and fauna. End your trip to Pulau Ubin with refreshing coconut juice at one of the stalls while waiting for your ride back to mainland Singapore.

Speaking of food, young tourists need not worry about their meals when in Singapore. Regardless of your budget, you are bound to find food that is to your liking, what with the wide range of cuisine available in cosmopolitan Singapore. Try exotic fare, ranging from Chinese, to Malay, Indian, Peranakan, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, American, and even Russian, the list never ends.

A vacation in Singapore for the young traveler will certainly be exciting and memorable, so long as one keeps an open mind and a thirst for fun and new experiences.

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