Sanctuary for the soul

Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort is the only beach front resort in Singapore. Photos provided to China Daily

Hotel profile | Singapore

Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort is furnished to rejuvenate even the most jaded guests. Li Jing reports.

After a six-hour night flight, passengers wake up to a delicate breakfast by the Singapore Airlines before arriving at the destination - Singapore.

There are some hotels or resorts that have the magical powers of transforming the mood of their guests, positively. Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort, the only beach front resort in Singapore, is one of those.

Connected to the main Singapore island by road and rail, the resort is located in Sentosa Island.

The whole set up of the hotel, from the cobblestone road that leads to the main entrance of the hotel to the way it's furnished - wood carvings in leaf motifs run through the corridors and right into the guestrooms which are painted in soothing hues of green and beige - exudes the message: holiday.

The rooms all face water - be it the pool, beach or the South China Sea.

Each room also comes with a sheltered balcony with two lazy chairs where guests can relax while appreciate the view across the horizon. Apart from water and clear blue skies in this tropical paradise, one does not have to try too hard to catch sight of cargo ships in this world's busiest port.

Many who stay in the hotel - blessed with sun, beach and sea - face "a happy problem" - to tear themselves from the indoor comfort for the great outdoor.

There is an array of outdoor activities to choose from at the resort from kayaking to wind surfing to braving the waves to the islets off the beach. There are other "drier" options too. For example, cycle across Sentosa Island or try the flying trapeze. For those who come from places that are far from the coast, going to the beach will be a natural choice, to be rejuvenated by the sun, sand and seawater. But remember to slap some sun block lotion before stepping into the sun, or risk having hot and lobster red skin.

After being sun-kissed, head to the hotel's in-house spa, Rasa Spa, which has a special treatment to sooth and moisturize tanned skin. Lasting 120 minutes, the pampering treatment begins with a footbath and scrub to relax the mind, followed by a purifying process with an organic bamboo body exfoliation. The highlight is a bamboo drainage massage, which entails rolling a bamboo stem over the body to loosen tense muscles.

The hotel is also equipped with an outdoor swimming pool, which sets itself apart with the minimum statutory amount of chlorine. A line of stone-carved craft frogs divides the crystal blue pool into two parts, one for sophisticated swimmers and one for water players.

For children, there are other rides such as the two slides - water slides under a canopy and a giant tree house slide, winding all the way down from level three of the resort into a pool of colorful balls at the bottom. It looks really tempting even for adults but it's restricted to those who are 12 and below.

Food is another plus point of the resort. The hotel houses seven restaurants and bars, catering for even the most sophisticated gourmets.

For those who want to have the option of al fresco dining, go for Barnacles Restaurant. The outlet, which serves tantalizing seafood and grills, enjoys the panoramic view of the South China Sea.

It is perhaps the best restaurant for men who plan to propose to their girlfriends, especially in the evenings as the sun is setting and the sky is dressed in hues of orange. Proposing after the sun is also a good option as by then, the glittering lights from the ships beyond the sea will be around to accompany the romantic moment.

The restaurant is also family-friendly with a dedicated children buffet corner, which comes with dishes placed on low tables so that children can easily help themselves to the food. Activities such as magic shows and balloon sculpting are staged just around the tables.

One of the highlights of Barnacles Restaurant is the Hot and Cold Combination Seafood Platter, a towering two-tier showcase of bountiful sweet juicy seafood, complemented with a selection of sauces.

There is another surprise in the five-star hotel - a cozy and exquisite noodle eatery called 8 Noodles. Spruced up in a 1960s style, the food outlet is decked out with framed pieces of Chinese silk embroidery and pictures of old street noodle restaurants on the imperial yellow walls. A gramophone stands in a corner, offering a taste of nostalgia. Its menu is very simple, inscribed on a giant wooden abacus hanging on the wall.

The signature item is Fish Udon in Herbal Soup, a dish with springy thick threads made with fresh fish meat and flour steeped in a comforting herbal broth with red dates and wolfberries. Befitting its nostalgic theme, drinks are familiar homemade brews including Ginger Chrysanthemum, Honey Kumquat and Winter Melon.

8 Noodles also serves fresh fragrant Thai coconuts with meat as soft as pudding and much easier to spoon than those found in China.

The hotel is so fully quipped that guests will not feel the need to venture beyond its vicinity. But for those who wish to, the hotel provides shuttle buses to various parts of Singapore island.

Contact the writer at lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn.