Being Singaporean, we pride ourselves as jet setters, flying our world renowned airline and flashing our internationally welcomed red passports. So this writer is not going to list a ‘top ten places to visit’ or claim unknown places that demands your attention. Instead, I am going to present my filtered options to you my dear reader and perhaps ask for help with my choice this CNY’s long weekend.
To start, I would like to segmentize this endeavor to three categories, namely, city, resort and local. When I think of taking a break, I broadly think of these three types. A city holiday is a holiday in a city(duh!), where a lot of shopping is being done, where the a big part of the experience includes taking the public transport, and whenever possible, every meal should be different. The resort holiday, well, does not have to be at a resort, but it needs to facilitate a slowing down of the day’s pace, where simply reading a book is an activity and the meals are savoured slowly to full effect. A local holiday is just that, anything local. It should involve arranging accommodation out of your own home and a drastic difference from the normal activities of our everyday lives.
A city holiday, since we are living in a city also, should be marked by how different the city is in terms of sights and sounds, culture, food and very importantly, the shopping experience. And so, keeping in mind that the weekend is only 4days 3nights long, my city of choice is Bangkok.
It may be a little common and not very exotic to us, but Bangkok is always a treat. Not to forget that it is comparatively easy on the pockets.
Hotel Address in BKK
920-926 Rama 4 Rd, Suriyawongse, Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand
Where to eat? For meals in Bangkok, no expense will be spared. I have these two places in mind.
Restaurant Address in BKK
25th Floor 48 Column Building. Sukhumvit Soi 16 Thailand
Restaurant Address in BKK
Chana Songkhram Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
A trip to Bangkok will never be complete without ferocious shopping, you either leave with an extra bag of steals otherwise your bag must have been empty when you arrived. These shopping experiences must not be missed!
Chatuchak Market is adjacent to the Kamphaengpecth Station (MRT) about 5 minute walk from Mochit Skytrain (BTS) Station and Suan Chatuchak (Chatuchak Park) Station (MRT)
Like in Singapore, Bangkok has no lack of Shopping centres. I want to mention two. First, Siam Paragon and MBK. These are two contrasting malls. Siam Paragon holds all Designer brands like Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton in its wide open marble floor spaces. Whereas MBK(Mah Boon Krong) has your more middle class products of fashion accessories luggage, electrical appliances, mobile phones and DVDs. All packed closely in the plaza.
At the end of this city holiday, one should feel like a marathon has been completed. Looking forward to the comforts of one’s own home and the slower pace that accompanies it. But of cos utterly satisfied of the amount of activity accomplished within such a short period of time.
On to my choice of a resort holiday. There are actually quite a number of options to choose from. In my research, I found that South East Asia has the best selections of resorts and ‘resort style’ Holidays, thanks to our neighbours Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. My choice is rather extravagant one, Bvlgari resort Bali.
Let me start by not mentioning the price attached to this luxury resort. ‘High’ would suffice as the adjective. But, when you are there, I believe that money would be replaced by beauty and comfort.
The resort offers a private beach for its guest between the cliff and the water’s edge. It is accessible from the resort’s inclined elevator that brings guest to the beach as well as to the beach club.
The design of the Bvlgari Resort stays true to Balinese tradition and is described as a ‘medieval fortress town’ Each stone in construction has been cut and chiseled on site by hand. The resort offers 3 different villas plus its premiere Bvlgari villa The ocean view villa, premier ocean villa and the ocean cliff villa are the two bedroom villas. All with a private garden to soak in the sun and also its own individual plunge pool. The major difference is the views from the villa. The Bvlgari villa however is two notches up. This is the description from the website.
‘A private entrance conducts to this 1,300 square meters unit that includes two bedrooms, a living room with bar, a spacious dining room, a private cinema, a kitchen and a spa treatment room. The 20-meter pool and a meditation pergola surrounded by an extensive terrace and small pavilions where to eat and live in the open complete this one-of-a-kind scenario, perfect for private events, weddings or a family holiday.’
Needless to say it costs a bomb and a half/night to stay at the Bvlgari villa.
Other perks and services at the resort includes, beach butler service, spa with 8 treatment rooms, fitness center, herbal steam rooms and a swimming pool with waterfall and whirlpool jets. Buggy service is provided throughout the property with car and van rental also available onsite. For dinning and drinks, the resort has one bar, two restaurants and one restuarant and bar.
Pictures do say a thousand words, as this writer will now demonstrate.
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What if it was a vacation staying in the same country? A stay-cation? Singapore as we know is host to millions of visitors each year, and we do our best to make our home as exciting and comfortable for visitors as possible. Here in a stay home vacation, the goal would be to take full advantage of that.
Wangz is one of the newest boutique hotels to date, but that really has little to do with my choice. Its location serves as a convenient base to the holiday, a short 5 mins away from the mrt and from the aromatic food locales of Tiong Bahru. When you enter the hotel, you are immediately drawn by the elegant naturalistic yet modern deco. The hotel obviously spared no expense with trying to impress guest. In their rooms, the same design and effort is seem through its large bathrooms and plush furnishings.
So, what to do in sunny Singapore? Plenty! Here are 3 suggestions. Dinner at the Singapore flyer, visit the Singapore Zoological Gardens and enjoy a luxury spa.
The Singapore Flyer
30 Raffles Avenue 039803 Singapore
The Singapore Zoo
80 Mandai Lake Rd
The Amrita Spa at Raffles Hotel
1 Beach Road Singapore 189673
So here we are, at the end of my daydream of vacations for the first long weekend of the holidays. Which would you pick, if the choice was yours?