Tiger Tales

Singapurring: Get A High

 

Cable car rides, panoramic views and “sunset” bars – for frills and thrills atop a hill, take a trip up Mount Faber Park, says Marguerita Tan. Photography by Rory Daniel.

It has long been a haven for joggers and lovers alike. Located 105 metres above sea level, Mount Faber Park offers a reprieve from the city and breathtaking views of Singapore’s southern coast.

The 56-hectare park is covered with a luscious rainforest and landscaped slopes lined with bougainvillea and red flame flowers. It is one of the most beautiful places in Singapore to be at, especially at dawn just before daybreak and at dusk as the sun sets.

Hemmed by Henderson Road to the west and Telok Blangah Way/Rise to the north, the terrain where the park lies used to be part of Telok Blangah Hill. It was renamed Mount Faber in 1845 after Captain Faber of the Madras Engineers, who built the narrow winding road to the summit for the new Signal Station (the old one was at Blakang Mati, now Sentosa Island).

SCENIC SPOT

These days, avid joggers pacing along the winding main road which leads to the peak (from Kampong Bahru Road) and down again (Morse Road) are a common sight on Mount Faber. So are couples canoodling on benches located all over the lovely park.

Since 1974, the landmark is renowned for where one can embark on a cable car and enjoy a ride 600 metres above the ground to the former World Trade Centre (now known as HarbourFront Tower Two) and onwards over the waters to Sentosa Island.

By the time the old cableway system underwent a SGD11 million facelift in 1994, it had carried close to 20 million riders.

In 1999, it introduced the world’s first glass-bottomed cabins that proved to be an instant hit with tourists and locals alike.

With the emergence of eateries and lookout points along the ridges, Mount Faber Park has easily become one of the city-state’s must-visit tourist attractions.

POINTS OF VIEWS

At its summit Faber Point, visitors will get to see Singapore in all its urban splendour.

To the south is the world’s busiest port and the southern islands; to the north, a landscape of the country’s high-rise housing blocks spanning all the way to the city centre. Here, you will also find a mural wall depicting the history of Singapore and, most importantly for snap-happy tourists, the only Merlion in the country you can actually stand next to for a souvenir shot.

A truly therapeutic spot where one can take in the views is the east-end lookout point between the

Telecoms Towers and the maritime-themed Marina Deck that has a ship-shaped restaurant serving steamboat buffet daily.

This viewing deck offers a bird-eye’s view of the cable cars going to and fro Mount Faber and Sentosa, as well as a lovely view of the terraced slopes of both natural and planted vegetation.

JEWEl ON THE MOUNT

While it was once a place where lovers bring a picnic of snacks and drinks, and sit on the benches for a quick bite before cuddling, Mount Faber has turned into quite the lifestyle hub for trendy urbanites today.

Grub and grog can be found at The Jewel Box establishment, which also houses the Mount Faber Cable Car Station and Faber Forest, a souvenir store where you can pick up memorabilia and gift items.

A star attraction here is the world’s only life-size cable car cabin created by Lego. Costing SGD34,000, it took 380 hours and 20,000 Lego pieces to create. The amazing model is presently used to highlight the cableway’s sky dining experience.

Another eye-popping (and useful) feature at The Jewel Box is its stylish toilets which not only boast designer egg-shaped toilet bowls that cost SGD5,000 each, but also floor-to-ceiling glass windows – which means adjusting your pantyhose or crown jewels should probably be done before you step out of the cubicles!

PARTY ON

The pioneer party place on this Mount is the open-air Altivo Bar which has made a name for itself as a fantastic chill-out joint, as well as the best place to watch the sun set in Singapore (around 7pm).

If you prefer to watch the sun go down in air-conditioned comfort, grab a sweet spot – and your choice of poison – at the swanky Glass Bar.

Elsewhere, if you fancy a mean steak, the cosy hillside Faber Hill Bistro offers that and more. Alternatively, head for the Faber Rock, located at the Viewing Deck, where you can indulge in a full-service bar and awesome night views of the cable cars and Sentosa in its evening glory.

All in, Mount Faber is worth scaling for a mountain of reasons, not least of all for a great experience of Singapore’s true nature. Tiger Tales

HOW TO GET THERE

Mount Faber Park is a 45-minute drive from Changi International Airport.

Take a train to harbourFront MRT Station and board a cable car at harbourFront Tower Two Cable Car Station. or hop onto SBS Transit Bus 409 at harbourFront Interchange (available daily from Monday to Friday, 6pm to
11.30pm; weekends, public holidays and eves, 9am to 11.30pm).

Buses depart every 30 minutes. $1 per trip by cash or ez-link card.