Recently in Singapore Category

The island nation of Singapore is located just north of the equator, and its tropical rain forest climate makes it suitable for some of the most beautiful trees, plants, and flowers to be found anywhere. One of the best places to take in the scenic beauty of the place is Pasir Ris Park, a 71-hectare natural oasis in northeast Singapore complete with nature trails, landscaped gardens, and lush playgrounds. The centerpiece of the park is its six-hectare mangrove forest, which boasts hundreds of the salt-water slurping trees with tentacle-like roots. Raised walkways wind through the forest so you can get up close and personal with the mangroves without getting wet and muddy. If you've still got some energy left after a forest romp, hop into a kayak or canoe for a spin across the water, or rent a bike for a land-based workout. But a visit to Pasir Ris Park isn't exactly roughing it either, as it boasts plenty of alfresco dining options and all the amenities you'd want to make your afternoon in the "wilds" of Singapore relaxing and comfortable. Starwood has three properties in Singapore: the Sheraton Towers Singapore, the St. Regis Singapore, and Le Méridien Singapore.

As a pedestrian species we often forget how extraordinary things look from a higher vantage point, something our avian friends probably take for granted. It's exciting taking off, and landing in an airplane, peering down at the tiny houses below. Sites like Chicago's Sears Tower and Boston's Prudential Center, ugly structures that they are, enjoy popularity from visitors for a reason as they offer stunning views of the city.

The newest way to get a bird's eye view of town comes with a thrill in the form of a ferris wheel. London kicked off the craze in 2000 with the London Eye, now the whole world seems to be in a race to build the biggest wheel. As of March 1, Singapore's in the lead. The Singapore Flyer, a 43-story high observation wheel offers breathtaking views of the city, and in the distance one can even spot Malaysia and Indonesia. Just two miles from Le Méridien Singapore, guests at the hotel should take the thirty-minute ride in one of the wheel's twenty-eight, 13x23-foot, air conditioned, UV protected capsules. They're even available for rent, and could make a very inspiring spot for your next company meeting, or just a fun way to spend time with the kids. Day or night.

Waterfalls, palm trees, and a Balinese sandstone wall adorn the baggage claim at the new terminal at Changi Airport Singapore, making it, in our opinion, one of the world's most lovely. Starting today, passengers will pick up their Samsonites and Tumis in that beautiful baggage claim, because flight operations have commenced at Terminal 3. The seven-story structure is stunning in its spaciousness and navigational ease. Nine hundred and nineteen skylights let in natural light by day, and at night emit their own warm glow. Easy to read signs steer travelers quickly in the right direction, while central meeting points help arriving passengers spot their rides quicker. When creating T3, as the terminal is endearingly referred, designers stuck to four main principles, "clarity, natural lighting, external views, and maintainability," resulting in a 380,000-square-meter space that can accommodate 22 million passengers a year, raising Changi Airport's total annual capacity to 70 million.

Those catching a connecting flight from one of the other two terminals won't be slowed down by cumbersome luggage. A "high-speed baggage transfer system" whisks those bulky bags through underground tunnels, while passengers themselves board the elevated Skytrain. Ooh, I have a weakness for Skytrains... But I do hope you're disembarking in Singapore, because three heavenly Starwood properties await: Le Meridien Singapore, Sheraton Towers Singapore, and The St. Regis Singapore. All you have to do is tear your eyes off that three-story wall of plants, and that mesmerizing graphic floor, and get yourself into a taxi.

Singapore has a very diverse history, having been shaped from its earliest days by Chinese, South Indian, and Muslim immigrants, and it is this diversity that makes it an ideal location for the fascinating Asian Civilizations Museum. The museum, which is housed at the old Tao Nan school building on the Singapore River, is a great place to learn about the multi-ethnic history of the region through the fine art and historical relics of China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries. As the first museum in the region to focus on pan-Asian cultures and civilizations, visitors gain a broad but integrated perspective on the often tumultuous history of the region.
The Singapore River Gallery, for example, features exhibits dedicated to the traders who did business up and down the banks of the Singapore River as early as the 14th century, bringing wealth and sophistication to a fortunate few in Singapore, while others remained mired in seemingly inescapable toil and poverty. Living conditions for most Singapore residents have improved dramatically in recent years, though, and visitors to the museum can now gaze out over the river to the shiny steel and glass towers of Singapore's financial district, one of the world's major business capitals. In addition to its permanent galleries, the museum features rotating exhibits as well, including an upcoming exhibit called On The Nalanda Trail (pictured), which traces the origins of Buddhism through India, China, and Southeast Asia. Starwood has three properties in Singapore: the Sheraton Towers Singapore, Le Méridien Singapore, and the soon-to-open St. Regis Hotel, Singapore.