Raffles Hotel
Raffles
Hotel
We left the Hop On Hop Off bus
and there we were – opposite Raffles Hotel. WOW. Raffles Hotel is
a colonial-style luxury
hotel in Singapore.
It was established by Armenian hoteliers,
the Sarkies
Brothers,
in 1887. The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford
Raffles (6th of July 1781 – 5th of July 1826), the founder
of Singapore.
We crossed the
road and found an information sign about the famous
palms.
The gorgeously dressed ‘welcome man’
pointed past the courtyard, beyond the far terrace..........
to the lower
bar. We asked there where the traditional place was to have the famous
cocktail, “Upstairs in the Long Bar”. On we went.
Past the information boards.
Passing the posh shops.
From the Raffles website: Raffles Hotel
Singapore is the flagship property of Raffles Hotels & Resorts. Opened in
1887, it is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world. No
visit to Singapore is complete without a stay at Raffles; tradition demands
it.
Up the stairs passing more information boards and there we were......
The Long Bar: Home of the Singapore Sling, this two-storey bar located on the second
floor of Raffles Singapore is the place where travellers undergo one of the
truest rites of passage of travel. While there, sip on the world-famous pink
cocktail, created in 1915 by bar captain Ngiam Tong Boon, and toss peanut shells
onto the floor - the only place in Singapore where “littering” is permitted. The
menu offers a mélange of cocktails and non-alcoholic concoctions, together with
traditional pub favourites. The two-storey bar
located on the second floor of Raffles Singapore is the place where we
joined ‘the club’.
...............the peanuts still served in a traditional sack.
The earthy interiors are inspired by Malayan plantation life in the 1920’s. Oriental carpets are overlain on tiled floors and the furniture is traditional stained cane and rattan. A charming timber spiral staircase connects the two levels of the Long Bar with the seating above interspersed with teak lounge chairs. A lovely man in a smart suit settled us in a corner booth.
The Singapore Sling,
widely regarded as the national drink of the country, was first created in 1915
at Raffles Singapore by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. Primarily a gin-based
cocktail, the Singapore Sling also contains pineapple juice as the main
ingredient, along with grenadine, lime juice and Dom Benedictine. Giving it the
pretty pink hue are cherry brandy and Cointreau. Bartender Ngiam deliberately
chose to give the cocktail this rosy colour.
Bear slipped down his second Singapore Sling.
I wanted my second cocktail to be something I have never had before and something I will never have again – I Moscow Mule’d.
Bear poses in the courtyard with the very famous palm trees.
My mum stood for this pose on the 31st July 1959 - my parents tenth wedding anniversary. Here I am today.........
......I went in close for a hug with this beautifully dressed man - Swaran, a lovely gentle man also a gentleman.
We had both ticked a joint Bucket List wish.
ALL IN ALL IT HAD TO BE DONE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE |