The smog has hit small businesses too, with one restaurant reporting an 80 per
cent decline in visitors.
Meanwhile, Changi Airport is increasing the time between takeoffs and landings
as a precautionary safety measure, although no delays have been reported.
Michael Ross, a 44-year-old Briton and a former resident of Singapore, is due
to fly to the city-state on Saturday for a family holiday.
“We did plan to spend four or five days in Singapore and visit Gardens by the
Bay, the Singapore Flyer and the high-rise pool at Marina Bay Sands,” he
said. “Now I am just trying to find us flights out of there and over to
Cambodia for a few days instead.
“We had haze there before, but the levels seen in the last day or two are way
beyond anything we experienced.”
Unfortunately Britons due to travel to Singapore will be unable to cancel
their trip free of charge because of the pollution. Tour operators and
airlines are under no obligation to offer a refund, or even alternative
dates, unless the Foreign Office advises Britons against visiting the
country.
Its advice currently states that Singapore “is experiencing high levels of
pollution from land clearance fires in Indonesia – you should monitor the
Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) updates and health advisories from the
Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA).”
The NEA advises anyone with heart or lung diseases, children and the elderly
to stay indoors, adding that “everyone else should avoid all physical
activity outdoors”.
The Singapore Tourist Board said the country remains open to tourists but also
advised caution.
“Tourists are advised to minimise their exposure by limiting prolonged or
heavy outdoor activities,” said a spokesman.”In particular, children, the
elderly and those with heart or lung diseases, should seek medical treatment
early if they feel unwell. STB is keeping a close watch on the situation.”
In an attempt to tackle the smog, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has
ordered disaster officials to “mobilise all the country’s resources” to
extinguish the fires that are causing the problem. Indonesia’s national
disaster agency said two helicopters with cloud-seeding equipment were sent
to Sumatra, where hundreds of hectares of carbon-rich peatland are ablaze.
Three indoor attractions in Singapore
Asian Civilisations Museum
Set in the neoclassical Empress Place Building by the historic Singapore
River, the Asian Civilisations Museum is a pioneering museum that explores
traditional aspects of pan-Asian culture, religion and people through
exhibits of more than 1,000 artefacts – including porcelain figures, bronze
sculptures, woodwork, prints, textiles and ornaments – housed in 11 thematic
galleries.
Compelling exhibits are plentiful and you should not miss the Singapore River
Gallery, which shows the archaeological harvests from excavation works on
the banks of the Singapore River.
Address: 1 Empress Place, Singapore
Contact: 0065 6332 7798, acm.org.sg
Opening times: Mon 1pm to 7pm; Tues to Sun 9am to 7pm
Orchard Road malls
Triumphing the Champs Elysees in Paris and Bond Street in London, Orchard Road
was named the world’s top shopping street by a French marketing consultancy
early this year. This three-mile stretch, which houses 22 swanky malls and
six department stores, showcases the world’s most exclusive brands and
trendiest fashion houses.
If you have time for only the best, hop over to Paragon, Ngee Ann City and ION
Orchard – the crème-de-la-crème of Singapore’s shopping malls.
Paragon address: 290 Orchard Road, Singapore
Contact: 0065 6738 5535, paragonsc.com.sg
Opening times: 10am to 9pm daily
Ngee Ann City address: 391 Orchard Road, Singapore
Contact: 0065 6739 9323, ngeeanncity.com.sg
Opening times: 10am to 9.30pm daily
ION Orchard address: 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore
Contact: 0065 6238 8228, ionorchard.com
Opening times: 10am to 10pm daily
Peranakan Museum
If the Asian Civilisations Museum overwhelms you with its sheer size, the
decidedly boutique Peranakan Musuem will enthrall you with its vivid display
of Peranakan costumes, porcelain, furniture and artefacts.
It will also tell the story of how the Peranakan culture evolved from the
intermarriage between immigrant Chinese and local Malays since the 1800s.
Housed in a former school built in 1912, the galleries are spread over three
floors and offers an excellent induction into the rarefied world of
Peranakan culture.
Address: 39 Armenian Street. Singapore
Contact: 0065 6332 7591, peranakanmuseum.sg
Opening times: 1pm to 7pm on Mondays, 9am to 7pm Tuesdays to Sundays
Singapore smog shuts tourist attractions
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét