Going off the beaten track in Singapore NOV 2014

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Going off the beaten track in Singapore

Nestled in the far eastern end of Singapore, the green and tranquil precinct of Changi is home to several unique outdoor experiences tend to be overlooked by visitors. Changi is home to some of Singapore’s best nature experiences as well as a variety of unique and green exhibition and convention venues.

Max Atria courtyard

Ideal for conferences

Changi Cove Set amid four hectares of lush natural greenery is another refreshing destination for retreats, meetings and celebrations.

Changi Cove’s complex comprises a conference centre, hotel and a restored military building with a rare neo-classical style now open for events. Its lush green setting that is also a habitat for migratory birds is a huge draw for local and regional companies looking to host formal meetings, corporate retreats and product launches.

MAX Atria Launched in 2012, the relatively new wing for Singapore EXPO, MAX Atria, provides 32 column-free rooms with spacious foyers, a garden courtyard and rooftop space to accommodate more than 3,500 people in a variety of scalable events such as meetings, banquets, conferences, exhibitions and product launches. The facility was designed to address the growing trend of hybrid events i.e. holding one or several conferences within an exhibition. Some events held include the MRO Asia Conference & Exhibition and SenseAsia 2014, the first conference in Asia for updates in sensory science.

MAX Atria is the first MICE venue in Singapore to attain the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Platinum award.

The Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) The Changi Exhibition Centre is a huge multi-dimensional facility built on a sprawling 30 hectare site that includes a 40,000-sqm exhibition hall and a 100,000sqm outdoor display area at Changi Coast Road. With its unique location against a beautiful seafront, this distinctive worldclass venue offers enormous versatility to host events requiring both large indoor and outdoor exhibits and activities. The venue is able to satisfy the requirements of both national and international conventions, large scale public and trade exhibitions as well as specialised events such as the Singapore Airshow and IMDEX Asia, the flagship show for maritime defence in Asia Pacific.

Singapore Airshow

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MaxAtria Garden courtyard Changi Cove incubator

Changi Point Coastal Walk

On the Changi trail

Changi Museum Delve deep into Singapore’s history during the Second World War (WWII) by going on Changi WWIITM - A War Trail by Changi Museum and The Original Singapore Walks.

Key stops along the tour include the Changi Museum and Changi Chapel, Changi Beach, site of the Sook Ching Massacres, and old Changi Jail and Selarang Barracks, both of which served as prisoner-of-war internment camps during the Japanese Occupation. The trails provide visitors a glimpse into the dark years of WWII.

Beyond the deep dive into Singapore’s past, the Changi Museum also offers up charming spaces for hire. Offering a tranquil and elegant atmosphere, the Changi Chapel hosts a beautiful open-air courtyard that can sit up to 100 people. First built in 1988 by the inmates of Changi Prison, the chapel courtyard area provides an interesting and memorable setting for special events.

Changi Point Coastal Walk Another hidden gem is the Changi boardwalk tucked away at the western end of Changi Point. The 2.2km boardwalk route offers amazing views of Singapore’s coastline as well as an interesting look at coastaldwelling plants and animals, such as the metallic blue back Pacific swallow and the pagoda-shaped sea almond tree.

Changi Village Hawker Centre Located right next to Changi Jetty, head to the famous Changi Village Hawker Centre at Block 2 for some of the best hawker fare.

Besides the famous Nasi Lemak stall (a local Malay dish of coconut rice served with fried chicken, fish, omelette, ikan bilis and cucumbers), the food centre is home to other local favourites such as carrot cake, barbequed seafood, roti prata (fried flour-based pancake cooked over a flat grill) and Ipoh Hor Fun (flat noodles served in a clear chicken and prawn soup with chicken shreds, prawns and spring onions).

Changi Museum chapel

Off-site fun

Pulau Ubin After a hearty meal at the food centre, take a bumboat from Changi Jetty (now called Changi Point Ferry Terminal) to Pulau Ubin. The island is one of Singapore’s last remaining islands unspoilt by modern development. 1960s styled wooden kampong houses, scenic winding forest paths, and flourishing mangroves offer visitors a unique off-the-beaten-track experience. On a good day, you might even catch a glimpse of animals like boars, hornbills and even mouse-deer!

One of the major attractions in Ubin is Chek Jawa Wetlands. Located on the eastern coast of the island, the wetland reserve is home to one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems, with an abundance of flora and fauna. The real treat for guests is the sheer amount of marine biodiversity that can be found here. According to National Parks Board’s records, over 500 species of marine life, such as sea cucumbers, sea squirts, sand dollars, anemones, crabs, shrimps, nudibranch, burrowing worms can be spotted.

Bintan Another ideal retreat away from the busy city life in Singapore is Bintan Island.

Accessible via ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Bintan offers a convenient multi-resort getaway that is the perfect place for corporate groups looking to unwind with outdoor fun and adventure.

Windsurfing, elephant-riding, go-karting, and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) races on the beach are just some of the many activities available. Other teambuilding activities include kayaking,

Changi Airport

geocaching (an outdoor treasure hunt) and paintball.

2015 will see the addition of two new resorts, Lagoi Bay and Treasure Bay, located at the northern part of the island.

Lagoi Bay will include a mix of hotels, a beach village and other developments, such as an outdoor stage, water theme park, treetop canopy walk and motorcross racing track. Treasure Bay will have serviced villas, an underwater 300-seat banquet hall, a man-made lagoon, as well as retail, F&B and entertainment outlets.

Singapore Changi Airport After the exhilarating island hopping experience, visit Singapore Changi Airport for some last-minute shopping before making your way back home. With over 350 retail outlets spanning fashion, perfumes and cosmetics, electronics, and liquor and wine, Singapore Changi Airport offers an amazing variety of products that will cater to every shopaholic’s desire.

Local favourites available include Tiger Balm, Bengawan Solo, Eu Yan Sang, and even Kim Choo Nonya Dumplings.

Indulge in over 120 dining options after all that shopping, or unwind with nature at any of Singapore Changi Airport’s five gardens located within the transit areas. Stroll through the open-air rooftop Cactus and Sunflower Gardens in Terminals 1 and 2 respectively, observe beautiful koi swim in the Orchid Gardens (Terminal 2), or watch over a thousand butterflies at the world’s first Butterfly Garden in an airport in Terminal 3.

For more information, kindly contact Singapore Exhibition & Convention BureauTM secb@stb.gov.sg micenet Asia | 37

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