Singapore Works - 1
That was quite an arrival at Capella Singapore at the end of an immemorable Thai Lion Air flight in a packed aging 767. Girlahead walked up the air bridge to find somebody carrying a prominent board with her name. Oh, are you travelling alone? said this young Indian man and took her bags fortunately. It's now so speedy through Singapore immigration, although it’s necessary to fill out the immigration form every time, despite having gone through Singapore a few days ago with a visa that now lasts for many months. But being Singapore, there were eager young men there who filled the form out for you. Two minutes and it was already received by the manned booths. It was therefore a case of in one end of the booth and out the other immediately, to a real world, Capella-style, orchestrated by Christian Westbeld, the discreet, wryly smiling dynamo who’s new to Capella and Sentosa but an old hand to Singapore in general..
The next evening the dynamo was starring at Capella’s evening ritual, see above. Here, it works around inhalation salts. You sit with an elegant cut glass bowl containing crystals of bergamot, lavender, yang-yang, and breathe these stones in to alleviate stress and fatigue, improve sleep quality, encourage relaxation and well-being.
Girlahead had in fact felt relaxed and being well since emerging landside at the airport. The hotel ‘car’ was waiting - or rather it wasn't a car but a gigantic Mercedes hearse, beautifully cream leathered inside, and the chairs had self-massage. Sybaritic’s an understatement, particularly when involuntary and satisfying lumbar shakes come not only with snacks but also today's New York Times. On arrival at Capella Singapore at probably a quarter to ten – at night - there was wunderkind Westbeld leading a team of about six in welcome. They knew not to hang around. Girlahead was then demoted to an ordinary buggy and driven to Villa 23, which like all 38 of the convex villas has a slightly convex roof – and a completely private plunge pool. Within half an hour the requested comfort food came: salmon with enough creamed mashed potatoes for a fly, and plenty of green broccoli, and the most delicious breads, including a lighter-than-air mushroom-shaped croissant with two Beurre d'Isigny butters, one salty, one unsalted. And then our heroine fell asleep…
