The setting sun's golden streaks are a spectacular contrast to the verdant green of the forests that line the river’s reservoir. Birds chirp their good nights, and crickets start their background score. The scene wouldn't be out of place in Ubud or Chiang Mai, except that I am in neither. I am in glitzy Singapore, known for its futuristic cityscape scenes. Yet there is not a skyscraper or a billboard in sight.
Banyan Tree resort in Singapore, the first of its kind in the city, is located in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which is home to all five of the nation's wildlife parks. It is a bit of a hidden jewel—even my taxi driver didn't know that there was a hotel in the reserve!
The resort's natural surroundings inspire its biophilic design. It starts in the lobby, which is built around two trees, and where creepers hang from ceiling light fixtures. Similar designs pop up throughout the resort: the Treehouse Suites resemble the seedpods of the purple millettia, a common flowering plant; the spa’s roof looks like the scaly shell of the endangered Sunda pangolin; and there is even a rooftop pool, shaped like a weaver's nest, which is accessible only to suite guests. My Family Retreat room comes with a bunk bed which, when coupled with the jungle-themed murals on the wall, gives it a mini-tree house feel. It is love at first sight for my toddler!
Sustainability is a key part of the Banyan Tree experience. Plastic water bottles are replaced with reusable ones made of sugarcane waste, rainwater is harvested to flush toilets, and a solar array generates electricity. There are digital room displays capturing your power consumption and nudging you positively (for example, 'do you really need all the lights on in daytime?') What's more—the air-conditioning temperature cannot be set below 24℃. There are ceiling fans if you need more cooling, but may not need it. This is a welcome initiative in a country where indoor spaces resemble Icelandic winters, in a highly energy-intensive approach to combat the tropical heat.
The resort's easy access to the wildlife parks is a boon for families, such as mine. A short walk through shaded pathways brings us to the Singapore Zoo, where we have breakfast in the company of macaws and orangutans. In the afternoon, we explore Rainforest Wild, where you can climb karsts and bungee jump from the verdant canopy.
Resort activities like botanical tea appreciation and essential oil preparation are another way to connect with nature. My favourite is Kopi Craft, themed around Singapore’s coffee culture. I make Kopi Gu You and Yuan Yang, two lesser-known drinks which add butter and tea respectively to the usual cup of coffee. Making the drinks myself allows me to control the proportions based on my preferences.
The hotel’s speciality restaurant, Forage, combines great views of the reservoir with a seasonal set menu that leverages sustainably-sourced seafood and plants, like lemongrass and mint, grown in the hotel’s rooftop garden. I enjoy the Hokkaido scallop with savoy cabbage, which combines the scallop’s sweetness with a mildly peppery broth. The dome-shaped yuzu and white chocolate dessert is almost too pretty to eat!
The following morning, as we have breakfast in the Planter’s Shed restaurant, my toddler practices the new words he has learned: 'jungle,' 'langur,' 'sunrise'. I, on the other hand, enjoy the sense of calm that our stay engendered. Most people visit Singapore for its trendy attractions—theme parks, malls, Marina Bay Sands—which are wonderful, but sometimes overstimulating. Banyan Tree Resort provides a great way to take a pause from the bustle and see a different side.
