Bicentenary celebrations in Singapore
To mark the bicentenary of Sir Stamford Raffles arrival, the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Airlines hosted a five-day February fam trip. Karl Cushing reports.
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Singapore, it transpires, is very much a destination in touch with its past, and this year sees the destination mark the bicentenary of the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles, who established it as a British port back in 1819.
Weaving through the colourful, crammed streets of Kampong Glam, our convoy of vintage Vespas draws envious smiles and waves from all we pass.
A scooter sidecar proves the ideal vantage point for gaining a glimpse of Singapores bygone days and, as we putt-putt along its skinny thoroughfares such as Arab Street and Haji Lane, I feel a lifetime away from our previous stop, Marina Bay, with its futuristic skyline.
Little India and Chinatown, with their colourful shops and street stalls, offer further fascinating insight into Singapores seamless blend of old and new, while a “bumboat” tour along the Singapore river yields shots of former merchant houses clustered by the riverfront, cowering in the footsteps of the vertiginous blocks towering behind.
Singapore, it transpires, is very much a destination in touch with its past, and this year sees the destination mark the bicentenary of the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles, who established it as a British port back in 1819.
The bicentenary is a focus for our February fam trip with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Airlines. A more pressing objective, however, is to encourage us to recommend longer stays for UK visitors, up 13% in 2018, and to consider Singapore as more than a brief stopover option for clients heading to Australia – or indirect Asian destinations such as Myanmar.
Action packed
The resort island of Sentosa forms a central part of the STBs case, its family-friendly hotel stock offering an alternative to mainland stays.
Here we road test the new four-star Village hotel (which officially opened this month) and spend a day sampling attractions featured in the Sentosa Funpass, from AJ Hacketts bungee operation to the MegaZip and Skyline Luge.
Dipping into Resorts World Sentosa, we visit S.E.A. Aquarium and Universal Studios Singapore where agents try out Transformers and Battlestar Galactica rides. For a more relaxed vibe, Siloso and Tanjong beaches deliver with their sheltered waters and casual beach clubs such as Ola and Tanjong.
We also appreciate Singapores green spaces, its city in a garden status set to reach new heights on April 17 with the opening of Changi airports stunning new tropical-inspired zone, Jewel.
A key trump card is the historic Botanic Gardens whose impressive Orchid Garden we stroll before finding zen at an outdoors tai chi class – a fun option that agents can book via New Age Tai Chi.
At Gardens by the Bay, we explore the spectacular biodomes before watching the resident supertrees – tree-like structures that generate solar power – deliver their popular evening sound and light show.
Alternatively, a Floating Donut tour on Marina Bay – a trip on an inflatable ring-shaped raft complete with meals and drinks – proves a great option for clients looking to take in the nightly Spectra light and water show.
Tantalising tastes
With Singapore increasingly known for its high-end mixology, we drink in two top contenders – Native, which focuses on regional ingredients, and the swankier Manhattan Bar at Regent hotel.
And how could we miss a short visit to Raffles Long Bar for a cheeky Singapore Sling?
For me, its Singapores gastronomic offering that gets the juices flowing, from the growing band of Michelin-starred operations to affordable hawker centre bites such as chicken rice, popiah and satay. Our Hawker Centre Discovery tour in Tiong Bahru with Wok n Stroll (£55 for two-three hours) proves a tasty grounder.
Armed with our newfound knowledge, we descend upon Telok Ayer Market and Newton Food Centre, featureRead More – Source
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