NIGHTLIFE @ Little India

NIGHTLIFE DURING FESTIVE SEASON!


WELCOME TO NIGHTLIFE @ LITTLE INDIA!

In our final installment of Nightlife during Festive Season, we are going to talk about Deepavali and Singapore's Little India!

History about Deepavali:
Deepavali is celebrated in the month of "Ashwayuja" (seventh) month of the Hindu Calender. It usually falls between the Month of October and November.

The great significance of this season is that the Hindu believes that Deepavali is the day where good triumph over evil ones. In fact, the word Deepvali means, Festival Of Light.

To cut the long history short, Deepavali is to remember the return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshman, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. [adapted from wikipedia]


What believers in Singapore do on this day:
Before this day, they will prepare themselves by heading over to Little India located at Serangoon Road for shopping. They will prepare Deepavali gifts, having family and friends gathering, wearing new clothes to symbolise new beginning, and heading over to The Sri Veerama Kaliamman Temple at  for prayer and worship. They will also light up candles around their house during nightfall.

What does Nightlife has any concern with Little India and Deepavali?

During this season, Little India will be light up with Deepavali lightings and decorations. The bustling crowd will also hype up the festive season atmosphere.It is certainly a great place to be at to celebrate The Festival of Light along with all other Hindu believers. Do embrace tolerance as it may get too crowded during the night. :)

What we say?

If you are interested in Hindu culture and would want to appreciate it, we would suggest to visit these places in Little India.

The Sri Veerama Kalimman Temple is a place where Hindu believers gather for prayer and worship. It is established between the year 1855 and 1860. Be enriched by the culture and Tour guide services are provided in Singapore Visitors Centre and Changi Airport upon arrival.

Mustafa Centre is a 24 hour operated shopping centre. They have almost everything for you to bring home and they are cheaply sold at great affordable prices. A great place to get great bargain for gifts and souvenirs. The team has been there a few separate occasion and are able to get stuff that pricing are cheaper than retail prices.

The Tekka Centre is located right outside Little India MRT Station and they have great saris and lots of Indian and Hindu Culture related antiques and goods.I am sure you are able to get nice Indian dress and clothing for your family. All size available! You are able to buy good quality cloth and silk at here too! The ground floor of the complex is a hawker centre and wet market that sells authentic indian ingredients and cuisines. 

 

Of course, after visiting all the heritage and shopping centre, it time to visit the shophouses of Serangoon Road where the goldsmith shops are located at. Great authentic Gold are found in the goldsmith. Jewelry from india can be sold to everyone, be it young or old!

 

How to get to Little India:

Alight at NEL (purple MRT line) at Little India Station or Farrer Park Station.

SBS : 48,56,57,66,131,166,170

SMRT: 67,851,960,980

Our say:
Indeed, Little India is  like a miniature India In Singapore. But when the term "light" comes into place, we need to come into contact to "nightlife" as Light expels Darkness. Hence it is vital that nightlife during Deepavali take into place with nice lightings and decorations.

However, other parts of the world such as in  United Kingdom do celebrate Deepavali. The Picture below is taken from wikipedia showing people in UK celebrating this Festival of light.

The vibrant nightlife at Little India is certainly inspiring during festive seasons.

We hope that you would enjoy our series on Festive seasons! Hope you have a great trip to Little India!

This post is cater to:

Travellers who seek to be immerse into countries heritage and culture. (Drifter Travellers)

Family Travellers.

Acknowledgement:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=442466&page=4 for the photo

http://throughtheeye12.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html for the photo
http://www.focussingapore.com/information-singapore/deepavali-festival.html for the history of Deepavali.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashvin for information on Hindu Calender
http://www.etour-singapore.com/little-india.html
www.sbstransit.com.sg and www.smrt.com.sg for information on bus services and MRT information to Little India

Nightlife @ Chinatown

NIGHTLIFE DURING FESTIVE SEASON!


WELCOME TO NIGHTLIFE @ CHINATOWN!


This is a special 3-part series where we are going to cover on Singapore's celebrated festivals on Christmas, Chinese New Year and Deepavali and this would be the second post after the previous post on Nightlife at Orchard during Christmas.


For this post, we are going to touch on Chinatown which is one of the most popular places where many people, especially the Chinese, would visit before or during Chinese New Year.


Origin
A famous legend commonly told would be that: A long time ago in China, there is a deadly beast that went around villages destroying villagers' lives, making lives miserable for everyone. Soon, people found out that by putting up red paper and firing fire crackers, they can scare away the beast and hence, the Chinese does the same routine every year and this progressed into a celebration every year. Hence, Chinese New Year is considered as an important occasion for the Chinese to celebrate the riddance of the beast "Nian".


What do people do at Chinatown?
As Chinese New Year is approaching soon, Chinese will head down to Chinatown to do their last minute shoppings for new clothes, gifts for relatives and friends, goodies, decorations, mandarin oranges and etc.



Before Chinese New Year, Chinatown will be decorated with the different unique ornaments of zodiac figures most families would especially take a trip down to Chinatown to snap pictures of them in the night where vibrant lights are lit up. Besides, countdown parties and performances such as Lion dance, Chinese dance and Wushu performances by overseas performers will be held every year. To get the atmosphere of the exciting and joyous experience, you will need to head down to Chinatown but do keep a lookout for pickpockets though!








On normal occasions, Chinatown will still be a heavenly place for those food-lovers and historic-sites lovers. Sauntering along the streets of Chinatown Food Street, one will be able to spot all the cheap yet "finger-licking good" delicacies found in Singapore. As the night sets in, historic-site lovers would be captivated by the well-preserved old pre-war shophouses that will intrigued them of the nostalgic past of these historic buildings.





In addition, there is also the famous Chinatown Trishaw Night Tours for you to gain more understanding of Singapore's Chinese culture and history.  It will be conducted in the evening, starting off with a dinner at a Chinatown restaurant and the exciting adventure will follow after which. During this 4 hour evening tour, you will be enchanted by the diverse Chinese heritage sites and along the narrow yet busy streets of Chinatown, you can get some cheap bargains with street vendors for souvenirs for your loved ones. Furthermore, you will be given rare opportunities to visit the Yong Gallery, the fine art of calligraphy whereby free gift will also be given by the Master Calligrapher. Doesn't it sounds exciting?
Hurry down to Chinatown now and more details regarding the tours can be found on:
http://www.toursinsingapore.com/singapore-sightseeing/chinatown-trishaw-tour.html





What can one buy at Chinatown?

• Merchandise- Can be bought at OG's People's Park it is one of the largest departmental store here in Chinatown selling a wide range of famous products like Adidas, Giordano and Billabong. Besides, Korean food products can also be found there.
• Handicrafts/ Souvenirs-  If you're looking out for some souvenirs to be brought back home, Chinatown Point will be the right place for you as the whole mall is filled with shops that sell mainly antique yet unique handicrafts.

Where can one stay at Chinatown?

• Berajaya Hotel- A 4 stars hotel that is something between budget and luxury with standard rooms service available at a price as low as $118. Located at 83 Duxton Road, Singapore.
• Chinatown Hotel Singapore- A 3 stars hotel that provides comfort and yet it is affordable at a low price of $87 for a room will be suitable for travelers seeking comfort and is on a budget. Located at 12-16 Teck Lim Road, Singapore.
• Hotel 81- A 1-2 stars hotel is suitable for keen visitors who are looking for budget-class hotel rooms. Located at 181 New Bridge Road, Singapore.

When are the best occasions to take a trip to Chinatown?

• Before or During Chinese New Year
• Before or During Mid-autumn Festival

Who can go to Chinatown?

Basically we would say it is  EVERYONE of course! Be it you're young, old, Singaporeans, non-Singaporeans, just come on down to Chinatown to get a brand new experience of Singapore's oldest streets this holiday! 

How to get there?

• By train- Chinatown MRT Station (NE4/DT19) is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the North East Line and upcoming Downtown Line in Singapore. On the North East Line, it lies between the Outram Park and Clarke Quay MRT stations and between Telok Ayer and River Valley on the Downtown Line. It is directly below and serves the district of Chinatown.
• By bus- 2, 12, 33, 54, 143, 147, 190, CT8, CT18

Acknowledgments to:

http://www.chinatownhotel.com/chinatown_history.html

http://gothere.sg/maps#q:list%20of%20buses%20to%20chinatown

http://maps.google.com.sg/maps/place?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=chinatown&fb=1&gl=sg&hq=chinatown&hnear=Singapore&cid=3419731346840185414
http://www-singapore.com/festivals/chinese-new-year.htm
http://www.google.com.sg/imglanding?q=chinese+new+year+at+chinatown&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1282&bih=696&tbs=isch:1&tbnid=8RjKOzuyxvfHZM:&imgrefurl=http://travelerfolio.com/chinese-new-year-yuan-xiao/&imgurl=http://travelerfolio.com/travelerfolio/photos/chinatown-chinese-new-year-street-hawker.jpg&zoom=1&w=800&h=600&iact=hc&ei=_aMcTcDmEMLUrQfY8djMCw&oei=_aMcTcDmEMLUrQfY8djMCw&esq=1&page=1&tbnh=126&tbnw=168&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
http://www.etour-singapore.com/chinese-new-year-in-singapore.html
http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com/Singapore/Singapore/Chinatown/

Nightlife @ Orchard Road

NIGHTLIFE DURING FESTIVE SEASON!


WELCOME TO NIGHTLIFE @ ORCHARD ROAD!


HELLO READERS!


This is going to be the 1st issue of our 3 part issue of FESTIVE SEASONS! 
We have decided to blog about the upcoming Christmas, Chinese New Year and Deepavali!
I hope you will be attracted to Singapore during these Festive Seasons! :)









And Today, Its About CHRISTMAS and ORCHARD ROAD!


North of the Singapore River and to the west of the Central Business District is a road in Singapore that is the retail and entertainment hub of the city-state. Orchard Road is the main shopping street of Singapore and is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction.

Shopping can not only be by day but also possible at night as shopping malls closes at about 9.30 pm daily.

However on Saturdays, Orchard Road takes on a vibrancy when participating outlets extend their shopping hours till 11 pm. 

For sheer luxury shopping,visit Ion Orchard,Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya,Tangs and Paragon. 

Those on a tight budget and seeking cheaper alternatives would enjoy shopping at Far East Plaza and Forever 21 in Somerset 313. 

And not forgetting the gadget lovers, Lucky Plaza offers you a variety of electronic goods at really afforadable prices. 

However,do bear in mind that low prices might not guarantee good quality. A safer choice would be at Takashimaya's Best Denki. There is also an Epi Centre at Somerset 313 and Wheelock Place as well as an iStudio at Orchard Central for fans of Apple's products.

Being the island’s foremost retail hub and hotel belt, Orchard Road is equally renowned for its dining scene. From 24-hour fast food takeaways to posh-nosh outlets, modern shopping centres and hotels boast a wide slew of dining options to cater to weary shoppers. These restaurants and food oulets caters both international and local flavours,surely to appertise every taste buds. Sometimes,it can be hard to decide where to dine at!

Not far from Orchard Road is the Newton Food Centre, a legendary food spot for travelers the world over. Most of the best local dishes can be found here. Chili Crab, Stingray, Fried Carrot Cake, Ice Kachang, any singaporean cuisine you name it, they have it! :)

The bars in the major hotels along Orchard Road are a good bet for a refined drink or even to meet clients. This famous shopping belt also harbours some great clubs. Party-goers are enjoying the night away in this town~ Truly the Night is still YOUNG!

Orchard Road is for everyone,be it young or old,female or male,tourists or businessmen. All is definitely entitled to a good time. Adding to the vibrancy of the brightly lit Orchard Road by the colours and lights from the shopping malls, strings of lights and Christmas decorations brings in the mood for Christmas and New Year every November and December.

It is relatively convenient to get to Orchard Road. One can take the MRT trains and alight at Somerset or Orchard station.

Great news! To shoppers who loves to patron Orchard Road! There is a free bus service,The Great Trolley,that operates along Orchard Road. The bus route includes stops at Ion Orchard, Plaza Singapura, The Heeren, and runs from 11am to 10pm daily with a mere 5mins interval. Do note though that the free shuttle bus service down Orchard road is a temporary one,operating just for this festive period, and will end in Feburary 2011,  So next time you see a black and white tram-like bus, just hop on for a free ride.




In This Christmas season, why not make Orchard Road a shopping place for you to buy all christmas gifts for everyone! The shopping mall cater to your needs!  At the same time, enjoy the lightings around Orchard Road. We can say that the lighting at Orchard Road just gets better each year. Do remember to get a gift for us, the blogger at Yoursingapore-nightlife! :D

And to all the readers, 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Feliz Navidad~~

Shopping Malls Information:

Ion Orchard

Daily 10am - 10pm

2 Orchard Turn Singapore 238801

Orchard MRT station

Ngee Ann City

313 Orchard Road Singapore 238895

Somerset MRT station

Paragon

Daily 10am - 9.30 pm290 Orchard Rd Singapore 238859For more information, please visit or call:
Singapore Visitors Centre, 160 Orchard Rd (junction of Cairnhill and Orchard Rds), ☎ 1-800-7362000  (tollfree, 24 hours). Opens 8 AM-10:30 PM daily

313 @Somerset

Daily 10am - 10pm




Credits:
http://lifeisreallybeautiful.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SINGAPORE-Christmas-lights-across-the-street-at-Orchard-Road..jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchard_Road
http://www.ionorchard.com/en
http://www.313somerset.com.sg/
http://www.paragon.com.sg/

Nightlife @ Marina Bay

WELCOME TO NIGHTLIFE @ MARINA BAY

Descriptions:

As the sky darkens, the beauty of Marina Bay lights up and transforms into a dazzling diamond with so much to do! One can catch a movie, go shopping, watch a concert, have dinner or just spend the night looking at the beauty of Marina Bay at the top of the one and only Marina Bay Sands, one of the only two integrated resorts in Singapore. 

  

- Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Shopping at Marina Bay

As a shopping paradise, Singapore naturally has many shopping malls. These malls open from as early as 10 in the morning and stretches through the night to about 12 mid night during the weekends! One of the malls that we recommend would be:

1) Marina Square

Situated within Marina Bay, it is a shopping mall that has almost everything under one roof! One can eat shop relax and play at at Marina Square.

You can sashay your way through high street fashion boutiques such as Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, Mango, Zara and more. Pop in to the Japanese lifestyle store MUJI, or check out the latest offerings from the department store, John Little. With over 300 specialty shops, you will simply be spoilt for choice.

You can also choose to take time off shopping to enjoy a relaxing spa or manicure session while your kids have a great time at the entertainment zone where they can watch a movie, bowl, karaoke or have a game of pool. Then, meet up for a good meal at the many cafés and restaurants around the mall.


Watching a Concert


Apart from just shopping, you can also catch a concert or watch a show at the world class theatre, Esplanade.

The Esplanade houses world-class performance spaces, supported by a comprehensive range of professional support facilities and services. Its two main venues are the 1,600-seat Concert Hall, with acoustics by Russell Johnson of ARTEC Consultants, and the 2,000-seat theatre, an adaptation of traditional European opera houses in horseshoe form.


Marina Bay Sands


Last but not least, the Marina Bay Sands. One can do so much within this integraed resort! The star attraction of this resort is none other than the one of the only two casinos in Singapore! Opened 24 hours, one can try your luck by having a go at the casino! 

For those who are underage or those who have had enough fun at the casino, you guys can make your way up to the Marina Bay Sands Sky Park! 

The Sands SkyPark is an awe-inspiring engineering wonder. This unique structural masterpiece, designed by visionary architect Moshe Safdie, floats atop the three soaring Marina Bay Sands hotel towers 200m in the sky.

Stretching longer than the Eiffel tower laid down or four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3900 people. The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world. From this privileged observation deck, hundreds of visitors at a time can feast their eyes on the unforgettable panorama view.

Opening Hours:10am - 10pm

Ticket Price:- S$20 for adult
- S$14 for children (aged between 2 – 12 years)
- S$17 for senior citizens (aged 55 years and above)

Ticket purchase must be made in person, on the day of use.

Ticket Access:Members of the public who purchased the ticket are allowed to access the Public Observation Deck.
The use of the swimming pool facility is only available for hotel guests. Members of the public will be able to view part of the swimming pool deck adjacent to the Public Observation Deck.

With so much to do within Marina Bay itself, you are sure to enjoy yourselves all day long!


To end off, we have a special video for you guys taken from http://www.youtube.com 









Acknowledgements
www.esplanade.com
www.marinabaysands.com
www.marinasquare.com.sg