Must See Tourist Attractions in Singapore

5 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Singapore

1.  Marina Bay Sands

The opulent Marina Bay Sands resort complex includes a hotel, high-end luxury brands, a mall with a canal running through it, the ArtScience Museum, and the Marina Bay Sands Skypark - a vantage point for taking in the entire city. The Skypark's viewing deck and infinity pool are found in the ship (yes, ship) that tops the hotel. Only hotel guests are allowed to use the infinity pool but anyone can visit the observation deck. From the skypark, you can see the innovative double helix bridge, the port, the Gardens by the Bay, and the impressive skyline. While up there on top of the city, guests can grab a snack or a coffee at the rooftop restaurant or pick up some keepsakes from the souvenir stand. You can purchase a photo of yourself green-screened in front of the massive hotel as it's all lit up at night, but the cost is steep: 50 Singapore dollars. Better to ask a fellow tourist to snap a photo of you. The luxury and elegance of the Marina Bay Sands exemplify Singapore's taste, and help designate a major international city in Southeast Asia.

Observation deck hours: Mon-Thur 9:30 am-10 pm; Fri-Sun 9:30 am-11 pm

Admission: S$23 dollars for adults, S$20 for seniors, S$17 for children aged 2-12

Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore

2. Singapore Flyer

If the observation deck at the Marina Bay Sands doesn't quite do it for you, try taking in high tea while looking out over the city from the Singapore Flyer, the world's largest giant observation wheel. Choose from several different packages that allow you to be served and pampered while enjoying a view that encompasses not only the Singapore skyline, but reaches to the Spice Islands of Indonesia and Malaysia's Straits of Johor. There are several different ticket packages to choose from, and each includes access to the multimedia Journey of Dreams exhibit that delves into Singapore's history and the creation of the Singapore Flyer. Flights last 30 minutes each and run from early morning until late at night, so you can choose which view of the city you want to enjoy: the beginning of another bustling day or when Singapore is aglow after dark.

Hours: 8 am-10:30 pm

Admission: S$33 for adults, S$21 for children aged 3-12, S$24 for seniors

Address: 30 Raffles Ave, Singapore

3. Chinatown

If you've ever visited China, Singapore's Chinatown neighborhood will bring you right back there. From the small mom-and-pop stores and authentic Chinese food to the bright red lanterns, there's an excitement and hustle in this district. You can visit the Chinese Heritage Centre and see the impressive and beautiful Sri Mariamman Hindu temple. Another temple worth seeing is the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. If you're up early enough (think 4 am), you can hear the morning drum ceremony. Or you can just check out the closing ceremony in the evening after viewing the relic.

Heritage markers have been installed throughout the neighborhood in English, Japanese, and simplified Chinese so visitors can better understand the significance of the area. But this neighborhood is not just a testament to the influence of the Chinese throughout Singapore's past. This is a progressive neighborhood (with free Wi-Fi for all) and it's home to the trendy Ann Siang Hill area, where the quaint bistros and upscale boutiques could be at home in any Western city.

4. Changi Chapel and Museum

Singapore was not spared the horrors of WWII, and the Changi Chapel and Museum tells the story of those who suffered under Japanese occupation. The museum displays the letters, photographs, drawings, and personal effects that are now testaments to the imprisonment for more than 50,000 civilians and soldiers in Changi Prison. The Changi Chapel, found in the open-air courtyard of the museum, is a replica of one of the many chapels that were built during WWII. It stands as a monument for those who would not fold under Japanese rule. A must-see in the museum is a series of murals painstakingly recreated from originals painted by Bombardier Stanley Warren. Guests can participate in a guided tour or opt for an audio tour that features accounts of Changi prisoners' wartime experiences.

Hours: 9:30 am-5 pm

Admission: In-house tours - S$12 for adults, S$8 for children; Audio tours - S$8 for adults, S$4 for children

Address: 1000 Upper Changi Rd North, Singapore

5. Singapore Zoo

Billing itself as the world's best rainforest zoo, the Singapore Zoo is a pretty impressive place. The facility is clean and inviting, and the animals appear well treated with plenty of lush vegetation and habitat space. The orangutans are particularly impressive, and visitors can watch as babies and adults alike swing high above their platforms and snack on bananas. There is also a large chimpanzee family, zebras, meerkats, a komodo dragon, mole rats, white tigers, kangaroos, and many other creatures.

Guests can observe feedings for some of the animals. Allow at least three hours to make your way around the zoo. If the zoo doesn't satisfy your need for getting close to wildlife, there's also the Night Safari, River Safari (including a giant panda forest), and the Jurong Bird Park. Park hopper passes are available if you plan to visit more than one of the wildlife parks.

Hours: 8:30 am-6 pm

Admission: S$28 for adults, S$18 for children aged 3-13, S$12 for seniors

Address: 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore

Source by : http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/singapore-sin.htm

6 US Towns with Incredible Christmas Celebrations

Incredible Christmas Celebrations

1.McAdenville , North Carolina
McAdenville,( North Carolina )a small town about 20 minutes outside of Charlotte, gets so into the Christmas spirit each December that they change the name of their village to Christmas Town USA. More than 600,000 people visit Christmas Town USA to gawk at the 450,000 lights that decorate this hamlet. Over 375 trees light a route perfect for a winter stroll through the McAdenville’s downtown. One of the favorite vantage spots is at the nearby lake, where 33 trees line its perimeter, reflecting peacefully in the water. It’s hard to miss the town’s fountain, featuring a jet of water that is propelled up 75 feet, lit with vibrant colors every 10 seconds.

2.Bernville, Pennsylvania
Imagined as a true one-stop Christmas destination, Koziar’s Christmas Village has been a tradition since 1948. A regional hotspot for families, this popular Christmas town packs crowds in to gaze at the million-plus light displays, visit the small cottage dioramas and shops, as well as meet face to face with Mr. Claus. Look out for the several scenes depicting Christmas Beneath the Sea, Christmas in the Jungle, and Christmas in Other Lands, housed in former chicken coops.

3.Ogden, Utah
Northern Utah’s Ogden, one of the country’s great railway hubs, welcomes in the holiday season each year with their downtown Christmas Village. A winter wonderland is staged in the middle of town as miniature cottages pop-up, modeled after Santa’s North Pole Village. Each of the 59 elf-sized cottages has its own theme including The Elf Workshop, The Grinch, and Santa’s Castle—a cottage where children can visit with Santa himself. Rides on the free Polar Express Train are a favorite, as the locomotive passes through a glow-in-the-dark tunnel painted with holiday flourishes.

4.Nevada City, California
About an hour northeast of Sacramento, the historic and quaint Nevada City (population: 3,068) takes great pride in their annual Victorian Christmas festival. A former Gold Rush town, Nevada City now is noted for its many historic buildings, mountainous surroundings, and bygone picturesque downtown. The Christmas season in Nevada City has been described by its Chamber of Commerce as “a genuine Christmas card come to life” as the city transforms into a winter wonderland complete with twinkling white lights, authentic gas lamps, and carolers dressed in Victorian apparel. Festival attendees are encouraged to dress in period attire, complete with feathers, scarves, and top hats.

5.Branson, Missouri
If you haven't been to Branson during the holidays, you’re in for an amazing surprise. If you’ve visited during this special season before, it’s easy to figure out why this is part of your family's holiday traditions.

Around here, it’s called Ozark Mountain Christmas, an ongoing tradition for more than a quarter century. Celebrations run from the beginning of November through New Year’s Day – there’s no waiting for Thanksgiving to kickoff the holidays here!

Of course, Branson offers countless opportunities for fun year-round, but here are seven ways to celebrate the magic of the holidays

6.Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
In between Lake Michigan and Lake Winnebago and an hour away from Milwaukee sits Elkhart Lake, a getaway town known for its summertime racetrack. Come winter, Elkhart Lake shifts it focus to an all-out Christmas-time celebration, complete with its famous Old World Christmas Market. Modeled after the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, the market features a hundred vendors from the region selling crafts, art, and the traditional schnitzel, sauerbraten and potato pancakes. For something truly unique, stop by the Wade House, a local resort for mid-nineteenth-century Christmas celebrations, including a horse-drawn decorated carriage through the woods. It’s like stepping directly into “Jingle Bells.”

Source by : http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/top-10-us-towns-with-christmas-celebrations 

Must-see London for visitors

Top Five Must-See Attractions in London

1.Visit the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum

While this free museum is bursting with memorable exhibits, it's definitely the enormous diplodocus skeleton cast in the Victorian building's stunning entrance hall that sticks in the memory of visitors of all ages. The Dinosaur Gallery is also very impressive, though the 2005 animatronic T-rex is perhaps not the fearsome finale it once was (to grown-ups, at least). The Science Museum and the V&A are the NHM's neighbors, so pay them a visit afterwards.

VISIT : More Details Natural History Museum

2.Sample London's best ingredients at Borough Market 

Heaps of fresh fruit and vegetables, platters of seafood, huge speciality cheese wheels, crisp organic breads and just about anything else a food obsessive could be tempted by is available at this ancient and enduringly popular market. The ingredients are of the highest quality, but also often with prices to match, so if you're looking for an affordable meal it's best to join the queues for one of the burrito, burger, hog roast, falafel, raclette or other hot and delicious lunch stalls.

3.The London Eye 

Imagine being a bird and looking down at a gorgeous and sprawling city from your Birdseye vantage point. In London you don’t have to imagine!

Built in 1999, it is a recent addition to the London skyline. Even so, it is very popular amongst the tourists in London.

It is sight to see even as it is, but a ride in it is a lifetime experience. London Eye is a giant wheel observation wheel that turns slow enough for people to go on board while it is moving.

The complete turn of this giant wheel takes about more than 30 minutes. It is about 135 meters high. Go for a night view, as it is more spectacular and it is comparatively less crowded. The London Eye is one of the tourist attractions in 3 day London travel itinerary. You must visit this amazing tourist attraction in London.

4.London's Big Ben

The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834. In 1844, it was decided the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock.
A massive bell was required and the first attempt (made by John Warner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees) cracked irreparably. The metal was melted down and the bell recast in Whitechapel in 1858. Big Ben first rang across Westminster on 31 May 1859. A short time later, in September 1859, Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today.

5. Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous fortresses and has seen service as royal palace, prison, armory and even a zoo. The ancient stones hold within them dark secrets, as fortified vaults shine with priceless jewels and historic uniformed Beef eaters stroll the grounds. Situated in Central London, just a stone’s throw from the River Thames, the Tower of London is one of the city's premier attractions.
Rich history dating from the Norman Conquest
It has undergone amazing restoration over the centuries, including damage from the Blitz
Used by Royals through the years as a refuge and power base
The Tower is still home to her Majesty's Crown Jewels, on display for visitors to see
The Beef eaters are tasked with the job of guarding the jewels, as well as acting as tour guides for the attraction

Source By : http://www.timeout.com/london/attractions/must-see-london-for-visitors

New York top 10 places to celebrate Christmas festival

Top Ten New York Churches

Trinity Church

Trinity Church, at 74 Trinity Place in New York City, is a historic full service parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Trinity Church is located at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in downtown Manhattan.

St. Paul's Chapel, part of the Parish of Trinity Church, is the oldest public building in continuous use in New York City. 

Trinity Episcopal Church in Fishkill, New York was started in 1756 with the missionary assistance of Trinity Church.

Photo of Trinity Church and the schoolhouse of Trinity School (c. 17??). 

At the time of its completion, in 1846, its 281-foot spire and cross was the highest point in New York until being surpassed in 1890 by the New York World Building. 

On July 9, 1976, the church was visited by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and she was presented with a symbolic "back rent" of 279 peppercorns. 

Since 1993, Trinity church has been the location which the High School of Economics and Finance holds their senior graduation ceremonies. The school is located on Trinity Place (a few blocks away from the church).

St.Paul's Chapel

St. Paul's Chapel is part of Trinity Wall Street, an Episcopal parish that has been a part of New York City since 1697. The parish is deeply rooted in the city’s and the nation’s history. Established during the British occupation of New York and recognized by royal charter, Trinity was the first Anglican Church (which followed the services of the Church of England and included the King or Queen in its prayers) in Manhattan.

St. Paul's Chapel was founded in 1766 as a chapel-of-ease at Broadway and Fulton Street. George Washington prayed there after his inauguration as President in 1789. Located just across the street from the World Trade Center, St. Paul’s played an important role in hosting recovery workers after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

VISIT ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL
10am - 6pm Monday - Saturday
7am - 6pm Sunday
212.602.0800

Please note that the chapel will close at 2pm on the following dates: November 11 and December 9.

St.Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral is the largest decorated Neo-Gothic-style Catholic cathedral in North America. It is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and a parish church, located on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st streets in Manhattan. It faces Rockefeller Center.

St.John the Divine

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the Seat of its Bishop, is chartered as a house of prayer for all people and a unifying center of intellectual light and leadership. It serves the many diverse people of our Diocese, City, Nation and World through an array of liturgical, cultural and civic events; pastoral, educational and community outreach activities; and maintains the preservation of the great architectural and historic site that is its legacy.

St.Bartholomew's Churche

The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ, in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 17 nations. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The mission of the church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer’s catechism (p. 855), is "to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ."

• To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
• To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
• To respond to human need by loving service
• To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
• To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

Little Church Around the Corner

Welcome to the Church of the Transfiguration located in Manhattan's Chelsea/Murray Hill/Flatiron District. We are an Episcopal Church and part of the larger, worldwide Anglican Communion, with a rich musical and liturgical tradition. 

Our parish is also known as "The Little Church Around the Corner." As you will see when you read our history, this nickname stems from our proud heritage of inclusion and commitment to helping those in need. We host a diverse community embracing all people, across a vast spectrum of cultural, ethnic, racial, gender, sexual orientation, and economic backgrounds, as full members in the body of Christ.

If this is your first visit to our web site, I invite you to join us in worship and fellowship at any one of our services, coffee hour, concert series, or a simple contemplative visit to our garden and chapel. I like to think of our parish as a quiet oasis in the heart of this vibrant city. And yet we have so much going on at our "Little Church."

Marble Collegiate Church

In 1628, four years after the founding of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, Reverend Jonas Michaelius arrived from Holland to organize what is now known as the Collegiate Church of New York, whose oldest remaining building is Marble Church. As the first ordained minister in New Amsterdam, Reverend Michaelius conducted the first worship service in a gristmill on what is now South William Street, when the entire population of the city was less than 300. The first church elder was Governor Peter Minuit, who had recently purchased Manhattan Island from the Native Americans. Peter Stuyvesant, Director General of New Amsterdam, led worshippers to Sunday service and would impose a fine on anyone who did not attend church!

When the British took over the city in 1664 and renamed it New York, they allowed the Dutch Reformed Church to continue its worship traditions. King William III granted the church a Royal Charter in 1696, making the Collegiate Church the oldest corporation in America.

St. Jean Baptiste Church

Welcome to our website. St. Jean Baptiste is a Roman Catholic Parish established in 1882 and staffed by the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, an Order of men founded in Paris in 1856 by St. Peter Julian Eymard. St. Jean Baptiste High School is administered by the Sisters of The Congregation of Notre Dame, an Order of women founded in Montreal in 1676 by St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. We are an open Eucharistic Community based firmly on the pastoral principle underlying the Second Vatican Council: the Church is the People of God sharing in Jesus’ ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. It is our hope that each parishioner responds to the call to take part in the life of this parish in some way. We want to minister to children, seniors, families and young adults. Our mission is to reach out to those searching for a spiritual home and to be a welcoming community for everyone. This is not only the ministry of the religious men and women at St. Jean’s; it is the ministry of the entire People of God. John A. Kamas, SSS, Pastor

Church of the Heavenly Rest

The church has always stood on Fifth Avenue, but originally much further south on E45th Street intersection. It was founded by a group 

of Civil War veterans in 1865. The present site on the eastern side of Central Park was acquired from Mrs Andrew Carnegie. The foundation 

stone was laid in 1926 and the church held its first service in 1929. The architect was Bertram Goodhue but he had died in 1924 so his plans 

were executed by Hardie Phillip (of Mayers, Murray & Phillip). It is a modernised Gothic style, almost Art Deco in some features, with a shimmering facade of limestone with large Geometric four light window above a double portal. Flanking this are two turrets, like miniature towers.

First Church of Christ, Scientist

"Carrère & Hastings's evocation of the low church architecture of Georgian London and New England set the tone for many subsequent Christian Science churches throughout the northeast. Carrère & Hastings achieved a remarkable sense of solidity not only through the blocky composition, inspired by the English Mannerist architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, but also through the use of extremely large blocks of a white Concord granite, a stone so hard that it shattered mechanical saws and had to be cut by hand. Inside, the church was less distinctly English in feeling. A gallery wrapped around three sides of the auditorium, and barrel vaults sprang from piers which barely cleared the galleries, creating a powerfully encompassing effect. The room was largely undecorated, except for an elaborate organ case and rich Modern French plasterwork on the ceiling, which also contained roundels of concealed lighting. Supported above the auditorium arches were the church's offices, reading rooms and extensive Sunday school facilities. Clearly expressed on the exterior, their location reflected a unique solution to the problem of the parochial complex. Owen R. Washburn was correct in his assessment for the Architectural Record: "if we may not speak of a cathedral, in this case, we surely possess the metropolitan church."

Source By : http://nyc-architecture.com/TEN/TEN-CHURCHES.htm

Pune Darshan Trip

The Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati

Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati – the most endearing deity to devotees. Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati is the epitome of pride and honour to the city of Pune. Devotees from every part of India and the world come to pray to Lord Ganapati here every year. Dagdusheth Halwai Mandir is today, not only one of the most highly revered places of worship in India but a social institution actively engaged in social welfare and cultural development through Dagduseth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust.The temple speaks of a long and glorious history.

History

Dagadusheth Halwai (Dagadusheth Gadve) was Lingayat trader and Sweet maker. He originally came from Karnataka and settled in Pune. After he gained fame as a Halwai, that became his surname. His original Halwai shop still exists under the name Kaka Halwai near Datta Mandir in Pune.

Tulsi Baug

If one is going to visit Pune for any reason he should not miss the great ladies shopping market named as Tulsi Baug (Tulsi baug pune – wikipedia information) in Pune, if you are having at least an hour or two do not forget to spend time here, you can get plenty of latest ladies items here and mainly this is know for bargain, the more you bargain you are sure to get best deal.

What to buy at Tulsi baug Pune 

The most variety you get is for imitation jewelry …. make-up kits, daily care products, kitchen utensils, linens, footwear, handbags, bindis, iron stands, crockery, gift articles & the hosiery products.

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum

Kelkar Museum was established in 1962 by Baba Dinkar Kelkar and was donated to the Maharashtra government in 1975.

The museum has 20,000 different articles, all personally collected by Baba Kelkar from all over the world. When his son died at the age of seven, he decided to do something in his remembrance and that is how the idea of building this museum was conceived.

Pu La Deshpande Garden (Japanese Garden)

Pu La Deshpande Park, Okayama Friendship Garden, the Japanese Garden, Sinhagad Road Gardens and parks in the city of Pune contribute a lot in enhancing the beauty of the city. Moreover these are the places that contain ample fresh air replete with oxygen which is a rarity otherwise in the city. This is the reason why city people come to these gardens early in the morning and fill in as much oxygen as they can so that they could spend a fresh day through and through. This is the reason why tired city souls flock to these gardens in the evenings and find a chance to relax their weary minds and limbs. Gardens in the city are important from the tourism point of view as well. In short, gardens in Pune are many and beautiful.

Pu La Deshpande Udyan is one such place in Pune of immense tourist importance. The garden has played a vital role in taking the name and fame of the city to the global platform.

Sinhagad Fort

If you like the outdoors, try this tour of Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad Fort is located 4300 feet above sea level, on the Sahyadri Hills. It is a strategic fort, carefully selected for its proximity to the settlement of Pune, allowing control over important trade routes and offering protection behind its safe walls in times of need. Originally called Kondana, it was renamed the Lion Fort in honour of Shivaji’s trusted aide Tanaji Malusare who lost his life in a daring raid on the fort.

Savitribai Phule University ( Pune University)

Savitribai Phule Pune University, one of the premier universities in India, is positioned in the North-western part of Pune city. It occupies an area of about 411 acres. It was established on 10th February, 1949 under the Poona University Act. The university houses 46 academic departments. It is popularly known as the 'Oxford of the East'. It has about 307 recognized research institutes and 612 affiliated colleges offering graduate and under-graduate courses. 

The university attracts many foreign students due to its excellent facilities. It offers good accommodation facility. There is a provision of hostel for the students. There is a well-stocked library containing plenty of books regarding various subjects. The university offers different scholarships to the students. The university conducts seminars and conferences for the students.

Source By :- http://www.punemagic.com/pu_visit_sinha.html