Renowned as a financial powerhouse and progressive melting pot of culture, Singapore enjoys a reputation of restraint and orderliness that puts the rest of Asia to shame. In one of the few oriental cities that do run like clockwork, this small isle with a uniquely cosmopolitan population sets a tone and encompasses an attitude that is both Asian and global in essence.
A popular attraction of Singapore is of course the famed Sentosa Island. An integral part of Singapores identity, Sentosa inspires what Disneyland signifies to those in the West. Never dull and ever expanding, its capacity to enchant and entertain, Sentosa now has created another colourful offering for nature lovers worldwide with its annual Sentosa Flower Show.
Having dominated the isles calendar for the past five years the Sentosa floral festival is set to bloom once more. Creating an atmosphere full of fresh blooms and equally enticing scents, Sentosa Island takes on the million shades of the flowers on display in what can only be described as a floral connoisseurs dream come true. Taking place during a span of nine days in the period of the lunar New Year season, the show is also ideal for budding shutterbugs as several photography areas have been designated within the festival grounds in addition to a digital photography competition. The event also affords guests the opportunity to experience the festival against the backdrop of the night sky as it stays open till 10 oclock.
Event highlights in Palawan beach include the Giant Sculpture Display where items created from recycled material are on display for a Gardening and Sculpture Display Competition. Specially designed to inspire school children, the Gardening and Sculpture Display Competition is where the green thumbs of Singapores budding florists are put to the test in a competition like no other.
The Golden Harvest is another much looked forward to item as the importance of spring to the agricultural community is explored. Guests will also have the chance to discover the fine art of extracting dye from flowers to use in religious clothing, beauty therapy, food and scrolls that has been in practice for the past thirty centuries. The programme includes interactive, hands-on activities that will give participants a new found respect for natures gifts and its role in human civilizations.
Plants and other various gardening accessories and tools are amply available at the Festival Market where guests can mingle with fellow flower fanatics and exchange trade secrets. Scrumptious snacks and other delectable goodies are also available at the market which gets bigger and better each year.
Must-see events at the Imbiah quarter include the Travellers Garden which stocks over 100 species of spring blooms from across the globe in a myriad of colours that is divided in to the Land of Blue, Land of Pink and the Land of Gold.
The Happy Cow Family event is another highlight, as photo ops at the famed creatures exquisite garden are only rivalled by the tales of flowers they have to share from their worldly travels. Popular among children, this quarter of the festival also allows kids to take pictures with their famous green-thumbed friends.
The important role flowers play in the field of romance are explored in the Colours of Love exhibit, where the meaning of each bloom and its significance is further explored. The Trees of Life display is equally uplifting while the Language of Colours looks into the hidden significance of floral shades and its impact on our day to day lives. Visitors can find out why purple is often associated with royalty and luxury and why yellow makes one happy and denotes friendship. The innocence and purity of white and the depth and tranquillity of blues are examined alongside the femininity of pink and the passion found in red.
The prominent floral species on display at the Sentosa Flower Show include Carnations, Narcissus /Daffodil, Antirrhinum and Pansy among many others which create a full bloomed panorama of colours and aromas on the packed festival grounds.
Owing to the festivals popularity, it is important that tourists secure a
Singapore hotel reservation come Spring season. Stylishly designed and decorated, the
Copthorne King's Hotel Singapore is perfectly suited for vacationers and business travellers alike.
