July in Singapore is approaching wet season. That's the first point to note. Bring wet weather gear. But don't let this deter you. This South-East Asian country has it all. Driving from the airport to my hotel it is clear that this place is clean. Humid, but clean. The air is free from smog and pollutants, the roads lined by manicured orchids and not a trace of litter to be found. Not even one measly cigarette butt! Singapore is immaculate- and proud of it. This may be partly due to the highly patrolled suburbs or the abundance of 'No Spitting' signs but whatever the case may be Singapore is a stand out for cleanliness.

Shopping in Singapore is a must do. From designer clothes to food stalls- you can find it all. Gucci, Prada, Armani, all the labels can be found on Orchid Road, the hottest shopping strip in the country. Locals and tourists a like work the credit card to the max at any one of the plazas aligned down the road. For the bargain hunter hiding in all of us the likes of Bugis Street and Little India will suffice. From 'I heart Singapore' tee's to fresh meat (complete with a wild bird perched upon it- ok, not such a clean observation) hold on to your handbags and go get 'em. But mind yourself when crossing the road. When the green man strikes, a timer begins to count down from 30 and when it reaches 0 it is literally every man for himself. Cars will take off and if you are in it's way well the idea is that you have had enough time to cross! You knew how long you had!

Technology is all the rage (as is textbook in most Asian countries) but beware of those prying on naïve tourists! Techno mega-centre, Sim Lim City is 7 stories of madness. Each store has the same digital cameras, phones, televisions, you name it. It is a bit of a whirlwind and not for the faint hearted. Word of warning, do your homework. I hadn't, and according to my research it turns out I may have been gypped. Further, stores that are legit in prices and quality have been presented with signs that are visible to customers. If you don't see the sign you are in a black listed store and should move on.

There is nothing better than sampling local delicacies and in Singapore don't be afraid to get right into it. The food stalls here are something to write home about. Newton Circus (right on Scot St) is the Mecca of food halls. Jam packed with over 50 food outlets conducting business around the circumference of court which is open 24 hours a day. It really is! (It is so much more fun eating out at 3 in the morning!) Singaore seafood is to die for. In particular, the chilli crab will blow you away as will the 4L Tiger beers. Give it a whirl!

Which brings me nicely to beers. The nightlife in Singapore is awesome! Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, is, as the name suggests, are riverside destinations, with countless bars to tickle the fancy of any man, woman and tourist. Irish bars, Antarctic themed bars, bar's with macho margarita's! It can all be found right under your nose. As you walk you can here karaoke is beating from within walls and walk into any 7-eleven to find liquor land in the fridges right next to the milk! And don't forget to ask the tender to pop the cap for you. All part of the service it seems! Nothing better than a roadie to take you from one pub to another. The warm weather complements the view at both Boat and Clarke Quay perfectly with the gentle whir of fans in the background- absolute heaven. The locals are friendly and welcoming with plenty of advice to offer in regards to hot spots both for night and day.  

So far so good right- I haven't warned you about the price of alcohol yet. Singapore is a country well known for paying high regard toward safety and health. For this reason surveillance camera's dot rooftops, criminals are severely punished and alcohol costs a bundle. A schooner of the local beer, Tiger, set me back $15- Aussie dollars. Call me a tight arse but back at the local $15 could pay for a big night out. Needless to say spirits reached $20 and beyond. When in Rome, do as the Roman's- so I drank my liquid gold night after night, no complaints.

It is well worth the top coin all for this one hot spot. We have all heard of the Ministry of Sound albums but Singapore boasts the nightclub! With 5 action packed rooms each featuring a different genre of music- funk, house, disco, lounge and r'n'b this is the place to be. The set up itself was like no other- each room aesthetically reflected the music that is pumping and it is commonplace for international DJ's grace the decks here. It's a damn shame that everything shuts at three in the morning- that safety rule again! Interestingly the locals hadn't even heard of the Ministry of Sound albums.

Despite the outragous cost of drinks it's all but made up for in the cheap as chips cabs. There is nothing sweeter than the luxury of being able to afford cabs! A half hour cab ride didn't set me back more than $10. I was chuffed to be able to tip, unlike at home when I scramble to find change that may have slipped into the nooks of the back seat!

The night life is heaven but it pays to allow a couple of hang-over free days. Singapore zoo has to be one of the best across the globe. You can begin the day with breakfast with the orang-utans- a great photo opportunity! Trains run a circuit through the spacious park continuously allowing you to see all the sights this great zoo has to offer. With every animal you could hope for under the one roof it is a must see in Singapore. It might sound cheesy but there is so much room for all of the animals that you don't feel so bad for taking them out of their natural habitiat. As the sun sets, a night safari is all the rage. Tour's of the park won't set you back too much and the atmosphere is serene and somewhat romantic.

Finally, a day trip worth looking into is the 30 minute (from the mainland) cable car ride to Santosa Island. Everyone raves about it- I guess it could be liken to a theme park. You will find the only beach in Singapore here. Although somewhat man-made and beyond the shark net the oil rigs are a slight turn-off, it is as close as you'll get to sand and sea so maximise if that's what you are into! Aside from that there are 3D rides, dolphins that turn pink at puberty (seriously), eateries, whimsical gardens and orchid farms. It is a refreshing change of pace from the chaos that is metropolis Singapore.

You can see it all in Singapore in five days. Having said that, the weather, the people, the clean-ness and the nightlife could keep you there for always.