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Day-By-Day Itinerary |
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This itinerary can be fully customized; to tailor this package to your specific requirements please call one of our travel specialists at 1-800-22-SWAIN. |
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Day 1 Fly USA to Singapore Day 2 Arrive Singapore Singapore has always been a crossroads from East to West. Once upon a time, its port swelled with Chinese, Arab, Malay, Indian and European traders who came to exchange exotic wares. Today, the city-state has expanded into one of the world's busiest ports, and over time, as goods have been exchanged, cultures have mingled as well. To the casual observer, Singapore appears to be a clean and orderly mass of shopping malls and McDonald's. But the curious who dig a bit deeper will find that the cultures of the original settlers are still very much alive and well in this truly multicultural melting pot. Singapore's dedication to preserving cultural heritage has created a number of excellent museums and thriving, ethnically distinct neighborhoods. Chinatown and Little India still retain some of their original cultural relevance for Singaporeans while attracting foreign visitors who marvel at the endurance of cultural identity. A wander through any of the city's neighborhoods will reveal Taoist temples, Muslim mosques and Christian churches cohabitating peaceably side by side. Cultural intermingling has also produced unique Eurasian and Peranakan (Straits Chinese) cultures, each with its own fashion, furnishings and food. Speaking of food, with so much cultural diversity, dining in Singapore is varied and good-gastronomic experiences range from the finest Continental cuisine served with polished silver to delicious local dishes served in an open-air hawker center with plastic chopsticks. Small wonder Singaporeans love to eat. Spa Package – for all bookings made by 8/31/2008 Experience an extensive range of signature treatments, tapping into both Asian and Western spa philosophies. Savor tantalizing spa treats like Hot Stones Therapy, Aroma Body Massages and Javanese Heritage Treatments. Included during your stay is a complimentary Body Rejuvenation package which will pamper you with a choice of Body Scrub (30 minute duration), followed by either a Swedish or Aroma Body Massage (45 minutes). Day 2 Singapore City Tour (Afternoon) Stop by a Local Handicraft Centre and observe craftsmen at work up-close. Proceed to the National Orchid Garden, located within Singapore Botanic Gardens, which boasts a sprawling display of 60,000 orchid plants. Our final stop at Little India will entrance you with the scent of joss sticks, jasmine and spices. Day 3 Heartlands Trail (Afternoon) Day 4 Singapore by Night & Dinner (with Sling) Dinner is a choice of local/western cuisine served on a self-cooking plate of sizzling hot rocks. No need to add oil or other fats in order to cook your meals to perfection. Enjoy food at its best and still retain the goodness. Vegetarian Cutlet is available on request. Pick up time will be 6.00pm from the lobby of your hotel. Day 5 Peranakan Trail & Food Tasting (Morning) Over the centuries, the Peranakans have evolved a unique culture that maintains many Chinese traditions, such as celebrating the Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival, while adopting the customs of the land they settled in, as well as those of their successive colonial rulers. There are traces of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Malay and Indonesian influences in Baba culture. Walk through a Spice Garden which sits on the original site of the first Botanic Gardens and uncover the intricacies of spices and herbs that go into Peranakan cooking. See a fascinating display of Peranakan costume, embroidery, beadwork, jewelry, porcelain, furniture and craftwork which provides insight into the captivating culture of the Peranakans. Wander through the bustling enclaves of Katong & Joo Chiat that showcase the rich and baroque Peranakan architecture. Admire rows of colorful traditional shop houses that date back to the 1920s and 1930s. A sampling of Nonya delicacies complete the tour before you return to your hotel. Day 6 Fly Singapore to USA Day 7 Arrive USA |