Christmas fun in Singapore!

CEBU, Philippines - There are numerous cool activities the whole family can enjoy when spending Christmas in Singapore. We realized this when we were the participants of the (STB) Singapore Tourism Board-sponsored mega fam tour for Philippine media last November 25 – 29, 2009 (Aurelio Acasiano III of Manila Bulletin, Ma. Lourdes Roque of Mindanao Times and this writer of The Freeman).

Consider a polyglot mixture of 77% Chinese, 14% Malay, 7% Indian and 2% Caucasian – that is the Singaporean population cocktail! It is amazing how this diamond shape city state, with just about 710 sq. km. in total area, and a population of 4.99 million (of which only about 4 million are local Singaporeans), could draw over 6 million tourists for the Orchard Road/Marina Bay “Christmas in the Tropics 2008.” Mr. Andrew Phua, STB Director of Tourism Shopping & Dining, explains that “Christmas in the Tropics is a key event in Singapore’s tourism calendar…a dazzling one even after 25 years. This year, Orchard Road and Marina Bay have different themes. Orchard Road has key features such as the urban green rooms that are leveraged for the light up. And for the first time ever, Singapore River joins in the festivities with special promotions for revelers and partygoers.”

Cultural come-ons include (November)The Vienna Boys Choir and the West End hit musicale Victor/Victoria at The Esplanade; Singapore Repertory Theatre will present Charlotte’s Web and The Jungle Book, while over at Arena Waterfront are performances by the superb Reverie: Cirque on Ice.

For mommy and elder sis, there is the exclusive Beauty Emporium at the spa esprit at House, 8D Dempsey Road (email: info@

dempseyhouse.com) where they can splurge in such treatments as Slow Flow Massage (90 mins.), Chinese Tui Na Massage (60/90 mins.) – ancient Chinese technique for de-stressing that partly uses acupuncture, Mesotherapy (75 mins.), Endermologie (from 20 to 60 mins.) – cellulite breakdown treatment, B.C.(Before Child) Massage (60/90 mins.) – for pregnant women, A.D. (After Delivery) Massage (75 mins.) – concentrated on cellulite areas, 7 Vegan Treat (75 mins.) – organic herbs wrap with organic mini facial, hand & foot massage. The emporium offers custom-made skincare products from Aunty Ilcsi – Hungarian beauty expert using only organic ingredients. Hair and skincare products are blended on the spot after skin analysis.

Dempsey Hill, where the spa esprit is located, was once a nutmeg plantation then the Singapore Army’s barracks. Dempsey Hill is now a hub of trendy restaurants, chi chi bars and retail outlets with an upscale grocery cum coffee shop called Jones the Grocer. We had a delicious lunch at The Rabbit House, a church-turned-resto where they transformed the pastor’s vestibule into a kitchen. The retained stained glass windows still remind patrons of the venue’s sacred past.

For the young ones, Sentosa Island – Malay term for “peace and tranquility” – is the center for fun, fun, fun! We got harnessed for our Mega Zip Adventure Park ride, 750m high from the jungle canopy of Imbiah Hill, 450 m down to Fox Finish Island in Siloso Beach, at 50 km/hr. I was told, it was equivalent to as high as a 30-story building! And we did it amidst pouring rain! You can also do a 12-meter high ropes course (reminded me of Robinson Crusoe!), attempt a free-fall parachute simulator (Aurelio chickened out last minute), or undertake a difficult wall climbing.

My adrenalin was on overdrive when I got into a “race car” and raced down the serpentine Luge tracks, at the other side of Imbiah Hill. This was after we rode the sky lifts up to the Lookout Point. Thrilling to the max! You not only have to manage the sharp curves, you also have to watch out for other maniacal drivers who may swipe you off the track!

A youth hangout we went to after dinner was The Loof (www.loof.com.sg) where the deejay dishes out cool music as you chill out in your corner. Their menu is also an emergency cover in case it drizzles, as you are on a rooftop, that’s why its name has an inverted “R” to signify the essence of the place. A preferred lounge area is inside a cylindrical pen, with you looking like a zoo animal viewed from outside!

Another great place for young tourists would be “Bling Bling Christmas” at Central. It is a glitzy ice skating show which runs up to December 24. We missed this as we were hurrying to catch the Singapore Flyer – an experience not to be missed when in the Lion City. We watched all of Singapore – the night scene, the Marina Bay, the progress and the bustling port area where cargo ships from all over the globe await their turn to dock 24/7. 

For night life, the hub is Clarke Quay where bars, restaurants and dance clubs abound, offering music and entertainment well into the wee hours of the morning. Like The Cannery Loft. Singapore swings!

Of course, we had a taste of the major cultural mix that is Singapore when we went shopping in China Town – still the best bargain anywhere! Then, we walked through Serangoon Road of what is known as Little India, and had a hearty lunch in the Arab section known as Kampong Gelam. Interesting cultural exposure for the whole family!

On our last day, before we were again let loose to shop on Orchard Road, we attended the Peranakan (meaning “locally born”) Festival at the premises of Singapore Management University. Peranakan refers to the descendants of Chinese traders who married Malay women and settled in Malacca, Java and Sumatra in the 14th century. By the 19th century, these Chinese merchants came to Penang and Singapore. The Peranakan Chinese in Singapore speak the same dialect as Filipino Chinese – Hookien.

Singapore is youth-oriented. There is SCAPE, a talent and resource hub for the young, transferring to a S$40 million building on Orchard Road in 2010. It will be managed by an NGO called Scape Co. Ltd. The 2nd level of the buiding will be a 550-seater theatre that will cater to the performing arts. The 5th level will be devoted to Leadership & Wellness Programs, as well as Mentorship Programs. As the brochure says: “SCAPE is possibly the first ever urban space to embrace a social-retail colony, bringing together an exclusive fraternity of lifestyle partners that advocate love, humanity, compassion and social responsibility.”

Yes, Christmas can be fun in Singapore…for young and old alike.