ALTHOUGH it is an unconventional way to celebrate the holidays, a Christmas trip can be a great way to enjoy quality time with family. It's also a chance to bond while making memories on an adventure together.
All too often, the preparations and logistics of the occasion overtake the short event the preparations were made for. So many of us see this happens every holiday season. Celebrating Christmas with family in the traditional manner every year can be one of life's true joys. But if you're not careful, you'll miss the occasion while bogged down in the details.
Plan your Sinulog week ahead and find out what's in store for Sinulog 2012.
There is a way we could get more family bonding, and less hassle, work, and haste at Christmas. If unconventional is what it takes to actually have real quality time with the people you love for once, then a Christmas trip may be the ultimate option.
Consider Christmas holidays in Singapore, an exciting city, high-tech but less stress metropolis.
Singapore's highly anticipated ‘Christmas in the Tropics,’ which has become a tradition for locals and tourists from the Asian region, returns from November 19, 2011 to January 2, 2012.
According to Andrew Phua, director of Precinct Development of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), “This year, the two major precincts ‘Orchard Road and Marina Bay’ have designed their Christmas experience to feature a special and distinct focus. We are pleased to welcome onboard the Sentosa Harbour Front precinct stakeholders as they join in to present even more fun and festivities to consumers and merry-makers this Christmas.”
STB, a leading economic development agency in tourism known for its partnership, innovation and excellence, champions tourism’s Singapore’s economic driver. Indeed, STB has successfully market Singapore as a must-visit destination offering enriching experiences through ‘YourSingapore’ brand.
A signature event of the ‘Christmas is the Tropics’ celebration is the Christmas Light-Up@Orchard which locals and tourists alike look forward to. Now on its 28th year, the iconic event is a brainchild of STB. On November 19, Singaporeans and tourists joined in the magical light-up ceremony graced by Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam.
This year’s theme ‘Christmas Blooms in Singapore’ transforms the 2.2-kilometer stretch of Orchard Road into a spellbinding garden of lights and glowing blue flowers making for a stylish enchanting addition to Singapore’s Christmas celebration that the whole family will be delighted in.
The brilliant display of Christmas lights has earned Orchard Road 3rd in Lonely Planet’s list of ‘Top 10 Christmas markets of the World’ and one of ‘Top 10 World’s Best Holiday Lights 2010.’
Tallest Christmas tree
Resorts World Sentosa sparkles Christmas with a S$2-million Christmas light-up. The 49-hectare resort will glitter from its waterfront to its 500-meter shopping-dining strip, FestiveWalk with lights, iconic arches, fairytale tableaus, roving characters, not to mention a 30-meter Christmas tree, the tallest so far in Southeast Asia.
“Singapore is already a Christmas destination for many regional markets. This year, the entire resort will be alit with 240,000 LED lights transforming into a magical fairytale land,” said Andrea Teo, vice president of entertainment at Resorts World Sentosa. Children and the young at heart will surely feel like they have walked into the fairytales and stories from their childhood.
The festivities continue at Universal Studios Singapore where elaborate decors, fairies line the Hollywood and New York Streets.
From December 12 to 31, visitors can enjoy fairytale-themed events.
World of Adventure at Marina
At Marina Bay Sands, visitors can look forward to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition from December 3 to January 31, 2012, an offering of a world of adventure for the whole family. Broadway’s Wicked will also fly to Singapore to cast its magic spell on audiences at the Grand Theater from December 6 to February 26
Michelle Koh, president of Martina Bay Business Association, said, “We look forward to seeing Marina Bay come alive with spectacular night displays and host of exciting fringe events from choral performances to land and sea cruises, and charity events.”
New shops
In line with the holiday season, new retail concept stores open on Orchard Road, Singapore’s shopping destination. Moms and Dads can dish out items from Scott’s Square, H&M, Abercrombie and Fitch and Knightsbridge. A variety of lifestyle events and entertainment are organized for the duration of the holiday season.
First Elephant Parade
For the first time, Singapore will be home to life-sized baby elephant statues in brightly colored designs as part of the Elephant Parade from November 11-January 11, 2012. The Elephant Parade is the largest open-air art exhibit worldwide that seeks to generate public awareness and support for the preservation of the Asian elephant.
Hundreds of brightly painted elephant statues are displayed on the streets of Singapore, painted by local and international artists.
Family traditions brighten the holidays and bring families and friends together year after year. Traditions and the memories they make are fun and special. True, there is nothing traditional about spending Christmas outside your home and probably won't be an option you'll want to take every year. But it will offer your family a very special experience together for this year, and it could provide you with far more time to catch up with your loved ones for a change.
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