Chris AshtonWhenever I hear a best-selling novel is getting the Hollywood treatment, I tend to adjust my expectations on the way into the theatre. But there’s one film I had seriously high hopes for – Crazy Rich Asians, a romantic comedy based on Kevin Kwan’s international bestselling novel. And it delivered!
If you haven’t heard about it yet, familiarise yourself with the trailer:
The hugely successful film follows New Yorker Rachel Chu as she heads to Singapore for a friend’s wedding with her long-time boyfriend, Nick. Much to her surprise, Nick is actually from a crazy rich family, and she’s soon thrust into the world of Asia’s rich and famous.
Michelle Yeoh, Ken Jeong, Constance Wu, and Henry Golding are just a few of the stars of the film, but there’s that really stood our – the city itself.
Singapore is one of the most underrated destinations in South East Asia. We’ve been numerous times over the years, and I think this film could be the tipping point that finally shows the world that Singapore isn’t just a stopover – it’s a destination in its own right.
Here are some of the key filming locations for the movie.
Raffles Hotel: Rachel and Nick’s hotel choice
As famous as Singapore herself, the iconic Raffles Hotel is an embodiment of Singapore’s colonial history and the famous birthplace of the Singapore Sling in the Long Bar. The hotel was opened in 1887 and its name was chosen to pay homage to British Statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Singapore’s founder.
Marina Bay Sands: the ultimate engagement party setting
Singapore is known for breathtaking architecture that juxtaposes ‘old and new’ and ‘east meets west’. The Marina Bay Sands building has quickly become an iconic symbol of the city, soaring 57 levels above the heart of the Marina Bay area. The infinity pool that is available to all hotel guests is the world’s largest, stretching 150-metres long.
Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay: wedding reception
Singapore is full of passionate people who make the impossible possible; combining their expertise, creativity and hard work to create unforgettable experiences. The “only in Singapore” attraction Gardens by the Bay is a great symbol of this ‘crazy’ attitude, reclaiming land from the sea to build a 101-hectare green oasis right in the heart of the city that includes two large, free-standing domes: the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest.
The street food: Singapore’s famous Hawker Centres
Straight off the plane, Nick and Rachel tuck into some of Singapore’s famous street food, found at any of the city’s 100-plus hawker centres. The ‘richness’ of the city truly comes from its people, a harmonious melting-pot of cultures that includes people of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Eurasian and Peranakan backgrounds.
CHIJMES: Araminta and Colin’s wedding chapel
In Singapore, the incredible architecture tells the many stories of its past lives. The historic building complex in downtown Singapore, CHIJMES (pronounced “chimes”), was a former Catholic convent and girls’ school. The neoclassical building harks back to a bygone age with green lawns, marble waterfalls and courtyards now surrounded by buzzing restaurants and bars; acting as an inner-city oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.
Seen Crazy Rich Asians? What did you think?
