 'Love Birds' at Singapore Zoo: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Fire breather at Singapore Zoo: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Tapeinochilos Ananassae (I can't pronounce it either) at the Singapore Botanical Gardens: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Artists have made full use of a wall at a metro station: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  St Andrews Church: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Singapore Cricket Club: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The most happening place in the CBD Area, Clarke Quay: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  War Memorial: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Marina Bay Sands, with the Infinity Pool: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Singapore port and skyline in the background: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh MARINA BAY SANDS and SENTOSA ISLAND  Marina Bay Sands: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Venetian style shopping mall inside the Marina Bay Sands: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Marina Bay: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  ArtScience Museum: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Busy Cafe at Marina Bay Sands: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The Singapore Flyer: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The Merlion: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh ARAB QUARTER  Sultan Mosque: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh CHINATOWN LITTLE INDIA  Prayer at Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Little India: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Little India: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh Click here to read about my thoughts on Singapore.
 Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Marina Bay Sands: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh Of course, Singapore is full of gastronomic delights, but there is one place I found that will fulfil any food wish. Sky on 57, the signature restaurant at Singapore’ Marina Bay Sands, is no hidden art of Singaporean cuisine, yet it does not fail when it comes to the challenge of presenting the ultimate gastronomic journey. The eatery is the culinary home to celebrity chef Justin Quek's modern interpretation of Franco Asian cuisine and has a skillfully designed interior oozing an elegant ambiance. I was on a hectic and tight press trip, and with only around an hour to cover what this hyped restaurant has to offer, I had definitely presented their team a challenge to create the dishes as quickly as possible and with the full-on high quality that they are renowned for. Justin Quek breezed into the restaurant from his kitchen and after the handshakes and broad grins all round, he took the time to sit and was utterly focused on the task ahead of showcasing the best food in Singapore. "People like us because they know of our commitment here at Sky on 57 to the quality, in the food that we serve as well as the service," says the chef who is Singapore's most internationally known chef and the first Asian chef invited to participate in Lufthansa's Star Chefs program. "There has to be the energy, and there has to be passion and whenever I am working I will always try my best to serve an excellent meal." A reviewer interviewed Quek around 10 years ago in Hong Kong, he fondly recalls, and said she could not, and would not eat, Cantonese Raw Fish (魚生 yu saang). Quek responded by not serving the delicacy raw, but fried in a very light and crispy tempura butter, and turned it into a version of Crispy Pan Fried Salmon, Chinese Style (香煎三文魚). The reviewer ate five helpings, and wanted more! "I love talking to my customers," says Quek. "If they don't like something, then I'll try something different." The 12,000 sq ft eatery has a main dining area, private dining rooms, a bar, lounge and an outdoor terrace. The restaurant delivers one of Singapore’s most sought-after dining experiences. The views are equally stunning, facing out to the sea, though not sure if you would want to gaze upon the endless number of freight ships that lie dormant in the calm and clear waters in the distance. Light-filled and family-friendly, the restaurant and its cuisine are sea-inspired, created with a blend of French, Cantonese and other Asian tastes in mind. Make sure you try the ‘Crispy Scale Coral Cod'. It is chef Quek’s belief that ecologically friendly farming results in better-tasting food and drinks. On the whole, I would say that this is a place that provides great food, great staff and amazing natural beauty. The restaurant is so popular that hotel guests make a booking before they check-in.  Sky on 57's resident Michelin chef Justin Quek: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Justin Quek’s signature demitasse of Fresh Mushroom Cappuccino: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Tomato consommé jelly, fresh sea urchin: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Tomato consommé jelly, fresh sea urchin: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Nordic King Crab - Braised Vermicelli ‘Bee Hoon’: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Crispy Scale Coral Cod Asian greens, Superior soya sauce, garlic oil: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Crispy Scale Coral Cod Asian greens, Superior soya sauce, garlic oil: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Coconut Parfait - Sago, gula Java sauce and pandan ice cream: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh 
With adventurous days, glamorous nights, and a rich and diverse culture which brings the best of Indian, Malay, Chinese and British colonial history, Singapore offers everything from scuba diving at Sentosa Island to historical parks and some of the world’s best high-end eateries. Located within all this hype on Scotts Road, and a stone throw’s away from the world renowned Orchard Road, is the multi- award-winning Grand Hyatt Singapore. With tasteful luxury, premier service and all that this tiny city-state has to offer, the Grand Hyatt Singapore, complete with its 677 luxury rooms and suites, is one of its kind. The first thing that hits you as you enter the lobby of the hotel is how remarkably generously spaced it is. The lobby itself feels like a spacious art gallery, except that there are no paintings on the walls but plenty of shops selling all kinds of designer fanfare. The hotel’s lobby and immediate exterior gives the visitor a chance to engage themselves with the hustle & bustle of the local area. The hotel’s guestrooms and suites are some of the most spacious accommodations in Singapore, giving guests plenty of peace and privacy in which to unwind. All the rooms are beautifully designed with every detail crafted by expert hands and are conveniently fitted with every modern creature-comforts required for a stay that gives you a complete peace of mind, such as generous work desks, luxurious beds and elegant baths. Amenities are provided by June Jacobs. The hotel’s Grand Club® Rooms & Lounge are creatively put together with the business traveller in mind. If you are a busy professional who wants to get some work done efficiently and without any interruptions and want to have a good rest to recharge the body before another busy day at work, then the Club rooms are perfect for you. If you are looking for an authentic Singaporean experience but still want high-end luxury, this is your place. After walking around Singapore the whole day, or even after a long day at a business meeting, it’s nice to come back to the tranquil settings, have a swim at the free form swimming pool...or enjoy a soothing treatment to put your senses at ease at the secluded Damai Spa, Singapore, which comes with a fully equipped 24-hour gym. Of course, one of the aims of travel is to make you happy and feel rejuvenated from the pressures of daily life in your own backyard. But there is a fleeting oh-this-is-fun and then there is a deeper, Zen-happy. In Singapore, and especially at the Grand Hyatt Singapore, you can appreciate both. Guests are spoiled when it comes to wine and dine. There are seven dining venues, offering buffet or a la carte choices. The menu focuses on garden-fresh produce, local seafood (especially at the Starits kitchen), and the finest imported meats, used to create a fusion of international and Singaporean dishes. I was most impressed with the cosy surroundings of the glass enclosed ‘martini bar’ located behind the well-popular mezza9 restaurant on the 2nd floor. It can be consider a place to unwind with a distinctly vivacious vibe. In other words, it’s the kind of place where you can just while away the evening with a classy homemade martini in the company of good friends. There are over 30 specially martinis to choose from. Don’t leave without trying their signature Asian-inspired drink, the Lychee martini. 
The Grand Hyatt, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
The Grand Hyatt, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
The Grand Hyatt, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
The Grand Hyatt, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
For a definitive haven of relaxation and indulgence, head to the CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La Hotel and melt away your tensions with their spanking new K-Lift Facial.
 The Raffles Hotel in Singapore is a legacy of the British colonial era. A piece of timeless beauty and architecture stands still: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh If you are in Asia and want to experience what it must have been like to live during the colonial years, then there are some architectural marvels where you can stay and do just that. In Hong Kong, it is the Peninsula Hotel and in Singapore it is without a doubt, the Raffles Hotel. Contrary to popular belief, the Raffles was not established by the British, but by two Armenian brothers from Persia—Martin and Tigran Sarkies—in 1887. The hotel was later named after the British Statesman who founded the city-state, Sir Stamford Raffles (he also founded London Zoo). Designed by the architect Regent Alfred John Bidwell of Swan and Maclaren, the current main building of Raffles Hotel was completed in 1899. The name Raffles is associated with all things connected with Singapore. Amidst the high-rise concrete jungle that modern Singapore is, the Raffles Hotel thankfully sticks out like a sore thumb and it is perhaps one of the key places where people can marvel at how great and powerful the British Empire really was back in the days. While the hand-operated punkhas (fans) may have been replaced with modern air-conditioning, the mahogany furniture, glandular ceilings and the grounds are still in tact. No doubt, this is still the place to see and be seen at, especially for the elite and the A-listers. As I left the Raffles, I noticed that a new high-rise hotel was being built right in front of the main building. While the feeling of sadness conjured up, there was also hope in thinking that thankfully there is only one Raffles Hotel and no one can take away that brand identity from it.  When you are at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, it stills feels very colonial and nostalgic: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The Raffles Hotel Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  One of the suites at the Raffles Hotel, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The original Singapore Sling at the Long Bar. The Raffles Hotel Singapore. Rumour has it that a dejected and depressed expatriate banker once downed more than 20 Singapore Slings in one sitting...that record is still yet to be beaten (!): Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  All the ingredients needed to make a Singapore Sling are shown here at the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel. The Singapore Sling is sold around the world, but the original was created here at the Raffles Hotel. Copyright Navjot Singh  The Raffles Hotel Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The shop at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore sells everything you can think of under the sun!: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The Raffles Hotel, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh 
Quincy Hotel, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
If you’re flying into Singapore it’s great to break the trip with a couple of nights at a stylish boutique hotel. The Quincy Hotel may not be quite as petit as some of the other boutique hotels in the city-state, but with just 108 ultra-comfortable rooms spread on 14 floors, the multi-award winning Quincy is ideal for the savvy business traveller or discerning leisure travellers looking to add a trendy touch to their vacation. This hotel is in a great location with the Orchard Road MRT station only a few minutes walking distance and close to multiple shopping malls. The Quincy is the perfect place to cool down after a long muggy Singapore afternoon because even though it is located close to the busy Orchard Road, it’s neatly hidden away from the crowds and the noise. The thing that I found really attractive about the Quincy was the complimentary extras that are provided as part of the hotel room rate. The list of freebies included as part of the room rate seem to be endless: the one-way airport chauffeur pick-up at Changi Airport, daily free 2-piece laundry service, mini-bar re-filled daily, all day dining by Dean & DeLuca and Modesto's, parking for hotel guests, free local calls, unlimited free Wi-fi and evening cocktails for two every day. These complimentary extras are all enough for me to say that I’ll pay to stay here even when I’m not on an official media trip. You end of wishing that every hotel around the world would stick to this business model. Why? Because it works, and the customers appreciate it for the value of money. At the Quincy, you certainly get more than what you pay for. All of the generously spaced and warmly decorated rooms face the city, as does the open-air swimming pool, sauna and gym on the 12th floor, which is open 24 hours a day (very useful if you are jet-lagged!). The spacious bathroom, complete with a rainforest power shower, is equipped with amenities are provided exclusively by Molton Brown. Most important of all, I found the hospitality staff is nothing short of extraordinaire in providing customer service that exceeded my expectations. They seem to be around just like they are friends staying at the same house as you, but are forever ready to grab you a glass of wine or present you with whatever you need, with a genuine smile included. If you are after an air of relaxation, then the Quincy is perfect for those seeking nothing short of intimate surroundings. This is the place to sit back and appreciate the art of doing nothing. 
Quincy Hotel, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
The pool at the 12th floor, Quincy Hotel, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Quincy Hotel, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
 Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  On an empty block in a side street near Singapore's Arab Quarter, graffiti artists have been plying their trade to great effect. But, whoever thought of drawing this lady's right hand at least 3 times as large as the left one!? What were they thinking of?: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh ..CLEAN...in fact, this tiny city-state employs specialist cleaners (more than other countries I am told) to keep the streets, parks and all other public areas in an immaculate condition. All aspects of public life here come across as being well organised, efficient, clean and colorful. More importantly people of all different cultures and faiths live in harmony and tolerence with each other. 
Clarke Quay: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Boat Quay: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Fort Canning: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Magical sunset in Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Marina Bay Sands: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Singapore skyline: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Cleaning work is always in progress in Singapore! Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Singapore is a major shipping port: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Don't bring smelly durians onto the public transport in Singapore!: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
The majestic Raffles Hotel, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Singapore's colourful tourist pass: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Colourful buildings in Little India, Singapore: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
The stunning Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, captured from 35,000 feet en-route to Singapore from Hong Kong. 
Paracel Islands - Yongxing Island 永兴岛- Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Paracel Islands- Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Paracel Islands -Antelope Reef, Lingyang Jiao- 羚羊礁- Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Hong Kong Airport is being expanded: Stage 1 will involve the construction of a new 20 gate passenger concourse to be built in 2 phases -completion 2015 and 2020- with 11 gates in phase 1 growing to 20 gates in phase 2: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
An aerial view of Hong Kong Airport's terminal building with Runway 25L visible in the background: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
 Man Vs Machine -- Aircraft Dispatch Engineers waiting for clearance to pushback from the stand: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The humongous Airbus A380 being prepared for her journey back to Heathrow (British Airways)...just look at that wingspan!: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Capture the moment! Cleared for take-off at Hong Kong's Runway 07R: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh 
Aircraft Dispatch Engineers at Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok Airport: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
The Aircraft Dispatch Engineer (left hand side), stands level with the flight deck side window, but clear of the spinning engines' intakes (don’t want to get sucked in!), and holds up the nose gear steering pin for the benefit of the pilots to see before waving goodbye. He is not saying “Chocks away, chaps!”, but the meaning is something on similar lines. Attached to the pin is a long red tape with the words 'Remove Before Flight' written in large white letters. The pin is necessary to prevent un-commanded movement of the nose wheels during the pushback phase from the aircraft stand. If the pin is not removed then the gear will not retract, which, in the past, has resulted in embarrassment for pilots in a number of airlines (you can Google it!). It means dumping enough fuel to prevent an overweight landing, then returning to land. This can cost an airline millions of dollars (US), cause unnecessary delays, cause extra stress/pressure to the pilots and make a lot of passengers unhappy and worried- none of which any airline or pilot wants. Aircraft can usually take-off with a much greater weight than they can comfortably land. So, for example the Airbus A380 (and I believe the Boeing 787, too) can always land at its maximum take-off weight in an emergency, but it’s very stressful on the brakes and hence can cause tyre bursts.
 Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh 
Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Half dragon, half horse...the Chinese mythical birds have so much power that they mange to fly through buildings...magic!
Article for the October 2014 issue of NIHAO, in-flight magazine of China Southern Airlines.    |
Get in Touch:LIFE MATTERSHere I share my thoughts
and experiences during my travels, and how some things have affected my life as an expat and world traveller. Travelling is about capturing that moment in life. Every word, view and opinion on this page is that of Navjot Singh - except where indicated. The most recent is at the top. Scroll down to read the archive. Or search using CTRL+F (COMMAND + F) and enter a keyword to search the page. Just some of the stories you never heard before. The NAVJOT-SINGH.COM web blog is separate to this web site....Click blog, which may not be visible in some countries due to local firewall restrictions, so in those cases this weblog may be read. The weblog also includes some of my press trip reports- most of which are not published on the official blog because of copyright issues. The weblog also contains articles that may be associated directly with a PR trip for a country, airline or a hotel. These are PR reviews done in relations with various companies. If you are an investor or a trend watcher then you may find this website useful as investing has a lot to do with personal observations and finding the ideal trend or next big thing. The average human on the street frequently knows far more about the state of the economy than politicians, university professors, subject matter experts, and financial analysts who seldom travel, or if they do so, only from one hotel to another hotel! The pulse and vibrancy of an economy is nowhere more visible than on a country's streets. 
All photos and words are © Navjot Singh unless stated. Photos taken by others or by agencies are appropriately copyrighted under the respective name. No photo or word/s may be taken without the prior written permission by the author (i.e. Navjot Singh). All Rights Reserved. 
Navjot being interviewed by Cecila Lu at GDTV.
Archives
September 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed