But tropical Singapore's tourist lures extend beyond shopping, eating and tippling. Attractions incl...

1. Page 3: Singapore raises its partying profile
But tropical Singapore's tourist lures extend beyond shopping, eating and tippling. Attractions
include "fish reflexology" offered at the Singapore Zoo and elsewhere. This involves dangling legs in
a tank while small fish nibble away dead skin, exfoliating and reviving calves and toes.
At the zoo's "Night Safari," visitors ride a tram past lions, tigers, crocodiles, otters and other
nocturnal wildlife. The brave hike trails close to the uncaged animals, kept apart from people by
moats and other containments.
The National Museum of Singapore, next to a huge ancient banyan tree, makes Singapore's history
come alive via audio players featuring actors. They enact scenes from Singapore's many incarnations
until it became an independent republic in 1965.
A visit to Singapore wouldn't be complete without a stop at century-old Raffles Hotel, with its
British-Empire ambience and white-turbaned Sikh doormen, for a Singapore Sling. It's about $18,
including mandatory service charge. The sticky-sweet concoction combines gin, cherry brandy,
pineapple juice, Cointreau, grenadine and other ingredients.
Every winter, the city goes crazy celebrating Chinese New Year, with malls and restaurants decked
with red lanterns. (Red signifies good luck and prosperity in Chinese culture.)
Locals and visitors flock to the waterfront Esplanade to tour a display of lighted likenesses of
pagodas and warlords. They watch acrobats and singers perform on an outdoor stage and fireworks
light the sky. At one of this year's shows, a Chinese ballerina with a resemblance to Audrey Hepburn
twirled en pointe atop her sturdy partner's head.
Even more packed is the New Year's parade in Chinatown, a boisterous street party awash in Tiger
Beer and reminiscent of the one in Times Square Dec. 31.
Over at supperclub Singapore, MiStevious leads a tour, telling a customer he'll be back to serenade.
Things can get rowdy and risqu in the wee hours, he says, especially when male halves of feuding
couples reserve to "make out and make up in bed," he says. "Sometimes you have to put a chain on
them."
How does he do that?
He says: " 'Hey, guys. It's Singapore. Remember?' "