Winning Strategies

Singapore Shopping

It is hard to visit the city of Singapore without shopping.  The malls by the St Regis and the Marriott are amazing.  They have been built both under the city as well as atop of the ground, creating a virtual shopping city.  There are several such malls in the Singapore area, but we have enjoyed the ION Plaza  (http://www.ionorchard.com/), providing us every store that anyone could possibly want to shop in, all within walking distance of our hotel.

It is about five stories tall (or more).  It is hard to say since it is both above and below ground.  Michael found an amazing Calvin Klein suit that he bought for special occasions.  I love Calvin Klein suits, but the tailoring here is for the Asian body, and for me, the local cuts here don't work.

Crossing the street here (to get to the mall) could cost one a fortune.  The designer stores carry heavy pricetags.  We window shop a ton, and shop a little.

  

The Fish Spa in Singapore

 Just a short walk from the St Regis Hotel is a 'Fish Spa'.  This 'spa' hosts tanks of various size fish that nibble on the dead skin on your feet to leave your feet smooth and soft.

I realize that the thought of fish nibbling on your feet doesn't initially sound appealing, but it is actually quite relaxing and refreshing.  I thought it was 'laugh out loud' funny when I thought of some of my male executives friends doing this. 

We settled in to allow the fish to eradicate our dead skin on our feet.  We checked in for a 15 minute cleaning/treatment.  I think I could have stayed for another 15 minutes.  I really enjoyed the experience. 

I have seen these fish attached to whales and other fish while snorkeling, but had never thought of them attaching to me (laugh). 

We paid 18 Singapore dollars to feed their fish with our feet , so to speak.  I don't think I've ever seen this practice in any other country that I visited. 

I'm amazed that as I tour various countries, places, and people, I'm continually surprised by the new experiences and new things that I discover on my tours.

Let the exploration continue.  Continue to follow along.

A Breakfast of Champions & Hotel Amenities and Service that Delights

We awoke in Singapore at the St Regis Hotel, well rested and ready for our day. The buffet breakfast here at the hotel is extremely tasty. The staff are helpful and attentive.

Not long ago I visited the spa and enjoyed a relaxing massage by George. It was a dessert to my weary muscles, tired of all the travel.

The hotel amenities are delightful. Our room comes with a butler who assists us with our every need. So far he has: researched restaurant options for us, made a reservation for the spa, found a bottle top and stand for ice for the champagne, brought warm milk, brought cappuccinos, and helped us with a host of other things. I need one of these at home (grin).

The room has a dreamy, extremely comfortable bed. The pillow menu allows you to order the perfect pillow for your sleeping pleasure.

I've enjoyed the television inlaid in the mirror by the tub. I watched the travel channel during a relaxing bath last night.

The hotel has an excellent workout room, pool, spa, and one of the most beautiful lobbys that I have ever seen. We've been to the St Regis in Rome, and I believe this one is more beautiful.

Next time you are in Singapore, stay at the St Regis.

Let them spoil you! You won't regret it.

 
  

Little India & Chinatown in Singapore

We launch out to see some of the varied cultures buried within the city of Singapore.  We start in Little India.  The streets are full of activity, shoppers picking up food and supplies for their work week ahead.  We peruse several local temples, watching the activity and people watching.

Little India

   

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Chinatown

We then travel a short distance to Chinatown.  Here we enjoy a cold delicious coconut water and some chicken fried rice.  The weather was a little rainy, so we found the walk cooler than most of the days that we have been in Singapore.

Little stores cover the sides of the streets, Chinese storekeepers are busy selling wares and working to make a living.  The signs are in both english and chinese.  We stop by a temple and watch the events unfolding inside.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Singapore Sightseeing

Attached to the Raffles City Mall is the New Asia Bar. The view from the top is exhilarating. The waterfront is an impressive array of buildings of all shapes and sizes.
We have spent the day tooling around the city, visiting the Singapore History Museum, the Raffles Shops, and a food court for a bowl of noodles.

Stay tuned... more adventures to follow.

 
 
 
 

We Arrive at the St. Regis Hotel in Sinapore

We arrive in Singapore as it entered the dinner hour.  We slip into an airport limousine and travel through Friday night traffic a short distance to arrive at the St. Regis Singapore Hotel.  ( http://www.stregissingapore.com/) 

We check into an Executive Deluxe Room and meet the butler that will assist us for our stay while in Singapore.  (http://www.stregissingapore.com/executivedeluxeroom)  The room is simply amazing.  It is a delight to the senses.  Wow.  It simply takes your breath away.  The butler brings us a cappuccino and explains the amenities of the hotel, the light switches, and all the ways that he can assist us while we are here at the hotel.  Ok- for the record- I'm never leaving.    He brings us ice for our champagne and leaves us to enjoy the splendor of the room.  I'm in awe.  It is really beautiful.  When do we have to go home?  Well, let's not think about that now.

 
Yes, the bathroom has a television inlaid in the mirror.  Maybe I could spend my entire trip in the bathtub watching television (smile).  It is entirely possible that I will not get any writing done while in Singapore.  There is so much here to do.

Follow along, we will update you as we discover Singapore.

  

Architectural Delights in Singapore

The architecture here in Singapore is amazing.  Embedded throughout the cement and stone are beautiful green gardens.  The city is one of the cleanest and best maintained city that I have ever been to.  Wow, beautiful views everywhere you look.  This morning I hiked through the Botanical Gardens and took a walk down Orchard Blvd, laiden with shops of all kinds.  You can buy anything here in this locale.

 
The Ion Plaza is located directly across the street from the Marriott Hotel and this morning was setting up for a fashion show. Models were walking the runway and showcasing the latest fashions from Dior, Prada, and other designer stores at the Plaza. 

The glass encasing covers a set of escalaters that take you down under the street for a walkway that connects the shopping areas.  The walls of the underground walkway are covered in blue lights with a program running that makes the walls look like swimming sillouttes of fish floating by.  It is a simply amazing view. 

In the other direction, more stores and more architectural delights.  You could shop til you drop here, that is for sure.

  

Arrival in Singapore

I have come to the end of my 3 leg flight process to fly half way around the world for a getaway.  It is quite a process to get from Dallas to Singapore!

    Dallas to San Francisco              3 1/2 hours
    San Francisco to Hong Kong  14 1/2 hours
    Hong Kong to Singapore             3 1/2 hours

                                  Total     21  1/2 hours   (oh my!)

A very long flight certainly has a way of clearing your mind and resetting your thought processes.  It removes you from the status quo and the routine that is your life.  It allows you to think about living deliberately.

I think that so many of us are being tossed around in the wind and storm that is the new economy, health care reform, work, and commitments of our family life- - -making us 'go through the motions'- - - -lacking a chance to deliverately live the life that we were born to live.

So- as I embark on a restful break in my life, I prepare my mind for a thought provoking time to reevaluate, rethink, and recreate.  I ready myself for a time to evaluate my life, looking inwards as if I were an artist evaluating a sculpture needing improvements.

I just landed in Singapore.  I'm checking into the Singapore Marriott.  I am far from the hustle and bustle of work and home life- I will explore another culture, a far away land and a chance to allow that land to change and mold my path forward.  

While I go on this adventure, come along with me, reevaluate your life and enjoy the journey.  Think about your priorities and your goals and dreams in life.  Consider a few changes that you haven't been bold enough to take.

Think about living your life deliberately.  Think about living the life you were born to live.