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70cm-thick acrylic window (equivalent
to two rows of three double-decker
buses stacked atop one another) into the
immensity and diversity of the ocean with
over 40,000 marine animals including
graceful rays and goliath groupers. It’s
hard not to feel humbled in front of this
vast spectacle that represents just a tiny
fraction of our wonderful oceans.Green Fish, Yellow Pot
Brimming with friendly feelings towards
the environment but also strangely
hungering for seafood, we next make
for Yellow Pot, the authentic, innovative
Chinese fine dining restaurant at Six
Senses Duxton. Beautifully designed
by acclaimed British designer Anouska
Hempel, the boutique hotel transforms a
row of 1920s heritage trading houses into
the brand’s only city property anywhere
in the world. Dark woods and an elegant
black and gold palette create an intimate
aura, but it’s the modern Chinese cuisineHappy Hill
For a better view of modern-day
Singapore, we take the cable car to
Mount Faber, the island’s second-
highest hill. Another of Dr Goh Keng
Swee’s projects, the 1,750m-long
Mount Faber Line has since
transported more than 57 million
passengers between Mount Faber
and the resort island of Sentosa since
opening in 1974. At the top, we look
out over lush swaths of forest and out
to Keppel Harbor, Sentosa Island, and
the open ocean beyond. Panoramic
views are framed by the large Bell of
Happiness and hundreds of smaller
bells tied to the fence, complete with
handwritten wishes for a life full of
happiness, peace and harmony.
A Whale of a Time
A key to Singapore’s success has been
utilizing its limited assets in innovative
ways. Part of that has been a two-
century long project to reclaim land
from sand, resulting in a whopping 25
percent of precious real estate added to
the tiny island nation. One of the best
examples is the resort island of Sentosa,
incorporating three nearby islands and
islets to its landmass, now known for
world-class theme parks, hotels, and
residences. We spend an afternoon
at the spectacular South East Asia
Aquarium (S.E.A. Aquarium) at Resorts
World Sentosa. Home to more than
100,000 marine animals representing
1,000 species, it’s one of the world’s
largest aquariums. We wander the
interactive exhibits featuring more
than 50 diverse habitats spanning
an incredible 42.8 million litres of
water. Engaging for all ages, we gape
at sharks swimming overhead in the
Shark Seas underwater tunnel, take in
the explosion of colors in the 8m-high
Coral Garden, and are hypnotized by
the rhythmic swimming of a thousand
jelly fish all lit up in an array of colored
lighting. But it’s the Open Ocean
Habitat that has us truly slack jawed. At
36m long and 8.3m high, it’s a glorious
featuring quality, sustainability-certified
ingredients with no addition of MSG that
brings us here. Six Senses is committed
to sourcing locally before internationally,
and the tea we drink comes from a
tea house just a few blocks over while
the Kühlbarra Barramundi (USD24),
beautifully steamed and topped with a
healthy yet kicky scallion-ginger pesto, is
farmed just 40 minutes away. The Wok-
seared Organic Grass-fed Beef Tenderloin
(USD28) is melt-in-your-mouth tender,
with hints of sweetness and heat provided
by a thick glaze of honey and two types of
peppercorns. However, for any halfway
decent Chinese restaurant, the yardstick
has to be its Roast Duck (USD27). Here,
Yellow Pot’s version is outstanding, true
to the original Beijing style but with some
new twists. The duck is marinated in a
mixture of dried spices and fermented
bean curd for days, then roasted over
hickory wood chips for that dish-defining
crispy skin and juicy meat pairing. If
this is the future of Chinese cuisine, it’s a
sunny prospect indeed.City in a Garden
Not content to simply be a “Garden
City”, Singapore is aiming to be a “City
in a Garden” where greenery and flora
aren’t just decorative accents, but play
a part in actually impacting the quality
of life. Stepping foot onto Singapore, it’s
hard not to notice all the trees and plants
shading the entire road from the airport
into the city with medians bursting
with flowers. Within the city, every
conceivable space seems to be filled with
greenery, a natural way to break up the
concrete and glass.
Leading this transition is the
stunning Gardens by the Bay, a
ginormous 101ha waterfront park
instantly recognizable by its 18 space-
age Supertrees that stand from 25-
50m tall, some of them doubling as
air exhaust structures while others
harvest solar energy. We wanderWishing bells on Mt Faber
Shipwreck HabitatCloud Forest