Marina Bay Sands

Crazy Rich Asians hits theatres a few weeks ago and my friends & I made sure we will be watching it. I love that it is set in Singapore and we couldn’t wait to see the places they have chosen to film.

I have heard about the book Crazy Rich Asians written by Kevin Kwan a few years ago but I wasn’t really interested in reading the book. But now with all the hype that movie is getting, I couldn’t help but want to read the book to see the difference of the storyline from the movie.

So on the last Saturday of August, my friend Karen and I headed to Golden Village, Plaza Singapura to catch an evening show of Crazy Rich Asians. The story is about a young American-born Chinese Rachel Chu who is a brilliant Economics professor who was invited by her dashing Singaporean-Chinese professor boyfriend with a British accent to come join with to attend the wedding of his old childhood friend in Singapore. Much to her surprise, her handsome boyfriend, Nick Young comes from the highest hierarchy in society and is super crazy rich. Then comes the stereotypical storyline of the mother of the rich boyfriend not approving of the independent “poor” girlfriend. It seems like the story is cliché’ and not as deep as the other Hollywood Asian movie, Joy Luck Club but I still enjoyed it a lot. It is a feel-good romantic comedy with beautiful Asian actors & actresses wearing glamorous clothes with a feast-for-the-eyes backdrop for storytelling which is Singapore. It was lovely to see familiar places in the movie that I have actually visited.

Here 7 Spots in Singapore that was featured in the movie:

1. CHANGI AIRPORT

Source: Sg Finance Yahoo

People caught a glimpse of award-winning Changi Airport when Rachel Chu and Nick Young arrived from New York to be greeted by the groom & bride, Colin Khoo and Araminta Lee.

Rachel Chu was amazed that the airport has its own theatre and has a butterfly garden. Yes, that is true. They have that and more. They won’t be awarded World’s Best Airport for 6 consecutive years if they have mediocre standards. Changi Airport’s meticulous detail in their cleanliness, aesthetics and customer experience are on point.

2. NEWTON FOOD CENTRE

Source: Strait Times

Singapore is a mecca for foodlovers. The rich diversity in cultural influences in Singapore allows a smorgasbord of food choices for every palate. It is a must to visit hawker centers when you visit Singapore. Hawker centres are open-air complex that have array of stalls selling inexpensive foods. Some stalls can sell only one type of dish but it has been honed and perfected for generations as family business that it is worth the queue and the honor of receiving Michelin Star.

So in Rachel Chu’s first night in Singapore, she was introduced to hawker foods by Nick, Colin and Araminta at a place that kind-of looks like Newton Food Centre. She had a feast of satays, chilli crab, BBQ Sambal Stingray, Hookien Mee and Popiah.

3. RAFFLES HOTEL

Source: Raffles

Rachel Chu and Nick Young didn’t stay at Nick’s parent house. Rather, they stayed at the iconic Raffles Hotel where I heard the Singapore Sling cocktail was invented. It looks like luxurious white colonial house that is different from the modern hotel nowadays.

4. BUKIT PASOH ROAD

It was at Humpback Cafe that Rachel and her funny Singaporean friend Peik Lin had lunch when they were having a hilarious conversation on how to handle the scary but oh-so-elegant Eleanor Young.

It is along the pretty alley of Bukit Pasoh Road where it is shot. You can see the colorful Peranakan buildings and cute cafe The Reading Room just across from them.

5. CHIJMES

Source: The Finders

The outrageous instagrammable wedding of Araminta Lee and Colin Khoo was set at Chijmes which used to be a church but now has been transformed into a restaurant – slash-function room. There are lots of wonderful restaurants found behind that beautiful white architecture and in the same compound. This was also the setting for the scene where you find Philippines Media Darling, Kris Aquino as Princess Intan in her fabulous yellow Michael Cincon gown.

6. GARDENS BY THE BAY

Source: Gardens By The Bay

The wedding reception of Colin and Araminta was at spellbinding Gardens By The Bay. Gardens By The Bay is one of the popular tourist spots in Singapore. There are areas in Gardens By The Bay that I have seen wedding receptions and events are being held. But it is hardly at the main area where the big man-made supertrees are because often there are a lot of tourists are roaming around. However, I see a lot of prenup photoshoots done there. One of the highest Super Tree have an elevator inside leading to a restaurant on top.

7. MARINA BAY SANDS SKYPARK

In the last scenes of the movie, Nick took Rachel to a party where all of his family and friends are having a time of their life . The place is unmistakably in Marina Bay Sands Skypark, at the 57th floor with its infinity pool. It was at that party we saw the ever-gorgeous (my favorite character) Astrid Leong having a little eye contact with her ex-fiance Charlie Wu.

One of the lovely aspect of this movie because it has created Singapore like it is one of the characters in the movie on its own just like New York City in Sex & the City. It was a treat to watch and I can’t wait to watch the sequel.

Before my love affair with coffee, there was tea. When I was still a scrawny teenager with few problems in the world like how to cure menstrual cramps (a.k.a. is-this-really-what-it-takes-to-be-a woman woes), I went to my ever-knowing mother for answers. I called her up while she was at work and ask her how I can cure my menstrual cramps. She said, make some warm tea and it will be better. I used to associate teas to concoction for the sick so I never seem to fancy it. But being an obedient daughter that I always am (ehem, ehem), I followed my mama. And she was right! It did cure my menstrual cramps. I am not sure if its placebo effect but that was the day I started loving drinking tea. So when I am in some international flight, when the flight attendant ask me, “Coffee, Tea or Juice?”, I always answer them, “Tea please”. Even airplane teas taste actually awful. Well, those were the days when I haven’t began my fling with coffee which turned out to be a longterm love affair until now.

But for the sake of Throwback Thursday, I will have a little blast from my past love of tea by trying out one of the best tea salons in Singapore. My sister and I tried out the TWG Tea Salon in Marina Bay Sands Shoppes. TWG is an elegant tea place offering a great variety of teas and desserts to go with it. There are several TWGs scattered all over Marina Bay Sands Shoppes. The TWG has a perfect ambiance inside the mall, using natural lighting. It is on a bridge and below is the water where people get gondola rides. TWG created a posh English tea salon for people to unwind, chat and have a cup of tea.

What goes TWG mean? Tea Wow Good? Actually it means The Wellness Group. TWG, I learned, was started in Singapore! Singapore was a trading post for teas and other spices in the olden days.

My sis and I ordered the tea set ($18), consist of 1 teapot (though 1 teapot is good for 1 person) and two scones with jelly & whipped cream. We asked the waitress what tea she would suggest. She told us to try the “1837” Tea. We also added macarons ($2). We got the Lemon Bush, Moroccan Mint and Grand Tea, Passion Fruit & Coconut.

My sister in TWG with scones and macarons

The nice Filipino waitress was right in suggesting the ‘1837’ tea. It tasted so lovely. It made me forget my love for coffee and even thought of leaving my coffee habit to renew my tea obssesion. With my suspected gluten allergy, I wasn’t too keen on their scones. Their macarons were yummy. I like the lemon bush but not loving the coconut macarons that much.

All in all, TWG is a perfect place to unwind from time to time with your girlfriends, sister or a place where you take a friend who is visiting Singapore. The teas in TWG are wonderful but it can be too expensive to be a daily habit. You are pretty much paying more for the lovely ambiance and getting the whole TWG experience. It is definitely worth it though and worth a try. But must know that it is not a place for your to fill up your belly or expect to pig-out. It is place where you dress up nicely, behave gracefully and converse animatedly, preferable in British accent, hahaha….

Visit the TWG in Marina Bay Sands

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique on the Bridge

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
B2-89/89A, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6535 1837 Fax: +65 6221 1837

7 SPOTS IN SINGAPORE THAT WAS FEATURED IN THE MOVIE, CRAZY RICH ASIANS

TEA TIME IN TWG