Weekends are for discovering in Singapore

For those working and living in Singapore a typical work week would involve plenty of stress, tight deadlines, swallowing lunch and long hours staring at a PC screen. This is of course until the weekend arrives. And what better way to take charge and recharge with a weekend getaway as Singapore is perhaps the best place to do it since it offers access to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Singapore offers beautiful getaways that are all within a short drive or an hour’s flight. The options are endless, from lazing on beautiful stretches of beach with pristine clear water or indulging in the relaxing charms of a spa, it’s just the beginning.

Towards the north one could choose to travel to Malaysia or Thailand, towards the south there’s beautiful Indonesia. In the south a ferry ride lasting about 45 minutes could take visitors to Batam or Bintan. The beaches here are absolutely amazing and are the perfect way to spend the day for those who love the outdoors.

Another place to find good beach getaways is the east of Malaysia, in Johor where the choice is between Desaru, Tioman or Pulau Sibu. The beach areas face the South China Sea and the water at these beaches is a beautiful turquoise colour.

Should doing a bit of shopping lift one’s spirits then what better place to find a shoppers’ paradise than at Bangkok, Thailand which is approximately two hours away by plane and shouldn’t cost too much with many budget carriers offering affordable means of travel.

Once in Bangkok the many markets open during the weekend offer the best bargains, even more so for those who have developed their bargaining skills. On the other hand those who have developed the upper hand in being streetwise will know quite easily how to discern a genuine product from those that have been reproduced.

If residents or tourists are too tired to travel, then Singapore itself offers the beautiful island of Sentosa which is close enough to reach. The beach side area offers good restaurants and cheap enough accommodation. However, for those with an appetite for seafood then Kukup in Malaysia is a must. Once known as a fishing village it offers fresh seafood that is affordable and absolutely delicious.

Sometimes weekend getaways are unplanned and a simple Singapore hotel reservation even at the last minute at a hotel could perhaps be the best break one needs. A boutique style hotel such as the Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore offers amenities like a sauna and outdoor Jacuzzi which are just what the doctor ordered to recharge those batteries.

Singapore Cable Cars – A Thrilling Ride

Singapore began using the cable car system in 1974 and since then it has served as a means of linking Singapore to the beautiful resort of Sentosa which is located close to the Harbour of Keppel.

When it opened in the 1970’s the cable car system was the first aerial transport means in the world to extend across a harbour. However, it was not the first aerial rope system as they call it, to extend across an ocean. Although tourists refer to it as a cable car and now locals themselves have got accustomed to call it that, it is actually not an aerial tram but a gondola lift.

As a means of promoting tourism this cable way was supported by the government of Singapore during the 1960’s. It begins from Mount Faber which is located in Singapore Island. The project cost over US $5 million and was opened in February 1974.

At the time that it was declared open the Singapore cable car system had only 40 odd cabins. It was a tedious job for cabin attendants as they had to manually open and close the doors securely. A popular show during the 1970’s was the Hawaii Five O, which was filmed using the cabins and thereafter the cable cars increased in popularity. It grew so popular that over 50 cabins were added soon after. Another interesting point to note is that the world’s first mass wedding celebrations were also conducted on the cable cars towards the end of the 70’s.

The cable cars are not only a symbol of Singapore’s development but during its early years it was a major symbol of pride for the country, which still continues today. In the 80’s the cable cars came into the limelight again during the Miss World pageant. This was when Singapore was hosting it and contestants were treated to a ride in its cabins.

In 1999, the cable car system which had already achieved many firsts added another to its list when it introduced glass bottom cabins at the rate of US$30,000 per unit. And in the year 2000 about six more glass bottom cabins were added to the system bringing the total number of cabins to 81. In 2004, organisers put together a thrilling competition called ‘Survivng the Sky’ where teams of two members each had to survive in a suspended cabin for the longest time, within a 24 hour period.

The cable cars have been a source of sheer thrill, and have delighted many who have got on board; a ride is definitely a must on the list of things to do when visiting Singapore. Another must is to make a visit to Orchard Road, and enjoy a meal at a café at the Orchard Hotel Singapore. This hotel Singapore offers some delectable Cantonese fine dining in its restaurants. Geared to care for leisure and business travellers, the hotel is the perfect place from which to begin one’s day out in Singapore.

The Sky Tower - a different view of New Zealand

An iconic structure adorning the skyline of Auckland City in New Zealand is the Sky Tower. The tower which is used as a dual purpose observatory as well as a telcommunications platform is over 300 metres in height, from the bottom to the very top of the tower’s needle like tip.

When compared to the great towers of the world, it ranks as number 13 and is the tallest free standing structure in the southern hemisphere. The tower is quite popular and anyone who travels to Auckland is always curious to know what the city looks like from the tower. It accommodates more than a thousand visitors a day. Part of SKYCITY which is an Auckland casino it was originally intended to be part of ‘Harrah’s Entertainment’.

A café and restaurant can be found on the uppper section of the tower. A highlight of the tower is its unique revolving restaurant, which rotates 360 degrees, and moves every hour. From the floor where the main observatory is located visitors will find three observation sections or decks as they are called. The tower’s main antenna is just above the popular ‘Skydeck’. The main deck is situated at a height of 186 metres.

Perhaps the best way to conquer the fear of heights would be to indulge in the 192 metre high ‘Sky Jump’ at the observation deck, where jumpers are capable of reaching speeds of about 50 miles per hour. The speed is controlled from the cable and is the ultimate adrenaline rush.

The Auckland Peering Exchange known among locals as ‘The APE’ is also located in the tower, and uses a powerful aerial for its broadcasting and communication work. The antenna is said to have the capability of linking more than 50 wireless microwave links, making the antenna at the Sky Tower one of the world’s biggest FM gatherers.

Another reason as to why the Sky Tower is so popular is the fact that it is used as a means of literally highlighting various causes. For instance the colours of various causes are showcased by illuminating the tower in those specific colours. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month the tower is lit up in pink, during the Chinese New Year the colours are usually gold and red.

Recently a new lighting system for the tower was installed whereby the floodlights were replaced by LED lights in a bid to conserve the amount of energy used to light the tower. The previous floodlights were in use since the tower’s inception in 1997. The new system that has been put in place is said to use only 60 percent of the energy required earlier.

Visitors to Auckland should make it a point to add the Sky Tower to their list of things to do. In addition to this, other sites like the Vector Arena are also a must and are in close proximity to the Copthorne Hotel Auckland City. This Auckland hotel offers lovely views of the city and has all the essential amenities to make one’s stay a memorable one.

India Tourism - Rich Art Forms and Cultural Heritage

India – a sanctuary of tourism delights, a civilization to tour through. Number of tourists visiting India is rising at an alarming rate. Tourists come to India for its wealth of sights, cultural exuberance, diversity of terrain and in search of that special something, an extra punch that only India promises and delivers. It is not wrong to say that tour to India can be organized for various purposes either for exploring natural beauty or for paying a holy visit to various pilgrimage centers, etc.

If you really want to discover the captivating splendor of India tourism, then places like Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan, Kerala are the best choices. Similarly, sacred destinations like Golden Temple, Konark temple, Khajuraho etc are the most sought after destinations for those tourists who want to make a holy visit in India.

India tourism is not classified to pilgrimage centre or heritage sites, even the animal lovers can have a whale of the time while roving around the famous Kaziranga, Jim Corbett, Ranthambore, etc., national parks which are real treasure of diverse flora and fauna of India. Experience & Uncover the enchanting splendor of India tourism by various tour Packages as like : heritage tours, adventure tour, wildlife tour, pilgrimage tour packages and many other tour packages.

These packages are tailor-made and can be further customized as per the needs and requirements of the tourists. Although, India is one such a destination which is visited by numerous tourists throughout the year round, yet tourists prefer visiting India during festive season of Holi, Diwali, Christmas, etc. to get a glimpse of high-spirited celebrations made by Indian people during these colorful festivals. It is not wrong to say that by availing these tour packages, one can surely get a brief insight of the eternal Indian tourism of which it boasts for.