Things to See in Singapore

It sounds like an experiment from Frankenstein, but 'Connecting Plants with People' is the catchcry at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Wide green spaces like these are rare in Singapore - perfect for jetlag recovery, picnics, reading a paper or just wandering around aimlessly.

On the far northeast coast of Singapore, Changi Village offers an escape from the city mayhem. The buildings are modern but there's still a village atmosphere, the lively hawker centre being the focal point. Changi Beach (where thousands of Singaporean civilians were executed during WWII), lapped by the polluted Johor Straits, is lousy for swimming, but has a good stretch of sand. It's packed on weekends but almost deserted during the week.

Famous by name, Orchard Rd was once was lined with nutmeg and pepper plantations. Today it's the domain of Singapore's elite and well-heeled tourists, lured here by the shopping centres, nightspots, restaurants, bars and lounges. A showcase for the material delights of capitalism, Orchard Rd also possesses some sights of cultural interest where a credit card is not required.

The Muslim centre of Singapore is a traditional textile district, full of batiks from Indonesia, silks, sarongs and shirts. Add to this mix rosaries, flower essences, hajj caps, songkok hats, basketware and rattan goods, and you have a fair idea of the products haggled over in this part of the city.

Currently closed for renovation, the Singapore History Museum, also known as the National Museum of Singapore, is due to reopen late 2006. The museum traces its ancestry back to Raffles himself, who conceived of the idea in 1823. The museum has substantial collections focusing on regional cultures, history and craft, and has a superb jade collection.

An exercise in fusing the tiny morsels and artistic sauce (or should we say jus?) dribbles of nouvelle cuisine with traditional Asian flavours. Largely, it works, though the menu can be a little disorientating (hmm...Scottish salmon, miso cod or Thai barramundi?). Also runs highly regarded cooking courses.

Fashionable, homely shophouse restaurant dishing up all the rich, spicy, sour Peranakan favourites, including the signature ayam panggang (grilled chicken in coconut and spices) that is the restaurant's claim to fame.

This busy, carpeted Cantonese place is one of many reliable Crystal Jades across the city. There's an extensive numbered 'I want that one' menu (try the congee) and several set menus.

We're not sure what happened to the 'Lock' and 'Two Smoking', but this long, lean, regulation bar is perfect for a dim-lit evening ale or five and some jukebox abuse. There's a solid selection of beers on tap for reasonable prices

If the remodelled Clarke Quay is a collection of eager-faced college kids, then Crazy Elephant is the crusty bloke in the corner watching them out of the corner of his eye and shaking his head. One of Singapore's oldest, trustiest live-music venues, this is the place to ditch all that electronic nonsense and listen to some serious, loud rock and blues.

Yes, you read it right: this narrow Canadian-owned hole-in-the-wall stays open until 07:00 - a magnet for hardcore drinkers. Gloomily decorated with Chinese lanterns and a pink-lit fish tank, it has a certain dingy charm. Happy hours run from 17:00 to 21:00.