Singapore e Bintan Island

About the destination: Singapore is a city-state and the smallest country in Southeast Asia. Singapore has the highest standard of living in Asia and is a spotlessly clean, efficient, regulated, modern city. The city has an interesting mix of old and new cultures, combining the skyscrapers of the Business District with a very interesting blend of ancient cultures in some of its districts. Singapore is one of the greenest cities so much so that the city is dubbed the Garden City. One of the main attractions are the Botanic Gardens, which includes the superb Orchid garden that is beautifully landscaped and has a great variety of orchids. The Merlion is probably Singapore's most famous landmark. This Merlion structure is located at Merlion Park, which is located in the Central Business District. There are some fascinating ethnic areas such as Little India, Arab Street, Chinatown and Geylang. These areas are definitely worth visiting if you want to experience some real Singaporean culture. Other attractions include world class museums, stunning colourful shops, Marina bay and lush parks. Besides the shopping, Singapore has great food. Being home to various ethnic groups, Singapore has created a wonderful mix of flavors and textures in their cuisine. Singapore is one of the most vibrant and modern cites in Asia with a tropical climate, with delicious food, good shopping and a vibrant night-life scene it has become one top destination on its own right.

About the destination: If you’re dreaming of an intrepid or idyllic holiday to escape, unwind and discover, look no further than Bintan Island (or Negeri Segantang Lada in the local language). Even if you're not one to soak up a tan or relax with a spa session, the island is loaded with a range of heart-pumping land and water activities as well as idyllic nature trails. Bintan is the largest among the more than 3,000 islands in the Riau Islands archipelago in Indonesia. Of 1,886 km², it is located about 48 km southeast of Singapore, and is less than an hour ride on the ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore. The capital of Bintan Island, Tanjung Pinang, has excellent local street food and delicacies, along with traditional markets and beautiful street art. Drawn by a local artist, the 3D wall art pieces at Jl Pos Road (near the jetty to Pulau Penyengat) portray the locals’ everyday lives and offer an outstanding photo-spot. Shophouses offer a diverse range of dried foodstuff, electronic goods, antiques, ceramics and handicrafts, but the best buys are probably from the street peddlers. The tallest Goddess of Mercy statue in Southeast Asia sits majestically on the vast grounds of the Vihara Avalokitesvara Graha (Kwan Yin Temple), standing at 16.8m and coated in gold. The island is known as an attractive weekend getaway, with many of its resorts providing relaxing spas and massages, while boasting some truly picturesque views of the coastline and other activities such as ATV riding, parasailing, kayaking and jet ski-ing. Many of the island’s resorts are beach facing, with a few offering unique stays and experiences such as glamping style tent living as well as rainforest or cliff-top luxury stays that provide travellers with unobstructed views of the South China Sea. Beyond the resorts are some hidden gems of Bintan that are worth a visit – such as the award-winning Mangrove Discovery Tour (a 90 minute day or night eco adventure through the mangrove forests of the Sebung River), Bintan Eco Farm (a 17-hectare haven of greenery where fruits are planted sustainably and fish are reared organically, where visitors can offering learn how to make a new dish such as ‘rojak’), the Trail of Sea Gypsies (a 6 hour venture into the hinterland of Bintan Island which includes a drive past central Bintan’s rolling hills and a tour of Panglong Village, the largest sea gypsy village in Bintan where visitors can catch a glimpse of traditional boat making and the coastal lifestyle of locals on kelongs). There is even an elephant park where visitors can take a ride on an elephant.

About the destination: Singapore is a city-state and the smallest country in Southeast Asia. Singapore has the highest standard of living in Asia and is a spotlessly clean, efficient, regulated, modern city. The city has an interesting mix of old and new cultures, combining the skyscrapers of the Business District with a very interesting blend of ancient cultures in some of its districts. Singapore is one of the greenest cities so much so that the city is dubbed the Garden City. One of the main attractions are the Botanic Gardens, which includes the superb Orchid garden that is beautifully landscaped and has a great variety of orchids. The Merlion is probably Singapore's most famous landmark. This Merlion structure is located at Merlion Park, which is located in the Central Business District. There are some fascinating ethnic areas such as Little India, Arab Street, Chinatown and Geylang. These areas are definitely worth visiting if you want to experience some real Singaporean culture. Other attractions include world class museums, stunning colourful shops, Marina bay and lush parks. Besides the shopping, Singapore has great food. Being home to various ethnic groups, Singapore has created a wonderful mix of flavors and textures in their cuisine. Singapore is one of the most vibrant and modern cites in Asia with a tropical climate, with delicious food, good shopping and a vibrant night-life scene it has become one top destination on its own right.