WeekendinFEATURE
WeekendinFEATURE
HOLIDAY
VISA REQUIRENMENTS
Singaporeans: Yes
British/Australian/Other Passports: Yes
FLIGHT ROUTE
Singapore Changi Airport - Moscow (DME)/ St.
Petersburg (LED)
FLIGHT PROVIDERS
Emirates: Flight to St. Petersburg (1 Stop)
Qatar Airways: Flight to St. Petersburg (2 Stops)
Singapore Airlines: Flight to Moscow (Direct)
CONNECTING FLIGHTS FROM MOSCOW TO
ST. PETERSBERG
•Rossiya Airlines
•Transaero Airlines
The Lomonosov Bridge
The Grand Hyatt Club
Travel to the
Mikhailovsky Castle
Travel to
St. Petersberg
Russia is a country of contrasts and extremes;
its history of cruel tyrants, espionage, and depressing winters easily overshadowed by its
rich culture and reputation as the birthplace of
some of the world’s most iconic contributors in
literature, philosophy, classical music, ballet, architecture, and art.
Russia’s second largest city, Saint Petersburg is
also known as the cultural capital of the country.
Replete with palaces and museums, the beauty
of the city is in its formal grandeur made all the
more magnificent by the network of canals
flowing throughout the city. A walk along the
bank of the Neva River, an essential part of the
city’s charm, is said to be one of the most romantic experiences in the world.
Some of its world famous attractions are the
Hermitage Museum, which has more than three
million works of art and artefacts of the world
Weekendin 56
culture. The Peter and Paul Fortress is another
must-see as the location of one of Russia’s most
famous historical prisons. Its 122 metre gilded
spire is hard to miss as it can be seen from various points of St. Petersburg. Get a glimpse of
the extravagant lifestyle of Russian Royalty by
visiting one of their myriad majestic palaces
such as the Catherine Palace or Peterhof. Be sure
to experience first-hand the marvels of Russian
architecture, at the iconic Church of the Saviour
on Spilled Blood which has an excitingly mutlicoloured exterior and beautiful mosaic covered
interiors. The canals are the ideal way to view
the city, and boats can be found at the Fontanka
River dock and on the Neva River.
Be sure to try some of Russia’s traditional foods
while you’re there. These include Pelmeni,
(boiled dumplings with minced meat), Borsch
(beetroot soup based on meat), Shchi (cabbage
soup), and Solyanka (a thick and spicy tomato-
Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
based chowder).
Perhaps the most popular time to visit St. Petersburg is in the summer. Apart from avoiding
the freezing cold Russian winters, visiting in the
summer (between June 11th to July 2nd) gives
you the chance to experience St. Petersburg’s
famous White Nights. This is where the sun dips
below the horizon for just a short period of time,
giving the city a magical all-night glow. Stroll
along the river banks for the ultimate romantic experience, or indulge in the annual White
Nights Festival which has music concerts and
all-night parties galore.
Grand Hyatt Bali
My pre-conceived idea of Bali was that of a
tropical island, complete with floral cotton
shirts, coconut coolers, tall coconut palms and
hammocks under every tree. The reality of this
jungle paradise, both undid and re-enforced my
every expectation.
This is not an untouched island for a budding
Indiana to explore, but rather, a slice of Indonesia that has become many things to many people, catering to a variety of tastes and appetites.
Hotels have sprouted over the years like wild
rice and many have come to epitomise the best
of resort-style hospitality in Asia.
A bright-faced gentleman waving a board with
my name on it, escorts us to a four-wheel drive,
bound for the Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua.
After driving through streets lined with ramshackle buildings and houses, this Grand Lady
does not fail to impress upon first sight: A gong
sounds our arrival and a plethora of delightful
and dedicated staff greet us as if welcoming old
longed-for friends. Their sincerity and warmth is
intoxicating. The tone is set…
My eyes feast on the surreal surroundings: an
open lobby with a clear view of the sea, crowns
the 41acre property and we descend through
immaculately landscaped gardens with quirky
umbrella trees, over lagoons and lily-laced
ponds, past walk-way linked rooms, to our one
bedroom suite.
The Hyatt is famous for its quality rooms and
signature-style. Crisp white linen, wooden panelling, coffee and gold accents, simple cleancut lines – all true to the brand. Our suite has
a dining room, N’espresso coffee machine, a
flat screened TV in every room (including the
bathroom) which has no less than two rainshowers and a custom-built stone bathtub unlike anything I have ever laid eyes on. Then we
spotted the glass jars filled with home-made
treats: chocolate chip cookies, sugar-coated
jelly squares, coconut clusters and nut clusters
in dark chocolate… heaven meets earth in two
bites!
But, what I most appreciate is the way the Grand
By Tanya Micallef
Hyatt’s designers stitch in local accents ensuring that each of their hotels is both consistent
yet unique. On the Island of the Gods, religious
statues, intricate carvings, beautiful paintings
and antique furniture from all over the archipelago; jewellery, pottery, woven textiles and
priceless songkets (a length of cloth with silver
or gold thread woven in, worn as a skirt for special occasions and ceremonies), ikats (traditional
silk sarongs that have the design woven in, not
printed or dyed) - a magnificent and envious
collection gathered together and displayed to
form Grand Hyatt Balli’s cultural watermark.
Our welcome also includes full access to the executive lounge, available to all staying in club
rooms and suites. This is a Bali-style pagoda,
floating atop a fish-filled lagoon. Its A-framed
grass roof is fitted with colonial fans lazily turning away the afternoon heat. Hand-made woven lamps cluster at the roof’s centre, creating
a gentile atmosphere, inviting one to linger and
soak in the photographic surroundings for just a
little while longer!
57 Weekendin