Singapore in Corona time
In January this year I, Anne-Marie Koopmans, Operations Manager of Arnhem office at UNIGLOBE Alliance Travel, spent a few days in Singapore as a stopover on my way to Bali. Singapore is known as one of the busiest, but also most clean and safe cities in the world.
Just about the time I arrived in Singapore, however, was the lockdown in Wuhan, in China, because of coronavirus a fact. There were also some infections in Singapore back then, about which I had little concern at the time. Something unimaginable with the knowledge of today.
People in Singapore took the first signs of the Corona outbreak very seriously; people in Asia are more used to wearing mouth caps than we are in Europe, but there were also heat cameras set up at various places in the city to check all passers-by for body temperature. Especially during the Chinese New Year celebrations, which are big events such as fireworks shows, a lot of people gather. Here too, everyone had to walk through gates and, in addition to the usual checks on the contents of bags, the temperature was also checked.
Also, Singapore is now using an app for mapping individual infections and preventing spread. And probably many countries will follow suit.
Doing business in Singapore
At the moment, business travel to Singapore is at a low ebb, but when the skies will soon be fully open again, many Dutch business travelers will once again travel towards this modern business city. During a business trip in Singapore, it is important to respect the culture of the locals. Because of the mix of cultures, this may not sound as simple in Singapore as it is in other countries, but some basic rules apply here as well
- Don't show excessive emotion. It is considered very rude if you show that something irritates you.
- Be on time. Arriving late for a business meeting is considered disrespectful.
- Respect age and roles. Age and hierarchy are very important in Singaporean society.
- Avoid public displays of affection. Same-sex and opposite-sex handshakes are not a problem, but showing too much affection in public is not well accepted.
- For business travel to Singapore, a work visa or work permit may be required. The Singapore government has established a set of immigration rules that depend on various factors, such as length of stay. Check out the requirements and type of visas via: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits
Explore Singapore soon with these tips!
For travelers who have the time to see / do a little more during their stay in Singapore here are a few more tips:
Like me, stay in the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Hotel; perfectly located at the Marina, overlooking the skyline and the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Both for a business and private trip a fine hotel to stay. All the facilities you would expect from a 5* hotel such as meeting rooms, restaurants, bar and outdoor pool + gym are available.
Or book a room in the famous Raffles Hotel, which is named after the founder of Singapore in 1899. The hotel in Victorian architecture has 103 suites, and in the Long Bar is said to have invented the cocktail "Singapore Sling" around 1915. (see also below)
The beautiful gardens of Gardens by the Bay containing the large mechanical trees (Supertree Grove) that light up at night by a (free) light and sound show. A magical experience !
The park is located next to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the famous hotel built in the shape of a boat, and has a unique pool; an infinity pool a whopping 340 meters high. With, of course, spectacular views of Singapore.
By now, more cities around the world have Ferris wheels, but from 2008-2014, the Singapore Flyer the largest in the world (165 meters high).
Visit the various neighborhoods such as Chinatown and Little India to wander around, shop and visit the Buddhist and Hindu temples.
Recipe Singapore Sling
Of course, a recipe for a typical Singapore cocktail cannot be missing from this list of tips!
The Singapore Sling is a cocktail around which there is a lot of mystery. And of which there are a lot of variations. The reason: there is no certainty about the original recipe. The Singapore Sling was invented around 1915 in the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Inventor on duty: bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. Sometime around 1930, however, the original recipe was lost. And so the current Singapore Sling used in the Raffles Hotel is served rather a "historical reconstruction" of the original cocktail. For that, they rely on the recollections of former bartenders. And on a cat call from a customer who at the time had asked the bartender for the cocktail's recipe and quickly jotted it down. That cat call was carefully preserved and is still on display at the Raffles Hotel Museum.
The Raffles Hotel is to this day a popular place to sip a delicious Singapore Sling at the hotel's Long Bar.
For 1 Singapore Sling, according to the "original" recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- 30 ml of gin
- 20 ml Cherry Heering
- 10 ml of Bénédictine
- 10 ml of Cointreau
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- 30 ml fresh pineapple juice
- 2 cocktail spoons of grenadine syrup
- half a cocktail spoon of Angostura bitters
- 15 ice cubes
- pineapple segment (as garnish)
- mint sprig or cherry (as garnish)
Preparation
Except for the garnish, put all the above ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Close the shaker and shake it vigorously. Pour into an ice-filled cocktail glass. Top with the pineapple segment and the sprig of mint or cherry. Serve with a straw.
Cheers!
Want to learn more about traveling to Singapore or experience the city for yourself?
My colleague Eveline Repko was also in Singapore for several days last year during an educational trip with Singapore Airlines. Read here her report with experiences and tips to discover the city at lightning speed. In addition, Singapore is also perfect for a group or incentive trip to pamper colleagues or associates or get to know them better. Think of an unforgettable visit to the spectacular Grand Prix of Singapore at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. An experience that everyone will remember for a long time!
Need advice on planning your next business trip to Singapore, please feel free to contact me or Eveline. Prefer more information about a group or incentive trip? Then our colleagues from goMICE perfect advice. If required, they will create a customized (no-obligation) proposal and help you think about how to warm up and enthuse your relations on the way to this LIVE moment! Look for more information on www.goMICE.nl.
Travel well!
Greetings,
Anne-Marie
