Get back to adventuring with these stunning road trips, recommended by travel writers

Produced by SilverKris for Avis

If you’re still on the fence about recreational travel, it’s time to leap off. Now that vaccinated travellers can return to Singapore quarantine-free, it’s time for a grand adventure – a road trip!

Road trips offer an exciting balance of freedom and safety. On one hand, you get to drive off the beaten path, be the master of your own schedule and visit local communities with ease. On the other, you avoid jostling with crowds on public transport and domestic flights.

World renowned car rental company Avis stands at the ready, with locations in 165 locations, as well as discounts and KrisFlyer miles for Singapore Airlines flyers. What’s more, the Avis Safety Pledge ensures that your car is thoroughly sterilized before rental, and that safe distancing is ensured at pick-up and drop-off. And if you end up becoming a road-trippping convert, the Avis Preferred membership programme offers pre-prepared paperwork at select locations, so you can head straight to your car without waiting in line.

Need some road trip inspiration? We asked four experienced travel journalists about their favourite road trips. Ranging from a couple hours to a few days, their recommendations cover Unesco sites, wildlife sightings and stunning photo-ops.

 

Zurich-Lucerne-Andermatt, Switzerland

Furka Pass, a short drive from Andermatt, is a road-tripper’s dream in any season. Photo: Adobe Stock

Drive time: 2 hours one-way
Highlights: Alpine views, crystal-clear lakes, Unesco bucket lists
Recommended by: Mike MacEacheran

In Switzerland, in the shadow of Europe’s largest mountain range, life-affirming road trips are not in short supply. One favourite is the clean, green E-Grand Tour, the world’s first road trip for electric cars, and a 1,000-mile route that absorbs a dense network of super chargers, Alpine passes and dozens of Unesco sights. Highlights abound, but the most memorable section is the 150-mile loop out of Zurich, taking in the powder-blue lakes of Lucerne and twisted valleys of Andermatt. Drop into the Bürgenstock Resort, where a who’s who of previous guests including Sean Connery helps set the hotel’s mood of golden age nostalgia.

Pit-stops along the way: Stop on the Furka Pass, a short detour from Andermatt, where Connery’s 007 chased Auric Goldfinger in the James Bond classic from 1964.

Pick-up/Drop-off: Avis has several locations in Zurich, including Zurich Airport. If you wish to cover more of the 1,600km E-Grand Tour, Avis offers one-way rentals for a surcharge. Start in Zurich, and drop off your car in major Swiss destinations along the way, such as Bern, Lausanne, Basel and Lugano. Search for Avis car rentals in Zurich.  

 

Mike MacEacheran is an award-winning, UK-based travel writer, who spends every summer in Switzerland. He has reported travel stories from 115 countries and counting.

 

 

Vancouver to Whistler, Canada

When doing the Sea-to-Sky Highway, save time for a hike up the Stawamus Chief monolith. Photo: Adobe Stock

Drive time: 3 hours one-way
Highlights: Coastal rainforests, glorious hikes and glass-sponge reefs
Recommended by: Barb Sligl

Highway 99, or the Sea-to-Sky Highway, is one of the world’s most spectacular drives – and my go-to for an easy escape from the city. It skirts shores and twists past peaks for some 150 kilometres from West Vancouver to Whistler, home to a renowned ski resort and mountain-bike park. You’ll drive along emerald stretches of coastal rainforest and rise above waters that sustain rare glass-sponge reefs, now recognized as the UNESCO Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Region. To make it a full-day adventure, I stop at the north end of the sound, in Squamish, to hike up the Stawamus Chief, the world’s second-largest granite monolith, for 360-degree views –quite literally from sea to sky.

Pit-stops along the way: Post-hike, refuel in Squamish at food truck Luz Taco and pick up a six-pack of local craft beer next door at A-FRAME Brewing Co., to enjoy later when you’re done driving.

Pick-up/Drop-off: Avis has several locations in and around Vancouver, including Vancouver Airport. Drop your car off back in Vancouver, or opt for a one-way rental that lets you drop-off at the Avis location in Whistler. Search for car rentals in Vancouver.

 

Barb Sligl is a Vancouver-based writer and editor who loves taking photos and travelling the world.

 

 

London to North Norfolk, United Kingdom

The North Norfolk coast is packed with wide beaches and bucolic idylls. Photo: Adobe Stock

Drive time: 3 hours one-way
Highlights: Cottage life, coastal walks, seal sightings
Recommended by: Nick Measures

An easy three-hour drive northeast from London, the North Norfolk coast is a great weekend escape for nature fans. I love its quaint hamlets, wide sandy beaches and bleak windswept marshes. Rent a cosy stone cottage in one of the charming villages between Sheringham and Brancaster, and then head out on foot to the Norfolk Coast path to spot the local shorebirds and colonies of common and grey seals.

Pitstops along the way: Just over halfway to Sheringham, stretch your legs on the many trails in Thetford Forest, the UK’s largest man-made lowland forest, or swing by the crumbling ruins of Castle Acres and the well-preserved Priory which dates back to 1090. Wittles Café in the high street does a mean bacon butty.

Pick-up/Drop-off: Avis has several locations at London airports and downtown. You can either drive back to London, or do a one-way rental and drop your car off at the Avis location in Norwich, near the North Norfolk coast. Search for Avis car rentals in London.

 

Nick Measures is a Singapore-based writer and editor who retains a deep love of the English countryside where he grew up. 

 

 

Denpasar to Singaraja, Bali

The serene and stunning Lotus Lagoon is one of the many photo-ops when you drive up Bali’s eastern coast. Photo: Adobe Stock

Drive time: 5 hours one-way
Highlights: Water palaces, historic towns, beaches
Recommended by: Jonathan Evans

Any traveller who’s never seen northern Bali will be floored by its natural beauty far-flung from the crowds. I recommend driving eastward from Denpasar, following the coast as it curves north and west, to Singaraja, the former capital. It’s not the quickest route to the north, but it’s the most picturesque. You’ll pass the sleepy beaches of Sanur and Gyanur, before skirting Karangasem regency, which contains the sublime coastal towns of Candidasa – don’t miss the Lotus Lagoon – as well as Amed and Tulamben.

Pit-stops along the way: Between Candidasa and Amed lie two beautiful former palaces that are worth the detour: Taman Ujung, a water palace built in the early 1900s, and the mid-century Tirta Gangga.

Pick-up/Drop-off: Avis has two locations in Denpasar, including at Ngurah Rai International Airport. For a quicker route back from the north, cut straight down through the middle of the island, which shaves driving time by three hours. Search for Avis car rentals in Bali.

 

Jonathan Evans is a travel and culture journalist/editor who writes about life in South-East Asia. From the UK originally, over the past 15 years, he has lived in Singapore, Bali and Siem Reap, where he is currently based. 

 

For more information about Avis and promotions on car rentals for Singapore Airlines flyers, please visit the official website.

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9 secret beaches in Southeast Asia you need to know about

As the Southeast Asian borders open up, island escapes are sure to be on everyone’s minds. With most of us keen to maintain a certain degree of social distancing, we have suggestions for off-the-beaten path beaches that can serve as an ideal antidote to any two-year-long cabin fever.

Starting 1 April 2022, vaccinated travellers on all Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights will enjoy quarantine-free entry into Singapore without any on-arrival test. Why not stopover in the Little Red Dot and experience Singapore for yourself? You can check out Lazarus Island, included in this round up, as well as one of the city’s other great beaches.. To know more about entry requirements for Singapore, check Singapore Airlines’ travel advisory.

1. Beach with a storied past: Koh Tarutao Island, Thailand

This is where those in the know come for what’s arguably Southeast Asia’s most pristine beach. Koh Tarutao is a protected national park, meaning there is no development here, except for a few park service bungalows and tents, plus a restaurant to ensure you don’t starve. To get in, take a 45-minute speedboat from Koh Lipe. In the 1940s, the island was used as a penal colony. Most visitors stay by the boat pier on Ao Pante beach but, if you head 8km further, you’ll find Ao Son, an empty white sand beach backed by steamy jungle. If you are lucky, you can spot langurs, hornbills, crab-eating macaques and a diverse array of birds and butterflies.

Tarutao National Park consists of 51 islands off the coast of southern Thailand. Photo credit: Adobe

2. Exclusive luxury: Koh Kood Island, Thailand

Known as Bangkok’s boutique island due to affluent weekenders from the capital city and the limited fancy resorts, Koh Kood features empty stretches of postcard-perfect white sand beaches. One of the most stunning, the private Soneva Kiri beach, boasts sparkling white sand and turquoise water. From here, you can see Koh Mak and the other islands of the Koh Chang archipelago in the distance. Holidaymakers explore the waters on paddleboards and kayaks and, when the weather is fine, windsurfing is also available. Koh Kood is a five-hour boat ride from Bangkok.

Soneva Kiri is nestled within the lush tropical rainforest on Koh Kood Island. Photo credit: Sandro Bruecklmeier

3. Eco getaway: Koh Thmei Island, Cambodia

Koh Thmei is an island southeast of Sihanoukville – a coastal city in Cambodia. Part of Ream National Park, the bird-laden island is miraculously pristine. Over 150 species of birds have been spotted here, including the endangered Brahminy Kite. Look out for fishing cats and langur monkeys in the mangrove forests, as well as  dolphins swimming in the waters just off the yellow shore. A 50-minute drive from Sihanoukville will take you to Koh Kchhang fishing village, from where you can catch a one-hour boat ride to Koh Thmei island.

Koh Thmei is south-east of Cambodia’s coastal city Sihanoukville. Photo credit: Adobe

4. Muck diver’s dream: Mabul Island, Malaysia

Situated off the southeastern coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, Mabul is one of several islands in the Celebes Sea blessed with diverse marine habitats. While its unnamed beaches are small and used by local villagers who moor their boats here, they are blanketed by white sand and backed by palm trees. Metres from the shore, the island’s waters make up one of the best macro-dive sites on the planet. Here, you can see tiny creatures such as harlequin shrimp and pygmy seahorses on a dive, or giant turtles, parrotfish and whale sharks while swimming or snorkelling. While you’re here, check out the small villages that sea gypsies (bajau laut) call home. Mabul is 45 minutes by boat from Semporna, a town in Sabah.

Mabul Island has been a fishing village since the 1970s. Photo credit: Adobe

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5. Myriad of marine life: Mantanani Islands, Malaysia

Off the northwest coast of Sabah is where you’ll find Mantanani Islands. This group of three isolated islands is surrounded by 20 dive sites, including three nearby dive wrecks that date back to the second World War. Witness clownfish playing hide and seek amidst the sea anemones and keep an eye out for rare dugong sightings. Several spottings of this rare marine mammal have been made in these waters. The islands can be reached via a 90-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu City to Rampayan Jetty, Kota Belud (80km), followed by a 30-minute boat ride.

Catch the sunset on the island of Mantanani. Photo credit: Adobe

6. Secret surf spot: Lombok Island, Indonesia

While Bali’s Kuta and Uluwatu beaches get all the surf headlines, savvy boarders make for neighbouring Lombok, where an isolated bay winding along the south coast is backed by verdant rolling hills and cliffs. Known as Tanjung Aan, this lovely stretch of coastline that’s about 70 minutes from Mataram city by car remains largely unknown. While nearby Gerupuk Beach has bigger waves – you need a boat to reach them – Tanjung Aan’s swells can be paddled out to. Most beachgoers come here to surf, snorkel and hike up the cliffs to enjoy panoramic views of the turquoise water and pearly white sand. As the sand here can get a bit too hot for sunbathing, bring your own lounger for some relief.

Catch the perfect wave and beautiful sunsets. Photo credit: Adobe

7. Most dramatic landscape: Sabtang Island, Philippines

The crowds head for Boracay and escape to Palawan but, if you want a more unique beach vacation, visit Batanes. With its dramatic, windswept scenery, the northernmost province in the Philippines resembles Scotland far more than it does the tropics, and sits close to Taiwan. It is also home to three inhabited islands. Morong beach on Sabtang Island is a strip of powdery white sand that is backed by verdant rolling hills, which have been manicured and eroded into liveng, the local version of a hedgerow. Also on the beach is Batanes’ most photographed landmark, the Nakabuang stone arch, a towering geological formation. You’ll find traditional stone houses in the villages of the native Ivatan people. Sabtang Island is a 30-minute boat ride from Basco.

The Nakabuang stone arch on Sabtang Island. Photo credit: Adobe

8. Pure solitude: Siquijor, Philippines

Located 160km south-east of Cebu City, the island of Siquijor (pronounced see-kee-hor) has long captured imaginations thanks to its notoriety for witchcraft and folk healing. It’s also home to white sand bliss. Head to the town of Maria for a visit to Kaugsuan Beach. With few tourists, it’s likely you can enjoy this island on your own. Snorkel in the turquoise waters and find shade on the white sand from the beautiful rock formations.

Arrive at the right time and you might have Kaugsuan Beach all to yourself. Photo credit: Jacob Maentz

9. Urban escape: Lazarus Island, Singapore

On weekends in Singapore, many people make a beeline for Sentosa Island, which is connected to the mainland. Yet, few know that just a 15-minute ferry ride from town is an urban escape called Lazarus Island. Completely undeveloped and without cafés or shops, the island requires you to bring your own picnic supplies. Access is via a walking bridge from neighbouring St John’s Island, which takes about 10 minutes. Lazarus features white sand imported from Indonesia, swaying coconut trees and truly deserted beaches, which is pretty impressive considering the urban sprawl is only minutes away.

Lazarus Island is part of Singapore’s Southern Islands cluster. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com

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Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.

The information is accurate as of press time. For the latest travel advisory updates, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

To learn more about Singapore Airlines flights, visit singaporeair.com. To join us in protecting the environment by offsetting your carbon emissions on your future flights, visit the following websites to learn more: carbonoffset.singaporeair.com.sg and carbonoffset.flyscoot.com

– ADDITIONAL TEXT BY DAVE STAMBOULIS

This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.

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Western Australia’s murals and artworks transform its vast landscape

On an arrow-straight back road, beneath a vast blue sky, I pull in and stretch out after a long drive. Crooked fence posts – decades-old, weathered and rusted – stand guard along the side of the asphalt. Ahead, a swathe of golden wheat dances in the late afternoon sun. The rustle is a kind of anthem of the Wheatbelt, a place where farmers face boom and bust; where a good year can set you up, and a bad one can send you under. This way of life and this arresting landscape are woven through the very fabric of Western Australia.

Adventurous travellers have always been drawn to the tough but awe-inspiring landscapes beyond the region’s cities. But now there is an added draw. A first in the country, though since imitated in Victoria, the PUBLIC Silo Trail was opened the year prior to the pandemic. Western Australians have enjoyed their vast state like never before; their borders closed to visitors. But now as travellers return there’s no better time to discover these unique art works and country hospitality.

Amid an agricultural setting, the project has taken functional structures that are still in use and fashioned a 1,000km-long route of epic artworks, taking you from the inland Wheatbelt to the wild Southern Ocean. Grain silos – scattered across seven locations from Northam, 97km east of Perth, down to Ravensthorpe in the southeast and Albany on the Southern Ocean coast – have become vast canvases, stretching up to 40m high.

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In health-conscious Singapore, Elementelle takes probiotics to the next level

Produced by SilverKris for Elementelle Probiotics+

Singaporeans have always been health-conscious. From hundreds of yoga studios and outdoor tai chi to TCM teas and local kombucha brands, wellness is a part of our daily lives. Recent surveys suggest that the impact of Covid-19 on outdoor activities, screen time and stress levels has made us more determined than ever to look after our bodies and minds.

It’s a great time for the arrival of Elementelle Probiotics+ to the scene. Singaporeans are no strangers to probiotics. We’ve long known that gut health and a balanced microbiome are responsible for many aspects of our overall wellness, from digestion and skin to immunity and focus.

But the Australian brand’s sole local distributor – Korean supermodel, entrepreneur and longtime Lion City resident Kyuri Yeom – saw that Elementelle Probiotics+ offers something above and beyond other brands.

Lion City-based model and entrepreneur Kyuri Yeom saw the need for  Elementelle Probiotics+ in Singapore

For starters, it uses potent, live, therapeutic-grade – not food-grade – probiotic strains. Then there’s its multi-action formula which combines probiotics and prebiotics with speciality vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that tackle a host of health and wellness issues. This all-in-one, synergistic approach eliminates the need for multiple expensive supplements, and supports everything from restful sleep to radiant skin.

More than your average probiotics

The majority of probiotic brands out there are for general use. But probiotics can be a lot more specialised. John Kim, Managing Director of PacificBlue Health (PBH), which produces Elementelle Probiotics+, stresses that lactic acid bacteria strains have different kinds of efficacy, depending on the type. For example, some are particularly effective with triglycerides, while others are effective for immunity.

“There are also good lactic acid bacteria for skincare,” he continues. “We combine the right lactic acid bacteria with vitamins and minerals to find the most appropriate formula by gender and age.”

John Kim, MD of PacificBlue Health, which produces Elementelle Probiotics+

Unlike other probiotic brands, the Elementelle Probiotics+ range covers not just a baseline of digestive health, but several specific focus areas. For example, those who struggle with attention and focus in today’s increasingly digital age can try Brain & Cognition, which supports mental recall, concentration and memory, with four strains of probiotics, two strains of prebiotics, and a combination of Vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B6, as well as gingko biloba and bilberry.

To support bodily changes among those entering middle age, Healthy Ageing has a formula that also includes Vitamins D and K2, magnesium and Calcium. In combination with five strains of probiotics, this purpose-built capsule supports heart health, muscle function and bone density.

Studies have shown that balanced microflora in the gut can also ease skin issues such as acne and eczema. Ironically, many anti-bacterial acne treatments diminish the healthy flora in the gut. Elementelle Probiotics+ range includes a Hair, Skin, and Nails offering packed with skin-loving additions such as ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), zinc and lycopene which help with collagen production, detoxification and resistance to sun exposure.

Dermatologist Dr Han explains the importance of “ingestible skincare” and probiotics for healthy, glowing skin

Immunity is top of mind for most people today, and Elementelle Probiotics+ offers Immunity Guard which supports healthy mucous membranes and mucous tissues of the respiratory tract. It does this thanks to a healthy dose of Vitamins C, A and B12, and immunity-boosting supplements such as zinc and folate.

These are just a few of the 10 offerings in the Elementelle Probiotics+ range. Other products cover immunity for kids, anxiety management, menstrual symptoms and lots else.

Proven effective, even without refrigeration

PacificBlue Health is the Australian subsidiary of Korean pharmaceutical company Chong Kun Dang (CDK), which has an 80-year reputation for rigorous testing. Even within Australia, Elementelle Probiotics+ is independently tested by third-party labs for efficacy and stability.

“We test lactic acid bacteria derived from nature in collaboration with the National Institute of Complementary Medicine and clinical research companies to verify effectiveness,” Kim explains. “Stability tests are conducted periodically during the product warranty period of two years.”

Stability is a big sticking point for probiotics. Many end up losing their effectiveness on the shelf, while others need to stay in the fridge for the bacteria to stay alive. Elementelle Probiotics+ has solved this problem thanks to the use of patented amino acid Proline and Silk Fibroin, a protein derived from silk worms. Together they form a protective coating around the capsule, and ensure the probiotics remain effective for up to two years.

Elementelle Probiotics+ takes pride in its sustainable sourcing and operations

Good for you, good for the planet

In addition to rigorous testing, Elementelle Probiotics+ is the result of premium Australian ingredients and a strong dedication to sustainability.

The company works exclusively with Australian ingredients and suppliers to support the local economy and create more jobs. Moreover, ingredients are non-GMO with vegan-friendly options. All bottles and packaging are recyclable, and the company’s production and operations are carbon-neutral.

After all, a healthy body means very little without a healthy society and a healthy planet. And Elementelle Probiotics+ aims to do its part for all three.

Elementelle Probiotics+ range is available in Singapore on Shopee, Lazada, Redmart, FairPrice as well as at elementelle.com.sg  

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8 must-see art shows this spring

The biggest news in the art world so far? The 59th Venice Biennale is finally pushing through in late April, having been postponed last year. Over 75 countries are expected to participate in this much-heralded event – titled “The Milk of Dreams”. Singapore will be represented by artist Shubigi Rao, who will mount a multimedia installation about the nation-state’s publishing history.

International art fairs are not the only ones back in the game, though. As the world begins to travel again for leisure and a much-needed boost of art and culture, museums from Dubai to Paris and London to New York are again setting up large-scale exhibitions that are expected to draw in the crowds.

If you’re flying from a city that’s part of Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) list, why not transit through the Little Red Dot with Singapore Airlines and check out the the following show at the National Gallery, then travel the world to catch our seven other top picks.

“Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia” in Singapore

Where and when:  National Gallery of Singapore, 28 May to 25 Sep
This exhibition of Indigenous art is the largest of its kind to travel to Asia. Drawn from the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art, the artworks in “Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia” surveys historical and contemporary works by over 140 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Australia. The exhibition also grapples with Australia’s complex history with its original settlers, and draws out links with Southeast Asia, connecting First People’s art from Australia to the broader history of this region.

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“Yves Saint Laurent aux Musées” and “Gaudí” in Paris

Where and when: Various venues, ongoing till 15 May
Over a decade since Yves Saint Laurent died of brain cancer, the French continue to pay tribute to this iconic couturier, who was also the first in his industry to embrace ready-to-wear. In Paris, six museums are simultaneously mounting exhibitions to mark the 60th anniversary of his fashion brand: the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the Musée du Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée National Picasso-Paris and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris. At the Louvre, head to the Galerie d’Apollon to marvel at the couturier’s masterful execution of his love of gold. But if you are more interested in how he played with colours, go to the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. True fans will be tickled pink at the YSL Museum, which will be displaying pieces from the designer’s personal archives.

A black gazar jacket with gold embroidery by Yves Saint Laurent. Photo credit: Nicolas Mathéus / Louvre Museum

Where and when: Musee d’Orsay, 12 Apr to 17 Jul
Everyone is familiar with the style of Spanish architect and Art Nouveau master Antoni Gaudí – indiscernible yet recognisable organic shapes that look like ice cream melting under a hot sun. And while this Catalan iconoclast is best known for his buildings – including the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, which remains unfinished 139 years after it first began construction – Gaudí also, not surprisingly, made odd furniture and sculptures, such as a dresser with a mirror skewed at a 45-degree angle. At the Musée d’Orsay, “Gaudí”, the first major exhibition in 50 years that is devoted to him, the architect’s drawings, models and furniture are shown in the hope of helping viewers understand his madness and – indubitably – genius.

A mural by Antoni Gaudí

“Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear” in London

Where and when: V&A, 19 Mar to 6 Nov
As Paris pays tribute to Saint Laurent, London trains the spotlight on men’s fashion and how it has defined masculinity over the years at the V&A Museum. The exhibition “Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear” is timed perfectly, as genderless fashion becomes more mainstream, thanks to pop icons challenging the concept of what, exactly, is manly. Think Harry Style’s embroidered Gucci suits and pearls, and Pose actor Billy Porter’s hot-pink cloak, worn at the 2019 Golden Globes. Both items are part of this exciting show, co-presented by Gucci, which puts clothing, sculptures and artworks from as early as 1565 side by side.

A photo of Harry Styles at the V&A show

“Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow” in Los Angeles

Where and when: The Broad, 21 May to 25 Sep
When The Broad opened in Downtown Los Angeles in 2014, one of its biggest problems was where to display the largest piece in its collection, a 25-panel work by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami that measures 3m x 25m, since not a single wall in the museum was big enough to accommodate it. This May, In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow will be shown alongside 18 other works in Murakami’s first solo exhibition at The Broad. The mural is inspired by chaos and natural catastrophes – such as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan – though it is easy to gloss over the distressing theme when faced with the artist’s bright pop of colours and manga-ish execution.

A detail of Murakami’s “In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow”

“Alice Neel: People Come First” in San Francisco

Where and when: de Young Museum, 12 Mar to 10 Jul
If you were unable to catch the blockbuster show of America’s greatest portraitist at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York early last year because of, well, the pandemic, don’t waste this second chance. The travelling exhibition “Alice Neel: People Come First” heads to de Young Museum in San Francisco this March after a five-month stopover at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and will show more than 100 works, including paintings, drawings and watercolours. Known for capturing her subjects at their most natural and vulnerable, Neel’s portraits of ordinary people of different colours and persuasions serve as a refreshing splash of cold water in this age where we are deluged with social media photos that are mostly staged, idealised or fake.

“Rita and Hubert” (1954) by Alice Neel. Photo credit: Malcolm Varon

“Desert is a Forest” in Dubai

Where and when: Jameel Arts Centre, ongoing till 4 Sep
A must-visit for plant lovers visiting the United Arab Emirates is the Jameel Arts Centre near the Dubai Creek. Here you can admire the seven gardens meticulously designed by Swiss-Dutch landscape architect Anouk Vogel, with each one displaying plants from a particular desert as if they were sculptures. Alongside the gardens is an exhibition space that is now showing “Desert is a Forest”, where Kerala-based artists Sunoj D and Namrata Geog explore the biodiversity of the UAE – 80% of its land area is desert – and show us how some plant species have become scarcer, while some have increased in numbers, as they are consumed by humans and goats.

A detail shot of “Desert in a Forest”, ongoing at the Jameel Arts Centre

“Tracks We Share: Contemporary Art of the Pilbara” in Perth

Where and when: Art Gallery of Western Australia, ongoing till 29 Aug
Another exhibition of Indigenous art can be found in Perth. Double the size of Great Britain, the Pilbara region of the Western Australia is believed to have formed more than 3.6 billion years ago, making it the oldest place on earth, around long way before humans appeared on Earth. It is also home to more than 31 rich and diverse Aboriginal cultural groups – the original settlers of the land. In “Tracks We Share: Contemporary Art of the Pilbara”, ongoing at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth, this unique legacy informs more than 200 contemporary works of art by over 70 artists from this region, already known for its artistic diversity. Expect to see acrylic paintings, as well as works on paper, installations, film, animation, photographs sculptures and carvings.

Untitled (Mamu), 2020, by Illyampi Victor Burton

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Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.

The information is accurate as of press time. For the latest travel advisory updates, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

To learn more about Singapore Airlines flights, visit singaporeair.com. To join us in protecting the environment by offsetting your carbon emissions on your future flights, visit the following websites to learn more: carbonoffset.singaporeair.com.sg and carbonoffset.flyscoot.com

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Hotel G Singapore

Exceedingly well-located, Hotel G Singapore is flanked by Singapore’s most exciting neighbourhoods: Orchard Road to the west, Little India to the north, Bugis and Kampong Glam to the east and the Civic District to the south. But despite having the city at your doorstep, you’ll want to save plenty of time to enjoy the hotel’s personality-packed premises. Its 308 rooms come not only with contemporary amenities such as rainshowers, high-speed WiFi and IPTV systems, but also Insta-worthy touches such as dreamcatchers, slate-grey accents and tufted leather headboards. Its two street-facing restaurants – the convivial, high-ceilinged wine bar Ginett and the Old Hollywood-inspired gourmet burger bar 25 Degrees – are buzzing nightly with hotel guests and hip locals alike.

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9 cosy Copenhagen cafés for a sense of hygge

Now that Denmark has become the first country in the European Union to lift nearly all nationwide pandemic restrictions – declaring Covid-19 as no longer being a socially critical disease – there has never been a better time to soak in the magical charm of its capital city of Copenhagen.

Consistently named one of the world’s most liveable cities, the cheerful City of Spires offers many things for the sophisticated traveller to explore: sustainable architecture, rooms in a Renaissance castle and lots of cosy cafés that embody the country’s concept of well-being and contentment: hygge.

From a hotel café with only five indoor seats to a space that resembles a moody underground club at all times of the day, we have listed below the best places in Copenhagen to enjoy sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of java.

And if you’re flying from a city that’s part of Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) list, why not transit through the Little Red Dot with Singapore Airlines? Here are 10 local things you must try to do in Singapore before you start exploring its best halal hawker stalls and late-night supper spots.

1. Cadence

Opened in the summer of 2021 in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Carslberg Byen, this café serves up Australian-style brunch – the owners are a Brit and an Australian. Like its interior design, the menu here puts emphasis on clean dishes that are always beautifully plated such as sweet potato pancakes, panna cotta granola and slow-cooked vegetable soup topoped with sourdough croutons. Cadence uses beans from Coffee Collective (see below).

Australian-style brunch, such as this avocado toast, in the emerging neighbourhood of Carslberg Byen. Photo credit: Courtesy of Cadence

2. Paulette Konditori

Exquisite pastries of varying shapes and textures are the main draw of this pastry shop near Copenhagen’s largest public square, Kongens Nytorv. The tiny patisserie, sitting on Gothersgade Street, has just one outdoor table and sells only seven different types of cakes at a time, with flavors dictated by what’s on season. Paulette Konditori does not serve coffee, but owner Emil Vang (an alum of Denmark’s best known patisserie, La Glace) happily suggests heading straight to its next door neighbour, Bistro Royal, where their cakes are served.

Cakes that look too good to eat. Photo credit: Facebook Paulette Konditori

3. Lille Bakery 

The city’s ex-shipbuilding peninsula Refshaleøen is abuzz with many things, from an organic street food market to cutting-edge gallery Copenhagen Contemporary and the refreshed noma‘s site. Lille is the area’s quality artisan bakery. Housed in a large-windowed former industrial building, it’s the product of a crowdfunding campaign by its founders. Its name means “little” in Danish, but in contrast, it has a big reputation in the city for its dough-based lunches that strike out from the norm. Drop by to sample their croissant dough with Italian sausage or salted cod, chickpeas and egg on toast.

Its name in Danish means little, but Lille’s reputation as a quality artisan bakery is huge. Photo credit: Suwapat Poolsap

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4. Central Café

Sandwiched between two larger buildings in the Vesterbro area, this tiny neighbourhood café is cuter than the cortados it brews – that’s if you’re lucky enough to bag one of its five indoor seats. The terracotta walls, string lights, dark-wood bar, black-and-white photography and vintage travel signs amp up the cosiness in this former shoemaker’s shop, which dates back to 1897. Known as the city’s smallest café, it’s also part of one of the world’s smallest hotels – with just one double room upstairs. The café also serves organic ice cream and milkshakes for those who may be in the mood for a cold treat.

Copenhagen’s smallest cafe is on the ground floor of a one-room hotel. Photo credit: Jon Norstrøm

5. Hart Bageri

After attaining sourdough success at San Francisco’s Tartine (world famous for its bread), British chef and baker Richard Hart relocated to the Danish capital to set up a neighbourhood outfit in leafy, residential Frederiksberg. It was destined to be a hit: thanks in no small part to René Redzepi’s (of noma) backing – this is where noma sources its impeccable sourdough. In addition to sturdy loaves, Hart also serves Danish pastries, doughy-meets-crispy cardamom buns and baked cheesecake. The Scandi-grey and light-wood surrounds – plus the scent of freshly baked goods wafting from the kitchen – make a compelling case to hunker down for a while.

Come for the coffee, stay for the Danish pastries at Hart Bageri. Photo credit: Ditte Isager

6. Next Door Café

This café is really about the people: owners Skyler and Klaus are members of the neighbourhood and live just next door (hence the name). Skyler used to work in a café in Copenhagen’s designated anything-goes hippie commune Freetown Christiania before deciding to branch out, and friends from the area helped decorate their café when it first opened. The resulting aesthetic is a mix of underground club and homely front room – with purple walls, a disco ball, mismatched mirrors, fresh-cut flowers and notes and pictures from guests slotted under the glass on the tables. All the delicious cakes, including classics like chocolate brownies, are home-baked.

Let Next Door Café’s moody interiors transport you. Photo credit: Rasmus B Lind

7. The Coffee Collective Godthåbsvej

In need of a caffeine jolt? Enjoy the aroma of gently roasting beans at this laid-back Frederiksberg café that’s known for its quality coffee. Their design aesthetic is minimalist – with white walls, wooden tables and strategic foliage – and open, with the roastery and coffee shop operating as one space. Their beans are bought directly from farmers at a fair price, and they also run workshops on-site: the tasting sessions explore the factors determining the taste of your brew, such as variety, production method, roasting and brewing.

The roastery and coffee shop operate as one space at The Coffee Collective

8. Kafeteria

More than just a gallery café, this outfit at the Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) was modelled as a space where food and art collide, and where visitors can reflect on SMK’s cultural offerings. The interiors – which mix Scandinavian, Japanese and Italian design philosophies – are by conceptual Danish artist Danh Vo. Enzo Mari’s light-wood DIY chairs sit beside classic Danish furniture, while Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi’s soft lantern lamps hang in the elongated, high-ceilinged space. The menu features contemporary Danish cuisine: house-baked sourdough and cakes; strong coffee; and fresh, seasonal takes on smørrebrød (open-faced rye sandwiches) featuring different spreads and cold cuts.

Food and art collide at this museum-located café. Photo credit: Instagram Kafeteria

9. Paludan Bogcafé

Looking for somewhere to while away the hours with a good novel and some soothing jazz as a backing track? Here, brunch comes alongside tall shelves of books in the café’s atmospheric environs. Located on Fiolstræde, a narrow street in the former Jewish quarter close to the University of Copenhagen, Paludan has been serving the city’s literati for almost two decades. You’ll find a plethora of fine leather-bound tomes, as well as newer titles in Danish, English and other languages. The menu features a selection of hearty grub (think burgers, American pancakes and huge breakfast plates) and the coffee isn’t half bad either.

Serving the city’s literati for two decades now. Photo credit: Facebook Paludan

Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.

The information is accurate as of press time. For the latest travel advisory updates, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

To learn more about Singapore Airlines flights, visit singaporeair.com. To join us in protecting the environment by offsetting your carbon emissions on your future flights, visit the following websites to learn more: carbonoffset.singaporeair.com.sg and carbonoffset.flyscoot.com.

[sk_quiz]

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10 unique coffee experiences to keep you awake in Kuala Lumpur

With a rich history that dates back to when it was founded in the late 1850s, Kuala Lumpur is a popular destination for those seeking a mix of the old and new. From the gleaming Petronas Twin Towers – appearing in many feature films and reality television shows – to kampung houses and colonial buildings, one never runs out of things to see in Malaysia’s capital.

So where do people in KL go for food and drinks? Apart from hanging out in hawker centres for a bite of local delicacies, café hopping has long been one of KLites’ favourite pastimes. As restrictions ease up, the city has started buzzing again with people out and about, keen to revisit old favourite coffee spots and try out new openings. Whether your idea of a good cuppa is a single origin cold brew or butter-roasted white coffee, it’s yours to be found in KL.

Here are our top 10 coffee-inspired experiences in the city.

The post 10 unique coffee experiences to keep you awake in Kuala Lumpur appeared first on SilverKris.

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9 cosy Copenhagen cafés for a sense of hygge

Now that Denmark has become the first country in the European Union to lift nearly all nationwide pandemic restrictions – declaring Covid-19 as no longer being a socially critical disease – there has never been a better time to soak in the magical charm of its capital city of Copenhagen.

Consistently named one of the world’s most liveable cities, the cheerful City of Spires offers many things for the sophisticated traveller to explore: sustainable architecture, rooms in a Renaissance castle and lots of cosy cafés that embody the country’s concept of well-being and contentment: hygge.

From a hotel café with only five indoor seats to a space that resembles a moody underground club at all times of the day, we have listed below the best places in Copenhagen to enjoy sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of java.

And if you’re flying from a city that’s part of Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) list, why not transit through the Little Red Dot with Singapore Airlines? Here are 10 local things you must try to do in Singapore before you start exploring its best halal hawker stalls and late-night supper spots.

1. Cadence

Opened in the summer of 2021 in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Carslberg Byen, this café serves up Australian-style brunch – the owners are a Brit and an Australian. Like its interior design, the menu here puts emphasis on clean dishes that are always beautifully plated such as sweet potato pancakes, panna cotta granola and slow-cooked vegetable soup topoped with sourdough croutons. Cadence uses beans from Coffee Collective (see below).

2. Paulette Konditori

Exquisite pastries of varying shapes and textures are the main draw of this pastry shop near Copenhagen’s largest public square, Kongens Nytorv. The tiny patisserie, sitting on Gothersgade Street, has just one outdoor table and sells only seven different types of cakes at a time, with flavors dictated by what’s on season. Paulette Konditori does not serve coffee, but owner Emil Vang (an alum of Denmark’s best known patisserie, La Glace) happily suggests heading straight to its next door neighbour, Bistro Royal, where their cakes are served.

Cakes that look too good to eat. Photo credit: Facebook Paulette Konditori

3. Lille Bakery 

The city’s ex-shipbuilding peninsula Refshaleøen is abuzz with many things, from an organic street food market to cutting-edge gallery Copenhagen Contemporary and the refreshed noma‘s site. Lille is the area’s quality artisan bakery. Housed in a large-windowed former industrial building, it’s the product of a crowdfunding campaign by its founders. Its name means “little” in Danish, but in contrast, it has a big reputation in the city for its dough-based lunches that strike out from the norm. Drop by to sample their croissant dough with Italian sausage or salted cod, chickpeas and egg on toast.

Its name in Danish means little, but Lille’s reputation as a quality artisan bakery is huge. Photo credit: Suwapat Poolsap

Related

Restaurants

Best places to eat in Aarhus, Denmark

Read Story

4. Central Café

Sandwiched between two larger buildings in the Vesterbro area, this tiny neighbourhood café is cuter than the cortados it brews – that’s if you’re lucky enough to bag one of its five indoor seats. The terracotta walls, string lights, dark-wood bar, black-and-white photography and vintage travel signs amp up the cosiness in this former shoemaker’s shop, which dates back to 1897. Known as the city’s smallest café, it’s also part of one of the world’s smallest hotels – with just one double room upstairs. The café also serves organic ice cream and milkshakes for those who may be in the mood for a cold treat.

Copenhagen’s smallest cafe is on the ground floor of a one-room hotel. Photo credit: Jon Norstrøm

5. Hart Bageri

After attaining sourdough success at San Francisco’s Tartine (world famous for its bread), British chef and baker Richard Hart relocated to the Danish capital to set up a neighbourhood outfit in leafy, residential Frederiksberg. It was destined to be a hit: thanks in no small part to René Redzepi’s (of noma) backing – this is where noma sources its impeccable sourdough. In addition to sturdy loaves, Hart also serves Danish pastries, doughy-meets-crispy cardamom buns and baked cheesecake. The Scandi-grey and light-wood surrounds – plus the scent of freshly baked goods wafting from the kitchen – make a compelling case to hunker down for a while.

Come for the coffee, stay for the Danish pastries at Hart Bageri. Photo credit: Ditte Isager

6. Next Door Café

This café is really about the people: owners Skyler and Klaus are members of the neighbourhood and live just next door (hence the name). Skyler used to work in a café in Copenhagen’s designated anything-goes hippie commune Freetown Christiania before deciding to branch out, and friends from the area helped decorate their café when it first opened. The resulting aesthetic is a mix of underground club and homely front room – with purple walls, a disco ball, mismatched mirrors, fresh-cut flowers and notes and pictures from guests slotted under the glass on the tables. All the delicious cakes, including classics like chocolate brownies, are home-baked.

Let Next Door Café’s moody interiors transport you. Photo credit: Rasmus B Lind

7. The Coffee Collective Godthåbsvej

In need of a caffeine jolt? Enjoy the aroma of gently roasting beans at this laid-back Frederiksberg café that’s known for its quality coffee. Their design aesthetic is minimalist – with white walls, wooden tables and strategic foliage – and open, with the roastery and coffee shop operating as one space. Their beans are bought directly from farmers at a fair price, and they also run workshops on-site: the tasting sessions explore the factors determining the taste of your brew, such as variety, production method, roasting and brewing.

The roastery and coffee shop operate as one space at The Coffee Collective

8. Kafeteria

More than just a gallery café, this outfit at the Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) was modelled as a space where food and art collide, and where visitors can reflect on SMK’s cultural offerings. The interiors – which mix Scandinavian, Japanese and Italian design philosophies – are by conceptual Danish artist Danh Vo. Enzo Mari’s light-wood DIY chairs sit beside classic Danish furniture, while Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi’s soft lantern lamps hang in the elongated, high-ceilinged space. The menu features contemporary Danish cuisine: house-baked sourdough and cakes; strong coffee; and fresh, seasonal takes on smørrebrød (open-faced rye sandwiches) featuring different spreads and cold cuts.

Food and art collide at this museum-located café. Photo credit: Instagram Kafeteria

9. Paludan Bogcafé

Looking for somewhere to while away the hours with a good novel and some soothing jazz as a backing track? Here, brunch comes alongside tall shelves of books in the café’s atmospheric environs. Located on Fiolstræde, a narrow street in the former Jewish quarter close to the University of Copenhagen, Paludan has been serving the city’s literati for almost two decades. You’ll find a plethora of fine leather-bound tomes, as well as newer titles in Danish, English and other languages. The menu features a selection of hearty grub (think burgers, American pancakes and huge breakfast plates) and the coffee isn’t half bad either.

Serving the city’s literati for two decades now. Photo credit: Facebook Paludan

Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.

The information is accurate as of press time. For the latest travel advisory updates, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

To learn more about Singapore Airlines flights, visit singaporeair.com. To join us in protecting the environment by offsetting your carbon emissions on your future flights, visit the following websites to learn more: carbonoffset.singaporeair.com.sg and carbonoffset.flyscoot.com.

[sk_quiz]

The post 9 cosy Copenhagen cafés for a sense of hygge appeared first on SilverKris.

from SilverKris