Legends and mobile bars, way to go
by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Out of curiosity one weekend I checked out the Singapore River Festival and caught an original production presented by Singapore River Cruises & Leisure of Legenda Singapura.
It was the debut performance of the production which recounts the history of Singapore, going back in time to the period of the royal court of Sang Nila Utama, his journey to Singapore and his landing at the mouth of the river.
Produced by Splash Entertainment, it was a colourful mixture of Malay, Indian and Chinese influences. The costumes were glorious and exotic, the dances unlike any cultural dance I had seen.
The staging which was in front of a shopping mall could have been better. But the lion dance in the end was the best such performance I had seen – this lion had personality, both mischievous and skillful.
I then popped over to a bar located outside The Central for drinks and got talking to the manager. Orgo is a Japanese-styled modular mobile bar created by Japanese mixologist Tomoyuki Kitazoe, who is famous for his cocktails.
It will stay in Singapore till October 19 when it moves to Tokyo.
This is one of two mobile bars in Singapore – the other is AQUA located at Merchant Loop opposite Clarke Quay.
I can’t wait for mobile hotels to pop up. I once mentioned this to a hotelier after I had interviewed entrepreneur, Alexander Hasche (the man behind AQUA).
He had just created the first mobile shops in Singapore, using shipping containers.
But the hotelier said it’d be difficult in the hospitality concept given you needed bed, bathroom and toilet and all that plumbing and stuff …
I am not giving up on the idea though – I think the world is going mobile and so should hospitality. Assets that move from prime site to prime site, from demand spot to demand spot.
Yes, I know, they tried it with floating hotels but a hotel that floats in the middle of an ocean or by a riverside is nothing compared to one that can sit in prime locations in the heart of the grandest cities in the world.
What that weekend showed me – legends are here to stay and so is the idea of mobility.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11