Sitting on the dock of the bay
By PHOOOWADON DUANGMEE
THE NATION
Singapore

With panoramic views of the city and the Marina, Mandarin Oriental Singapore is deal for both business and leisure traveller.

In Singapore, you're never very far from anywhere. Esplanade Theatre, Merlion, Singapore River and its waterfront, Singapore Flyer, the soulless skyscrapers, the casino complex - I could see half of what Singapore has to offer from my room at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore. I couldn't quite manage to catch sight of the shopping malls in Orchard Road but I wasn't missing them. I had something much better in my line of vision: Raffle Avenue - where the hip and historic go hand in hand.

Perched at the top end of Raffle Avenue, the Mandarin Oriental Singapore has spectacular views of the waterfront and the marina. Walk a few minutes and you reach a leafy park and the city's colonial core with its historical buildings, museum and the pricey restaurants and crowded bars lining Boat Quay and Singapore River.

My room (No 603) is a Premier Harbour type overlooking the harbour. By day, I can watch the tourists crowding around Singapore's icon, the Merlion. When I wake during he night, I can watch the dim glow of the skyฌscrapers around Boat Quay, Singapore's financial district.

With brown and earth-toned interior, the room is sober but very elegant, a decor that's fitting for most of guests at the Mandarin Oriental

Insert the security card, enter the room, and you spy the restฌroom equipped with bathtub and standing rain-shower. Two fluffy towels are folded neatly on the overhead rack, a surprise as Singapore is a water-cautious country, but perhaps guests paying for this level of luxury are not expected to reuse their towels.

The bedroom is a bit understated and not very spacious with whitewashed walls, carpeted floors and a sizeable flat-screen TV. Two single beds are placed, side by side, against the black-decorated wall. There is daybed in one corner to rest tired legs after a long day shopping, and a working desk in the another. The best feature is the gorgeous view over Marina Bay. And the IT savvy traveller will appreciate the hotel's superb Wi-Fi technology.

The Mandarin Oriental serves a superb buffet for breakfast and lunch at its restaurant on the fourth floor. For breakfast, try the wonton soup and other Asian delicacies. I have the steamed seafood for lunch, and it's fantastic. When it comes to dinner, you might try Cherry Garden for authentic Cantonese cuisine or book a table at Morton for a fine American steak. Unfortunately, we don't have time for dinner at the hotel since we've a previous commitment for Chinese food on the waterfront.

When it comes to location, the Mandarin Oriental is hard to beat. You'll rub shoulders with a mixed bag of business and leisure travellers and you'll find galleries, boutiques, bars and restaurants in nearly every direction. And if you miss the malls, Orchard Street is a short ride away on the efficient MRT system.

AT A GLANCE

High Point: Total luxury in Singapore's historic and hip district

Low Point: Not a very spacious room.

Pay for it: Premier Harbour room, complete with breakfast, costs SD$409 per night.

Find it: Marina Bay, Raffle Avenue

Book it: www.MandarinOriental.com

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Mandarin Oriental is a good place to stay. Source