Seeing Green in Singapore

Singapore is swiftly turning its attention to environmental impact and living a cleaner and greener life. Join the locals in this quest with these tips for your next vacation to one of the coolest places (but not literally) in Southeast Asia!

Little India by Bike Has Never Been Better

Let’s Go Bike Singapore is a tour company offering eco-friendly tours by bicycle throughout the city. Starting at Tekka Market, you get the chance to watch everyone preparing for their day, making hasty trades at hawker stalls, bartering for the best price, and doing it all at an incredibly fast pace. Snack on your choice of local finger foods before hopping on the bike to the stunningly beautiful Sri Veeramakaliamman. All around you wafts the smell of incense burning at alters and the smell of flowers being strung onto garlands.

In only a few hours you will learn the 200 years of history of the Indians’ arrival in Singapore all the way to modern day. Don’t worry though, this tour is not a monologue, your guides prefer you ask about whatever interests you! Take the fast track to becoming a local, take this tour. If eating all day is more your thing — yum! — you might prefer the Bikes and Bites tour, which is a food-driven tour of the city stopping at favorite stalls to learn about the city through their rich and diverse cuisine.

Image courtesy of Jakub Michankow from Flickr

Chinese Food at ComBi Cafe

After experiencing all that the stands and centers have to offer, you’d be well within your rights to want a sit down meal. Enter ComBi Cafe and enjoy their fresh and healthy take on Chinese food favorites. Their Fragrant Fried Eggplant is the house dish, and when it arrives on the table you will understand why: beautiful presentation, lovely aromas, and a perfectly balanced flavor palate. This is a true homage to delicate Chinese cuisine and not the often over-greased food that is prevalent in other parts of the city.

Feel Like Royalty at PARKROYAL on Pickering

PARKROYAL on Pickering is an eco-friendly hotel built around the ethos of environmental preservation and the desire for you to relax in a perfect setting. Spend some time on the roof enjoying Singapore’s first zero-energy sky gardens, and be sure to bring your camera because you get a great view of the city. All the rooms and suites are inspired by Mother Nature and offer relaxing views of the Singapore River, Marina Centre, and Raffles City. Taking a shower has never felt so guilt free, as the hotel has innovated a way to save over 70% energy on hot water generation.

Image courtesy of Michi Lohelt from Flickr

Be Brave and Take a Sky Walk

The TreeTop Walk at MacRitchie is a two-hour walk from the MacRitchie Reservoir Park, and it’s worth every step. This suspension bridge gives you an eagle eye view of the canopy, plants, and wildlife, and it gives you a thrill — after all, it’s 25 meters off the forest floor! There is no shortcut for getting here; it has to be on foot, so it’s recommended for nature lovers who don’t mind walking a few hours for the reward. But to get fresh air and views like this in Singapore are essentially unheard of, so it’s a real treat.

Please note : This is part of a series for #HipmunkCityLove. Hipmunk.com is low-cost and budget travel service that I use while planning budget travel, and am thrilled to write for. I know you will find the articles as well as their services useful.

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