Soaking up the Glitz and Glamor - Marina Bay

Imagine "wow-ing" yourself with the biggest fountain the world, right in the center of the hustle and bustle of city life, or taking a little break sipping down a cuppa alfresco. Perhaps, you can also catch the latest arts performances after a hard day's battle with the shops. With so many possibilities, the Marina Bay area is definitely your one stop leisure and recreation venue for YOU and of course, your loved ones.

With spectacular shopping, dining and even a venue for the arts, the Marina Bay area never ceases to excite

To confirm that statement, the team, together with the whole class, went down and totally had a blast at the many places we set foot on. So now, let our team tour you through!

Suntec City

This office-convention center-mall, or OCM for short, is the flagship of the Marina Bay area. Walking through Singapore's second largest mall can be tiring, but don't fret! There are plenty avenues for you to take a breather and relax for a bit before continuing on your battle. Believe us, we really did take full advantage of what Suntec City offers. Hungry? The nearest food outlets are only at most, 30 seconds away from anywhere you are in the mall. We satisfied our own stomachs and rested our tired heels at Subway. Eat Fresh yo! Kinda easy on your pocket too. Heh.

KIDS! There is a large portion of the mall just reserved for you! You can just dive down into the huge toys section in Carrefour, Singapore's first French hypermarket, or just head down to the many stores catering to kids. Parents, don't worry, it ain't gonna hurt your pocket.

Home to Singapore's 2nd largest shopping and entertainment center, Suntec City is a must-go, must-see, and a must-buy

The main draw for many people visiting Suntec City would be the Fountain of Wealth, the world's largest fountain in world. It is said that by walking round the center of the fountain three times, it would bring good luck to you. We're sure that parents who want their kids to get that A in school wouldn't mind. Superstitious isn't it? But yeah, it couldn't hurt by walking a few steps round a fountain, and we did just that. Hope that good luck would help pull up our exam grades, of course, in addition to our own effort.

The Fountain of Wealth against the backdrop of the four Suntec Office Towers

Esplanade, Theaters on the Bay - A truly Singaporean icon

Affectionately named by Singaporeans as the "Durian", the king of tropical fruits due to its architecture, the Esplanade offers world-class arts performances for Gramps, Mum and Dad, and not to forget the little ones. From classical orchestras, abstract theater to fun filled family and children-oriented shows, you will be spoilt for choice here. As an advice, try to book early, as seats for popular shows may be snapped up quickly.

A trip to Singapore is never complete without stopping by the Esplanade

For the team and the class, we headed to the rooftop garden to chill after a tiring day. From there, we could also gaze into the beautiful Singapore skyline, hear the many performances going on just outside the Esplanade, and sing to our hearts content.

With close friends and soothing music, what more could we want in life?

CityLink Mall - An Underground of Surprises

Who says underground tunnels are boring?

Want to head down to City Hall Train Station, but find that the weather's too hot and humid for your pleasure? There is a more cooler, and easier way for you to head down underground to Singapore's first and currently only fully underground Shopping mall.

With many fashion outlets for the girls to jump into, and also premium labels for the guys, CityLink Mall offers exciting retail alternatives while on the go. For the avid reader and the music fan, the MPH Bookstore and HMV Music outlet is the place to go.

Not to forget the potpourri of dining outlets that is dotted round the mall and also little bonsai gardens where green thumbs like to soak in a little bit of nature in this concrete jungle, Dad and Mum can enjoy meals with the kids in restaurants such as Shokudo and New York New York, and after that, enjoy a well deserved break in the wonderfully constructed bonsai garden.

If you are arriving by train, CityLink Mall will probably be your first and last stop on your Marina Bay trip. Being students who rely on public transport for most of our transportation needs, walking through this mall on our way to Marina Bay with friends, or even family, has become a way of life.

Singapore Flyer - 360 degrees of fun

We're saving the best for last - the last stop on our Marina Bay tour. The Singapore Flyer is Singapore's latest attraction. You might think, "Nah, I'll skip on this one. It's not worth parting with our money for a ferris wheel". But just hold on there, you're gonna miss all the fun you'll going to have while on this flight. Parents trust us, not only the kids are going to be amazed, you yourself will be too. You can literally look at the whole, yes we mean the WHOLE of Singapore plus some snippets Malaysia and the Indonesian Riau Islands. And who will still say Singapore is just a concrete jungle?

Although this ride won't blow off your minds, but it's really worth your buck and also, gain some insights about Singapore. What's a tour without some meaningful learning? We bet that the kids will talk about the Singapore Flyer to their friends, and during Show-and-Tell sessions in class. Their friends and even the teachers would go green with envy.

Although not mind blowing, the Singapore Flyer is a truly beautiful structure and an insightful experience.

Well, we guess that it's time to wrap things up, and yeah, hope our readers have gained, well at least a brief understanding about the area and what exciting knick knacks can be found there.

Singapore's Sunny Escapade - Sentosa

Sentosa - one island, infinite possibilities.

Sentosa is the one place in Singapore where all the fun collides! And definitely, the one-stop enjoy-it-all destination for the kids and not to forget, Mum and Dad.

Today, our journey around Sentosa shall begin at the Imbiah Lookout. This is where Sentosa begins!

First up, get to see a pirate's ship come to LIFE through 4D Magix. Watch them sail the seven seas looking for the big "X" on the map and imagine what treasures they can find.







Next up, get your adrenaline pumping by visiting the Cineblast where you can fly up to the highest mountain or rush into the deepest valley. Still not satisfied? Then continue reading and we shall bring you further into the Sentosa.

Imagine you taking a dive down 20,000 leagues under the sea right on this island. Unbelievable right? Well, you can do so with ease in Southeast Asia's largest aquarium - The Underwater World @ Sentosa. You can literally walk through the oceans and learn more about these mysterious creatures from the deep.

Kids, see a scary shark swimming nearby? Don't fret! Just engage yourself in fun activities found there and get mesmerized by these graceful creatures.

Prefer a more relaxing sunny afternoon out? You can just lay out the mat and the picnic basket right down at one of the three beaches in Sentosa. When Dad takes the kids to play in the sea, just enjoy soaking in the sun while sipping down ice-cold drinks, Mum.


Be agitated, be charged and be hyperactive as now we move down the list of our Sentosa itinerary. Next up would be the Sentosa Luge and Skyride.

This thrilling and captivating ride rushes the blood right down your brain! As you know, a picture tells a thousand words. So, let's applaud our brave team member, Kelwin, who will be going on an exhilirating ride. We'll update you about his condition when he gets down.

What's our next stop? Uhh, the Toilet?! Nah, maybe for Kelwin at least. Okay then, we're leaving the best for the last - The Songs of the Seas. The Songs of the Seas is a world-class water show where breathtaking effects of water jets, lasers, fire and music are placed in a cornacorpia. Interesting isn't it? Here's just a little screenie for you to wonder on how beautiful it is.


To end the day off on a more relaxing note, Mum and Dad can rejuvenate at the many spas dotted around the island, such as Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa and the Health Club and Spa to name a few. What are you waiting for? Parents, leave the kids at the playroom. It's time for you to rest and get yourselves pampered.


Well, we guess that's it for now. You can't possibly cover the whole of Sentosa in just one day, but we're sure that you'll have fun right on this island because we just did. Hope you enjoyed reading this post!

Just a little peeky for those curious kitties out there. We're going to cover other leisure and recreation hotspots in the coming weeks. They include: the action-packed Marina Bay area, pristine Demphsey's Hill, and finally the world-famous Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. Stay tuned!

Relax and Unwind in the arms of nature - the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Soleha: "I NEED A BREAK! My brain is overloaded with all the assignments!"

Steffi: "Me too! Let's go somewhere peaceful."

After some discussions, we all agreed to go to Singapore Botanic Gardens!

Perfect gateway to escape from your hectic, fast-paced urban city.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Why Singapore Botanic Gardens?

Firstly, it's accessible by bus, cars and taxis.

And the best offer is, admission fee is FREE! 

Since the economy is not doing well now, recession, this helps us to save money.

Well, there are other attractions in botanic garden that need admission fee. But, none are more that $5! Worth it, isn't it? Value for money.

Here are some facts about Singapore Botanic Garden :

• Spread over 52 hectares and close to the center of the city, the Gardens showcases many outstanding plant collections. 
• The Botanic Gardens has three lakes, namely Symphony Lake, Eco-Lake and Swan Lake. The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage on Symphony Lake occasionally holds free concerts on weekends. Notable performers include the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra.
  
• The Gardens showcases many outstanding plant collections, including many rare specimens.

Attractions

The first attractions we went to is the National Orchid Garden. We, girls, love flowers! They're plainly beautiful. I was amazed by the different varieties and colours of the orchids. There are 20,000 orchid plants on display! From here, I was inspired to have my own garden of orchids. Being surrounded by them, I felt calm, peace. The feeling of country side atmosphere. Soleha felt the same too. :D

 The admission fee to national orchid garden is,a dollar for students, and $5 for adults. 

National Orchid Garden

Plainly beautiful orchids. Love 'em!

Next stop is, Jacob Ballas Children's Garden

Jacob Ballas Children's Garden is where children could learn nature and life sciences while having fun! I peeped at their activities and found that they have small playground, tree-houses with slided and maze. I wished I'm younger! These children are so lucky to participate in Jacob Ballas Children's Garden. I personally envied them. I never been to a tree-house!  There are also interactive exhibits areas like teaching how photosynthesis work in a fun way, mini-garden that showcase different uses of plants like in making dyes, beverages or as herbs. Well, at least I learnt something new about photosynthesis (:

Other Attractions

By then, we were worn out and it was hot! So, we didn't spend much time on the other attractions. Other attractions include the Palm Valley, Bandstand area, Sun Garden and Sundial Garden. 

Activities

There are a myriad of exciting activities you can immerse yourself in, such as having picnics, doing tai chi and jogging. You can learn about plants and herbs in a richly interactive and hand-on manner, as Singapore Botanic Gardens offers workshops for children, as well as adults.

Workshops such as:

Nature Photography @ Botanic Gardens

Home Gardening

The art of planting

and many more!

Tai Chi - when the mind, body, soul and nature come as one

After walking a long way, at last, we settled down at Swan Lake, under a big, shady tree. Then, we started our picnic. We brought sandwiches, made sushi, drinks and fruits. It was fun. This activity allows us to bond with our friends and spent quality time with them. You can do the same with your family too!

Relax and enjoy the good times with friends by just doing some picnicking

Well, to find out more information about Botanical Garden, Click Here!

Singapore is fun? Relaxing? Exciting?

Welcome!
欢迎!
Selamat Datang!
Vanakam!

Many passengers passing by Changi Airport would see these signs at the arrival hall. It clearly shows Singapore's multi cultural and multi ethnic heritage. Many foreigners think of Singapore as a small island, a concrete jungle, with huge port and home to a enormous banking centre. This is so in the sense of economics, but they have yet to discover about the deep-rooted cultural heritage of the many peoples of Singapore.

Welcome to SG Xcites, a blog project by a group of students from 1H01, Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Temasek Polytechnic. Our task here is to give YOU, the nitty gritty of Singapore's recreation and leisure attractions with a personal touch. We will scrutinise, and select the best of Singapore's attractions and showcase them. Not sure where to start? We will give recommendations about pricing, weather, a how-to-get-there guide and the highlights of the various attractions we will be covering on.

As the team showcases the highlights of Singapore to tourists who engage in leisure and recreational activities, we will introduce little snippets of them to present a "Uniquely Singapore" experience. Being a melting pot of the East and the West, Singapore has much to offer to tourists ranging from the leisure traveller to the adventure seeker. Being an important regional business and tourism hub in Southeast Asia, Singapore also appeals to the business-corporate traveller who wants some time out to relax and take a breather.

"Uniquely Singapore" Promotional Video (Video length: est. 6 minutes)

This video featured on our first post gives tourists a general idea about this beautiful red dot in a sunny, tropical region. It reveals another facet of Singapore, about it being fun, hip and enjoyable.