Heat up the holidays
While Christmas in our neck of the woods is warm instead of wintry, it is by no means less of an occasion. In Singapore, the lead up to this most festive holiday season becomes a truly unique experience, as the entire nation rises up to welcome visitors with dazzling lights and festive sounds.
To mark Marina Bay’s first December, for instance, the Christmas Light Up 2011 route — which includes Orchard Road — will extend past Collyer Quay and into Marina Boulevard, enveloping the hub’s latest integrated resort. Along the river, in the Clarke Quay area, expect a cappella carollers and an LED kite show.
Ask the locals and they would recommend you stick around for the string of parties that take place as the New Year approaches: Zouk Out, the 12-hour dance music festival at Siloso Beach; the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, which has grown to become an annual tradition; and the Sentosa Countdown 2012, with its five distinct party zones. Of course, Singapore also has other sites — from quirky neighborhoods to leafy grounds — that can make your tropical Christmas even more memorable. And so it begins.
* * *
What: A taste of Singapore’s ethnic goodness
Where: Holland Village
Why: This neighborhood may be a mere 10-minute taxi ride from Orchard Road, but its laidback charm is worlds away from the bustle of the country’s premier shopping belt. From antique shops and traditional coffee houses to wine bars and delis, the mix of establishments in this area is eclectic, making it a haven for expats.
If you feel the urge to explore every nook and cranny after you’ve sipped your pulled tea and picked up a few European magazines, contact Winnie Ubbink, an expert guide — and longtime resident — who can take you on a totally enriching walking tour.
Contact Winnie Ubbink at winnieubbink@live.com.sg.
* * *
What: Exquisite meals with a killer view
Where: Salt Grill
Why: Nestled on the 55th floor of the opulent ION building, this elegant 6,000-square-foot space is helmed by Australian celebrity chef Luke Mangan. (His licorice parfait is especially tasty.) The Sky bar is one level above, and is the perfect spot for pre- or post-dinner cocktails.
2 Orchard Turn, Level 55 & 56 ION Orchard; www.saltgrill.com.
* * *
What: A place for education and conservation
Where: Singapore Botanic Gardens
Why: The city-state is not one to rest on its green credentials and this 74-hectare site, open to the public from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight every single day of the year, is proof of that. Since it was established in 1859, the Gardens have become home to the National Orchid Garden, a small tropical rainforest and three lakes.
1 Cluny Road; www.sbg.com.sg
* * *
What: A fashion, art, and architecture destination
Where: Louis Vuitton Island
Why: Inaugurated in September, this gem at Marina Bay Sands is the French luxury label’s fifth store in the country and the first Maison in Southeast Asia. A feat of design by Moshe Safdie and Peter Marino, the glass-and-steel pavilion can be accessed in three different ways: via an outdoor bridge; by boat, disembarking at a jetty; and from the mall via a tunnel and ascending “travelator.” The last is definitely the most interesting option: Aside from doubling as an exhibition space, “Islands,” featuring nautical-themed artwork from the region, runs until January 2012. The underwater passage is 21st century engineering at its stylish best.
Visit www.louisvuitton.com.
* * *
What: Ground zero for bargain-hunting bookworms
Where: Bras Basah Complex
Why: Across the road from the iconic Raffles Hotel, this go-to place for books and stationery may have seen better days, but that hasn’t stopped bibliophiles from haunting the art, book and music shops within its five stories. Most of the 20 or so bookstores sell a mix of new and used material, but the used fiction at Evernew Bookstore — on the ground level — is particularly enticing. If you’re patient and eagle-eyed enough, you can get three books for S$5 from their bargain bin, all in excellent condition.
231 Bain Street; www.bras-basah-complex.com.sg
* * *
What: A clutch of restaurants, galleries, and spas in a lush jungle setting
Where: Dempsey Hill
Why: In the 1950s, the premises at Dempsey Hill used to be the Central Manpower Base of Singapore — the first port of call for every young man enlisting for the military — and former British army barracks. Today, the 18-block estate is host to an assortment of tenants. For instance, the White Rabbit, a restaurant and bar that serves Euro-style comfort food, now occupies an abandoned chapel. Gourmands foraging for supplies would do well at Jones the Grocer and Culina, leading purveyors of fine food and wine.
The White Rabbit, 39C Harding Road; thewhiterabbit.com.sg
Jones the Grocer, Block 9 #01-12, Dempsey Road; dempseyhill@joneshthegrocer.com
Culina, Blk 8 #01-13, Dempsey Road, culina.com.sg
Visit www.dempseyhill.com.
* * *
Special thanks to Sherina Chan of the Singapore Tourism Board and Ton Roxas of Agatep & Associates.
* * *
