“Set-jetting,” the catchy linguistic twist on “jet-setting,” is the popular tourism trend of visiting destinations where movies and shows were filmed.

Set-jetting tourism has transformed national destinations and individual filiming locations. Think of New Zealand, thanks to the Lord of the Rings. Or Croatia, due to Game of Thrones.

Or Singapore, where spectacular nature, landmarks, and cultures have captured moviegoers’ imaginations since the 1900s.

In 1931, the action-adventure Bring ‘Em Back Alive became the first international feature filmed on location, adapted from adventurer Frank Howard Buck’s memoir.

In 2018, Singapore set-jetting took off like crazy with the blockbuster romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians, based on novelist Kevin Kwan’s best-selling trilogy.

Cinematic Singapore is a picturesque dream come true. Wherever you wander in Singapore, there’s something to see, do, taste, and enjoy.

So if you’re dreaming or planning to visit Singapore, perhaps in this Year of the Fire Horse, here are five unique sights and film locations:

1) Jewel Changi Airport: This glamorous international airport wows with designer boutiques, truly VIP lounges, and the gorgeous Jewel Rain Vortex indoor waterfall.

Terminals 1, 2, and 3 connect to the indoor Forest Valley and Canopy Park surrounding the waterfall, cascading 130 feet (40 m) high.

2) Hawker Stalls: Singapore’s hawker centers offer casual food stalls with phenomenal street food. Heng in the Newton Food Centre earned Bib Gourmand status, along with Hawker Chan, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, and several others.

And Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle stall at 446 Crawford Lane is surely the world’s most casual, least expensive Michelin-starred dining!

3) Gardens by the Bay: The glittering Supertrees and the towering Marina Bay Sands are awesome by day and night.

There’s a free Sons et Lumières show nightly at 7:45pm and 8:45pm.

4) Chjimes, the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus: The over-the-top wedding scene took place in this lovely 19^th-century complex, usually a serene and scenic place to stroll.

5) Raffles Hotel: Opened in 1887, the legendary Raffles Hotel continues its reign as a leading luxury hotel and national monument. In 1915, a Raffles bartender named Ngiam Tong Boon invented the Singapore Sling.

The Singapore Sling is now the national cocktail, the Long Bar still slings gin, and Raffles remains a special place to stay. As attested by Rachel and Nick spending their first night in Singapore here.

Until next time, Reader

Travel on, sparkle on, meaningfully✨

Marilee + Paul Kostadimas
Spotlight Sojourns | Slow Travel
​with the Hidden Gemologists®

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PS: Speaking of Singapore film history, yes, Alfred Hitchcock’s quirky romantic comedy Rich and Strange was released in 1931 before Bring ‘Em Back Alive.

However, Rich and Strange was filmed on London streets and in British studios, not in Singapore itself.

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