The world painted by Littlelle: Christmas in an Asiatic way

Singapura aglomera um misto de culturas, nomeadamente as culturas chinesa, indiana e malaia. Das religiões associadas, as práticas católicas e cristãs são muito reduzidas, contudo em dezembro a cidade vibra com o Natal, ocasião que dá aos seus habitantes aquilo que eles mais gostam: compras e comida. Já os turistas têm a oportunidade de passar a época natalícia em t-shirt e calções, uma vez que a temperatura neste clima equatorial não desce abaixo dos 25º.

Singapore is a mix of cultures, namely Chinese, Indian and Malay. Regarding its religions, Catholic and Christian practices are very small, but in December the city vibrates with Christmas, an occasion that gives its inhabitants what they like most: shopping and food. Regarding tourists, they have the opportunity to spend the holiday season in t-shirts and shorts, as the temperature in this equatorial climate does not go below 25º.

As soon as we arrive at the airport (photo by Littlelle)

Christmas time at Changi Airport (photo by Littllelle)

Clarke Quay (photo by Littlelle)

Clarke Quay Christmas tree (photo by Littlelle)

Chijmes, not a church but a fancy food court (photo by Littlelle)

Em qualquer um dos 233 shoppings que podes visitar em Singapura, encontras um edifício decorado a rigor, com animação destinada a pequenos e graúdos.

In any of the 233 malls that you can go in Singapore, you will find a building highly decorated, with animation for children and adults.

Christmas enchanted at Bugis (photo by Littlelle)

Raffles City (photo by Littlelle)

De entre as principais atrações natalícias, destaco o ambiente de Orchard Road, rua com 2.8 km de shoppings. A rua encontra-se cheia de iluminações e existe uma concorrência enorme entre os shoppings, relativamente a qual exibe a melhor decoração natalícia na sua fachada. Ao sair do metro na estação de Orchard Road, ficamos de boca aberta com a quantidade de iluminações ao seu redor. Aqui vale tudo!

Among the main Christmas attractions, I would like to highlight the atmosphere of Orchard Road, street with 2.8 km of shopping malls. The street is full of illuminations and there’s a huge competition among the malls, to see which one displays the best holiday decoration on its facade. As we step out of the subway at Orchard Road station, we are open-mouthed with the amount of lighting around it. Everything it’s possible there!

Orchard Road (photo by Littlelle)

Ion Orchard at Christmas time (photo by Littlelle)

Ion Orchard Shopping Mall (photo by Littlelle)

303@Somerset Shopping Mall at Orchard Road (photo by Littlelle)

Christmas time at 303@Somerset Shopping Mall (photo by Littlelle)

Christmas tree at 303@Somerset (photo by MAntonieta, edited by Littlelle)

Tiffany & Co. Christmas Tree at Takashimaya Department Store (photo by Littlelle)

Endless wonder at Orchard Road (photo by Littlelle)

Christmas Market at Orchard Road (photo by Littlelle)

Mas o Natal não se fica pelas compras, um dos mais famosos jardins da cidade também se transforma! A Flower Dome, uma das mais conhecidas atrações do Gardens by the Bay, que junta numa gigante estufa de vidro plantas de todo o mundo, recria uma vila Natal, decorando os seus pinheiros e outras árvores com temas natalícios.

But Christmas is not only for shopping, one of the city's most famous gardens is also converted into Christmas spirit! The Flower Dome, one of Gardens by the Bay's best-known attractions, which gathers in a giant greenhouse glass plants all over the world, recreates a Christmas village, decorating its pine trees and other Christmas-themed trees.

Christmas time at the Flower Dome (photo by Littlelle)

Christmas at the Flower Dome (photo by Littlelle)

Natural plants decorated for Christmas (photo by Littlelle)

Santa Claus is coming to Flower Dome (photo by Littlelle)

Também nos Gardens by the Bay, é realizado o Christmas Wonderland, um Mercado de Natal com inspiração europeia em torno da Supertrees Groove! Decorre de 1 a 26 de dezembro, com abertura das 16h às 23h e uma entrada de 6$ (aproximadamente 3,5€). Esta feira apresenta as tradicionais barraquinhas com artesanato, comida e ainda carroceis e uma pista de patinagem, mas com a particularidade de estar envolta por estas árvores com uma arquitetura futurista e não as clássicas árvores de Natal.

The Gardens by the Bay also become the venue of Christmas Wonderland, a European-inspired Christmas Market around Supertrees Groove! It takes place from 1 to 26 of December, open from 4 pm to 11 pm with a $ 6 entrance fee (approximately € 3.5). This fair presents the traditional stalls with handicrafts, food and even amusement attractions and a skating rink, but with the particularity of being surrounded by these trees with a futuristic architecture and not the classic Christmas trees.

Gardens by the Bay (photo by Littlelle)

Carnival rides (photo by Littlelle)

Gourmet cuisine at Savour (photo by Littlelle)

Festive Market with handmade crafts (photo by Littlelle)

Festive performances at Cassa Armonica (photo by Littlelle)

Blizzard time under the Luminarie Light Sculptures (photo by Littlelle)

Luminarie with 80 Italian light Sculptures (photo by Littlelle)

Stunning luminous Christmas wonderland (photo by Littlelle)

Pelas 19h45 realiza-se ali um fantástico espetáculo de luz e som protagonizado pelas Supertrees - Garden Rhapsody, nesta altura do ano inteiramente dedicado ao Natal. Este é seguido por um nevão! Sim, 30º mas há neve! Ou uma espécie de neve! As decorações são bastante vivas e com muita luz mesmo à moda asiática! O ambiente é inesquecível!

At 7:45 p.m., there’s a fantastic light and sound show performed by the Supertrees - Garden Rhapsody, at this time of the year devoted entirely to Christmas. This is followed by a blizzard! Yes, 30º but there’s snow! Or some kind of it! The decorations are quite vivid and lightful even in Asiatic way! The atmosphere is unforgettable!