I am fortunate to have the pleasure of traveling to Singapore a few times a year for business. I'm never disappointed by my experience. I'm continually enchanted by the people, overwhelmed by the service and relaxed by how easy it is to work and enjoy life in Singapore.

Singapore's history is one of geographical serendipity and a fierce determination amongst its people to make their tiny island a success. In the 3rd Century AD, sketchy references can be found in Chinese documents to a location named Pu-Luo-Chung (Island at the end of the peninsula). By approximately 1500 AD, the Sanskrit name, Singapura - meaning Lion City, was gaining common useage in in the surrounding regions.

Despite the fact that I haven't visited Singapore as a tourist for some 20 years and now only go for business I always find something new to look at on my trips, a new dish to try or new people to meet. Singapore is continually evolving, newer, more interesting hotels, renovation projects of shop-houses, a new opera house. They continually seek to improve and enhance.

The service in starred hotels in Singapore far outstrips anything you could expect in European hotels. One of the best experiences of service that I have had whilst staying in Singapore was in the RitzCarlton, a place I have been privileged enough to stay in a few times. With its light and airy, beautifully designed lobby, attractive and comfortable dining areas and funky hexagonal bathroom windows (a tip, keep the lights off, or draw the blinds when you have a bath - apparently the block opposite can see into the bathrooms otherwise!).

The Singaporeans love to shop and they love to eat. It is no surprise then that there are numerous malls that you can walk through, one after another throughout the city, and that these conveniently house a great number of different types of restaurant. Open until late, you can shop, eat, shop, eat and repeat!

However, if you want something more traditional head for one of the outdoor food markets, where you choose a table and then pick dishes from different hawkers. Newton Food Centre is a great example, and so if you fancy going out of town a little take a taxi for a few Singapore dollars and go to the East Coast Seafood Centre. Boasting a number of hawker centres and restaurants, this is the place you go to make a real mess with a chilli crab or some curried stingray.

Tourism in Singapore is worked hard at, as is everything. You only have to see how much they care about getting the Asian Grand Prix, or the chance to host a world conference on some subject. However, my two personal favourites are probably not the most "visible" choices.

Go to Clarke Quay and take one of the organised trips into the Harbour, where you get to see Singapore by boat and understand some of its history and importance as a port and its industry.

Travel to Singapore Zoo, it won't be open, it's night-time! Instead, go to the Night Safari next door. A separate set of animals will enchant you at night, as you experience a show of nocturnal animals, and then get the breath-taking experience of coming across an elephant in the moon-light as you travel by train through the park. You can get off the train at various places to look at other animals. It is truly magical.

There are always new hotels and buildings being created, the new Opera House, supposedly shaped like that smelly fruit The Durian nestling gently against the older buildings. There is always movement and dynamism, but also an increasing belief that culture needs to be preserved, hence the renovation of the shop-houses in China-Town.

Vibrant, hard-working, charming. A country just like its people.

Learn more about this author, Lesley Rigg.
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