English is spoken in many countries all over the world. Join me on a short tour of Singapore, a city-state in southeast Asia, to learn about the country and learn English at the same time! Walk along the Singapore River and admire the architecture, explore the interesting Gardens By the Bay, and of course enjoy some delicious food and drink!

“Singapore is a city-state in southeast Asia. Thanks to a very long layover, we got a chance to explore the Garden City for half a day. We walked around the Singapore River, where we took in the view of the city’s skyline. The huge Marina Bay Sands resort really stands out, as does the futuristic ArtScience Museum. Unfortunately, the ferris wheel was closed.

From there, we headed to the Gardens by the Bay. This massive park is meant to begin the transformation of Singapore from the “Garden City” to the “City in a Garden.” It is highlighted by the Supertrees. They are vertical gardens, which generate solar power, collect rainwater, and more. From there, we tagged along with this group of adorable pre-school kids on a field trip to the Cloud Forest. In hot and humid Singapore, this is a great place to cool off, as it replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions. Inside, a large waterfall comes down the side of the “cloud mountain.” This intricate structure is split into three levels and contains from plants from different regions. Visitors are free to stroll around and learn more about all of the flora and fauna. At the top, you can cruise along the “cloud walk”, a path that winds down the artificial mountain. We were thrilled to find this display of crystals. It’s a Sound Tribe fan’s dream come true in here; the heady crystal vibes are strong. The purpose of these Gardens by the Bay is educating people on environmental conservation while greening the city at the same time. More cities should follow Singapore’s lead.

We headed back outside and continued on our walk. Between two of the larger Supertrees, you’ll find the Skyway. This elevated walkway can be accessed for a small fee, and visitors can head to the top to enjoy fantastic bird’s eye views of the city. Looking over Singapore, I only wished we had more time to explore. The gardens are very well maintained and provide a much needed green space in a city full of skyscrapers and concrete.

We made our way back to the riverside, where we saw a cruise going by. In search of food, we headed into the Marina Bay Sands. This resort is a hotel, casino, shopping mall, and more. It features what has to be the best food court I’ve ever eaten in, with delicious food from all over the world. We sampled a variety of dishes, which were all delicious.

After lunch, we took some time to admire the funky architecture of the city. These futuristic buildings make for some great photo ops. Needing to walk off that huge lunch, we walked from one side of the river to the other. On the other side, we found Merlion, the symbol of Singapore. This half mermaid, half lion statue spits out a constant stream of water all day. With tired feet and about an hour to kill, we grabbed some cocktails by the river. My Singapore Sling nicely summed up my first impression of the country – expensive, cool, and tasty.”