Cooking can be considered as an art which requires willingness and proper knowledge in order to prepare mouth-watering dishes. If you are in Singapore on vacation and finished with your shopping and sight-seeing then a visit to Cookery Magic is definitely worth the experience. Located on Fidelio Street within a single storey house, Cookery Magic happens to be a highly recommended school for cooking in Singapore. You can learn some of the best in class cuisines from different countries like India, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Ruqxana is the chef who leads the courses and even offers children’s and vegetarian cooking courses. You will be overwhelmed with the warm welcome and friendliness of Ruqxana who can also show you around her terraced house.

The Chef Behind the Class
The classes are kept intimate and small and you are bound to enjoy the classes with lots of laughter and chatter. Ruqxana is of Indian origin and is a self-taught cook who takes her passion for cooking very seriously. You can also check out her website at the Singapore Tourism Board and know more about her cooking classes.

Apart from the classes, you will also get to know more about the medicinal purposes and history of ingredients that she uses while cooking. She has vast experience when it comes to cooking and if you are in any sort of doubts, she will clarify them with a friendly tone and easy going attitude. A lot can be learnt about Nonya food which is preferred by the Peranakan people. The relaxed home-setting atmosphere will make you extremely comfortable and allow you to learn the details of every dish prepared along with its cultural significance.

Apart from getting to learn new recipes and dishes, you get the opportunity to have a peek into the local culture which is thoroughly attached with the local cuisines and dishes of Singapore.

It does not matter at all whether you have prior experience in cooking or not as Ruqxana takes out the time to teach you about the preparation of every dish in such a way that it becomes easy for you to prepare it without referring to anything. Even though many might consider attending cooking classes while spending holidays not such a great idea, once you are done with Ruqxana’s cooking classes, you will feel that the time was utilized in the best possible manner.

Located within Singapore Botanic Gardens amidst lush tropical greenery, National Orchid Gardens is a paradise for orchid lovers. The garden is home to more than one thousand species of orchids and includes VIP orchids named after foreign dignitaries and celebrities. You are bound to be amazed by orchids that are generally found in tropical highland areas and also cool-growing species of plants and carnivorous plants.

Singapore Orchid Garden is home to a wide variety of orchid species, some of which are almost extinct within their natural habitats.

Tons of Orchid Species to Appreciate
The best part about National Orchid Garden is the orchid display design. The orchids are displayed and organised base on the colour scheme that reflects the winter, autumn, summer and spring seasons. The orchids are set amidst a backdrop of strikingly similar trees and foliage. Some of the attractions inside the National Orchid Garden include the Burkill Hall, Dancing Lady Orchid or Golden Shower, Tiger Orchid, Vanda Miss Joaquim, Tan Hoon Siang Mist House and VIP orchid garden.

Mist House

Set against a backdrop of tropical foliage and cultural decor, a host of award-winning rare orchids are displayed in the mist house.

Some of the rare orchids featured by the National Orchid Garden include Elephant’s Ear Orchid, Rat’s Tail and Slipper.

Cool House
The Cool House is another special attraction within the National Orchid Garden which you should not miss at any chance. The house simulates montane tropical forest and consists of varieties of orchid species, cool growing plants and carnivorous plants. The famous Pitcher Plant with its nectar scent and beautiful colours is also available here.

Orchidarium

The Orchidarium is where most of the wild orchids are seen. Despite generally being less snowy and free-flowering than the cultivated orchids, wild ones often have delicate and intricate blooms.

Tranquil Environment

If you are visiting Singapore for the first time then you should not miss the opportunity to visit this spectacular outdoor retreat which houses orchids from nearly every corner of the globe. There is hardly any other orchid gardens around the world where you can witness such great variety of orchid species at one place. It is a nice quiet world to witness away from the hustle and bustle of busy Singaporean city life.

Opening Hours and Accessibility
The National Orchid Garden remains open from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. with last ticket sales taking place at around 6 p.m. The admission fees for adults is S$5, for students S$1, for senior citizens S$1 and free for children below twelve years of age. Car parking facilities are available for your convenience and the garden consists of directional signs and map boards for easy navigation within the area.

This popular Singaporean attraction gives thrill seekers the opportunity to experience skydiving. There’s no plunging, no jumping, no bad weather – just adrenaline rush and sheer exhilaration like no other. The flight experience starts the minute you set foot inside the airport terminal styled facility.

Big and Safe Wind Tunnel

Measured at 5.02m in diameter and a height of 17.22m (equivalent of a 5-storey building), the vertical wind tunnel is the biggest in the world. Anyone, from first timers to seasoned skydivers and between the ages of 7 and 106 years can sign up for this. The facility’s top-of-the-line technology guarantees high levels of safety. With the tunnel’s sheer size, you can do a variety of movements like free-flying and formation skydive. Not only that, the acrylic glass wall allows the visitor to get a spectacular view of the Siloso Beach and South China Sea.
The Price

The experience comes at just 1/5th of a tandem jump’s cost (see rate above) and in return visitors will be receiving skydiving gear, professional guidance and an unmatched skydiving experience. And the most important of all, you will be getting the fun of your lifetime.

Patented and Top Notch Design
The facility is managed by SkyVenture’s global franchise network, which has more than 32 tunnels around the world. The company’s patented multiple overhead fans, wall-to-wall airflow and other such unique technologies deliver the most accurate and safest free fall simulation possible. At present, SkyVenture is the world leader when it comes to indoor skydiving simulation simply because of its safety measures and multiple patents.

As long as a person meets the criteria of SkyVenture, they can sign up to be a part of this amazing experience. Flying is possible even for those with disabilities.

The Flight Criteria
• The person must be weighing less than 120 kilos. One must notify the authority if he/she is exceeding the limits.
• Is at least seven years old.
• Is able to wear comfortably one of their helmets.
• Is not pregnant.
• Has not dislocated his/her shoulder previously and has no history of heart problems or neck/back injury.
• Is not under the control of non-prescriptive drugs or alcohol.
• Is not dressed in a plaster cast.
• Has signed iFly Singapore’s indemnity form.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS has accredited S.E.A. Aquarium to be the biggest aquarium on earth and now it is your chance to discover and be a part of this awe-inspiring world. You can immerse yourselves into this magical marine world as seen through this planet’s biggest window to the ocean.
Over 800 species of fishes can be found here, with the aquarium being home to enormous goliath grouper, majestic manta rays and napoleon wrasse among others. The aquarium gives you the chance to look into the eyes of more than 200 sharks and unravel the secrets that have long been surrounding these ocean predators.

Before you step into the aquarium in the lower level, the journey to the underwater world starts with the display of artefacts.

Java Sea and Strait of Karimata

Right after entering the aquarium, you’ll be amazed by the shipwreck and locate squadrons of pompano, batfish, threadfin trevally, and others.

Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca

You can go on an underwater journey through Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca where a magnified marine life is ready to be encountered them. Here, you can walk across glass floors and watch the ocean life swim right beneath your feet. You can also get up close with the leafty seadragons that are usually found in colder water.

Singapore Zoo occupies 69 acres of land and is locally known as Mandai Zoo. It was previously named Singapore Zoological Gardens. It lies within Upper Seletar Reservoir in the densely arboreous central catchment area. The zoo exhibits animals in the contemporary fashion of naturalistic open-air enclosures with hidden barriers, glass and moats separating humans from animals. Wildlife Reserve Singapore operates Singapore Zoo along with Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari.

Conservation
Singapore Zoo boasts of being the first zoo throughout the World to rear polar bear in tropical climate. The bear named Inuka was conceived in 1990.

The Zoo is home to nearly 315 species of animals, of which 28 species are considered threatened. It has the largest colony of captive Orangutans on Earth. Keeping up with its commitment, Wildlife Reserve Singapore opened Wildlife Healthcare and Research Centre in 2006 to provide infrastructure to overseas parks and zoological partners for research. Various conservation and rescue initiatives are underway in the name of Night Safari and Singapore Zoo.

Shows and Events
The main amphitheatre in the zoo is Shaw Amphitheatre. It shows Rainforest Fights Back, which is a drama performed by actors and animals such as cockatiels, pea fowls, lemurs, orangutans, etc. together. Visitors are allowed to meet and interact with orangutans during Breakfast with an Orangutan session.

Elephants at Work and Play is another show where domestication of elephants in some southeast Asian countries is depicted. Mahouts or caretakers of elephants exhibit how they instruct the largest terrestrial beast to obey their commands. Children’s section of the zoo has Kidzworld Amphitheatre, which shows Animal Friends featuring trick performance by domestic animals such as parrots, dogs, etc.

The life and intelligence of aquatic and marine animals and seabirds like dolphins, seals, pelicans, etc are exhibited in Splash Safari. The animals demonstrate their hunting techniques and perform tricks too.

Singapore Zoo facilitates various events such as weddings, birthday parties, etc. in its event venues called Garden Pavilion, Pavilion-by-the-Lake and Forest Lodge. Cocktail venues like Treetops Trail, Tiger Trek and Elephants of Asia are also in the Zoo.

The expanse of Singapore Zoo has remained the same 28 hectares since opening. However, the secondary forest developed later for Night Safari occupies 40 hectares. Night Safari and Upper Seleter Reservoir instil the sense of unrestricted natural space into Singapore Zoo.

This theme park is situated within the boundaries of Resorts World Sentosa. It is Universal Studios’ second theme park in the continent of Asia (after Japan). Since its introduction back in October 20, 2009, the park has attracted over 2 million visitors and still counting.

The park is 20 hectares in size and occupies the eastern part of Resorts World Sentosa. In total, there are 24 attractions with 18 of them being original or adapted especially for the park. Universal Studios Singapore consists of 7 themed zones surrounding a lagoon, with each of the zones being based on a popular movie or a TV show. The 7 theme zones are named Hollywood, New York, Sci- Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away and Madagascar.

Hollywood
‘Hollywood’ is the park’s entrance area and is accompanied by quite a few restaurants and flagship stores. List of character appearances include the likes of Po (Kung Fu Panda), Winnie Woodpecker, Woody Woodpecker, Frankenstein’s Monster, Beetlejuice, Betty Boop, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. Major attractions here are Panatages Hollywood Theatre, Lake Hollywood Spectacular, Universal Studios Store, The Dark Room, Silver Screen Collectibles, Star Characters, The Brown Derby, Mel’s Drive-In, Superstar Candies, Hollywood China Bistro and Celebrity Cafe and Bakery.

New York
This one is based after post-modern NYC and features classic landmarks and sidewalks mimicking the cityscape. Character appearances include Big Bird, Bert, Abby Cadabby, Elmo, Grover, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster.

Sci-Fi City
This one is themed on the metropolis and cities of the future. Major attractions here include Accelerator, Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN, Battlestar Galactica: Cylon, Transformers: The Ride, Galactica PX, Transformers Supply Vault and Starbot Cafe.

Ancient Egypt
This place is modelled on the ancient Egyptian artefacts and architecture that was discovered during the 1930s and features the typical obelisks and pyramids. Major attractions include Revenge of the Mummy, Treasure Hunters, Carter’s Curiosities and Oasis Spice Cafe.

The Lost World
Two themed regions are featured here: Waterworld and Jurassic Park. Notable attractions here include Canopy Flyer, Amber Rock Climb, Dino- Soarin, Jurassic Outfitters, Fossil Fuels, The Dino- Store and Discovery Food Court.

Far Far Away
This zone is inspired by the Shrek franchise and features a number of recognizable locations, with the main highlight being the ‘Far Far Away Castle’. Popular attractions here include Shrek 4D Adventure, Enchanted Airways, Magic Potion Spin, Donkey Live, Goldilocks and Friar’s.

Madagascar
Inspired by the ‘Madagascar’ franchise, this zone features two rides and lush tropical jungles. Notable attractions include Madagascar: A Crate Adventure, Penguin Mercantile and Gloria’s Snack Shack.