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August 2010

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Poised for action, new attractions and upcoming events make Singapore the best place to visit right now

WORDS YOUNG LIM

I can’t wait to try the Battlestar Galactica and Transformers rides when they open later this year,” exclaims Singapore Idol runner-up, Jonathan Leong, during a break in rehearsals of his new full-length theatre production, Voyage de la Vie, which is also the resident show for Resorts World Sentosa.

Currently showing at the Festive Grand Theatre, Voyage is a home-grown production created by renowned show architect Mark Fisher, who has designed acts for Cirque du Soleil, Pink Floyd and U2. With cast members from 16 countries, the show fuses genres from drama, dance, pop music, acrobatics, magic and stunning sets into a contemporary form of musical circus theatre performance.

“There is so much more to do and see here now, compared to just a few years ago,” says Leong, who counts the theme park’s Revenge of the Mummy and Shrek experiences as his all-time favourites on his visit.

A constant flow of events and new venues are keeping visitors to Singapore occupied from dawn to dusk, with more realising the need for a longer stay and return visits.

Still, there is potential for more. Leong believes that Singapore is capable of becoming even more multi-textured with a thriving arts and entertainment scene, so a trip here would not be just for the resorts, fantastic shopping, great food or famous zoo.

According to the Singapore Tourism Board, visitor numbers have jumped 30 percent from the 726,000 who arrived the same time last May. It believes arrival figures will rise even further with exciting events such as the inaugural Youth Olympics (YOG) and annual Formula One Grand Prix night races to be held here in August and September.

Adding to its reputation as a shopping and foodie paradise, the city state has myriad attractions and activities aimed at everyone from day-trippers and families to newlyweds, sports enthusiasts and intrepid travellers alike. These include recently completed redevelopments on Sentosa Island, Clarke Quay and Dempsey Hill.

It’s great news for tourists such as Jakarta resident Edmund Kusnadi, who caught a Jetstar flight to Singapore last year just to watch Asia’s only F1 night race. He has already pre-booked his flights and planned not one, but two visits to Singapore for the YOG and Grand Prix. “I’ll be staying at the Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands because I really want to see these two integrated resorts first-hand. Aside from catching the action at the games and races, I want to see Universal Studios and the Skypark as well,” he says.

Resorts World Sentosa welcomed its first visitors on Valentine’s Day early this year, drawing much international attention as the first in the country to attain a gaming licence to operate its casino. Spread out over the sprawling 49-hectare resort are six hotels, more than 60 restaurants and four theme park attractions.

Singapore’s second integrated resort, Marina Bay Sands, opened its doors in June with as much fanfare, with celebrities including Kelly Rowland and Diana Ross flying in to participate in opening festivities. Situated at the mouth of the Singapore River, the three towers of Marina Bay Sands enjoy one of the most commanding views of the island’s central business district.

In addition to its gaming facilities, Marina Bay Sands also boasts layered gardens, retail arcades, posh music clubs Avalon and Pangaea, a museum of art and science, as well as two purpose-built theatres where acclaimed Broadway hits such as Jersey Boys and The Lion King are set to make their Asian debuts end of the year.

Its most outstanding feature, the Skypark, links the three hotel blocks together. At 200m above sea level, the engineering marvel holds observatory gardens and restaurants as well as a 150m-long infinity pool offering unobstructed views of the dense cityscape.

Guests staying at Marina Bay Sands in August and September will not just enjoy views of fireworks displays and festivities during the nation’s National Day Parade, held at the Padang minutes away from the hotel, but close-up views of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Youth Olympic Games, as well as an aerial view of the F1 circuit.

Singapore’s culinary scene has also been redefined with the opening of both mega-sized resorts here. The duo is adding more than 100 new dining options, including 10 restaurants by celebrity chefs, reaffirming Singapore’s status as a food paradise.

Contained within this fine-dining trove of gastronomic legends is a list of names that reads like a “who’s who” of internationally renowned star chefs: Susur Lee, Joël Rubuchon, Scott Webster and Kunio Tokuoka over at Resorts World Sentosa, to Daniel Boulud, Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck, Justin Quek, Guy Savoy, Santi Santamaria and Tetsuya Wakuda located at Marina Bay Sands.

One of the most widely anticipated international events, the two week-long YOG, is expected to draw 370,000 spectators. Although seats for the opening and closing ceremonies have already been snapped up, tickets for most of the sporting events are still available.

“I want to win gold for the country,” says 16-year-old Timothy Lee, one of three athletes representing Singapore in the 3m springboard diving event during the games. “The best thing is that I get to meet established athletes my age.” Lee hopes to meet his idol, English diver Thomas Daley, who at 13 became one of the youngest competitors at the 2008 Olympics.

Barely a month after, the 2010 Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix will rev up the town from 24 September with famed drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa. Apart from the races, the organisers have also roped in iconic Italian acts by Studio Festi and Andrea Bocelli’s protégés, DIV4S, as part of their S$5 million entertainment lineup for the circuit.

And if last year’s parties are anything to go by, you can be assured there is just as much action happening in the clubs as there is around the pit-stop building. Clubbers can head to F1-themed parties at established venues like Zouk, Stereolounge and Equinox, where luckier ones might even catch sight of the race drivers dropping by for a drink or three.

Standing on the Skypark looking down to Singapore’s cityscape full of criss-crossing streets and neatly lined buildings, the excitement of the city getting ready for showtime is almost palpable. Surely, with so much anticipation building up on this tiny red dot, there can be no better place than here when the fun begins this August.

HISTORY GOES BOUTIQUE

For travellers preferring a trendier design quotient to their stay, these new boutique hotels situated within converted heritage buildings promise a more unique and intimate experience.

The Fullerton Bay Hotel

Dubbed the “funkier” sister to grand dame, The Fullerton, this boutique extension is set to draw the hip, modern crowd with its posh floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out onto the Singapore River, with breathtaking views of the Marina Bay Sands on the opposite bank. 80 Collyer Quay, tel: +65 6333 8388

The Club

Taking full advantage of its unique location in the heart of Chinatown, designers of this 22-room former shop house building have incorporated an “East-meets-West” touch to the minimalist interior with bold claims of being both monochromatic and oriental at the same time. 28 Ann Siang Rd, tel: +65 6808 2188

Wanderlust

This third project from quirky boutique hotelier, Loh Lik Peng, founder of The Majestic Hotel and 1929, promises to be just as charming, with different designers each helming a floor of the four-storey structure. 2 Dickson Rd, tel: +65 6396 3322

Hotel Fort Canning

History buffs will appreciate that this colonial mansion was once the base for the British Far East Command during World War II. Nestled within a national park at the top of Fort Canning Hill, it continues to enjoy strategic views of downtown Singapore, with designer furnishings waiting to be conquered by the well-heeled and fashion-savvy. 11 Canning Walk, tel: +65 6559 6770

Orla Gilmore, first Singapore diving squad coach

“The biggest challenge facing our team is the consistency of their dives, because they are new to the sport they still need time to achieve the experience required to perform well for every dive. Nonetheless, I am hopeful they will fare well at the Games and it has been a rewarding experience to see them develop. I hope their presence at the Games will spur more Singaporeans to pick up diving. “

Take Me There

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE
Tel: +65 6577 8899, www.rwsentosa.com

SINGAPORE YOUTH OLYMPICS
www.singapore2010.sg

2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
Tel: +65 6738 6738, www.singaporegp.sg

MARINA BAY SANDS
10 Bayfront Ave, tel: +65 6688 8888, www.marinabaysands.com

RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA
8 Sentosa Gateway, tel: +65 6577 8888, www.rwsentosa.com

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