Monday, June 8, 2009

Merlion

Singapore's official symbol, 8.6 metres tall and weighing 70 tons, spouts water on the south bank of the mouth of the Singapore river. The monument was commissioned by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in 1964 to give tourists something to take photos of, as the city is somewhat lacking in spectacular sights. Many Singaporeans regard the monument as a bit of a joke: in Singaporean slang the verb to ‘merlion’ means ‘to vomit’. Popular mainly with Japanese photo-holics.

Riverside

The bulk of Singapore's historical attractions are by the river, so a great place to start a daytrip is at the mouth of the Singapore River. This area is a lovely for a walk, with small green gardens dotted amongst old-style bridges and historical buildings. Maybe take a late afternoon stroll and soak up the peaceful atmosphere before hitting the nightlife hot-spots of Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. Before you have a drink, Riverside is also a good area to get fed.

The western end of the river, around Robertson Quay, houses a Japanese expat community, and consequently the Japanese restaurants nearby serve some of the best fare this side of Tokyo. The best places for a splurge with a view are Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, which have many superb and atmospheric riverside restaurants offering cuisine from most corners of the globe. Another good choice is Chijmes, the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus and now, since most Singaporeans have lost interest in Christianity, an alluring assemblage of high-end food and drink outlets near the Raffles Hotel. Travellers with refined cultural tastes will enjoy the nightly opera, dance and classical music on offer at the Esplanade Theatre.

There are two options for seeing the area from the air:

G-Max Reverse Bungy. Get strapped in and flung upwards by a giant rubber band at 200 km/h. Do this before, rather than immediately after, dinner.

Singapore Flyer.
Singapore's newest tourist attraction, this 150-metre-tall observation wheel, modelled on the London Eye, is the world's tallest. If you can afford it then avoid having to share your capsule with dozens of other people by stumping up the $1,000 (GBP 370) for a private ride. Or maybe justify it as a valid business expense by taking along a business associate – just hope he or she doesn’t return the favour and take you for a ride, too.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Singapore Hotels- Best Services and Budget Friendly

Traveling to Singapore has been a craze to many travelers across the globe. Singapore, known for its beauty, culture and high quality hospitality services, has attracted a lot of tourists. Particularly, Singapore hotelsare known for its varied cuisines and for its excellent services. Many Asian travelers look out for cheap hotelsin an international destination and their quest ends in Singapore cheap hotels.

Singapore, being the smallest nation, in Southeast Asia, enjoys the population of Malay, China, India and other nations. Singapore has a cosmopolitan outlook; however, Chinese forms the majority. People from all over the world, visit Singapore for different purposes. May it be a business purpose or a holiday visit, Singapore has its own unique way to serve the travelers.

Singapore offers many ways to make your visit enjoyable. Besides its distinctive heritage, remarkable environment, there are many added attractions also. Festivals, music, food and shopping centers have always been attracting the visitors to the city. It is obvious that travelers from far and wide come to Singapore to enjoy the exuberance of the city. Above all, Singapore hotels have never let down the expectations of the visitors.

Singapore hotels are famous for their warm hospitality services. You will be surprised to see the eminence of lodging facility that Singapore provides. Singapore offers a wide variety of hotels. The hotels, not only cater to the needs of rich elite class but also middle class families also find comfort, in Singapore cheap hotels.

There are many star hotels in Singapore which are known for its excellent services and food delicacies. Hotels in this category are Hilton, Holiday Inn and Marriot. These hotels provide outstanding facilities to their customers. Singapore hotel reservation is very easy and budget friendly.

For higher middle class travelers, hotels like, Allson Hotel, Berjaya Hotel, Fort Canning Lodge, Bayview Hotel, Furama City Center, Garden Hotel and Furama Riverfront provide star services with their own unique ways of services.

Hotels for lower middle class are ASPHotel inn, Fortuna Hotel Broadway and Singapore hotels. Hotel 81 and Gateway Hotel are located in the Changi region of Singapore which also caters to the needs of the visitors. If you wish to stay in the Chinatown, you can choose from Tropical Hotel and The Keong Saik Hotel. In the west coast, there is Harbour Ville which also falls in the category of serving the lower middle class.

Singapore hotels are said to match all types of budgets. Travelers, across the globe come to this island for its ultra modern appeal yoked with the aesthetic cultural heritage. Singapore hotel reservation is tied up with many Online booking websites. This has made it easier for travelers to find a suitable accommodation that suits their budget and needs. Thanks to the internet that has made traveling so easy.
Singapore is teeming with the options that can help you to get relaxed. However, it is better to consult your tour operator in order to find the best available Singapore hotels. They can be Singapore cheap hotels or they can be Singapore luxury hotels, but, all of them will offer terrific services.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Travel to Singapore: A Guide to Local Singapore Food and Drink

Submitted By: Patricia A. Jones

Singapore is commonly known as a shopping haven, a safe and secure traveling destination, a beach and city holiday rolled into one and a meeting point of many cultures and religions. Singapore is also the melting pot of many food and drinks from all over the world.

You can satisfy your gastronomic desire for sumptuous cuisines at any time of the day and anywhere in the island. Singapore’s unique blend of food and drink is considered so special that you can even join the Uniquely Singapore Shop and Eat Tour, and feast in the local cuisine as you explore the city’s ethnic districts and residential neighborhoods.

Here is a list of 7 must-try food and drink when you visit Singapore:

1. Singapore Sling
A cocktail originally invented for the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel in the early 20th century. The original recipe uses gin, cherry brandy and Benedictine, the concoctions though differ in other parts of the country and the world. The drink is shaken and strained into a glass before adding in club soda. You can find the drink in most bars in Singapore and on board flights of Singapore Airlines.

2. Chicken Rice
A local favorite, this dish has been touted as a national dish by several food critics. You can choose a serving of roasted, steamed or barbequed chicken with rice cooked in chicken stock and garlic. Add a dash of chili sauce and dark soy sauce, a plate of chicken rice is both a tasty and filling meal.

3. Laksa
While there are many versions of this dish in Malaysia, a Singapore version has its roots in the Peranakan community. Rice noodles are cooked in coconut spicy gravy and sprinkled with prawns, bean curd and chicken. A very rich and indulgent dish that will leave you craving for more.

4. Fried Carrot Cake

Certainly a comfort food for many Singaporeans, fried carrot cake is a mix of diced radish and egg tossed in soy sauce. A common hawker food, this dish is oily and spicy but promises a truly satisfying gastronomic experience.

5. Indian Rojak
Rojak is loosely used to mean a mix of several ingredients. There are Indian, Indonesian and Chinese rojaks in Singapore. The Indian rojak usually refers to a Muslim-Indian dish comprising of different vegetables, bean curds, fried dough mixtures and seafood served with a spicy and sweet peanut sauce.

6. Satay
If you are familiar with kebabs on skewers in Mediterranean dishes, Satay is the local version of meat on skewers. You can get chicken, beef and lamb Satays served with peanut sauce. Hotels usually add Satays as a side dish to its fried rice or fried noodles.

7. Ice kacang
An all-time favorite, Ice Kacang is a delightful dessert to end a meal. With a base of jelly, red beans, corn and Attap seeds, ice is grated on top of them and topped with various colored sugar syrup and condensed milk. A purely indulgent treat to satisfy your sweet tooth and a great way to quench your thirst in sunny Singapore.

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Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com

Small City Big Attraction

Small City Big Attraction
what a city !!!!