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| Sky High Singapore |
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| Sky High Singapore |
SKY HIGH SINGAPORE
Home to what fast becoming Asia's most photographed swiming pool, the Marina Bay Sands' Sky Park soars 200 meters above Singapore, anchored like an enormous boat to the casino hotel's trio of 55 story towers. Designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie, the cantilevered platform encompasses 1.2 vertigo-inducing hectares-large enough to hold four A380 jets, and high enough to afford views of Batam Island, 20 kilometers off Singapore's soutern coast. Extending almost half the length of the platform, the pool provides plenty of room to splash about while taking in the bird's-eye vista of the city; a cathment area below its infinity edge ensures that even the most over-entusiastic of paddlers won't tumble far. Since its June opening, the palm flanked pool area has been restricted to hotel guests, leaving Sky Park visitors craning for glimpses from the adjacent observation deck. But now that a branch of legendary Bali nightspot Ku De Ta has taken up residence on the platform, even day-trippers can enjoy a poolside tipple.
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| Great Wall China |
GREAT WALL CHINA
No visit to the Chinese capital would be complete without a trip to the Great Wall, but avoid touristy Badaling, the nearest section, and drive at least as far as Mutianyu, about 90 minutes from the city. Crowds can still be dense, but if you're traveling with kids, you can share the novelty of taking a cable car up, and a toboggan down. Otherwise, head farther out to Simatai, a rugged stretch that rewards with dramatic views. To explore the dynastic history of the city itself, no site defines Beijing quite like the Forbidden City, the imperial heart of the capital, former home to 24 emperors and their many concubines. Get a bird's-eye view of the sprawling compound from the north gate's Jingshan hill. Wander south through the 9.000-plus-room complex, and stop by the Place Museum, which houses an impressive collection of the emperors' knickknacks.
