Rockin' In Singapore - Femina

Singapore sure knows how to show her visitors a good time. Sejal Mehta is still recovering...

'Is that a naked man standing on top of that bench? And why has he painted himself golden?' 'No, he's wearing underpants.' Welcome to Singapore... a city with a host of experiences that leave you enthralled or plain amused (and no, naked don't prowl the streets of Singapore, this was part of a street play festival on Orchard Road).

Sure, there are brochures that tell you the city's hot spots. But what they don't tell you is the experiences that these places offer.

Experience... Bliss

Scrub. Exfoliate. Detoxify. If you're a hardcore spa junkie, you know the drill. If you're a spa virgin, don't worry... follow my lead to the Amrita Spa at Raffles The Plaza. Listen politely to the Chinese woman as she takes you through the elaborate treatment she has in store for you. Snap to attention when she says all this requires you to wear very little. Hmm, cause for mild alarm. Don't worry. Put yourself (literally) into their experienced hands. After hours of relaxing hydraulic treatment, body scrubs, massages (do ask for a heavenly foot massage) and wax treatment for hands and nails, glide off in a trance-like state of Nirvana to their relaxation lounge where you can hatch a plan in quiet solitude to never leave. Take in the décor, aimed to soothe, with candles, flowers, et al. It instantly calms your senses. It's indulgence at its best... and you surely deserve it. I know I did.

Experience... Boogie Culture

Do you like Abba? Does 'Dancing Queen' make you want to get down and boogie? I was lucky enough to be in Singapore when the widely acclaimed 'Mamma Mia' musical (with the best of Abba's songs) was playing at the Esplanade - the centre for performing arts at the waterfront. Beautifully constructed, this theatre has opera style balcony seats as well, rising majestically on both sides. There are outdoor performances too... make sure you know what's playing while you're in Singapore. Don't miss visiting the Esplanade. After a show, you can walk out to the waterfront and sit on the ledge looking out at the vast expanse of water with a fantastic view. Or if you don't care for the peaceful introspection that this place will definitely evoke in you, you can chill out at the open-air restaurant or have a drink at Harry's Bar.

Experience... The Party-Animal Nightlife

Oh, these guys know how to party! For some late night action, head over to Zouk, one of the coolest discos in the city. There are three disco floors inside - the main Zouk club, the retro-playing Phuture and The Velvet Underground. The best deejays from around the world rock this place every weekend (Pete Tong was there that particular weekend!) and the party was to continue till December when they invited the biggest names from the deejay fraternity (including Paul Van Dyke!) to blast their tracks at an all-night beach party!

Experience... Empty Pockets!

Come on! Like you didn't know what a shopping hub this place is! The clothes are exquisite, brand names tempt you from every store and chic women flutter about (they're so petite, they make you feel like an ox) wearing gorgeous accessories. Well, Orchard Road, Suntec City Mall (with its exhaustive complex) and The Raffles City Mall are the usual suspects. For slightly cheaper stuff, make a beeline for Chinatown, Bugi's Village, Holland Village and Clarkes Quay. If you want to feel at home, drop in at Little India and shop at Mustafa. You'll feel like you're in South India - they speak Tamil. You could even grab a bite at Raj Restaurant, for delicious Indian cuisine.

Experience... Nature At Its Prettiest!

"Sit back and don't stick your hands out!" I thought the guide for the Night Safari was exaggerating till I saw deer and tapirs ambling less than a foot from the tram. The 45-minute tram ride takes you on a nocturnal ride through the eight geographical zones (recreated brilliantly in the park... you can't help the child-like excitement you feel when the guide's deep voice says things like, 'You are now entering the dense rainforests of Asia'). You'll see lions, tigers, elephants, birds, rhinos - and the experience of nightfall with lights recreating the moonlit effect is quite incredible. Or you could visit Sentosa Island for a day... take the monorail, walk through the delightful Underwater World with the travelator while sharks and ray fish lazily swim all around and above you. Or you could chill out at the beach. Don't miss the awesome musical fountain show with laser lights et al, in the evening. In the morning, take a boat ride from Clarke Quay on the Singapore River.

And Finally... Walk, Walk, Walk

Get out of your car, or bus or train - or however it is that you're getting about and walk the streets. Especially when there's a festival on, which is usually all the time - really, they're always celebrating something or the other... right from Deepavali (as they call it) to Christmas, to New Year's and then Chinese New Year... well it goes on... and they do it in grand style. I gawked at the elaborate decorations for Christmas. Orchard Road was lit up brilliantly right from November, the Busker's Comedy Fest was on so there were street plays at every corner and it seemed like the whole city was on the streets. So mingle with them... get the feel of the city. Off with you then. Experience... Singapore!

Trivia

Suntec Mall comprises four towering skyscrapers and a smaller convention centre at the side. The entire architecture resembles a giant hand with four fingers and a thumb. There's a circular fountain located at the 'palm', which signifies prosperity and the circular shape portraying a never-ending chain of good fortune.