Manoj Gursahani asked:


If you have seen Krrish and cant get enough of it, how about tracing the superhero’s footsteps as he discovers his powers in Singapore…wander around Sentosa where one of the Krrish soundtracks was filmed or experience for yourself the backdrops for its mind-boggling sequences…

In a country gripped by a massive Bollywood craze, what better way to attract the 7.5 million Indians who travel to overseas destinations each year, than to get the Bollywood itself to use these destinations in their films. Rest assured, this is the best way of ensuring the widest exposure and generate curiosity among Indians.

That is exactly what Singapore Tourism board has attempted, when it made a deal with Rakesh Roshan’s Filmkraft Production for its latest film Krrish, the sequel to the Bollywood mega blockbuster- Koi Mil Gaya.

Over the years, Bollywood has interwoven a lot of exotic locales in the films. Every year, more than 20 Indian films are shot in Switzerland, a trend started by Yash Chopra with his penchant for extravagance. These locales not only captured the imagination of Indian audiences, but also led to increase in the number of outbound tourists to these destinations.

Soon after the release of Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai, shot extensively in New Zealand, the number of Indian tourists visiting New Zealand swelled by almost four times.

Surely the lure of Krrish and Singapore combined would be difficult to beat!

Marking a first of sorts for any affiliation between an International Tourism board and the Bollywood industry, Singapore has made its first overture for actively promoting the country’s tourism through Indian films.

The tourism board is all set to invest upto $10 million in Bollywood productions over the next three years, with the objective of developing and promoting Singapore, not just to the resident Indians but to the ever increasing number of non-resident Indians who visit the country regularly.

The fund would not only provide logistics and ground support, but more importantly also assist the film unit in getting the necessary approvals, including to block roads and traffic, from respective government agencies.

Geared up to reap the rewards, by riding on the hype created by the blockbuster release of Krrish, Singapore Tourism board has gone one step ahead and launched a series of ‘Singapore Krrish tours’ which are basically packaged tours targeted to lure the Bollywood and especially Hrithik’s fans to Singapore.

The tour traces the movie trail and across the places where the film was shot including the Singapore zoo and river, the Lau Pa Sat festival market, Sentosa Island, the Wild Wild Wet water park, Suntec City mall and the Esplanade art district.

Tempting the visitors with interesting trivia about the movie and its making, the Singapore Tourism Board is attempting to provide audiences a first-hand opportunity to relive the Krrish experience in the beautiful island city of Singapore.

Targeting the increasing number of outbound tourists from India, the International Tourism Boards are now tempting travellers not just to see famous landmarks or to go shopping but to visit the locations of popular movies, to experience these settings and hear the numerous stories during the making.

And with a plethora of international Tourism Boards now wooing the Indian film industry, expect a lot of packages in the future, aimed at generating increased revenue for these destinations by cashing-in on this Bollywood craze of the Indians!



Singapore Shopping

Cristiano Renardo asked:


 

Singapore is a metropolis with a multicultural touch.

There is a big Chinese Community with all its energy, there is a big Indian community whit there fantastic food and the Malay culture in all its glory.

Shopping is one of the greatest pleasures in Singapore and it’s the main reason why people come to Singapore.

Singapore is definitely for shoppers and Singaporeans favorite slogan is “Shop till you Drop”.

Orchard Road is the place to be, with a dozen Shopping malls you will definitely find what you are looking for.

If you are shopping for electronics, you can try your luck at Sim Ling or the Funan Centre. These places give great discounts on all electronics.

Geylang Serai, Arab Street, Little India and Chinatown are more for traditional ethnic shopping areas. A good stop to get your Singapore souvenir for your family at home.

Singapore has a huge array of culinary offers thanks to the city’s ethnic mix.

Food from China, India, Malaysia and even Australia are all available and all the food got its typical Singaporean twist. Have a meal at one of the many hawker places or have a superb dinner in one of the top restaurants.

The Newton Hawker centre is the most famous hawker centre in Singapore, If you like seafood, it’s the place to be. The food centre offers a wide variety of fresh, delicious seafood.

Fill your days with daytrips to the Zoo, Singapore Underwater World, Jurong Bird Park or chill out at one of the beaches at Sentosa.

Public transportation is very good in Singapore. With a big MRT(subway) network and busses going to every corner, you hardly need to take any of the many taxi’s.

Just buy your top-up card at any of the MRT stations.

If you want to put on your dancing shoes, there are plenty of clubs around the city that stay open until the early hours.

Accommodation is not hard to find in Singapore. In the centre you find a hotel at every corner. The hotel industry caters to every budget. Little India is a great place for backpackers, with it’s many Guesthouses.

If you like Formula 1 racing, then Singapore is the place to be. The first night race in the history of Formula 1 will be hold in Singapore on the 28th September 2008.

There are definitely enough things to do in Singapore to fill up your holiday.

But most important: Do what the Singaporeans do: Eating and Shopping!

 



Shopping Directory

Graeme Lanham asked:


Are you traveling to Australia, New Zealand or South East Asia? Many travelers from Europe, North America and other parts of Asia now enjoy a few days’ stopover in Singapore. It’s exotic, unique and clean and you’ll love it! Here are some suggestions to help you with your exploration of The Lion City.

WALKING.

Singapore, situated near the Equator, is warm to hot year round, so being outside for long periods can be tiring. However if you really want to discover the city, walking is the best way. Chinatown is an example. To explore this area with its fascinating back streets and surprises, you need to walk. It is less easy to walk along Orchard Road, with its busy streets, overpasses and underpasses.

Fortunately, shopping and walking is made a little easier in the eastern part of town. Many of the major hotels are connected by shopping malls, some underground. So walking in air conditioned comfort along shopping arcades can be a pleasant experience. An example is Marina Square Mall connected by arcades to Raffles Square and City Hall MRT underground station.

TRAINS.

Singapore’s underground trains are fast, clean and efficient. They transport large masses of people in this city of over 4 million citizens and provide easy access to most parts of the city and outlying suburbs.

Using them is easy.

Most one way fares are less than $3 and you use a machine. Just press the standard fare sign on the touch screen followed by your destination name/number. Out comes your computer card (not a ticket) together with your change. Place it on the entrance gate and you’re in.

Remember that there are 2 main lines, north/south and east/west, so look for the train’s destination to work out which line to travel on. When you reach your destination, place your card back in the machine and you receive a dollar refund! How good is that? It saves litter and the card can be used again.

You will also notice that the trains and stations are clean and graffiti free. How refreshing. I wonder how they do it! I made this comment to a Singaporean train traveler and his reply was swift. “They wouldn’t dare!” he said.

BUSES.

Buses are used extensively by Singaporeans, but unless you know exactly where you want to go, they are best avoided. A good option, if you are a first time visitor, is to use tour buses, stopping at places spread around the city.

You also receive a running commentary and the cost is $12. For your day’s ticket, you can hop on and off as often as you choose.

If you have traveled on Singapore Airlines, keep your boarding pass, as this airline also runs a hop on, hop off service around the city (including the Botanical Gardens) and it will cost you just $3. Look for the SIA buses and ask for a route map. Your boarding pass also entitles you to many shopping discounts, so it’s worthwhile keeping!

TAXIS.

For convenience, comfort and low cost, taxis are hard to beat, particularly if you are with your partner or family. Most taxi fares within the city are less than $5 and even when we returned to the city from the zoo and night safari, the fare was only $15. Most taxi fares from the city to Changi Airport are around the same price, but check before you travel, as prices can vary.

After a busy day’s shopping and sightseeing, to be dropped off at the front entrance to your hotel is sheer bliss, particularly when you know that the pool and a cold drink are only 5 minutes away!



Visit Singapore!

Ethan Ong asked:


I really think shopping should be considered a sin. I have seen some of the expressions of the ladies I have bee out with and I would actually akin it to a ecstasy, a passionate feeling that they experience every time they enter a retail shop, spot a bargain, spy some shoes which look the same to any other guy or when they hear the familiar sound of a receipt being printed and the credit card company adding another line to their monthly bill. This is a feeling most of the guys in the world cannot understand and will never understand. When we have to pay, we feel pain, nausea and sometimes a need to find a dark hole to hide in as the bags seem to pile up and the pain in your arm gets more acute. This is why Singapore should be described as the secret heaven of all ladies who delight in retail. The delights of shopping in Singapore and her wealth of shopping centers and shopping directories that would make mapmakers of the globe shudder in fright are both legendary and on the tips of the lips of every traveler who comes to Singapore to experience this mad craze - crowned off by the great Singapore sale and other mini bargain seasons that seem to crop up just as pay day rolls by.

If Singapore could be described as a maze then it is somewhere that the ladies and anyone who is passionate about shopping would love to get lost in. On last count there are more than 200 major shopping malls and centers all over the island, from massive redoubts and golden palaces of retail opportunities to the more humble buildings that are scattered along the many suburbs and quaint little towns all over Singapore. I mean, Mustaffa Shopping centre is an example why I tink shopping should be declared as sin as many ladies after a night out of disco and cocktails top off the night with a champagne and a trip to the largest 24-hour shopping centre in Singapore. While this is not a typical list a guy would draw up as a good time on a Friday night, this is the extent of the shopping culture in Singapore. Orchard Road has more than 2, 000 local and international brands in buildings of old and new, some of which reach to the skies. A bus full of ladies in a bus riding past orchard will always make an excuse to stop by and experience the delights it has to offer. It is an addiction to retail, a drug induced stupor, lightheadedness and a buoyant mood everytime they start shopping around.

What’s more is that they get treated like royalty in Singapore. Shopping centers are designed to make their retail experience as fluid and as velvety as possible. Well trained concierge staff, retail staff and cashiers who seem to have a smile transfixed on their face and a warm greeting always on the tip of their tongue are predominant in many of these department stores. Shopping is a delight in Singapore - simply because this country has been designed to give such pleasures.



Visit Singapore!

Jojo Robles asked:


Great holiday starts with great food. From May 23 to 27, the Singapore Food Expo will bring together what’s hot in Singapore cuisine to start off the tourist season in Singapore. Featuring a record-high number of 150+ exhibitors, the 9th Singapore Food Expo is poised to showcase the widest selections of food and beverages now available in Singapore.

Also scheduled to top-bill the event are the kitchen products, condiments, and spices from local merchants. If there is an upcoming event in Singapore that combines shopping and food at their best, the Singapore Food Expo would be it.

The Singapore Food Expo will be held at Hall No. 5 of the Singapore Food Merchant Association, located at the Changi District in downtown Singapore. The trade fair is five minutes away from the airport, accessible by busses and MRT stations, and close to hotels and other accommodation providers in Singapore’s Changi District.

In anticipation of the Singapore Food Expo, accommodation providers in Singapore like the Harbour Ville Hotel open up an online reservation system where Singapore visitors can make reservations with instant confirmation.

Located at the Singapore Harbour Front, formerly World Trade Center, the Harbour Ville Hotel is a cheap and chic (boutique) hotel on the southern coast of Singapore. The hotel in Singapore of Harbour Ville is within the vicinity of the Harbourfront MRT and busses regularly ply the route so that moving around Singapore will not be a problem.

Each room at the Singapore Hotel of Harbour Ville is well-appointed, serene, and ready, providing a sharp counterpoint to the bustling city of Singapore. Also, the hotel location of Harbour Ville is convenient. For those really keen on food, the famous Maxwell Hawker Centre is just minutes away from the hotel. At Harbour Ville Hotel, great holiday starts with great food choices.



Shopping Directory

Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Bangkok is also the most fabulous shopping destination in Asia. In fact, shopping in Bangkok is truly fun as well as a great experience, with an array of shopping locations, ranging from glitzy modern shopping malls to traditional bustling street markets selling antiquities and designer and traditional jewelry.

In short, Bangkok is a mecca for shopping enthusiasts, and everything including electronic items, computer software and hardware, art and craft items, Chinese specialties, textiles, jewelry, and much more can be shopped here.

Perhaps most popular among the shopping highlights in Bangkok is the Siam Square, which is strategically positioned at Central Station on the BTS Sky Train route. This area is dotted with hundreds of high-end shopping malls, among which one of the most sought after is Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center, within which one can find a number of shops selling branded items.

There is also an elegant cinema complex on the top floor of Siam Discovery Center, with comfortable seats. This is a great place to relax after a day of tired shopping. Located just ten minutes walk from the Siam Square is another much famed shopping spot in Bangkok, namely, Mahboonkrong Shopping Center, dotted with a large number of shops selling quality clothing and electronic items at knock-down prices.

One can also find a couple of shopping malls and department stores, close to the Chit Lom BTS Sky Train station. Among which, perhaps the most significant is the eight-storied World Trade Center, attached with a number of duty free shops. Found on the top floor of the World Trade Center is an ice skating rink. The Central Group’s flagship store, Central Chit Lom Department Store, is also located here. Such shopping centers as Gaysorn Plaza, Maneya Centre, Sogo, and Narayana Phand, a great spot to shop handicraft items, are also situated in this area.

For those who want to shop computer-related items and peripherals at cheap prices, a great way would be to head to Pantip Plaza on the Phetburi Road. This is a paradise for shopping computer items. Every floor within the plaza has a number of shops selling both original and pirated software and hardware items. One could buy copy of VCD movies for a price as low as 100 baht.

A good number of small as well as large shopping malls can also be found along the Ploenchit Road and Sukhumvit Road, such as, Robinson, Ploenchit Plaza, Times Square, Emporium, and Landmark.

Popular shopping areas in Bangkok also include Silom Road, located to the south of the Siam Square. Just few among the shopping malls in this area are Silom Center, Central department stores, Silom Plaza, Thaniya Plaza, Silom Village, and Holiday Inn Crown Plaza.

Shopping at Bangkok would not be complete without taking a tour to Chatuchak market, which becomes alive in the city every weekend. Located near the Mo Chit BTS Sky Train station, Chatuchak market is an incredible outdoor market, from where everything from handicraft items and livestock items could be shopped and that too at bargain prices. Further, you can also find a large number of food stalls in the market, selling delicious Thai food items such as fried noodles, noodle curry, and barbequed satays.

Other popular shopping areas in the city are Bangrak Market, a bustling area which is famed for its flower stalls, engage in selling enormous variety of cut flowers, jasmines, and orchids; China Town, with alleys packed with outlets dealing in almost all types of goods; Pratunam Market, which is a great place to relish hygiene as well as delicious food items; Woeng Nakhon Kasem - a popular spot to shop items such as brassware, old fashioned furniture, industrial items, antiques, and Chinese porcelains.

Above all, for a unique shopping experience, take a tour to some of the most fabulous night markets in the area. Most prominent among the night markets in the city are the Suan Luam Night Bazaar, whose specialty is stalls that sell products brought from every corner of the country.

Pratunam Market Complex, which is a great spot to shop fashion accessories such as handbags, purses, trendy apparels, and designer accessories; Patpong Night Market, which is not only popular for stalls selling designer good at cheap prices but also for night clubs and other establishments conducting sex shows; Buanglamphu Market, a descent place to shop clothing and food items; and the Memorial Bridge Night Market.



Department Stores

Cheow Yu Yuan asked:


One of the major attractions that make Singapore the best place for vacation is its shopping experience. Singapore is a shopping paradise and I am sure that all shopping fanatics will like it. In Singapore, there are a lot of sale periods throughout the year such as the Great Singapore Sale from May to July. So, when you are planning out your vacation to Singapore, you should not miss this one out.

Great Singapore Sale allows you to enjoy cheap shopping in Singapore. During this period, you will enjoy great discounts up to 70%. Almost all major shopping malls and centres will lower down their prices during this period. With this opportunity, you will be able to get the stuffs that you want at bargained rates.

In this article, I will highlight some of the great places to shop in Singapore:

1. Orchard Road. Orchard road has many major shopping malls like Takashimaya and Wisma. You can get branded clothes, electronics and furniture all at one place. At orchard road, you can almost get anything that you wish to buy.

2. The Heeren. If you love music, Heeren is the place that you must visit when you are in Singapore. There is a HMV situated in Heeren and you can also enjoy a wide range of Asian cuisines too.

3. Bugis Street. Bugis street is a place whereby you can get a lot of bargains. Major shopping malls like Takashimaya usually have fixed prices for their goods. However at Bugis street, it is where your bargaining techniques will come in handy. So make sure that you always bargain and try to lower down the prices.

4. VivoCity. VivoCity is the largest shopping mall in Singapore. It is situated at HarbourFront where you can take cable cars to Sentosa to enjoy a day out at the beach too. In Vivocity, you can almost find all major brands that you can think of. It is definitely a good place to shop.

5. Centrepoint. Centrepoint is one of the most popular shopping centres in Singapore. In this shopping mall, you can find stores that sell all kinds of items, such as sporting goods, books, shoes and branded clothes. There are also fast food outlets for you to ease your hunger during shopping.

I hope that with this article, you are now more aware of the places to shop when you come to Singapore. So before you plan a trip to Singapore, make sure that you prepare your shopping list. I am sure you will not be disappointed with the shopping experience that you can get in Singapore.



Department Stores

Emily Yung asked:


Fave Nails was born in 2001 out of a desire to pamper customers with quality and affordable Mani and Pedi Care, and other beauty services. After establishing itself in Shaw Centre, it moved on to open a second outlet in OUB Centre in 2002 and then CityLink Mall in 2003. All this was made possible with great support from various influential women’s magazines.

From simple Mani and Pedi Care services, Fave Nails has evolved to providing complex, high margin services like Acrylic Nails, 3-dimensional Nail Art, Eyebrow Embroidery, Eyelash Extensions, Facials and Brazilian Waxing.

To achieve this, Fave Nails invested heavily in recruiting, training and retaining the right staff. To further ensure that the business runs with minimal supervision and that service quality is consistent, Fave Nails invested in a POS system and thorough Standard Operating Procedures and Training Manuals.

Today, Fave Nails is constantly looking for ways to expand its reach in the growing beauty and wellness industry.

Armed with an Accounting degree, the founder, Juat Li, first started her working life as an auditor with one of the Big Five Accounting Firms (at that time). That meant reviewing clients’ financial statements after all the action. Wanting to be at the forefront of business instead of in the back room, Juat Li tried her hand at Sales and Marketing jobs. Although they were fulfilling, she felt that she had to do more if she wanted to achieve her dream of being “financially free”.

After 6 years, with three successfully established Fave Nails shops, Juat Li has built Fave Nails into a one-stop beauty shop that customers love and are proud to patronize. With her warm and sincere approach, she has built a great team of staff.

Fave Nails is committed to being the Ultimate One-Stop Beauty Shop which customers love and a great place for employees to shine at work and to be always on the forefront of the latest beauty trends.

What’s the next step for Juat Li? To expand Fave Nails’ market share in the beauty and wellness industry through business franchise plans. Fave Nails is one of the Singapore franchise opportunities in the Singapore beauty franchise industry.

“Fave Nails is ready to share the experience through business franchise plans,” said Hsien Naidu, Director of business consulting firm, Astreem that consists of a team of franchise consultants, business consultants, branding consultants and marketing consultants. “The team at Fave nails is set to develop and share their franchise business concept with investors seeking Singapore franchise opportunities through Singapore beauty franchise for their business investments.”



Department Stores

Kevin Laura asked:


 

Singapore has always been a hot favorite among the travelers world wide. People come to Singapore to spend their holidays. Singapore hotels are very distinct and can make your holiday trip, a memorable one. The great hospitality, delicious food and the luxury offered in these hotels can make you fall in love with Singapore.

With a huge density of population in Singapore, finding an accommodation to travelers may seem a difficult task. But it is not so. There are a large number of hotels in Singapore and many tourists come throughout the year, to spend their leisure time. To holiday in Singapore, is really a great idea.

The spectacular beaches, incredible museums, shopping malls and exotic cosmopolitan culture of Singapore paved the way to the growth of hotel industry in Singapore. The hotels offer a convenient accommodation to all the international visitors. Singapore hotels cater to the needs of people of both elite and middle class people. There are many luxury hotels along with cheap hotels in Singapore.

Luxury Hotels

There are a wide range of luxury hotels in Singapore. Besides a good stay, you can enjoy great food, the exuberance of spas, massages and the facility of swimming pool dip in these hotels. Every moment of your trip can be bliss with the great hospitality that these hotels provide. You have to spend more dollars to experience the luxury of these hotels. But each pie you pay is worth spending to make your holiday trip very exciting and entertaining.

Cheap Hotels

If you don’t have enough money to stay in a luxury hotel, you can opt for a cheap hotel in Singapore. The cheap hotels are cheap in terms of expenses. They provide high quality services and good food with some local delicacies. It is obvious that the standard is not as high as compared to the luxury hotels. However, you can always enjoy many other things in these hotels. Your stay in these can be thrilling when you get a great hospitality.

Touring to Singapore for a holiday trip, has become very easy, as, many online websites. These sites have a tie-up with the hotels in Singapore. You can easily book a room either in a luxury hotel or in a Singapore cheap hotels and make your trip hassle free. With the help of internet you can browse through many sites and find out the facilities offered by the hotels in Singapore. You can select one, that suits your budget and walk in after you reach Singapore.

 



Singapore Shopping

Naveen Marasinghe asked:


 

The Great Singapore Sale is an event totally dedicated to shopping lovers which attracts people from many parts of the world. It is an annual shopping sale that is organized collaborately by the Singapore Tourism Board and other retail stores and malls in Singapore. It can be called the grand annual shopping festival which offers a range of products such as apparel, jewellery, electronic items, fashion accessories, cosmetics and perfumes, toys, Singapore souvenirs and many more. It will be providing the visitors with product discounts as well as other special offers such as discounted tickets to Singapore Zoo, Singapore Duck tours, to Sentosa and various local attractions.

During the period of the Great Singapore Sale, Singapore’s main shopping malls will be open till midnight and on weekends even past midnight allowing the visitors to indulge in the grand shopping experience of their lives.

There are various privileges that will be offered to the tourists who will be visiting this impressive fiesta such as the special lifestyle promotions that will consist of exclusive dining facilities, coupled with exciting nightlife and numerous entertainment facilities. The Tourist Privilege Cards are on offer especially for tourists who yearn to enjoy unique discounts when shopping. The sale runs for eight weeks and it offers a great value for money for tourists who are interested in purchasing branded, luxury products as well as for tourists looking for bargained items.

The sale will be held from 23rd May to 20th July starting from Singapore’s main shopping districts of Orchard road and Marina Bay and will spread towards the Heartlands of Singapore. Another major deal for the tourists visiting the sale can be considered as the partner promotions offered by MasterCard ,Global refund, and other tax free options which offer a truly amazing shopping experience combined with value for money and special discounts.

The Great Singapore Sale has become a shopping fiesta which is not only limited to shopping but also a venue for various exciting events and grand prizes that will be gifted to lucky visitors.

Comfortable and accommodation is available in luxury Singapore hotels that are located near the Great Singapore Sale area providing tourists a pleasurable experience coupled with elegant facilities.



Visit Singapore!