Singapore in bloom at Gardens by the Bay

If you're planning a trip to Singapore, be sure to get along to the recently opened (and eagerly-anticipated!) Gardens by the Bay, a 54 hectare garden located in the super-cool Marina Bay area.

This unique man-made botanical paradise comprises of three waterfront gardens covering - Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central.  Bay South Garden alone houses over 2,000 species plus more than 700,000 plants from across the globe, including the incredible 18 man-made futuristic Supertrees, ranging from 25 - 50 metres in height. The gardens have a 128-metre long aerial skywalk set amongst the treetops, 22 metres above ground, enabling visitors to take in panoramic views of the gardens and city below, making for a memorable experience (and some pretty amazing photo opportunities too!).

Gardens by the Bay is open to the public from 5.00am to 2.00am daily. Opening hours for the cooled conservatories and the aerial walkway in the Supertree Grove are from 9.00am to 9.00pm daily (conditions apply).  General entry is free of charge; however fees to the Skywalk, Flower Dome and Cloud Dome conservatories apply.

Skywalk: Child = SIN$3 (AUD$2.30), Adult =SIN$5 (AUD$3.80)

Conservatories: Child = SIN$15 (AUD$11.50), Adult = SIN$28 (AUD$21.50)

And plan more of your Singapore visit at www.yoursingapore.com/au

  

Singapore revs up for the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix

Singapore is gearing up for the 2012 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, with exciting entertainment in store on and off the track from 21st – 23rd September this year. And there's no better time to visit this buzzing metropolis if you're into high speed and thrills, with all the fast cars,  glamorous parties, music sensations and memorable events you can dream of.

Be trackside to experience this phenomenal night race with Formula 1 cars speeding past some of Singapore’s most well-loved landmarks, but also enjoy a power-packed line-up of international headliners and parties taking place behind the scenes.

This year’s headlining acts at the Padang Stage include global superstar sensation Katy Perry, chart topper Noel Gallagher, Grammy award winning rock group Maroon 5, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee The Pretenders, chart topping group Bananarama, as well as iconic 80s duo The Proclaimers across three fully loaded days!  

Trackside tickets start as low as AUD$45*, while a three-day Premier Walkabout ticket averages at AUD$115* per day with access to all zones and 350 entertainers within the circuit park.

To guarantee your spot at the action packed 2012 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Creative Holidays is offering packages to the Grand Prix from AUD$829. Packages include three nights 4 star accommodation between 21-23 September, return airport transfers and a 3-day Bay Grandstand ticket with access to Zones 3 & 4. Flights are not included. For further information or to book please visit their website.

For details on the performance location and timings, please visit www.singaporegp.sg for the latest updates.

For further information on Singapore visit www.yoursingapore.com/au. 

The best rooftop bars in Singapore

Orgo

1-Altitude

Ku De Ta

Lantern

Heading to Singapore soon? You're in for a real treat - some of the best shopping, restaurants and - most of all - an incredible array of world class nightlife! Start the night right at one of the city's many spectacular roof top bars, where you can kick back on a lounge and enjoy a drink with that famous striking Singapore skyline spread out before you. Offering dazzling cityscape views, exotic cocktail menus and fashionable decor, these sky high bars are the perfect place to wind down after a non-stop day of sightseeing or a stylish spot to kick start your evening. Here's five favourites courtesy of YourSingapore:

Orgo

Orgo is a sophisticated Singapore institution that brings together great food and cocktails with an environmental conscious. With stunning 360° views of Marina Bay, mixologist Tomoyuki Kitazoe brings the concept of "organic chemistry" to life in this smart little bar;  starting with the best in organic ingredients for a menu of delicious food and cocktails. Try the Soursop and Calamansi Cocktail or be a bit adventurous and let your drink be your desert with a Roasted Apple Pie Cocktail. Orgo is at 8 Raffles Avenue, #04-01.

1-Altitude

With the title of highest bar in Singapore, you know the view from 1-Altitude is going to be pretty spectacular. Situated 282 metres above the ground, offering unparalleled views of Singapore, 1-Altitude bar boasts a number of awards including the Time-Out Best New Rooftop Bar 2011 and the Singapore Prestige Brand Award 2010.  We hear their Chocolate Sidecar is amazing! Find 1 -Altitude at 1 Raffles Place (Former OUB Centre).

Ku Dé Ta

This Bali institution has well and truly arrived in Singapore, and it's been taken to sky high levels of luxury at Marina Bay Sands! Situated 57-stories above the city, the Ku Dé Ta rooftop bar features a pool side bar, observation deck, restaurant and club lounge.  With stunning 360° views of the city, Ku Dé Ta has fast become Singapore's after party "It" spot since opening in 2010.  We recommend Ku Dé Ta for sunset cocktails - try Lady Be Mine, a sumptuous martini with lychee, rose water and apple juice.

Skypark at Marina Bay Sands North Tower, 1 Bayfront Avenue.

Loof

Often described as eccentric, playful and hip this split level bar was designed as a refuge, sanctuary and canvas for city workers, creative minds and budding artists alike.  Sit back and relax on the gorgeous, plush lounges whilst taking in the chilled sounds and breathtaking views. Loof offers a delicious mix of international and quirky cocktails, such as the Gummiberry - a combination of Cointreau and Berry with Caramelised Meringue. Loof is at 331 North Bridge Road #03-07, Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop

Helipad

Helipad boasts gorgeous views of Clarke Quay and the Singapore River.  Guests can soak up the atmosphere and observe Singapore's busiest district go about its business whilst relaxing on the deck's oversized, luminous seats, which form the bar's signature H.  The adventurous should try the Helipad Ice Tea - an original and lethal concoction of gin, vodka, rum, tequila, Blue Curacao and lime juice. Helipad is at 6 Eu Tong Sen Street.

Lantern

Situated on top of the Fullerton Bay Hotel, Lantern features a 6 metre long lantern shaped bar, a 25 metre pool and panoramic views of the Singapore city skyline. A Latin American theme permeates the atmosphere, food, drinks and music.  We highly recommend the Red Lantern cocktail - a sublime mix of Don Julio Tequila with watermelon, cucumber, lime and a splash of Cointreau. Lantern sits proud at 80 Collyer Quay.

Guest Blogger: Rhonda Bannister hits up Singapore

Our Editor-in-Chief, Rhonda Bannister, travels a lot! It's all part of the job, and she keeps very busy indeed - her latest trip has been to Singapore, where she has been keeping us up to date about some serious shopping extravaganzas and fabulous dining experiences. She's more than happy to be our guest blogger today ... read on for a little insight in to a day with Rhonda on the streets of the bustling, trendy metropolis Singapore.

Haji Lane, Singapore

Fabrics on display, Arab Street

Guest Blogger: Rhonda Bannister 

In Singapore for a few days with my mate Pammie and loving it ... the food, the shopping, the people. We stumbled on to a 60s time warp when we stepped off Beach Road - a busy downtown thoroughfare  - into Haji Lane. Fabulous old shopfronts with walls adorned with cartoonish images painted in psychedelic colours house little cafes, like the groovy Pedra Negra Cantina & Cochina which looks like a great place to start an evening out. There's also some little boutiques selling cool clothing and accessories, and tattoo shops like the one pictured! Plus coffee shops like Le Bistro Parisien where we indulged in french pasties and coffee - but only to keep our strength up for what was going to be a long day of snooping around.

About half way down the lane we turned right and ended up in Arab Street on the corner of Baghdad Street ... WOW if you're looking for fabrics or want to have an outfit made this is the go to place. Gorgeous silks in the most beautiful colours and patterns sell from around Singapore $70 a metre and other divine fabric display have signs saying $70 for an outfit - bargain! My next trip I'll have a few outfits made for sure!

Hopped a cab and fast forwarded a couple of centuries to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel - OMG! This place is amazing. Got the lift to the 56th floor to be rewarded by gobsmacking  360 degree views of this great city. Pressed my nose - or in this case my camera lens - to the glass gate separating we plebs from the very up-market hotel guests enjoying cocktails around the rooftop pool ...YES PLEASE, next time I'm definitely staying here.

Marina Bay Sands

Next stop was the shops at Marina Bay, and although we couldn't afford to actually buy anything it was fun to window shop all the luxury brands and out of this world jewellery.  And this really was pure window shopping .... everything we saw here was so outrageously expensive and out of our realm of reality, but utterly exquisite and worth the few moments of dreaming. So dream on we did!

Dream shopping at Marina Bay Sands

Dining at Pizzeria Mozza (the best pizza!)

We then checked out the lunch menu at Daniel Boulud's very chic Bistro Moderne but decided it was a better dinner option and put it down for a return visit. Lunch was instead spent next door at Pizzeria Mozza where Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich have combined their prodigious talents to create a warm, inviting, happening restaurant, so we were happy we tried it. We had such a great lunch here - two hours later after a bottle of very expensive Italian Rose and goats cheese pizza ( we both agreed it was the best pizza we had ever eaten with such thin, crisp dough! ) we hopped another cab to Orchard Road, intent to do some serious shopping.

Ion at Orchard Road

Orchard Road is THE place to shop in Singapore if you want variety ... and I do mean variety - from some excellent department stores (where I bought 3 pair of leather shoes and two Nine West handbags for under $300!!) to all the well known overseas brands and here, including Mango, Top Shop, Massimo Dutti, Zara, etc - and of course the luxury brands which are omnipresent throughout Asia.

Great day out!  If anyone tells you Singapore is boring tell them boring is as boring does!

Banyan Tree unveils a new spa at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Set to be the tallest Banyan Tree Spa on the 55th level of the spectacular Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Banyan Tree Spa Marina Bay Sands opens up a world of tranquility and calm in the heart of town. In typical Banyan Tree fashion, this debut spa in the renowned chain's hometown offers an oasis of calm and sensual Asian-inspired pampering treatments to enliven and enrich the body, mind and heart. Themed on the Tree of Life design, the 1,213 square meters urban spa offers its suite of distinctive treatments in 15 uniquely designed rooms with panoramic views. Earthy tones, textured materials, sleek sophistication and a holistically themed menu embraces the Banyan Tree's philosophy of a tropical garden spa setting with a contemporary twist - a style that this award winning company has made it's trademark.

Exclusive to Singapore, all treatment room names are inspired by Orchid - the national flower of Singapore while the signature treatment - Harmony Banyan harnesses the power of the Orchid. This 180-minute indulgent session massage is performed by two therapists who synchronise in physique and movements to bring about a harmonious sense of well-being. An Orchid Scrub, Harmony Banyan massage using specially concocted Orchid massage oil, Head & Foot massage and Therapeutic Orchid Bath will melt away tensions, and nourish the body.

Or you may choose to indulge in the unique 180-minute session Royal Banyan, formulated with the high stresses of city-dwellers in mind. The Royal Banyan Herbal Pouch Massage, which uses East-meets-West massage techniques and a herbal pouch dipped in warm Sesame Oil, is designed to soothe muscular tension and improve blood circulation.

There's also a unique Banyan Tree Spa innovation, the 180-minute session Tropical Rainmist experience, which is a rejuvenating combination of Rainmist Steam Bath and cascading Rain Shower to uplift your senses as a prelude to the luxurious body treatment that follows.

Marina Bay Sands is a favourite haunt for the Holidays for Couples team when in Singapore. And now we have even more reason to hang around a little while longer, to be pampered in pure, luxurious Banyan Tree style. Bliss!

Wanderlust in Singapore

Now here's a boutique hotel that gives a whole new view to modern design. Like an urban art gallery with some beds thrown in for good effect, the Wanderlust Hotel in Singapore is redefining what hotel interiors could be about. Designed for the contemporary traveller - and certainly not for the feint hearted - Wanderlust is a part of the Design Hotels chain and therefore brings some serious design cred to a city that is known for its cutting edge trends. 

Located at 2 Dickson Road in the heart of Little India, Wanderlust is eccentric, neon styled, with each room a totally unique personality. It's a part fantasy, part  playhouse, and not to be taken too seriously. This is a place that begs you to have fun with your stay, and to take that attitude out on to the streets to explore what Singapore has to offer. 

It's also got a popular French restaurant, Cocotte, and some great outdoor spaces to mingle in.

So out in the left field, and we love it!

Camilla Franks creates her first ever travel bag inspired by Singapore

Australian fashion favourite Camilla Franks has created her first ever travel bag, inspired by her self-confessed “home away from home”, Singapore. And in typical Camilla fashion, it is a decadent riot of colour and print (the striking print combination pays homage to the fusion of cultures in Singapore, including Arab, Chinese, Indian and Malaysian heritage), and nothing short of fabulous!

Complete with leather trimmings, a detachable silk scarf and shoulder strap and a removable envelope pouch for valuables, the ‘Singapore Weekender Bag’ was created with one thing in mind - shopping! 

It's the ultimate travel companion to take with you to this city that is famous for extraordinary shopping oportunities. The limited-edition ‘Singapore Weekender Bag’ will be sold in Camilla stores as of now, RRP $550.

And with the Great Singapore Sale on until July 24th this year – a must-do event on any die-hard shopper’s calendar, with prices slashed by up to 70% across all the nation’s premium shopping precincts -  you can take some tips from the designer herself on how to get your fix. 

“I have been to Singapore countless times and I love that the city is always evolving into an even more dynamic and exciting destination.  It has so much to offer with its eclectic mix of cultures, vibrant nightlife, mouth-watering cuisine, unexpected gems hidden down the backstreets and not forgetting ... the shopping scene is to die for!” says Camilla.

Camilla's insider tips for shopping in Singapore:

Comfort is key: Singapore is a city built for shopping, and during the Great Singapore Sale, you’ll be doing a lot of it! All the shopping precincts are a short distance from each other and the malls go for miles, so ditch the heels, throw on a kaftan, hit the streets and score yourselves some amazing bargains!

Get off the beaten track: The Great Singapore Sale is not just restricted to the premium brands and shopping malls that Singapore is renowned for, but the sales extend to all my favourite shopping hotspots off the beaten track. Head to Haji Lane in the Arab Quarter for beautiful fabrics and cute knick knacks, or Chinatown for its chic small boutiques.

 Leave room in that bag: Whenever I come to Singapore I always leave ample room in my bag for all the purchases I enviably pick up! Whether it’s fashion, beauty products, jewellery or presents for your other half – you can find it here. 

Stay at least 96 hours: I believe all travellers heading over for the sale should spend at least 96 hours here in Singapore –  you can’t just stopover. It’s on our doorstep, and there is so much on offer. Singapore’s premium shopping scene rivals the best in the world, the food is delicious and so diverse, there is culture and history at every turn and there are new attractions and nightspots popping up every couple  of months!

To further explore Camilla’s Singapore and for more information about the ‘Singapore Weekender Bag’ and the Great Singapore Sale, head to yoursingapore.com/au, where a video of Singapore shopping tips and hidden secrets can be found.