Richard Greaves asked:


What Manly is to Sydney and Fremantle to Perth, so Glenelg is to Adelaide, namely its deservedly popular beach suburb. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf Saint Vincent, you can get there in 30 minutes on the tram and once you breathe in that invigorating salty air and eye the white sand stretching for miles, you’ll be sold.

The tram arrives at Moseley Square, where Jetty Road meets the beach. Jetty road is a great place to stroll being lined with 100s of shops, sidewalk cafes, hotels, and seafood restaurants.

Jetty Road offers a wide range of atmospheric eateries but for fine dining with superb panoramic views of the sea and all the way to Adelaide and beyond, check out the Top of the World Revolving Restaurant on the Anzac Highway in Glenelg.

Or head for the Stamford Hotel for a drink or dinner overlooking the ocean.

On the sightseeing front, Glenelg boasts some grand old houses. The jewel in the crown is Kingston House, located in Kingston Park. Constructed in 1840, Kingston House is the oldest building in Holdfast Bay. Its three-acre site offers stunning views of the coast.

Another sight well worth a visit is the ‘HMS Buffalo’, a replica of the first European settlers ship which landed here in 1836. It’s located at the far end of Anzac Highway, opposite the Buffalo Motor Inn.

Culture seekers will enjoy the Bay Discovery Centre at Glenelg Town Hall. Here you can discover the history and evolution of Glenelg and Holdfast Bay. The Town Hall offers the Rodney Fox Shark Experience in the form of a living history of the renowned adventurer and shark handler.

Active holiday makers can take their choice from an array of water and non-water sports including wave skiing, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing, and fishing.

Landlubber fun includes cycling, golf, tennis, beach volleyball or bowls. Divers can contact Glenelg Scuba diving centre and golfers can tee up at the Glenelg Golf Club a world class course with modern clubhouse facilities.

If you’re in the mood for a hike, you can go three miles south along the Esplanade to the nearby hamlet of Brighton with its enchanting seaside village ambiance.

If you fancy getting out on the water, nearby Holdfast Shores Marina is the place to go. It’s the base for Temptation Sailing’s dolphin cruises and for taking the Hel-A-Va-Jet Boat, a thrilling, enclosed jet boat. If you’re lucky, you’ll see dolphins sporting offshore.

Visit Glenelg and you may well fall in love with the place and never want to leave. If so you’ll find a complete range of St Glenelg hotels to suit your taste and budget.



PFUND

Richard Greaves asked:


Singapore is an unmistakably modern city with its gleaming office towers, bustling port, and vast swank shopping centres. But the thing that strikes most visitors immediately is the greenness of the place. It’s not nicknamed the Garden City for nothing. Trees line the roads and parks and gardens offer greenness in profusion. Here we’ll look at three of downtown Singapore’s most popular and impressive green spots - the Singapore Botanical Gardens, Fort Canning and Haw Par Villa.

Singapore’s commitment to nature is most evident in the Botanic Gardens. After all, not many other cities boast 157-acre gardens right in their centres. And it plays an important role in the lives of Singaporeans. Other than oxygenating and beautifying the city and providing a recreation area, the Gardens also houses some specialised plant collections. These include the National Orchid Garden, the Ginger Garden, and the Evolution Garden, all housing rare specimens of flora. For example, the Orchid Garden boasts over 20,000 plants on display.

Another feature of the Gardens is Symphony Lake, a venue for outdoor concerts. The gardens also play an important educational role. This takes the form of the Children’s Garden which aims to cultivate an appreciation in young people for plants, nature and the environment.

Another city centre park is Fort Canning located on Singapore’s main strip of Orchid Road. Established in 1859 as an arms store, barracks and hospital, Fort Canning was in fact the location of original botanical gardens of Singapore established by Singapore’s founder Sir Stamford Raffles in 1822. You can see the prototype of the original 19-hectare botanical garden in the form of the Spice Garden in Fort Canning.

Fort Canning is also a historical treasure house containing artefacts dating back to the 14th century and the bungalow where Sir Stamford Raffles once lived.

Other than its green areas, Fort Canning is a popular centre for the arts with regular art and sculpture exhibitions, plays and open-air ballet performances.

Finally we look at a park more intriguing for its displays than its greenery, namely the famous Tiger Balm Gardens now known as Haw Par Villa (Villa of the Tiger and Leopard). It was built by two brothers who’d made a fortune from the menthol and camphor rub named Tiger Balm. They opened the gardens in the 1930s with the aim of teaching traditional Chinese values. The mode of teaching was via over 1000 statues and 150 tableaux representing Chinese legends.

In 1985, the park was transformed into an amusement park with most of the original exhibits replaced with playground rides. This procedure proved unpopular and was later reversed. Among the attractions gracing the gardens are a giant sumo wrestler, Thai dancers and a huge gorilla.

A recent addition to Haw Par Villa is the Jade House which showcases the family’s extensive collection of jade items.

Admission to the ground is free though there’s a small charge to enter the Jade House.

So the next time you visit Singapore, don’t just go shopping and swanning around the quays. Remember that this green and leafy city state is a premier location for nature sight-seeing, too. When visiting Singapore, be sure to have a reservation, because hotels in Singapore could be fully booked in high season. Of course the Internet offers many opportunities to book Singapore hotels in advance.



HILT

Naveen Marasinghe asked:


Also known as the Stamford Bridge, The Chelsea FC stadium is situated at Fulham Broadway in London. The stadium has a rich history, a turbulent one full of ups and downs and now, known as one of the state of the art stadiums around London.

The stadium’s history dates back to early 1877 which is the year that the Stamford Bridge Stadium was opened with its first incumbent; London Athletics Club. The stadium slowly walked down in time and witnessed various reconstruction phases and lengthy legal disputes over ownership. Finally in early 1990s the old running track was eliminated, all the stands went on a rapid development and the ownership was passed on to the Chelsea Pitch owners; an organization which was formed to prevent the stadium being purchased by the other entities.

The Stamford Bridge is now hosting only Football as a sport but in the past it was the venue for various other sports such as cricket, American football and even greyhound racing. Now the stadium comprises of 4 stands. Mathew Harding Stand, which is named after former Chelsea club director and has a capacity of nearly 11000. East Stand the oldest stand of the stadium and also known as the heart of the stadium because the tunnel, the dugouts, conference room, press center and commentary box are sheltered under this stand. Shed Stand comprises of a memorial wall where the memories of deceased fans can be seen and the West Stand which is the largest stand in seating capacity is situated by the side of Fulham road giving a modern look to the ground.

The Chelsea Football Club Stadium is gifted with Centenary Museum which was opened in 2005 to mark the 100th anniversary of the club. Visitors can see the memories and mile stones of the club and the stadium decade by decade in old programs, past shirts and various other memorabilia. The Stadium Mega store is the official merchandising shop of the Chelsea FC which is situated in the stadium and visitors can own a piece for a reasonable price to take home as a souvenir.

Traveling to Chelsea stadium is pretty much easy because of London’s sophisticated transportation system. From underground stations such as Fulham Broadway tube, the stadium is just 5 minutes away and from the West Brompton Railway station, anybody can make it to the stadium in just 15 minutes.

Langham Hotel London, a well renowned five star hotel in the midst of london luxury hotels is just minutes away from the famous Chelsea FC Stadium and stay at the top of London hotels with their friendly service and heavenly luxuries.



SCHOLTZ

Gabriel Tan asked:


If you plan on holidaying in an Asian city, you might want to consider Singapore.

There may be many good reasons to make Singapore your first ever destination in Asia. First of all, the city is clean, orderly and safe for visitors to move around on their own. Then, if you are traveling to multiple Asian destinations, there is a bewildering range of full-service and budget airlines from Singapore Airport. Also, English is widely spoken here.

But above all, Singapore offers the cultures of three ethnic groups: the Chinese, the Malays and the Indians. What can be more rewarding than seeing three Asian communities in one destination?

Indeed, the descendants of Asian immigrants have made Singapore a melting pot of cultures, where age-old traditions still hold sway.

Discover these unique traditions in Singapore by visiting the so-called ‘ethnic enclaves’: Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India. Each of these lovely spots may be enjoyed on a leisurely walking tour.

Chinatown:

When Singapore’s founder Stamford Raffles set aside land for Chinatown, he dictated that the buildings should be made of permanent material. Thanks to Raffles and some conservation effort, Chinatown today remains a place to admire early-Singapore shophouse architecture.

Many of the original trades here, however, have been replaced by more upmarket activities like Chinese restaurants and tea houses. And as well. Opium dens, brothels and death houses (where the dying were condemned to) used to take up many of the shophouses here. Today, you’ll only see pictures and mock-ups of these trades in the Chinatown Heritage Center.

Nevertheless, Chinatown retains a strong sense of ‘Chinese-ness’.

Chinatown’s restaurants used to serve only local and southern Chinese food. Today, however, you’ll find many restaurants offering cuisines from other parts of China. These are run by first-generation immigrants who have come from various provinces in China. Singapore’s oldest Chinese temple - the very elaborate Thian Hock Keng Temple - is also found here. Worth a visit also are the quaint shops specializing in Chinese calligraphy, antiques and traditional costumes.

Kampong Glam:

Kampong Glam is so called because the gelam tree - a relative of the eucalyptus - used to proliferate this area.

Today, Singapore’s Malays continue to converge at Kampong Glam because the Sultan’s Mosque - Singapore’s largest mosque - is located here.

The Sultan’s Mosque has a fascinating history. It was rebuilt in 1928 after a major fund-raising project. Many of the poorer folks who donated to the building apparently raised funds from collecting and selling used bottles. If you visit the mosque, you’ll see its main dome sitting on a black rimmed structure made up entirely of glass bottles. It’s not difficult to explain why they are there.

Also worth doing here are the workshops at the Malay Heritage Center. You may spend a day molding your own pottery or creating your own batik art. Else, go to nearby Arab Street and get yourself a nice rattan laundry basket, an Afghan carpet or an exquisite piece of silk for that head-turning dress.

Little India:

The main road in Little India is Serangoon Road. Till today, it remains the focus of Singapore’s Indian community.

A nice walk starts near the Tekka Center. Here, prepare your nostrils for the overwhelming aroma of myriad spices and jasmine garlands, which the shops sell in abundance. You’ll also find a baffling assortment de-husked coconuts, limes, clay receptacles and the like, all of which are used for worship at the temples nearby.

Linger a while and admire the women in their blazingly colourful sarees as they haggle with the stall holders over the prices of groceries. This is as authentic as Singapore gets.

If you’ve never walked into a Hindu temple, the Sri Veerama Kaliamman Temple on Belilios Road is a must-see. Here, you’ll first be awed by the realistic sculptures of Hindu deities. Inside, Hindu music creates a conducive atmosphere for devotees to worship. Visitors may join the proceedings, or simply marvel at the incredibly life-like statue of Hindu goddess Kali.

Bollywood music, curries and multi-colored sarees will also not escape your attention in Little India. If you love to shop and eat, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

The Melting of Cultures:

These ethnic areas are of course not mutually exclusive and there is a lot inter-mingling among Singapore’s ethnic groups. For example, you will find a Malay-frequented mosque standing gloriously in Little India and a major Indian temple smack in the heart of Chinatown. All these make for an enchanting visit.



CHRYSLER

Graeme Lanham asked:


Singapore is a great place to visit, either as a destination or as a stopover on your journey to Australia. Many Australians stop in Singapore on their way to Europe and an increasing number of travelers from America and Europe take a break in this exotic city, before continuing on to Australia.

Singapore provides many fine dining experiences and the following 2 were recommended to me by local residents. You will also discover the Lion City’s 3 most popular tourism venues.

All major hotels have quality restaurants. However, if you wish to enjoy spectacular city and river views while dining, here are 2 special venues.

Equinox Restaurant sits on the 70th floor of Swissotel, The Stamford and is easily accessible from Raffles City shopping mall or City Hall underground station. The views of the city, river and South China Sea are stunning. The table service was impeccable, the staff were very helpful in our food selection and the food was of a high quality at a fair price.

This restaurant is very popular, so you will need to book. Meal booking times are 7.15 pm and 9pm and ask for a window table. A memorable experience for our final night in Singapore.

The Jewel Box Restaurant at the top of Mt Faber has similar views to Equinox, this time with the ambience of outside dining. The nights in Singapore are always warm, rarely windy and even if it rains, you are well protected.

Mt Faber is at the end of the cable car ride to Sentosa Island and is accessible by taxi or the cable car station at Harbour Pier. After an evening on Sentosa enjoying the “Songs of the Sea” performance, a meal at the Jewel Box made a fitting end to the day.

As with Equinox, the food was of the highest standard and the table service excellent. Highly recommended.

Singapore has a myriad of attractions for visitors, but 3 “must see” attractions are Sentosa Island and the zoo/night safari.

The holiday playground of Sentosa Island is just a short distance from the main Singapore Island, but is worlds apart. It is far more peaceful, there is much to see and do and it can be accessed in 3 ways.You can choose to travel by monorail,cable car or road. Here are some suggestions to get the most from your visit.

Try to arrive on the island in mid afternoon. This will give you time to visit the main daytime attractions before viewing the spectacular “Songs of the Sea” show commencing at 7.30 pm. For panoramic views of Singapore, Sentosa and the South China Sea, the cable car is the way to go.

When you visit Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, you have a choice. You can take a package tour, which usually will include either the zoo or the night safari, rarely both, even though the 2 venues are only walking distance apart. Your cost will be around $75s each for the convenience.

The other option is to travel independently and see both for far less cost. We chose the latter and paid only $32s for the zoo PLUS the night safari. Here’s how we did it.

Try to arrive at the zoo by around 3.30 to 4pm. This will give you at least 2 hours at the zoo before moving to the night safari area, opening at 6pm. To reach the zoo, catch the north/south MRT train and alight at Ang Mo Kio. There is then a 5 minute walk within the station area to board bus 138, taking you direct to the zoo.

Allow about half an hour for this journey.

The first stage performance at the night safari starts at 7pm, so you will have time for a meal before moving to the venue. The performance, involving many nocturnal animals and birds, was fun and entertaining. Be prepared for a few surprises. You will then have time to walk along well defined paths to view the animals in the dimly lit night environment.

By this stage of the evening, you will probably be tired, so catch a cab back to your hotel. When you ask the price, most drivers will say “under $20″. This is good value, particularly if you have a family, for the hassle free convenience. Our fare back to the hotel was just $15s.



BALDING

James Cook asked:


Raffles Place is reputed as the mercantile hub of Singapore and is home to many key buildings and daring sky scrapers. The founder of this commercial area was Sir Stamford Raffles who is known as the founder of “modern Singapore”. The area on which the district was built had to be reclaimed as it was a marsh area next to the river thus was the first reclamation project in Singapore.

Known as Commercial Square at that time, the area was simply a green area but soon experienced development as the economy of Singapore grew. The development paved way for an invasion of a multitude of office premises, banks and many leading establishments. The name change occurred in 1858 and new areas were added to the area such as Raffles Quay which was home to well-known retail stores and banks. Raffles Quay soon was transformed into an established commercial area as mercantile buildings disseminated with the vicinity.

Raffles Place is home to Robinson’s and John Little which are two of the oldest surviving department stores. The venue was the target of the Japanese bombs in 1941 but continued grow amidst such devastating setbacks. The banking industry in Singapore flourished in the 20th century and many local banks emerged, competing with globally acclaimed financial institutions.

Today some of the oldest banks and firms are still found at this historical venue. An array of hotels in Singapore

makes this wonderful place a great vacation destination for young and old alike. It’s a must place for any Singapore traveler.



PRIOLEAU