Great Singapore restaurants

Though it is impossible to measure such things, Singapore may well be the country with the most world class restaurants per capita on the planet. If you are planning to travel to Singapore make sure to bring an empty stomach, as there is an incredible multicultural platter of gourmet goods on offer.

Here are a few must-visit restaurants for the foody in Singapore.

Nasi Padang River Valley

This is one of the best places to get some traditional Malay grub on the island. The price is high but that is a reflection of the quality in store for any diner willing to pay it. While you might be able to get similar fare elsewhere for cheaper the quality will not be anywhere near the same. For the traveller looking for authentic Malay eats, this place is essential.

Address: 55 Zion Road

Esquina

Those really in the mood to splash the cash should check out this funky, innovative eatery. The menu and interior both scream of the wild creativity of chef Andrew Walsh. Esquina serves tapas but, with items like wobbly roasted smoky bone marrow, spicy squid ink calamari and black olive ice cream, it's tapas as you are unlikely to have experienced it before.

Roxy Laksa

If you are in the mood for something special but don't feel like splashing the cash, this great little restaurant offers quite the bargain. The Prawn Iaska is the menu highlight: a creamy, coconut milk broth, it houses a treasure trove of authentic, hearty umani goodness. Unmissable.

Address: 1000 East Coast Parkway

Pete's Place

In the mood for some comfort food? Then head over to the elegant, welcoming Pete's Place where delicious wood-fired pizza, rich clam linguini and a terrific wine list will put a very big smile on your face.

Address: 10 Scotts Road Basement

Great Singapore festivals

As well as some of the best shopping in Asia, a host of world class eateries and one of the most peaceful societies on the planet, Singapore has plenty of great annual events to tempt the traveller. So, if you are planning a visit to the magnificent island state, be sure to check the calendar and see what festivals, sports events or holidays will be on at the time. Here are some our favourite Singapore bashes.

Chinese New Year

The biggest event on the calendar is, undoubtedly, Chinese New Year when the island kicks up its heels in spectacular style. Beginning at the start of the first month on the Chinese calendar and running for over two weeks, this richly colourful celebration takes place during January and February of our calendar. Though it's celebrated across the city, Chinatown is the main hub of activity, where, beneath the glow of thousands of hanging red lanterns, the streets come to life with dance, music, food and fireworks.

Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Racing at the Bedok Reservoir is one of the best fun-for-all-the-family days out you can have in Singapore. During the festival, boat crews of 22 people come to compete in the sweltering heat for one of the biggest prizes in the sport. Between the hectic, breath taking races, you'll see a range of rituals and rites performed, reflecting the historical significance of this ancient sport to the island's Chinese population. Even if you are not a sports fanatic, when the drum beats start and the rowers dig their oars into the water, you will find it impossible not to get caught up in the sheer, unbridled passion of the whole thing.

World Gourmet Summit

The Singaporeans' relationship with food is really more of an obsession than a mere love and that's why their numerous food festivals are such a joy to attend. The World Gourmet Summit is probably the most opulent of all, however, bringing together haute cuisine from every corner of the planet, with events held in all the city's top restaurants. Expect celebrity chefs, in-depth workshops, incredible wine tasting sessions and course after course of superb food.

Jessica Tan Webinar

The time is fast approaching when NTUC-PME invites a special guest onto its couch for a virtual webinar session to be broadcast across the globe online. First up to christen the ‘hot seat' is Jessica Tan, a successful female leader from the tech industry who has kindly agreed to impart some of her vast knowledge to followers of the web chat. So get involved and transmit all of your questions directly to Jessica on the 27th of June, and she will answer them for you, live from NTUC in Singapore.

Throughout her career Jessica has displayed the special characteristics and skills you need to succeed in the international market place. She has risen through a variety of tech related roles and now serves as General Manager for Microsoft Singapore in the Regional Enterprise Business sector. With over 20 years of professional industry experience, Ms Tan has delivered across a variety of roles in sales, services and strategic business development in the Singapore and the Asia Pacific Region. This included 14 years on the books of IBM, so she is a lady who knows the ins and outs of this highly competitive sector.

This virtual chat is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to get an inside perspective of the tech workplace. You can ask THE fundamental questions, get all the info you need for your own career ambitions and help improve yourself. It is a fine line between success and failure in this life, and it is not often you have a chance to pick the brains of someone with Jessica's background, so don't miss out.

One particular route of questioning could be the role of women in the tech industry today. Figures show that the ratio of women entering into IT and tech related courses at University in Singapore is outnumbered 3:1 by men (as of 2011). A study by the MSF (Ministry of Social and Family Development) shows that women shared only 33.2% of enrolment in this area while males make up 66.8%. The reasons behind this gender gap could be a fruitful topic of debate, so get your thinking caps on, and question why women are not choosing this industry unlike men.

Do you think there could be a greater focus on getting girls into the boardroom? Is there a glass ceiling? If so, how did Jessica break through it? And what about balancing a career and home-life? Please feel free to kick off a debate in the comments below.

These are important questions which frame gender issues today, and there will be an eclectic mix of expert guests to guide you through these and more divisive issues. But it would be a travesty to focus only on this one aspect of the debate, so explore all avenues important to you, individually, and take advantage of her unique insight.

The live online broadcast will be held on:

Date: 27 June 2013

Time: 8pm – 9pm

URL: http://www.ntuc.org.sg/expertseries

Event registration page: https://www.facebook.com/events/473367086073694

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UPforPMEs

Linkedin group to join and discuss: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/UP-PMEs-4573957

Twitter to follow: https://twitter.com/UPforPMEs

Fascinating facts about Singapore

If you are planning a trip to the glorious beaches, shops and restaurants of Singapore, then why not learn a bit about it before you jet off? Here are some fascinating facts about this historically and politically fascinating island.

Singapore is made up of 64 islands but the main one is the focus of most of the commerce, culture, hustle and bustle. The majority of the other 63 islands are uninhabited.

Of the 249 states in the world recognised as sovereign territories, Singapore is the 190th in size. Just to put it in perspective, the world's largest country, Russia is 510,071,300 km² larger.

Singapore is, however, the second most densely populated country in the world, next only to Monaco, boasting 6,430 people per square kilometre.

Bukit Timah Hill is the highest, non-manmade, point in Singapore, though if you're a mountain climber you should probably leave your grappling hook at home. It's only 164 metres tall, testament to the remarkably flat nature of the island.

That low landscape is something the government clearly prize highly, as laws are in place to keep buildings from dominating the skyline, limited as they are to 280 metres. The OUB Centre, UOB Plaza and Republic Plaza are the only three buildings on the island currently reaching that size.

Travellers by air can expect their visit to get off to a great start from the moment they arrive in Singapore, as their first port of call will be Changi Airport, commonly considered to be one of the best airports in the world. Since opening its doors in 1981 it has won nearly 400 awards, including 23 ‘Best' awards in the 2011.

Singapore boasts the world's largest fountain, which can be found in Suntec City. It was built in 1997 and cost upwards of US$6 million.

Singaporeans are some of the keenest telephone buyers in the world. 8 in 10 people own a mobile phone, while new numbers are bought at a rate of about 40,000 per month.