New Raffles in China, W hotel to tower over Mumbai

An artist’s impression of the new W Mumbai in India.
Source: Supplied

Raffles Hainan Island’s rooms have balconies that look out upon Clearwater Bay.
Source: Supplied

W HOTELS will open the stunning W Mumbai in late 2015, while Raffles’ luxurious new Hainan Island resort offers sweeping views of Clearwater Bay.

1. W hotels spread

INDIA will welcome a striking new W Mumbai hotel in 2015. The 235-room hotel will overlook the Arabian Sea and the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Hot on the heels of recent W Hotel openings in Singapore and Bangkok, it is one of several W hotels and retreats to open in Asia by the end of 2018. They include the recent opening of the first W Hotel in mainland China in Guangzhou and other China openings in Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha and Suzhou over the next five years, as well as more hotels in India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

See whotels.com

2. New Raffles

A LUXURY Raffles resort will open on Hainan Island in China mid-year. The luxury resort will open at Clearwater Bay, the new hot spot on the southeast coast of China’s answer to the French Riviera. The hotel will have 299 rooms and 32 villas, all with private balconies and ocean views. It will also have a large signature Raffles Spa, restaurants and more. As a special introductory offer, guests can stay three nights for the price of two until September 30, including a complimentary upgrade to a grand ocean-view room, round-trip airport transfers, welcome drink, daily buffet breakfast for two and late checkout until 6pm.

See raffles.com

3. In faith

TRAFALGAR has developed three new faith-based itineraries for a spiritual journey to Europe and the Middle East following historically sacred Christian paths. The guided holidays feature visits to renowned religious sites including Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Jerusalem and the Basilica in Lourdes, included with Trafalgar’s Hidden Treasures, Be My Guest dining experiences and Local Specialties. The eight-day Wonders of the Holy Land tour of Israel in November is priced from $2299 a person, twin share (excluding flights).

See trafalgar.com

4. A world of rivers

A NEW wildlife attraction has opened in Singapore showcasing exotic animals that are found in eight iconic river habitats. The 12ha River Safari will feature animals from freshwater habitats including the Mississippi, Nile, Mekong, Yangtze and Amazon rivers. The creatures include the giant salamander, freshwater stingrays, Mekong catfish, river otters and pandas. The River Safari opens daily from 9am to 6pm and tickets will be priced at $S35 ($A27) for adults and $S23 for children between three and 12.

See riversafari.com.sg

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New Raffles in China, W hotel to tower over Mumbai

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Garden City, nay ‘City in the garden’

Singapore, the Garden City, or rather City in the Garden, can make other cities go green with envy.

Singaporeans have given great attention to the development of greens amid the concrete jungles. Different varieties of trees, flowering plants, and landscaped gardens provide the much-needed relief against the backdrop of the high-rise buildings.

Spread over an extent of 250 acres of reclaimed land, Gardens by the Bay, which opened in June 2012, houses around 80 per cent of the world’s plant species.

The two cooled conservatories (flower domes) in the gardens have a vast collection of endangered plant species from across the world.

Sustainable energy

The cooled conservatories offer visitors a way to escape the hot weather of Singapore even as they can spend the day watching the thousands of exotic flowering and fruit-bearing plant varieties on display. One may wonder as to the amount of electricity required to cool the vast expanse inside the conservatories. The guide tells us that the cooling is done with sustainable energy. The gardens also have 18 tall solar-powered ‘super trees’, which are fitted with ecological technologies designed to provide power for cooling as also collection of rainwater. The tree-like structures, with height ranging between 25 m and 50 m, support a number of vines, orchids, and ferns.

The gardens have a 35-m-tall man-made mountain with lush green vegetation and 30-m-high artificial waterfall.

Escalators

One can see and feel the clouds passing by as they pass by the waterfall. Those who have difficulty in climbing the mountain can take the escalators to reach different levels.

“The gardens, located in the heart of the city, is presumed to transform Singapore from a ‘Garden City’ to ‘City in the Garden’,” felt our tour guide Naseem.

(This reporter went on a recent tour to Singapore, jointly organised by the Singapore Tourism Board and SilkAir)

Garden City, nay ‘City in the garden’