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around the gardens entranced, taking
in the magical Floral Fantasy exhibit
and walk through the horticultural-
themed gardens. But it’s really the two
Cooled Conservatories, entire climates
recreated within futuristic domes, that
are most impressive. The Flower Dome
replicates the cool-dry climate of the
Mediterranean with lots of blooming
flowers and shrubbery, while the Cloud
Forest is in a class all of its own. Walking
in, you’re confronted with a 35m-tall
mountain shrouded in lush vegetation
and mist fed by the world’s tallest
indoor waterfall. Behind every exhibit
of the museum, there’s an element of
edutainment – educating visitors while
providing interesting and at times
thought-provoking commentary on our
fragile environment—including one of
the best films I’ve ever seen on climate
change, visually showing how each
fraction of a rise in temperature will
likely affect the earth and its residents.
Live, Eat, and Play at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore has a reputation of being a
world-class city in which to live, eat, and
play and nowhere is this more evident
than the incredible Marina Bay Sands
complex, just next to the Gardens by
the Bay. Recognizable by its triple hotel
towers which support a cantilevered
Sky Park, 1.2 hectares of gardens and
swimming pool 57 stories above the
city, the complex is also home to two
theatres, a casino, shops and restaurants,
all rebuilt on reclaimed land. We’re here
to eat and play, and find ourselves at
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands at
lunchtime browsing the star-studded
collection of celebrity chef restaurants
with household names including Gordon
Ramsay, Wolfgang Puck, and Daniel
Bouloud. We settle on db Bistro &
Oyster Bar by Michelin-starred Chef
Daniel Bouloud for its promise of fresh
seasonal catch from around the world,
prepared using Chef Bouloud’s signature
combination of classic French techniques
paired with gorgeous presentation.
We find that the staff speak Oyster,
regaling us with exactly where in the
world the day’s oysters are from and
their distinct flavor profiles. Finding it
impossible to decide, we order the Petit
Signature Seafood Platter (USD92)
with a chef ’s selection of fresh oysters,
Maine lobster, jumbo prawns, mussels,
clams, and ceviche, a wonderfully light,
refreshing antidote to the hot Singaporean
afternoon. The casual bistro atmosphere
created by hanging globe lights, red leather
banquettes and tasteful nautical accents
sets the mood for Chef Bouloud’s casual
French fare, like the Pâté “en Croûte”, a
work of art incorporating chicken, duck,
foie gras, black truffle, smoked bacon, and
dashes of brandy and port wine, instantly
whisking us to a lavender-filled French
country kitchen. For non-seafood fans,
there’s the Herb Roasted Chicken Breast,
bone-in for extra juiciness, served atop a
bed of quinoa with a tomato confit for an
explosion of healthy color and flavor.
From art on a plate to where
art meets science, we head across
the courtyard to the ArtScience
Museum, a dazzling display of
the creative processes at the heart
of art, science, technology and
culture. We enter the interactive
exhibits where the line between
humans and technology blurs,
starting with Future World, the
museum’s landmark permanent
exhibition. A digital waterfall
cascades down the walls and onto
the floor, detecting and flowing
around visitors. Butterflies flit
about, more appearing the more
people are in the room, but
then dying as they’re touched, a
statement about our potential for
destruction. Visitors can literally
insert themselves into several of
the displays by scanning their faces
or drawings which immediately
become an animated part of the
display. While all the galleries
practically beg to be Instagrammed,
the final one is especially stunning,made up of over 170,000 LED lights
resembling twinkling stars that feels
like you’re witnessing the birth of the
universe. Next, we head into ArtScience
Museum’s new exhibition, Wonderland,
bringing the enchanted world of Alice
in Wonderland to the 21st century and
beyond. We unleash our inner Alice-like
curiosity, opening cabinets and drawers
to discover surprises hidden inside and
attend a magical Mad Tea Party where
the walls and table settings come alive
with projection mapping and other
visual effects techniques.An Illusion of Flavors
From illusions of sight, we transition to
illusions of flavors at Smoke & Mirrors,
a chic destination bar perched on the
rooftop of the National Gallery Singapore.
As its name implies, Smoke & Mirrors
is all about applying experimental new
twists to turn classic drinks on their
heads. Head Bartender extraordinaire
Jorge Conde presides over his own
backroom workshop where the alcoholic
alchemy happens, employing techniquesOyster bar at db BistroFuture World