It’s billed as Singapore’s biggest carnival, and it doesn’t disappoint. The Prudential Marina Bay Carnival occupies a space larger than three football fields, and features 22 rides and attractions, as well as 29 game booths.
It’s billed as Singapore’s biggest carnival, and it doesn’t disappoint. The Prudential Marina Bay Carnival occupies a space larger than three football fields, and features 22 rides and attractions, as well as 29 game booths.
One of the most Instagrammable attractions is the Star Flyer (pictured), a carousel ride that takes you 35m high and gives a 360-degree view of the Marina Bay skyline. Kids have to be at least 1.2m to go on it, but there are many other rides and games to keep the preschoolers very happy!
Don’t worry about going hungry here. There are more than 20 food options, including burgers, pasta, satay and desserts.
Admission is free, but each game and ride costs at least $4 per go. The carnival is open till April 1, from 4pm to 11pm daily. For more details, and to buy a stored-value card online, visit www.marinabaycarnival.sg.
If you’ve never visited the Maritime Experiential Museum at Resorts World Sentosa, now’s a good time to do so. It’s added five new zones where your little ones can try hands-on activities such as tying knots and navigating with compasses, as well as an interactive photo corner.
Singapore residents enjoy special opening admission rates of $9 per adult and $6 per child (ages four to 12). These apply until further notice. Visit www.rwsentosa.com.
Madame Tussauds Singapore now boasts a Marvel-ous addition. Besides taking wefies with the dignitaries and celebrities – their wax figures, that is – you and your kids can also meet Iron Man, Spider-Man and Captain America in the new Marvel section.
End your visit with a 10-minute animated film in the Marvel 4D cinema. It’s said to be Asia’s first, and features elements such as seat vibration, water sprays and wind as you watch the superheroes battle the villains. You’ll get a glimpse of Gardens By The Bay and the Singapore Flyer in the show, too.
There’s no extra charge for this new experience. Tickets start from $18 per kid (ages three to 12) and $28 per adult when purchased online. Visit www.madametussauds.com/singapore.
What better place to usher in the Year of the Dog than in Chinatown? Kick things off with the official light-up and opening ceremony on Jan 27 from 6pm, where thousands of homemade lanterns will put on a spectacular display of lights. There will also be live performances, as well as firecrackers and fireworks.
Don’t miss the bustling annual street bazaar (Jan 26 to Feb 15), where you can pick up festive goodies and accessories, and stay for the nightly stage shows at Kreta Ayer Square (Jan 27 to Feb 15). Visit www.chinatownfestivals.sg.
Impress your relatives with this Tree of Blossoming Treasures from Goodwood Park Hotel. Standing 28cm tall, it features intricate branches made of fondant sprouting from an ingot base of vanilla pound cake; the mini ingots of chocolate will prove irresistible to little fingers. The 1kg creation costs $98 and is available from Jan 29 to March 2. Order it at least five days in advance by Feb 26. Call The Deli at 6730-1786 or visit http://festivepromotions.goodwoodparkhotel.com.
Take a break from traditional Chinese New Year dishes and head to Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium for a decadent dim sum lunch instead.
Standouts include the steamed seafood dumpling with foie gras, pork dumpling with truffle and deep-fried crab claw dumpling with fish roe. And prices start from $21 per serving.
Don’t forget to order the refreshing yusheng ($78 for small, $98 for large), too, which comes with a tangy passion fruit yoghurt dressing that is lighter on the palate.
All are available from now till March 3. Call 6731-7173, or visit www.singaporeatrium. holidayinn.com/festive.
Featuring a medley of colours and visually-arresting blooms, this floral-themed Garden of Wealth yusheng from Crystal Jade is almost too pretty to eat!
Besides the usual lo hei ingredients, it also features unique ones like lily pad-shaped nasturtium leaves, freeze-dried wolfberries, ice plant and wood sorrel, as well as homemade caramelised deep-fried lotus root slices.
Order the small portion for $88 or the large one for $138 one day in advance. It’s available at Crystal Jade Dining In and Golden Palace for dine-in and takeaway. Visit www.crystaljade.com.
If your family can’t get enough of pineapple tarts, you’ll be in for a treat with Bakerzin’s CNY collection of original, XO, chrysanthemum and hae bee hiam tarts.
A tin of 18 assorted pieces (all but XO) is $23.80. The XO ones are limited to 500 boxes ($32 for 18 pieces). Available from now until Feb 15 at Bakerzin outlets and online at www.bakerzin.com. Order one day in advance.
Yusheng gets a healthy boost at Royal Plaza on Scotts with fresh young coconut, yam and dehydrated pineapple rings incorporated into a hydroponic salad base. Its Rhapsody of Pineapple Yu Sheng is served with freshly marinated mentaiko salmon cubes (think Hawaiian poke).
A small serving ($158) feeds four to six, and a large one ($188) is good for up to 10. Order three days in advance by Feb 28. This takeaway item is available from Feb 12 to March 2 and prices are before tax. Call 6589-7788 or visit www.carouselbuffet.com.sg.
Gold-dusted abalone is the star of Park Hotel Clarke Quay’s Ultimate Success Premium Abalone Yu Sheng ($88++), which also has purple cabbage, radish, shimeji and enoki mushrooms, lycium leaves, yellow chives and carrots, and is served with a homemade sauce.
The hotel’s festive menus, which are from $338++ for a table of four to five, to $628++ for a table of nine to 10 diners, include the regular tuna yusheng. To upgrade to the premium dish, you will need to pay an additional $38 nett. Available from Feb 8 to March 2. Call 6593-8825/59 or e-mail bqt.phcq@parkhotelgroup.
Throwing a big reunion dinner with the extended family? Order Golden Peony’s Fortune 3-D Meringue ‘Yu Sheng’ with Abalone, Salmon, Crispy Fish Skin. The visually stunning dish feeds a party of 30 and is sure to impress. It’s priced at $888++.
The restaurant at Conrad Centennial Singapore is also launching new festive dishes such as Roast Whole Suckling Pig filled with Shanghainese Sticky Rice, Fritters and Chicken Floss and Fortune Eight Treasures Stewed Duck. Its festive set menus start from $100++ per person or $1,198++ per table of 10. Call 6432-7482/88 or e-mail sinci.goldenpeony@conradhotels.com.
Having reunion dinner and lohei at home? Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s Wan Hao restaurant is offering six yusheng variations as takeaway platters. They include the black truffle vegetarian yusheng with kumquat sauce ($68 nett for small and $128 nett for large) – a healthier alternative if you’re expecting a baby and want to skip the raw fish.
For an indulgent pencai, order the Imperial Pot of Prosperity ($688 nett for small and $1,088 nett for large). It features crispy oyster, braised Irish duck and pig’s trotter among other premium ingredients.
And don’t overlook its sweet treats, which are also perfect for house visits. Impress the host with golden nian gao tart with yam ($28 nett for eight pieces) and koi fish shaped osmanthus water chestnut cake ($52 nett). The takeaway menu is available till March 2. To order, call 6831- 4605 or e-mail mhrs.sindt.fb.reservations@marriotthotels.com.
TEXT LYNN WEE, FELICIA WONG, ELISA CHIA & STEPHANIE YEO CARNIVAL PHOTO THE STRAITS TIMES
