City Of Many Faces - A Quick Look At Singapore’s Many Charms
By Judi Lees‘Cosmopolitan’ is an understatement when it comes to Singapore. This city of close to four million is a tapestry of cultures with Chinese, Malay and Indian being the main nationalities along with a meld of dozens of others.
Sentosa Island is a veritable playground with a mix of theme parks, beaches and varied accommodation. Clients can visit Underwater World & Dolphin Lagoon, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom Museum; see the Musical Fountain, play Sijori Wonder Golf, go to the beach or zoom to the top of The Sentosa Sky Tower for terrific views. To stay on the island, consider the new Amara Sanctuary Resort; this five-star property received a 2007 Architectural Heritage Award – hard to believe this elegant 121-room resort was originally a Second World War British military barracks.
There is always something new in Singapore. On the hotel scene, The St. Regis Hotel Singapore, opened December 2007. Centrally located, the luxurious, 20-storey hotel features 299 opulent suites complete with butler. (The progress continues in Singapore with two major large developments in the works: Marina Bay Sands is slated to open in 2009 at Marina Bay near downtown; and Resorts World Sentosa will open in 2010 on Sentosa Island.
Bar hoppers take note: now, when in Singapore, you can head to Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar to sip the original Singapore Sling that was perfected here in 1915, then saunter over to the St. Regis for a Bloody Mary – which was first concocted in the St. Regis New York.
In the spring of 2008 the Singapore Flyer is scheduled to open. Hang onto your hats when you board this Ferris wheel that, at 42-storeys, is the world’s highest. This is no country fair ride, you are housed in a luxurious, air conditioned, capsule as you ogle the city skyline and the islands of the China Sea. Breathtaking.
First-time visitors may be a bit overwhelmed by the sightseeing choices in Singapore. Rest assured, it is a convenient and easy place to visit. Although you hear a cacophony of languages, English is used by the government and virtually everyone speaks it. Thanks to efficient transportation systems, getting around is simple. Most places are within an hour from Orchard Park, the city’s main shopping area. There is the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), buses, taxis and trishaws. Purchase of The Visitor’s Card makes exploring easy. At conveniently located centres, the Singapore Tourism Board provides a wealth of information.
This is not to say you shouldn’t go with a game plan. If you must choose from one museum among the more than 20 offered, visit The National Museum. Known as ‘the peoples’ museum’, it is grand and includes a lovely public sculpture garden. Spend ample time in the ethnic neighbourhoods – Little India, Chinatown, Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam, the latter two are the Malay sections of the city. Visit unique temples, browse market stalls and sample the delicious food. All are all easily reached on the MRT.
Send clients to the Singapore Zoo where the mighty orang utan is a favourite; book them on the Night Safari, for spectacular glimpses of exotic wildlife; and tell them about the Jurong Bird Park with more than 9000 birds. Gardeners are thrilled by more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids at the National Orchid Garden. Lesser known and smaller, is the Mandai Orchid Garden.
Clients will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of green spaces in Singapore. In Bukit Timah Nature Reserve there is a network of trails through 81 hectares of lush rainforest, that offers the chance to spot a Macaque monkey or Flying Lemur.
Save plenty of time for wandering. Stroll and enjoy the landmarks – Raffles Hotel, the Parliament Buildings, Victoria Theatre and the bronze statue of Thomas Stamford Raffles. (It’s not unusual to see wedding parties getting pictures taken at these historic sites.)
A great place to hang out during the day or evening is Clark Quay. Located on the Singapore River, it was originally warehouses. Today, it is lively with restaurants and bars as well as antique shops and flea markets.
Singapore Specialist Program
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is re-launching its Singapore Specialist Program with a mid-March projected launch date. Designed specifically for travel agents in the U.S. and Canada, one will find everything needed to promote Singapore as a dynamic multi-cultural destination and a gateway to Asia. Upon completion of the online program, agents will be certified as “Singapore Specialists” and given privileges such as access to STB’s sales materials, special discounts for educational trips to Singapore, and gift vouchers. For more details on the program, please call us at (212) 302-4861.
For more on Singapore, check out www.visitsingapore-usa.com
