IMAGE SOURCE: ANATARA ULUWATA
Bali is a great spot to head to for some winter sun, and we’ve got a timely tipple to toast the end of 2023 with – arak. This potent, clear spirit, typically made with sap from the coconut palm flower, has been brewed by Bali’s community distillers and used in traditional ceremonies for centuries. But the recent decision to regulate its production means tourists can now (safely) sample this aromatic spirit, too. Bartenders across the island are celebrating its revival with some seriously creative cocktails, and we recommend trying it at the Anantara Uluwatu resort, where there are daily arak hours (happy hours are so passé, after all) and a range of delicious arak-based cocktails.
Flying to Bali via Singapore? Consider spending a night on Sentosa island, where you’ll find The Palawan @ Sentosa entertainment complex. Highlights of Sentosa’s hottest new destination include a huge inflatable obstacle course, luxurious beachfront cabanas and a gorgeous swim-up bar. But our favourite attraction is HyperDrive, a hi-tech threestorey electric go-karting course. Drivers who tackle the track can collect virtual weapons, including ones that can be used to slow down competitors.