The Island Explorer

Oh yes, Shangri-La. I may have fallen for the hotel chain as it has satisfied my needs for truly relaxing vacations. My latest experience is in its Sentosa Singapore property. This is the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort.

There has been a sudden surge of celebrity and Michelin star restaurants in Asia recently and the top venues are of curse, Singapore and Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, we have Bo Innovation leading the list for its molecular gastronomic take on Chinese cuisine. With the opening of Marina Bay Sands, several celebrity chefs put up restaurants, such as Wolfgang Puck's Cut, Mario Batali's Osteria Mozza and Pizerria Mozza, Daniel Boulud's Bistro Moderne and Guy Savoy among others. The list goes on, in Singapore, having new Michelin starred spots such as . Perhaps one of the most celebrated chefs is Joel Robuchon, who finally opened not one, but two restaurants in Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa. 

When I heard an indoor skydiving tunnel was being built in Sentosa, I was so eager to try out the new adventure. So when it finally opened, I didn't pass on the chance to fly.

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is one of the best looking malls in Singapore. It's just the right size, sprawling yet still luxurious in feel. Of course, most of the stores here are high end, but there are your regular favorites as well. 

We were granted a late checkout at 1PM, and decided to head up to the Sky Park. This was one of the top draws for the hotel after all. I kind of regretted staying in the room the whole morning after seeing the  highest infinity pool in the world.

The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore has become an overnight icon for the tiny island nation. Who would have thought that a spectacular hotel could topple the iconic Merlion in front of it. In fact, the Merlion is currently undergoing a renovation, and during my time of visit, was nowhere in sight.

One of the simplest yet best ways to see Singapore in the fastest way possible is via the Singapore River Night Cruise. Some of my colleagues arrived in SG, and only had that night to see what the Lion City looks like. So, I took them on a night cruise, that lasted for an hour. The docking station is located at famous night spot Clark Quay. I forgot how much the ride costs, but I think it is between SGD15 to 25. We took the last trip, so we were the only ones on board. The cruise took us to 3 main sites in SG, passing through the Riverside Point and City Hall area. The Fullerton Hotel was lit up in extravagant beauty. The trip I felt would be perfect for romantics. You go under bridges that are also lit up. Then you pass by the Esplanade, that durian shaped theater that is found in most SG postcards. You will also see the Merlion nearby. Perhaps the latest addition to this wonderful view is the new Marina Bay Sands Resort/Hotel that establishes its towering presence on the horizon. We

When I go to Singapore, it's usually for business. I've always branded Singapore as the most boring Asian city, so I didn't bother to do anything but to shop and eat when I'm there. I've been to Sentosa Island before, but I remember it being a typical theme park, except probably for the Sirens of the Sea lights show. I headed to Sentosa because of Resorts World, particularly Universal Studios. But when I wasn't able to buy tickets to the park, I decided to rediscover the island again. I was in for a big surprise. The last time I visited Sentosa was 2005. Again, I really wasn't compelled to go back. There was a lot of construction going on, so I thought I was just going to take a quick look around. There was still the mini merlion, but there were new things being put up. The new Merlion park will be open in the last quarter of 2010 as the signs say. Images of Singapore, a museum on Singapore's history and culture was still open. I didn't bother going

A recent business trip to Singapore opened my eyes to a city that I once thought was boring. This series on Singapore may just be in time for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix (not attending though). So let's begin, with the most obvious new attraction - Universal Studios Singapore. Universal Studios is located in massive Resorts World in Sentosa Island. From Vivo City (take an MRT to Harbourfront), you can cross to Sentosa via its monorail. This is perhaps the most convenient and fastest way to visit Sentosa. The first stop on the monorail is Resorts World. I came on a Sunday, which means tickets are almost impossible to get, especially if you arrive 30 minutes after opening. I don't know if this is still the case, but during that time, I had to purchase my ticket for the next day. Thus, I wasn't able to get into Universal. Instead, I explored a new Sentosa. More of that on my next entries. So, moving on to the next day, I was finally able to get inside. The first thing yo

Located in Vivo City, the National Geographic Store has opened its doors in Asia. Take the MRT to Harbor Front on the North East Line and you'll arrive directly at the new and possibly the biggest mall in Singapore. A sprawling space of museum pieces, artifacts, dazzling photographs and desirable merchandise, the flagship store in Asia looks more like an exhibit of the world, rather than a retail outlet. The space is divided into several themed areas. The stuff they sell there are quite expensive, but part of your purchase goes to efforts in saving the earth. Some of the pieces sold are authentic antiques, costing over 30,000 SGD. If I had the money, I would buy something from the store. The only thing I could afford was a map and their books. So, if you're in SG, pass by this unique and inspiring venue.