Since the coronavirus outbreak, the way we live and travel has changed dramatically. Around the world, tourism has been the hardest hit by lockdowns. As the situation calmed down and borders opened, people started traveling like never before and wanted more. Today, there is a huge shift in the way travelers approach vacation destinations. It’s not enough to just visit and relax. Traveling today is not just about seeing new places, it’s about experiencing them. Travelers now want their vacations to be encounters and adventures. They want experiences that are immersive, local, authentic, and active. They want to explore the culture and develop a deeper personal connection with the destination.
Today’s tourist destinations are doing everything they can to welcome travelers while providing a holistic experience. And not to be left behind, Singapore has devised a unique program called Passion Made Possible, aimed at promoting Singapore internationally for both tourism and business purposes.
We recently visited Singapore and were able to experience first-hand the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) attempt to take the Lion City beyond traditional tourism and present a unique story and authentic offering. Ta. According to the STB, “Singapore already has a lot to offer the discerning traveler. But ‘Passion Made Possible’ is about individuals who are driven by pure passion and actively contribute to the country’s growth. We add a unique human touch through our stories and company stories. Among Singaporeans, this fosters a sense of belonging and pride, and strengthens our ties to our country’s values of passion and potential. We invite our visitors to experience a place where passion flourishes, innovation thrives, and dreams come true.” And so our journey began…
dragon room
After getting off the plane at Changi Airport and walking straight into the shopping mall, we were greeted by the cool night breeze of Singapore. Having a mall attached to an airport is a great idea. It makes waiting for the rest of your group even more fun. After a few window shopping stops for him, a cup of black coffee for him, and walking his 1,000 steps, we built up quite an appetite and got full while preparing for our first immersive experience in Singapore. It’s time to do it.
The current trend is to hide upscale bars and restaurants behind modest cafes. Hidden behind the refrigerator door of this unassuming local cafe, reminiscent of an old Chinatown gambling hall, was this unique restaurant called The Dragon Chamber. It serves guerilla-style cuisine and revives old, unconventional Chinese dishes like Dragon Claw. Make alligator legs braised in herb sauce over kale. I swear you can’t get a month’s worth of collagen in a tastier package.
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design orchard
The next morning we stopped at Design Orchard, a unique integrated retail and incubation space that nurtures local designers. As a creative incubator and event space in the heart of Orchard Road, it serves as a venue for Singapore’s local brands to showcase their creativity. It houses over 100 brands across various categories such as apparel, accessories and lifestyle products, making it one of Singapore’s largest physical one-stop shopping destinations for local brands.The prices were reasonable and I was able to make some interesting purchases.
Mr. Bucket Chocolatory
Our immersive vacation continued with a chocolate appreciation workshop that took us directly back to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after stepping into the aptly named Mr. Bucket Chocolatory. We toured this chocolate wonder factory and tasted the exquisite flavors. If you have time, you can actually make chocolates for yourself or your friends. Do not miss it!
open farm community
We then had lunch at Open Farm Community, a sustainable restaurant that supports a network of local and Southeast Asian organic growers. Limit single-use plastics, actively recycle, respect ingredients, and reduce waste. The team is inspired by nature and hopes to bring people together through food. Be sure to try the steak here. However, if you want to serve a steak, don’t ask for it to be well-done. The chefs take pride in their cooking and firmly believe that rare or medium is the only way to go. Their burgers are also a great option. The portions are quite large, so come hungry.
Tanglin Gin Distillery
Another not-to-be-missed experience is a visit to the Tanglin Gin Distillery, located in the heart of the former spice-growing Tanglin district. Also, there are no prizes for guessing what the immersive experience at the distillery is. Visitors who sign up for a distillery tour will be guided through the distilling facility and finish with a tasting session in the bar’s annex, Tanglin Gin Jungle.
Put it in your bag @ GINLEE Studio
The host asked us to bring an old t-shirt and we couldn’t for the life of us figure out why. However, when I came to GINLEE studio, the mystery was solved. We used old t-shirts to make very classy and cool designer bags. This visit to the GINLEE studio was very meaningful because it was not only an idea that can be used every day, but also a very practical and sustainable idea.
ANDSOFORTH EXPERIENCE
You haven’t had a dinner experience until you’ve eaten at ANDSOFORTH. We experienced Jules Verne’s ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ in the most unique and exciting way. Transport yourself back in time through an immersive dinner featuring innovative international cuisine, part of an interactive activity led by experts. You make cocktails. Survive in jungle exploration. Perform incredible feats like riding a train and almost taking off in a hot air balloon. The use of authentic costumes, traditional cuisine, and stunning set design allows you to fully immerse yourself in the story.
Katong Antique House
You can’t truly experience a place if you don’t know how the people lived there. At Katong Antique House, you can see all 100 years of Peranakan history inherited, restored and maintained by its founder, the late Peter Wee, the fourth Peranakan and former president of his Peranakan Association of Singapore. Masu. The house contains treasures that date back to his 1800s, making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you step inside. The walls are lined with photos of old Babas and Nyonyas, and the interior rooms feature altars, ornate chairs, and cabinets full of antiques. At the back is the kitchen, and the upper floor is similarly filled with rare artifacts, the result of years of collecting. Everything inside the house is tastefully arranged, so you can’t take a bad photo. The facades of the houses are also colorful and picturesque.
Lunch at Ken Eng Kee
A favorite with international celebrities, Keng Eng Kee is one of Singapore’s most loved Gee Cha outlets. In addition to the popular Moonlight Horphan and Coffee Pork Ribs, we also recommend the Chili & Black Pepper Crab. Their crab dishes have been featured on Netflix’s Street Food and are popular.
Hyperdrive @ Palawan
Sentosa If you love driving the fairways, highways and racetracks, Sentosa Island’s new additions could make for a great day out. Apart from the floating aqua water theme park, electric go-karts and a mini golf course make this destination even more exciting. His HyperDrive, the first of its kind in Asia, takes the racing experience to the next level by immersing drivers in the world of real racing and virtual gaming. Adding to the fun is UltraGolf, a new 18-hole mini-golf course designed to test your putting skills for all ages. After some intense resistance on the tracks, we were ready to relax. And it seemed like the Royal Albatross cruise ship was waiting for us and took us on a voyage. While the water soothed us, classical music and tasty snacks (small portions upon request) had a calming effect and got us all back into a state of relaxed holiday mode.
bird paradise
We saved up our best for our last day in Singapore to visit Bird Paradise, an aviary in Mandai, Singapore. The park, which opened on May 8, 2023, replaces Jurong Bird Park and covers part of the Mandai Wildlife Sanctuary, which includes Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders and the upcoming Rainforest Wild Park. It is forming. This was a real treat for bird lovers as we were able to get up close and personal with the birds as we fed them, pet them and watched their antics up close. We were able to see their breeding and feeding pens, and even got involved in preparing food for the birds.
cooking magic
Then it was time to rustle up our own dinner and we were ushered into the lovely home of food wizard Rukhsana Vasanwala, who is also Singapore Tourism Board’s Passion Ambassador. Luxana hosts cooking classes and welcomes visitors with authentic stories about Singapore’s rich culinary heritage. We cooked some popular Asian and Singaporean dishes under Rukhsana’s watchful eye in her outdoor kitchen.
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Vespa Sidecar Night Tour
After dinner it was time to do some evening sightseeing, so we decided to do this in the sidecar of our Vespa (scooter). This is a great way to see the city, and the sidecar rides through different districts and neighborhoods like Joo Chiat and Kampung Ghelam Tiong Bahru, feeling the wind on your face. I have never heard of sidecar tours anywhere else. Rest assured, this is immersive at its finest. Singapore round trip:
25,000 rupees onwards.
Email: edison @newindian Express.com
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