Experience the Excitement of the F1 Season at Cape Inn

This September 25 to 27, Singapore will once again be a-buzz with anticipation for perhaps the most prestigious event in car racing: the 2009 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. With some of the best racers in the world coming over, local and visiting fans alike will surely be vying for the best seats in the house to see their idols get pitted against each other in healthy competition.

For those looking for a convenient place to stay during this significant event, Cape Inn is an ideal choice. The Singapore hotel places guests where all the action is, being just a five-minute drive from Orchard Road and just 10 minutes away from the MRT. With such a strategic location, going to the race circuit or just simply touring the city-state is made easy as the hotel is near pretty much everything.

Popular tourist attractions that are proximate to the hotel include Clark Quay, Esplanade, Rochester Park, Underwater World, Holland Village, Jurong Bird Park, Kampong Glam, Wala Wala, and the Sultan Mosque. There are also numerous dining and entertainment options to choose from like the Makansutra Food Safari, Club Street and Far East Square, and Eastcoast Parkway. For the shopping enthusiasts, there's Little India, Orchard Road, Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade, Paragon Shoppine Centre, and Jurong. For the artsy crowd, there's the Singapore Art Museum, Chinatown Arts Belt, and the Waterloo Street Arts Belt. Indeed, guests will find it hard to run out of things to see and do during their stay.

Aside from its convenient location, Cape Inn takes pride in offering practical Singapore accommodations at affordable rates. Its cosy, modestly furnished guestrooms provide comfort that won't hurt the budget. Each air-conditioned room is equipped with basic amenities such as coffee and tea-making facilities, Internet connectivity, cable television, queen-sized bed, private toilet and bath with shower, mini-fridge, telephone with voicemail system, ironing board, and hair dryer.

This Singapore hotel also keeps its guests' safety as its top priority. Modern security features such as CCTV cameras are installed within the hotel premises, and electronic access cards are employed for room access instead of ordinary keys. Other practical services offered include airport and city transfers, currency exchange, wake-up calls, laundry, massage services, and an in-house restaurant for dining purposes.

To learn more about Cape Inn, visit its official website http://www.capeinn-singapore.com/, where you can also make direct reservations and get instant confirmation online.

YWCA Fort Canning Lodge Gives You Quality Accommodations For Less

If you’re looking to visiting Singapore this week, then you’re in for a treat. YWCA Fort Canning Lodge is offering a Last-Minute Promo that entails you to get 10% off on your room reservation, if you book for a minimum of two (2) nights.

From 30 August to 03 September 2009, Fort Canning Lodge in Singapore is giving you discounted rates on any room of your choice. Choose among the hotel’s affordable rooms ranging from Standard with pools and park views, Deluxe, to Family suites. Fort Canning Lodge boasts of 175 rooms on 13 floors – all non-smoking and furnished with rich wood furniture.

Each room comes with colored TV, air-conditioning, private shower, hair dryer and room safe. Water and energy-saving devices, as well as safety devices for heat and smoke detection are also built into each room. To ensure your privacy, as well as the security of all hotel rooms and floors, you are given an electronic keycard upon check-in.

Fort Canning Lodge is owned and managed by YWCA of Singapore. The hotel is located on Orchard Road and is just a stone throw’s away from Singapore’s popular entertainment and shopping districts.

For hotel inquiries or for direct online reservations, log on to www.ywcafclodge.org.sg.

Enjoy Discounted Rates with YWCA Fort Canning Lodge's Superior Room Package

Guests at YWCA Fort Canning Lodge in Singapore are in for some big savings when they reserve the hotel's Superior Single or Twin rooms this year.

With the hotel's new Superior Room Package, guests who reserve a minimum of two (2) nights' stay at the hotel's Superior Single or Twin rooms will enjoy the discounted rate of only SGD 113.00++ per room per night, inclusive of breakfast. The discounted rate is subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government tax. This promo is valid until September 24, 2009.

YWCA Fort Canning Lodge's Superior rooms all come complete with air-conditioning, electronic key card locks, colour TV with cable channels, telephone with IDD service, broadband Internet access, in-room fridge and safe, private toilet and shower facilities, hairdryer, heat detection safety devices, energy and water-saving devices, and 220-volt sockets - easily assuring guests of a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Other hotel features and services include an outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, meeting and banquet facilities, a gift shop, high speed Internet access anywhere within the hotel, travel and tour assistance, laundry and dry cleaning services, 24-hour security, and The Coffee House restaurant which serves local, Chinese, Thai, and Western cuisine.

For more information on YWCA Fort Canning Lodge and its Superior Room Package promo, visit http://www.ywcafclodge.org.sg.

What every F1 fan should know about Singapore

There is an air of unmistakable excitement in Singapore as the country heads into the opening night of the 2008 Formula1 Grand Prix on September 28. It will be the first F1 race to run at nighttime and on a street circuit, so expect many surprises from the Singapore GP than you will normally expect from previous F1 Grand Prix. This is going to be a part of motor racing history.

Come get-go time on September 28 Singapore will be overflowing with both F1 fans and tourists alike. Before the frenzy start, here are Singapore must-knows that every visitors ought to know. As part of our F1 Grand Prix coverage, the Singapore Travel Blog gives this essential introductory guide to Singapore and 2008 Formula1 SG races:

General Travel Information—The Singapore Changi Airport is one of the more technologically advanced air terminals in Asia. With the opening recently of the state-of-the-art Terminal-3 of Changi Airport, Singapore has lessened passenger gridlock at its airport and is able to clear tourists off the immigration from 15 to 20 minutes after they leave their flights. So that you can zoom-zoom faster out of the terminal and into your hotel in Singapore for the Formula1 races, be sure to be ready with these travel documents (must be met prior to arrival):

1. A passport with at least six months validity

2. Sufficient funds to last for the intended period of stay in Singapore

3. Confirmed onward/return tickets (where applicable)

4. Entry facilities to their onward destinations, e.g. visas.

5. Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate*

*if you are from any of these countries that are endemic for Yellow Fever.

Hotel, Inn, and other Accommodation—The Marina Bay area has a handful of hotels that will get you near the action of the Formula1 races. Most of these hotels, like the Ritz Carlton, are on the southeastern side of the city. Another vantage point in Singapore is the Bras Basah Road and Orchard Road, which forms the retail and hotel ‘heart’ of the city. Here you can find the Raffles Hotel as well as a cluster of other less-priced hotels.

A little further West from the city center are places of interests such as Chinatownl Little India, the Robertson Quay eating and leisure area, among others. There are also a slew of resort-type hotels on Sentosa Island south of the city and linked by a causeway and cable cars. Below is a list of hotels in Singapore, from three- to five-star hotels, worth checking out:

Cape Inn Singapore
Singapore Beach Hotel
Harbour Ville Hotel
Joo Chiat Hotel
Park View Hotel
Treasure Sentosa Resort
YWCA Singapore Hotel
Tekka Hotel
The Aspinals Hotel
The Ambassador Hotel

Transportation, Communication—From the airport, the Marina Bay area where the races will be held is about 20 minutes away by taxi. It is not a major problem to look for taxis in Singapore. They are cheap and easily available. Taxis are on call 24 hours a day at the taxi stand of the airport departure gate and it normally costs around SGD 20.

A number of hotels also offer shuttle service that serves two or three hotels at a time. Information on fares and availability can be had from the hotel itself. Another way to travel around Singapore is the country’s MRT system.

The East-West line of the system runs from the airport to the city center of Singapore and it normally takes 30 minutes to cover the entire route. The East-West line is connected to the North-South line at the City Hall station. From here you can access the Orchard road area.

Single fare tickets from the airport costs SGD 1.50. If you intend to use the MRT system often, the Singapore Tourist Center website offers transportation packages for unlimited travel on buses and MRT.

For your communication needs, there are wi-fi internet services in Singapore that serve most of the city center. Public areas in the city are hooked up to wireless@sg that gives wireless broadband access with speeds of up to 512 kbps. Also, most GSM and 3G mobile phone services are supported provided you have the necessary international roaming account.

Discover History and Art on International Museum Day 2008

Culture and history buffs, you’re going to love this: from May 31 to June 2, Singapore will be holding International Museum Day, a cultural event wherein the country’s 46 museums will be featuring 39 fun-filled events and activities all aiming to show that museums can be lively and just as interesting tourist destinations when you're visiting Singapore.

With the theme “Museums ALIVE!” the National Heritage Board of Singapore hopes to pique the interests of museum-goers young and old with unique activities such as cultural bus tours, calligraphy classes, and free visits to selected museums. Each day offers something new, and interested visitors can have their choice on what events to check out.

A convenient place to stay during your museum-hopping would be the Tekka Hotel located just near the Mustafa Centre Mall, and is minutes away from Singapore's Museum District. This nicely situated budget hotel offers easy access to Singapore's tourism and culture centers like the Veerama Kaliamman Temple, Sim Lim Square, and even the Singapore Zoo.

Another would be the Beach Hotel, also a lovely but affordable hotel that is just walking distance from Singapore's National Museum, St.Andrew's Cathedral, and the War Memorial. If you ever take a break from visiting your museums of choice, there's still lots of interesting places to go sight-seeing.

For more information on International Museum Day, visit their official site.

Shop 'Til You Drop at the Great Singapore Sale 2008

So you’re a shopaholic and you’ve decided to go crazy at the Great Singapore Sale this year. You‘ve got your credit card or hard-earned cash in hand, comfortable walking shoes on, and probably even a huge bag where you plan to stuff all your purchases in. You might even have a list of your target shopping venues so you can strategize how to go about your mission of finding the best bargains. There’s a determined look on your face; and if other people saw you, they might even think you’re ready for war.

Well soldier, you definitely have the makings of a plan! All the way until July 20 when the Great Singapore Sale closes, you have plenty of time to scour Singapore for those good finds. One other thing you might want to consider, though, is the place you’ll be staying when you need to take a break from your shopping excursion. A good Singapore hotel to choose would be one that’s near most of those target shopping venues on your list so you can conveniently drop off your haul, rest your feet for a while, then easily go right back out for another round of shopping.

If you plan on targeting the Mustafa Centre or Little India, ideal hotels to check in would be The Claremont Hotel, the Aspinals Hotel, and the Tekka Hotel. All three budget hotels offer affordable comfort and are conveniently located within the area and are all walking distance from these shopping hubs. The Farrer Park MRT Station is also just nearby, ready to shuttle you off to other shopping destinations like Orchard Road or Suntec City.

If you’re thinking of going to Bugis, the Marina or Raffles City, the Park View Hotel and the Beach Hotel would be good budget hotel choices, as they are located just a few blocks away from the Bugis Junction, reputed to have fine accessory finds. The Beach Hotel is also near Suntec City, known for their electronic goods. Both offer cozy, reasonably-priced rooms aside from the convenient location.

For more information on the Great Singapore Sale this year, visit their site to learn more about their tourist specials and coupon deals for those much appreciated discounts. Happy shopping!

A taste of Singapore: Comfort food at your comfort

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 9^th 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 Harbour Ville Hotel in Singapore 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.

Experience Asia without leaving Singapore

Asia is a nice place to seek a change of scenery, different in one country, not the same in the next. Asia has everything for everyone, from its refreshing vacation spot to its captivating culture and cities far removed from the usual. What makes it an even better place is that you can experience Asia by being in only one country: Singapore.

One of Asia’s celebrated playgrounds, the tiny tropical island of Singapore offers a wide range of itinerary ideas. Visitors will find it convenient that the imported sand of thecelebrated Siloso Beach in Singapore is just minutes away from the shopping centers, cultural hubs, and modern theme parks across Singapore.

Added charms in Singapore can be found at the Chinese, Malay, Indian, and European districts that stand cheek-by-jowl to one another in downtown Singapore. From food to arts and crafts and entertainment, the melting pot of culture in Singapore takes visitors across Asia without leaving Singapore.

What to do

Get a high-rolling start on your Singapore vacation with the newly opened Singapore Flyer on Raffles Avenue. With its 165-meter top, the Singapore Flyer outsized the London Eye Ferris wheel and provides a 360-degree panoramic view of Singapore.

From the Singapore Flyer, one can see most of Singapore. Singapore’s playground, the Siloso Beach, lies on the southern coast while the city’s sky scrapers are up north. Each carriage is air-conditioned and UV-protected, really the nicest Singapore attraction that should be on anyone’s itinerary.

Below the Singapore Flyer is the street track for the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, which is scheduled for flag-off on September. Already, though, there are shops in and around Raffles Avenue that will draw your attention.

After getting off from such great height, a good follow-up would be to get a fix for your shopping needs. Singapore visitors can take a walk or hop on a taxi to Suntec City, Mustafa Center, Little India, Chinatown, or to Orchard Road.

Don’t overindulge, though, because there remain the Siloso Beach and Mount Faber on a Singapore itinerary. Located 500 meters off the southern coast of Singapore, Sentosa Island can be reached through road, monorail, or cable car.

A good time to visit the island would be in the late afternoon, when life really starts in Sentosa. Must-sees in this vacation island include the travelator at the Underwater World, the Butterfly Park, and the Insect World.

Where to stay

Hotels are scarce and prime in Singapore all through the year, so that there is a good chance of getting a great value hotel if you book well in advance. Prime hotels in Singapore include those on Raffles Avenue and around Marina Bay, where midsize and big hotels stand next to one another.

Medium-size hotels in Singapore like the Claremont Hotel are located at the busy city center of Singapore. The Claremont Hotel in Singapore is located in front of the 24-hour shopping haven of Mustafa Center, 20 minutes from the Changi Airport, and is pretty much a walk away from many city attractions in Singapore.

The Marina Bay area, on the other hand, offers easy access to a bucket-and-spade holiday in Sentosa Island. Harbour Ville Hotel, a small boutique hotel in Singapore, offers convenient hotel accommodation south of Singapore. The Singapore hotel of Harbour Ville is right at the Harbour Front district, where cable cars offer a great way to reach the Sentosa Island.

In the middle of the Old World charm of the Singapore City Hall district is the Park View Hotel in Singapore’s Beach Road. Located 15 minutes from the airport, the Singapore Hotel of Park View offers guest convenience. Among other places of interest near their hotel in Singapore are the riverside plazas of Clark Quay, the Raffles City, and Little India.

Get Your Culture Fix at the 2008 Singapore Arts Festival

If you ever find yourself yearning for a taste of the arts in Singapore this May and June, then you are in for quite a treat. The Singapore Arts Festival will be held at various venues around the metro from May 23 to June 22, 2008, showcasing the most eclectic mix of local, regional, and international works. Known for being appreciative of innovative artistic endeavors, the annual Arts Festival in Singapore promises to deliver the finest in the fields of dance, music, theater, and visual art, featuring both Asian and international world-class artists.

The various shows and exhibits will be held at several venues all over Singapore, and so it would be wise to familiarize yourself with the very efficient train system to get yourself to the event of your choice. Just as wisely, it would be good to find a comfortable but cheap hotel that enables easy access to most of the places that the festival will be held at, such as the Claremont Singapore Hotel. Located at the heart of Little India, opposite of the huge Mustafa Centre shopping mall, it is just a minute’s walk away from the Farrer Park MRT Station.

Ideal for business and vacationing travelers, this particular Singapore hotel offers affordable accommodations without sacrificing topnotch service and quality facilities. Quite favored for its proximity to the local attractions, the Claremont Hotel will allow you to fully enjoy your stay as you hop around Singapore, shopping and sightseeing, and of course, checking out the various cultural events offered by the Arts Festival.

For tickets and bookings to the Singapore Arts Festival, get in touch with the SISTIC Authorized Agents and Hotline at +65 63485555 or visit their site.

Around Singapore… with a fork

The World Gourmet Summit is one event in Singapore where all people speak the same language, the language of food. So leave the travel brochures home. If you are in Singapore this spring, a fork may be what you’ll need to get a taste of the island.

Where to go

Pierre Herme Culinary Master Class, April 19, Singapore Tourism Board Auditorium—Find out what makes this pastry shop in France one of the famous in the world. Each of the Pierre Herme master chefs in Singapore will be conducting a cooking demonstration and prepare their signature dishes for the Singapore audience.

An evening with Curtis Stone, April 21, Pan Pacific Singapore—Get your dose of the Take Home Chef from Discovery Travel and Living when the 2008 World Gourmet Summit presents celebrity chef Curtis Stone. Singapore visitors will be treated to a private dinner with the TV show host, and get a chance to get intimate with some of his culinary secrets and gastronomic creations.

An Evening with Anne-Sophie Pic, April 25, Grand Hyatt Singapore—One of the only three female chefs in Germany to receive a Michelin rating, Anne-Sophie Pic is scheduled to work on her fish specialties and signature dishes. Backed by the culinary team of Grand Hyatt Singapore, An Evening with Anne-Sophie Pic guarantees that only the crème de la crème will be served at the table.

Where to stay

The World Gourmet Summit is scheduled throughout April in select venues across Singapore. Singapore visitors will find it easy to go to the summit events via the Singapore MRT. Singapore hotel that fringe one of the key MRT stations in the island is the Park View hotel in Singapore.

Located at Beach Road in the Bugis District, the Park View Hotel offers affordable convenience at one of Singapore’s busiest and oft-visited districts. Park View Hotel is 5 minutes from the Bugis MRT, near the City Hall area, and on a location commonly plied by buses.

With 88 well-appointed rooms available, the Singapore hotel of Park View gives budget hotel accommodations a touch of discreet luxury. Intimate and snug, each room provides escape from the hassles of city life that Singapore guests will find sufficient and satisfactory.

Park View Hotel
81 Beach Road
Singapore 189692

Singapore Guide to 2008 Spring Fashion and Music Festival

Nurture culture in Singapore this March with a dose of these musical, fashion, and arts festivals lined up across different events destinations in Singapore. From fashion shows to musical performances and arts festival, Singapore plays host to the following spring events this season of the arts in Singapore.

Singapore Fashion Festival—Top designers and international models come to Singapore for fashion exhibitions and club parties presented by the 2008 Singapore Fashion Festival. Scheduled from March 28 to April 6, the Singapore Fashion Festival brings not only the biggest names in the international fashion industry, but also the season’s hottest buys straight off the runways of New York, Paris and Milan. For fashion show and club party schedules, visit the 2008 SFF website.

Getting There—The 2008 Singapore Fashion Festival is scheduled to hold exhibitions and parties at different events destinations in Orchard Road and Somerset areas. MRT Stations NS22 in Orchard and NS23 in Somerset bring Singapore visitors to the fashion festival, or the hotels in Singapore’s nearby Fort Canning area like the YWCA Singapore Hotel. The shows and parties across Singapore are for free unless those specified as By Invitation only.

Singapore Mosaic Music Festival—Now on its fifth year, the Singapore Mosaic Music Festival features different genres of live music performances from March 7 to 16 at the Singapore Esplanade. The 10-day music festival in Singapore promises to be as comprehensive in its scope as it has ever been with scheduled performances from top artists in Jazz, Indie, Rap, Hip-Hop, Funk, and many others. Highlight of the festival is scheduled on Saturday, March 15, as simultaneous performances takes center stage at the Singapore Esplanade:

• House of Blues II, Singapore Esplanade theater studio
• Yanokami with Akiko Yano and Rei Harakami, Singapore Esplanade recital studio
• Nanu and The Disclaimers, Singapore esplanade Concourse

Getting There—The Esplanade Concert Hall is located near the MRT City Hall Station. Singapore visitors will find the Singapore Esplanade easily accessible from different MRT stations and bus stops across Singapore, or from hotels in the area that offer convenient hotel accommodation like the ParkView Hotel in Singapore’s Beach Road. Tickets for the music festival are available online at the mosaic music online store in Singapore.

We Will Rock You Singapore—From British comic writer Ben Elton comes the musical discography of rock band Queen scheduled from March 28 to April 13 at the Singapore Esplanade Concert Hall. Starring New Zealand’s pop princess Annie Crummer and Rockstar: INXS finalist Mig Ayesa, We Will Rock You reprises in Singapore one of theater’s most successful musical about the legendary Freddie Mercury and Brian May band whose hits include the Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions, Killer Queen, Another One Bites The Dust and This Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

Getting There—The Esplanade Concert Hall is located at the City Hall area in Singapore, and can be accessed through the MRT City Hall Station, CityBuzzTM routes C1, C2, and C3, and numbered busses that go to the Clark Quay in Singapore. Visitors on a short stay in Singapore can find hotel accommodations in Singapore’s Beach Road area, or near the Ferrer Park MRT at the Aspinals Hotel in Singapore. For show schedules and ticket information, visit the Singapore Tourism Board.

Switchfoot dares you to move, Singapore!

For one night only US alt-rock band Switchfoot performs in Singapore as part of their Oh Gravity world tour. The concert, scheduled on Jan. 31 at the Max Pavilion of the Singapore Expo, marks the first time Switchfoot brings its Gospel music and highly energetic performances to Singapore.

“Given the band’s immense popularity and diverse range of fans, Switchfoot fans here [in Singapore] have waited far too long for the band to come perform [live],” said Wake Me Up Music productions manager Jon Hemsley.

The Switchfoot concert will likewise mark the first performance of an international act at the Singapore Expo. Equipped with top-end audio-video systems and state-of-the-art lighting, the Max Pavilion of the Singapore Expo is considered the future of concert halls.

Located at corner Changi Road and Xilin Avenue, the Singapore Expo is a landmark in Singapore for its impressive structural design and modern architecture. The site, however, proved inaccessible to most Singaporeans and only with the opening of the Expo MRT Station did the Singapore Expo gained prominence as the premier events destination in Singapore.

The Expo MRT Station connects the Singapore Expo to key commercial districts in Singapore where visitors can find a hotel room. One such district is the Bugis locale in central Singapore, which features a budget boutique hotel called the Singapore Beach Hotel.

The Singapore Beach Hotel is blocks away from the Bugis MRT, which links its part of Singapore to the Max Pavilion in Changi Road. As an alternative to the MRT, buses likewise ply the route of the Bugis district, with bus numbers 12, 24, 38, 35, and NR7 to take every Singapore visitor to the expansive complex of the Singapore Expo. The Singapore concert of Switchfoot is priced from S$70, S$80, to S$90, and features front acts that include the Fire Fight and West Grand Boulevard. For tickets and reservation inquiries contact:

Beach Hotel Singapore
http://www.beachhotel.com.sg/

Singapore SISTIC
www.sistic.com.sg

Wake Me Up Music Singapore
http://www.wakemeupmusic.com/switchfoot/

“Chaos in Motion” in Singapore on Jan 17

Knowing where to go, progressive rock band Dream Theater used to have the luxury of walking though experimentation, even if that meant producing an album that was a considerable deviation both in sound and style from what many critics considered their seminal work in 1994’s Awake.

Now the rock impresarios from New York are back, with a brand-new record that sounds more like Dream Theater than their past two albums combined. Theirs was not a case of making up for lost time. Dream Theater fathered the genre and they could move it anywhere they choose. Only now, both Dream Theater and the progressive-rock scene are moving to the same direction.

Nobody might be willing to call the new Dream Theater album a masterpiece. But with traces of Awake and a refined sound of Scenes from a Memory, the new Dream Theater album Systematic Chaos might be the incendiary to bring the genre back to the forefront of the music world again.

Starting in June 2007, Dream Theater has hit the road to promote Systematic Chaos, via the portentously titled Gods of Metal gig in Milan, Italy. Toward the early fall of 2007, Systematic Chaos made it to the US Billboard 200 at 19, the highest Dream Theater album charts entry ever, even surpassing Awake’s debut at 32, and Images and Words at 61.

Early next year it is Singapore’s chance to listen live to the new offering of the Dream Theater. Produced by the LAMC Productions, “Chaos in Motion: The Dream Theater World Tour” will be staged at the Fort Canning district in Singapore on January 17, 2008.

The date is January and the place is Fort Canning, Singapore. It would be very well for Dream Theater fans to be clear about that. It is, after all, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear live a mature and crucial gig of Dream Theater.

Tickets for the Dream Theater Singapore Tour in Fort Canning are available online at the Sistic website, or through acknowledged agents accredited by the Singapore ticketing company. Hotel rooms in Singapore are likewise available online.

Inside Fort Canning is the budget accommodation of the YWCA Lodge. By providing guests with a twin sharing option, the Fort Canning hotel in Singapore of international foundation YWCA is perfect for Singapore visitors traveling in groups.

Outside Fort Canning are the fashionably low-priced hotels of Tekka Hotel in Singapore and the ParkView. Both hotels fringe the Fort Canning Park, and are near the city center of Singapore for your convenience.

The Singapore gig at the Fort Canning will be the third of five stops of the Dream Theater Asia Tour, after the band revisits the Budokan Theater in Japan and the parental hometown of Dream Theater bassist John Myung in South Korea.

“If you’re a musician or ever aspired to be one, this is a show not to be missed,” said the LAMC Productions. But it isn’t necessary to remind anyone that. Progressive rock fans around and outside Singapore know very well not to miss a gig that features a promising turn at the Dream Theater career.

All ears at the 2007 Noise Singapore arts festival

It was a heady night in Singapore. But the look on everybody’s face, in attendance for the 2007 Noise Singapore arts festival launch, it was the best smile in the world. There was much to see and hear, and there was nobody hurt. The night proved portentous of the present youth culture in Singapore that was given voice at the Noise arts festival.

The Noise Singapore is an annual fete of arts and culture that stars the young guns of the Singapore arts intelligentsia. Started in 2005, Noise Singapore had since laid out the platform for the emerging movers of the Singapore arts scene, enabling Singaporeans and Singapore visitors alike to feel the noise that the young Singapore arts scene is making.

In the run up to the final leg of the 2007 Noise Singapore arts festival, Orchard Road yet again turned festive this December with live performances, arts exhibits, and workshops on Gibson Guitars and beatboxing by Noise Singapore artists.

Festivities are appropriately centered on the Heeren Shops at the junction of the Orchard Road and the Fort Canning area. With the greens of the Fort Canning as backdrop, the increasing popularity of the Noise Singapore is being heard and now beckons like the Emerald City in Singapore.

The Fort Canning is likewise a backpackers’ district in Singapore, where vacation breaks are well within the means of most Singapore visitors. At the center of the Fort Canning greens lies the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge, a low-cost hotel run and owned by the YWCA Singapore. That doesn’t mean, however, that Singapore visitors get the short end of the straw at the hotel in Singapore YWCA Fort Canning Lodge.

With rates starting at SGD82, the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge is easily one of the cheapest hotels in Singapore. But it is also one of the Singapore hotels with a prime hotel address. The Singapore hotel of the YWCA is located deep in the lush neighborhood of Fort Canning, and complements the location with plush hotel facilities.

Also, for Singapore visitors on a tight budget, the Singapore hotel of the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge offers a special hotel rate for twin sharing of rooms for 2 days and 1 night. Inclusive of one buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to the use of hotel facilities, the twin sharing rate of the YWCA makes it suitable for youth groups who are in Singapore for the Noise Arts Festival.

Only in Singapore: White Christmas in the Tropics

There is a place in Singapore where it snows in December. It sits on a hilltop where the treetops glisten and the children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow, transforming a part of Singapore into a winter wonderland where Christmas is brought to life to magical effect.

Perched on the hill of Mount Faber in Central Singapore, The Jewel Box is an iconic Singapore theme park specially known for its simulated snowfall. Every Christmas since 2006, the Jewel Box Singapore blankets a portion of Mount Faber with snows and Christmas lights to re-create a different and unique Singapore Christmas.

Originally a family recreation center, The Jewel Box has enthralled Singapore visitors with novelties like the Sky Dining restaurant and The Jewel Christmas Light Show. This Christmas, The Jewel Box is set to frost the beauty of Christmas once again with a simulated snowfall at the Altivo and Faber Rock cafes in Mount Faber.

Because The Jewel Box is located on the hilltop of Mount Faber, there is an air of exclusivity in the area. But do not think that Mount Faber, like a winter Christmas in Singapore, is almost out-of-reach for most Singapore visitors.

The Jewel Box at Mount Faber is only minutes away from the city center of Singapore via cable car. The cable car tower at Mount Faber connects to Harbour Front and Sentosa, forming a triumvirate of Singapore must-sees. The Harbour Front district in Singapore is what makes the Mount Faber accessible for those on a weekend visit in Singapore.

The main artery of the Singapore cable car system is located at the Harbour Front station, connecting the holiday getaways of Singapore to the island’s city center. Also at the Harbour Front is the hotel of the Harbour Ville in Singapore, which for many years now has been serving as jump-off point to the different Singapore getaways like the Sentosa and the Mount Faber.

The Harbour Ville hotel in Singapore is a small boutique hotel that offers low-priced rooms to Singapore visitors. Fashionably cheap and well-placed, the Singapore hotel of the Harbour Ville is often every traveler’s gateway to various Singapore vacations.

With Mount Faber, Singapore visitors get a taste of high-rise living, Singapore style. At Sentosa it’s about the beach. At Harbour Front it’s about the commercial districts and urban centers of Singapore. The best place to feel the warmth of Christmas.

The time is now, the place is Singapore

Shopping is one addiction no one should feel guilty about. People think it’s all about overindulgence and unreasonable spending, which should not be ignored, but what they forget is the satisfaction that one gets from shopping.

Think of the best moment you ever had with your other half and it will probably fail in comparison to the rush of shopping. Now multiply it by a thousand and still you are not yet near the feeling of going through the Great Singapore Sale.

Imagine an entire city lined with exotic bazaars and signature shops. That is what the island of Singapore becomes at the time of the Great Sale. Scheduled on May 2008, the Great Singapore Sale is set to bring Singapore into a summer of great buys for everyone’s retail therapy.

For sure the Great Singapore Sale will be a major tourist draw. It’s that great gig, to borrow a metaphor, for everyone’s shopping fix. And, like any great gig, it cannot be missed and has to be taken care of as early as now.

Singapore is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that do not require a visa for entry. That is one problem less. Next is air travel, which should not be foremost in your concern because Singapore is a key destination in Asia and majority of the major global airlines has direct flights to Singapore. The only real difficulty is finding a hotel in Singapore.

Major hotels in Singapore have presence in the Web and enable Singapore visitors to book in advance. There are also booking engines that are operated by travel portals. These, however, have additional costs. Hotel websites often have the best rates you see online because Singapore visitors transact directly with the hotel.

The Claremont Hotel in Singapore is one of the key hotels in Asia that have an online presence. Their website at http://www.claremont.com.sg/ provides Internet users looking for a Singapore hotel not only with a comprehensive website but a booking engine as well.

Through their Singapore hotel website, The Claremont Hotel is made accessible to travelers worldwide. Here, the strategic location in Singapore of the Claremont Hotel can be seen, and helps explain why their hotel in Singapore is one of the oft-frequented hotel of Singapore visitors.

Because it is owned by the Claremont Hotel Singapore, the website gives the best offers that the hotel management can give and gets rid of the amount that travel portals put on hotel room prices. It’s the easiest way to get a room, too, because the hotel can confirm a reservation instantly. No more long queues to stand in the way of our need: shopping!

Living it up at the HarbourVille Hotel in Singapore

It’s that time of year in Singapore once again to let everyone’s hair down and party from sun up to sun down to the beat of the Singapore ZoukOut Music Festival. In what might be the last beach party of the Singapore ZoukOut Festival, this year’s festivities on December 8 will treat clubbers to a unique entertainment zone in Singapore for a night of living it all up.

The Singapore ZoukOut Festival consists of carnival rides, gaming booths, drumming sessions and performers—all in the middle of the eclectic music genres of house, tribal, techno, trance, electro, hip hop and Mambo Jambo music. And it’s all happening at the dramatic seascape of the Sentosa Island in Singapore.

With the godfather of UK techno Carl Cox and DJ Armin van Buuren at the controls, the Singapore ZoukOut festival is set to bring purist clubbers to Singapore, from Harbour Front to Vivo City and to other key places in Singapore that could lead them to the ZoukOut Festival in Sentosa, Singapore.

Harbour Front is one of the major Singapore locales that fringe the Sentosa Island in Singapore. Because hotel rooms in Sentosa is quite on the up-side of the Singapore hotel rates and the Harbour Front being minutes away to Sentosa, Harbour Front provides an attractive alternative to Singapore visitors.

The Harbour Ville Singapore at the Harbour Front is one option. With rates starting at US$65, the boutique hotel of Harbour Ville is not likely to make some real dent on the Singapore guest’s travel expenses. The hotel in Singapore of Harbour Ville is known for its proximity to the nightlife hub of Singapore, including the Sentosa Island in Singapore.

From the Harbour Front hotel, visitors going to the ZoukOut Festival in Sentosa are a bus ride away to the premier event in Singapore this December. At the Harbour Front bus terminal there will be special ZoukOut shuttles that are designed to bring guests directly to the music festival.

For a place where the Sentosa is just minutes away, the Harbour Ville enables guests to live it up in Singapore on a budget.