december-2010

international adventures
ION Orchard mall A statue of Ho Chi
Minh in front of the
Reunifi cation Palace
SINGAPORE
A tropical island nation
with a multicultural
society, Singapore is a
sophisticated microcosm
of Asia. The Lion City
buzzes 24 hours a day
with varied dining, nightlife
and shopping options.
FROM THE AIRPORT
CBD 20km
Travel time 20–30 mins by car
Taxi Approx S$20 (AU$15.66)
with a surcharge of S$3–$5
(AU$2.35–$3.91)
Airport shuttle services Most
hotels S$9 (AU$7.04) one way
MRT train Every 10–15 mins from
Terminal 2 and 3 from 5.30am–
11.18pm, takes 27 mins to reach the
city for S$1.70 (AU$1.33)
ON THE GO
1. The Hippo An open-top
double-decker bus that allows you
to hop on and off whenever you like.
S$23 (AU$17.87) for a one-day pass.
2. MRT Air-conditioned
subway throughout the island.
3. Trishaw An old-school threewheeled
bicycle with a carriage.
136 DECEMBER 2010
SUENANNE
MOCKTAR
Singapore general
manager, Haystac
Great place for dinner: I love to
drop by Jumbo’s JPot at VivoCity.
The food is good, the staff are
helpful with suggestions, and the
buffet of condiments with recipes
to guide you is entertaining.
Best night out: It would have
to be at an old favourite of mine,
Timbre at Old School, with live
bands and great pizzas.
Best place to party with the
gang: Beaujolais Wine Bar on
Ann Siang Hill, which has a great
ambience and really tasty bites.
Best buy for under AU$50:
Barbecued sweet meats from Bee
Cheng Hiang, and durians. Not
eaten together, though.
Must-buy (money no object!):
The view from the Sky Park at
the top of Marina Bay Sands, at a
charge of S$20 (AU$15.66).
Must-buy gift: Prima Deli’s
ready-to cook chilli crab sauce.
Insider’s tip: Our MRT (Mass
Rapid Transit) train network is
good, so save on taxi fares and
make sure you enjoy more of our
delicious hawker food!
Survival tip for tourists: Pick up
a guide on Singlish (Singaporean
English) when you arrive here.
Must-eats: Laksa, Hainanese
chicken rice, nasi lemak (a
coconut-fl avoured rice dish) —
they’re all yummy!
Local delicacies: Durian puffs,
otah (barbecued fi sh cake with
coconut milk) and kaya jam toast
bread with half-boiled eggs.
Local recreational activities to
watch: Elderly folk doing morning
taiji in the parks, or families
crabbing at Sembawang Park.
HO CHI MINH CITY
VIETNAM
Vietnam’s largest city
and its economic capital,
this vibrant cultural
hotspot has a population
of high-energy people,
who effortlessly meld the
traditional with the new
and contemporary.
Tasman
Sea
VISA REQUIREMENTS: Passengers are advised to make themselves
familiar with the relevant visa requirements for international travel.
Visa requirements may differ between countries.
Christchurch
South Island
Pacific
Ocean
Queenstown
FROM THE AIRPORT
CBD 7km from Tan Son Nhat
International Airport
Travel time CBD is around
20 mins by car
Great Barrier I.
North Island
Cook
Strait
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Taxi A taxi voucher from Visitor
Information for US$12 (AU$12.19)
Shuttle bus Most hotels offer
complimentary pick-up
ON THE GO
1. Taxi Ask the drivers to turn
the meters on; there are
taxi-motorbikes as well.
2. Walking This is the best way to
dash up alleys and down one-way
streets, but we only recommend
this for District One.
3. Cyclos This is a one-person
seat that is powered by a cyclist
— prepare yourself for being noselevel
with the exhaust fumes and
frenetic action on the streets.
NANA CHEN
Freelance
photographer/
TV host
Best breakfast: Blue Bar at
Riverside is perfect for a lazy
morning as it’s on Saigon River and
removed from the city’s bustle.
Best night out: Amber Room is a
gorgeous space. It’s cosy and offers
some of the city’s best cocktails.
Best place to party with
the gang: Cepage is the place
to mingle with the local and
international crowd. It’s also a great
place to people-watch after 9pm.
Must-buy (money no object!):
Clothes at SONG Paris by French
designer Valerie Gregori McKenzie.
Look for gorgeous, well-crafted
embroidered tops and accessories.
Must-buy gift: A silver
Vietnamese coffee fi lter at
Mosaique is the perfect gift. It’s
elegant and compact for packing
— much better and classier than its
aluminum counterpart.
Insider’s tip: Cross the street
slowly as you make eye contact
with motorcycle drivers zooming
past you. If you’re too scared, grab
someone next to you and let them
guide you across.
Must-eats: Indoor street food
from Wrap and Roll. You can fi nd
virtually all key dishes from various
regions in Vietnam. There’s also a
monthly special.
Best place to hang out with
the locals: Because most homes
lack air-conditioning, locals often
come out to sit at the parks in
Saigon. They’re the best place to
see locals.
I love Ho Chi Minh City
because: It’s a great mix of East
and West, has a fantastic food
scene and really keeps getting
better by the month! I also love its
fast pace.
Singapore photo: Orland Punzalan; Ho Chi Minh photo: Travel Ink/Getty Images