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Luxury Travel to
Singapore
One of the smallest
metropolises in the world (with a mere land area of
about 700 kilometers squared) and a hub of knowledge
and different cultures, Singapore is well-known
internationally for its definitive math and science
education policies, its rigorous cleanliness, its
world-class airport, and its authoritative
democratic system. Located practically on the
equatorial belt, Singapore basks in the warmth of a
tropical sun all year round, making it a distinctive
city escape for those seeking to flee the chilly
confines of winter in their home countries.
Luxury travel in
Singapore, following the government's bid to
transform the city state into a Monaco of the East,
comprises of luxury hotels( and there are quite a
few to choose from now, with the sprouting of
design-centric boutique hotels in quaint
neighbourhoods downtown to the luxury Capella hotel
in Sentosa), event-related travel coinciding with
the inaugural F1 race in 2008 as well as the
much-hyped construction of the integrated resorts-
the local moniker for the casinos being built.
Ethnically composed of Chinese, Malays, Indians, and
Eurasians, this potpourri of influences is perhaps
most distinctive in yet another of Singapore’s
best-known, best-loved aspects: Food. In a typical
hawker center (an open-air conglomeration of many
stalls selling a wide variety of extremely
affordable, freshly-prepared food), one can enjoy
the sweetly-sour Malay mee siam, bite into
savory and crispy you char kuay (the closest
equivalent for its name in English is “fried bread
stick” or “Chinese cruller”), watch the acrobatic
preparations of India roti prata (the dough
is spun and flipped and whisked about in the air
before being flattened and heated on a hot stove),
and tuck into a plate of fish and chips, all during
the same meal. As further proof of just how
cosmopolitan the food culture in this tiny island
state is, Brazilian, Japanese, Italian, Korean and
Scandinavian restaurants, to name a few, can also be
found on various streets all over Singapore. In July
every year, thousands of tourists flock to Singapore
to partake in the Singapore Food Festival, a
celebration of the diverse elements of local
cuisine. Haute cuisine in luxury restaurants are not
in short supply either as Singapore has some of the
most chic f&b outlets in the region.
Currently home to the tallest Ferris wheel in the
world, Singapore boasts some intriguing
architectural gems as well, from the black and white
bungalows of its colonial era to contemporary
landmarks such as the elegant riverside Esplanade,
Theaters on the Bay, colloquially known as the
Durian* because of its unique façade. In Chinatown
and Little India as well, many shophouses have been
restored and either designated as heritage buildings
or reincarnated as quaint apartments for sale or
rent. The multi-ethnicity of the country is
reflected once again in the significant numbers of
crowded temples, white churches and majestic
mosques, sometimes standing almost side-by-side.
As for our suggested activities- we've decided to do
away with a ride on the Singapore Eye or trips to
Sentosa- activities which we're sure you'd be
perfectly fine doing on your own. Instead, we'd
arranged for early morning taichilessons in
the Botanic Gardens, gastronomic tours and the
height in kitsch- a day spent with a
getai
singer or better still, a visit to an actual
getai performance should your visit so coincide with
the 8th month.
A luxury tour of Singapore could incorporate a
luxury cruise around the waters of Sentosa, preceded
by a spa treatment and/or sundowners by the Cliff
restaurant, perched right by the waters of Sentosa,
spectacularly positioned for one of the best sunsets
in Singapore.
Singapore has seen a growth in the number of luxury
hotels- with the launch of the ultra-luxury Capella
resort in Sentosa raising the stakes in the local
luxury hospitality scene and mainstay favourites
like the iconic Raffles, the Fullerton (formerly the
Post Office), the lushly located Four Seasons and
the business crowd at the Ritz Singapore, luxury
travel , whilst not new to Singapore, is seeing a
definite increase in the number of players.
Perfectly positioned as a gateway to places like
Bali, Urbane Nomads also offers private jet tours to
Bali, Malaysian Borneo and the Andaman Islands
ex-Singapore.
*A love-it-or-hate-it tropical “King of Fruits” with
a spiky appearance.Photo Series: 4th photo
courtesy of Sebastian Strobl
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An itinerary fusing
Peranakan culture, spa
treatments in the
heartlands and tai chi
sessions- quite an
unexpected
under-the-skin take on
the Singapore
experience.