Traveling to China and Singapore

[TCContender]

Hi guys, I will be traveling for the next couple of weeks in China and Singapore.  I have spent a great deal of time in Shanghai, but this trip will have me in Suzhou and I open to any tips or suggestions for the week I am there.  The following week I will be in Singapore, have flown thru a few times, but have never been outside of the airport.  

Looking to hear about any good cigar bars, shops, etc.  Also any tips on what to do in the evening after work would be helpful. 

I do have a day to spend in Shanghai at either end of the trip and plan to hit Roosevelt and get some custom shirts made.  

Thanks!

[Coloniales]

La Casa Cubana is great in Singapore, but prices like are high, as is all Singapore, plus not too many places to smoke. Good selection of Regionals worth a look. Others may have some recommendations.

 

Keith.

[Optic101]

For the non cigar side of Singapore 

My write up for first time visitors. Not up to date but should give you some guidance.

 

- Singapore Visitors Centre for any Tourists Information

Located at 2 places at Orchard Road: At Ion Shopping Center, Level 1 Concierge (10Am-10PM) and at Junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road, 9:30AM-10:30PM daily, nearest to Somerset MRT Station.

- Chinatown

Not a big area, but it has a street where he can find a lot of local food in an outdoor style food court.

It also has some shopping for souvenirs, Chinese related products, etc. Note: Must bargain for shopping, not for food. 

- Little India

Basically only few streets area, where they sell a lot of Indian products, food, gold jewellery, etc. 

- Merlion Park 

A must see. 

- Bugis Street

Local shopping

- Gardens by the Bay

www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

- Boat Tour (Clarke Quay/Boat Quay/in front of Fullerton Hotel/etc stops)

Can see the Merlion from the boat too. Have different stops and you can alight and stop at any of these different stops. 

- Duck&Hippo Tour

www.ducknhippo.com

Tel: 65-63386877 (9AM-7PM)

Adult: S$33

(have different tour options from a wacky duck tour, double-decker bus, moonlight adventure, etc)

 

Should search for more promotion if he wants to go to more than 1 of the 4 Parks below. There are promotion such as S$39 for 2 Park Admissions.

- Jurong Bird Park (Asia's largest bird paradise)

Admission: S$20 (8:30AM-6PM)

www.birdpark.com.sg

- River Safari

(Asia's first and only river-themed wildlife park)

Admission: $25 (9AM-6PM)

www.riversafari.com.sg

- Singapore Zoo (World's best rainforest zoo)

Admission: S$22 (8:30AM-6PM)

www.zoo.com.sg

- Night Safari (First Night Safari in the world)

A must see in my opinion, they have animal shows too. 

Admission: S$35 (7:30PM-12 midnight)

www.nightsafari.com.sg

 

- Clarke Quay/Boat Quay

Bars, Restaurants, Nightclubs by the river. Popular with seafood food too. But mostly a popular place to go out in the evening on the weekend. 

- Sentosa

Can go to VivoCity shopping centre to go by Cable Car to Sentosa.

There is "Universal Studio" at Sentosa and many other attractions, there's beach, water sports, biking and other kind of activities. 

www.sentosa.com.sg

- Marina Bay Sands

A Hotel, Convention Centre, shopping, Casino, restaurants, theatres, etc. Should go there for the Observation Deck above the building to see the view. The Foodcourt there actually serves good quality food though more expensive. 

It is in same location as Gardens by the Bay. 

www.marinabaysands.com

- Asian Civilisation Museum

- Esplanade 

Also called Durian building, mainly for theatre/concert halls, restaurants, etc. Worth going there to see the architectural aspect of it.

- Singapore Botanic Gardens

- Singapore Flyer (giant ferris wheel)

- Newton Circus Hawker Centre

Very popular local food food court style. Can get crowded and hot. Famous for seafood like Tiger prawns, must try Stingray fish, satay, carrot cake, Indian food, Malay food, Chinese food, etc etc. 

Open from 6PM-4AM. 

Address: 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, 229492 (very close to Orchard Road)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_Food_Centre

- Must try number 1 food in Singapore is Chilli Crab. 

A lot of restaurants are offering this. Can try at East Coast Seafood Centre, location a bit out of the city centre as it is near the sea. Some of the popular and recommended restaurants for this dish: Jumbo Seafood Restaurant and Long Beach Seafood Restaurant. They both have more than 1 branch in Singapore, so can go to other locations too perhaps closer to city centre. Very easy to google them. 

- Lau Pa Sat 

Another very famous hawker centre for local food. Perhaps can try Singapore Chicken Rice there.

- Ya Kun Toast 

This is a big company with lots of branch everywhere in SIngapore, serve local coffee (Kopi Susu = Coffee with Milk but local style or The Tarik = Tea with Milk) and another must try the Kaya Toast (toast bread with Kaya Jam= Coconut jam). 

 

- Istana (President's Palace)

Unfortunately we cannot go in unless it is one of the major public holidays like Chinese New Year, etc. 

But can pass by from the gate, location not far from Orchard Road.

- Singapore Art Museum

 

- For any shows, concert, events happening in Singapore, there's a centralised website www.sistic.com.sg 

where he can see almost everything that is happening in Singapore at any given date. 

 

- Basically for food, especially local food, every single shopping centres in Singapore will have a food court with variety of cuisine to choose from.

[nealnyc]

 

In Shanghai - my absolute favorite place to smoke is the roof of the Peninsula Hotel in the Bund area.  Great drinks, great seating, and one of the best views in the world.  If you get a chance to burn one there, do it.  I attached a couple of images that I took in May.  

Due to the new ban on indoor smoking one of my other favorite spots, the jazz bar at the top of the Le Meridien is no longer smoke friendly.  I believe the Long Bar at the Waldorf somehow got around this rule.  Another great place to listen to live music, drink, and smoke.  There is a small LCDH in the Westin Bund.  

Guanxi Lounge in the Roosevelt Steakhouse is a nice place to smoke a cigar as well.