Christmas Wonderland at Gardens By The Bay (2019)

Christmas Wonderland at Gardens By The Bay has been one of the highlights for the year-end season in Singapore and this year’s 6th edition features the debut of the Christmas Parade and a brand new interactive Santa’s Workshop!

Apart from expecting to take Insta-worthy photos of the light installations, visitors can also enjoy feasting at the various food kiosks at the venue, watch some theatrical productions, do a spot of shopping or play some traditional carnival games and rides.

Taking centrestage at the Supertree Grove, is the 21-metre tall Spalliera luminarie light sculpture, which is modelled after San Gimignano, an Italian hill town in Tuscany and the tallest luminarie Christmas tree in Asia. The stunning luminarie sculptures are handmade by Italian craftsmen using white wood from the south of Italy.

The Walk Of Peace is a 50-metre long light tunnel installation, inspired by the glow of sunset at the Gardens. I didn’t realise that it was made using 60,000 lights!

Do note that this is an extremely popular selfie/wefie spot and you’ll need a lot of patience and quick reflexes to be able to take pictures without getting photobombed by the other people around you. The best time would probably be just before closing time and you can almost get the entire tunnel to yourself (compare the photos below with the one above).

   

Whilst in this area, you may also rub shoulders with some interesting characters, who add to the carnival atmosphere.

   

Over at The Meadow, visitors can enter Santa’s Workshop and be transported to the North Pole upon stepping into that igloo.

Meet some reindeer and penguins on your way to meet Santa!

 

Don’t get distracted by the gingerbread men and colourful cupcakes on your way to find the man in the red suit!

This year, you can watch some animatronic elves packing presents for Christmas.

  

Finally, get to take a photo with Claus and he will tell you whether you’ve been naughty or nice.

For the first time at the Gardens, we finally have a Christmas Parade!

This comprises of a small float procession, featuring festive characters on three floats.  The parade will start from the Supertree Grove (near The Klook Express) and make its way down to The Meadow.

Look out for penguins, snowmen and igloos on the first float.

Next is a group of bear friends gathered around a campfire at the Gardens.

(hmm… but why am I reminded of Alvin and the Chipmunks when I look at them?)

The third and last float features Santa on his reindeer sleigh.

This provides another opportunity for visitors to take some pictures with Santa, if the float is stationary – i.e. when the float is parked, just before or after the parade.

Do note that the parade only takes place at 8pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

On weekdays, Santa will be making his rounds on his reindeer sleigh float.

Also accompanying the floats are a wacky bunch of elves, santarinas and some costumed animal characters.

You can find them dancing to the catchy music before the parade at the Supertree Grove and also after the parade at The Meadow.

Over at The Klook Express, visitors can go on a holly jolly ride around the globe and take in the sights from the world’s best scenic train rides, from the breath-taking Swiss Alps to Japan’s famous Sakura scapes. Download the Klook app and sing a song at the Carol-oke booth here and share your rendition to win travel vouchers for your next holiday.

If you do walk past this booth, be warned that you could encounter some cringeworthy renditions of your favourite Christmas carols!

Do take note of the following timings for Blizzard Time (presented by Haagen-Dazs) and Garden Rhapsody The Christmas Special:

To soak in the festive atmosphere, do catch this year’s new Garden Rhapsody – The Christmas Special, which features a medley of familiar Christmas tunes accompanying the light and sound show at the Supertree Grove.

   

Take a break from walking around and enjoy Yuletide Sessions and Christmas Carols under the magical Cassa Armonica gazebo, right in the heart of the Spalliera. There are performances by Inch Chua, Jana Ann & Joy Alexis, Sam Driscoll, Two Cheers and a Toast, The Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) Choir, EVOKX, The NTU Alumni Choir, and more.

A perfect spot to get out of Singapore’s hot and humid weather is to head to the Haagen Dazs Pop-Up Store. Two new limited edition mochi ice cream flavours are available here – Azuki Mochi ice cream with smooth Hokkaido Azuki bean sauce and steamed mochi pieces, as well as the French dessert-inspired Crème Brûlée Mochi ice cream with aromatic burnt sugar sauce and steamed mochi pieces.

In addition, three limited edition festive ice creams are also available – Frozen Snowman, Santa’s Reindeer and Fruity Escape.

My sister and I both thought the Frozen Snowman looked cute, so we each ordered our own versions of it! You can choose any 2 flavours of ice cream (except for the two new mochi flavours) to “build” your snowman, which comes with a chocolate-coated marshmallow top hat.

     

If you are feeling lucky, do note that there are two Lucky Draws that you can participate in at this pop-up store. The first requires you to fill up your details, plus your favourite ice cream flavour on this tag (see below) and hang it onto the Christmas tree. The other draw requires you to post a picture of your ice cream on Instagram with hashtag #hdandme and there is another card that you will need to fill up and return to the staff.

Go look for this photo spot before you order your ice cream, because when you snap a picture here and show it to the cashier at the pop-up store, you will receive a 10% discount off your bill.

If you’ve never experienced “snow” in the tropics, you can do so during Blizzard Time in the heart of the Spalliera at the Supertree Grove. I was too busy enjoying my Frozen Snowman cone and by the time I was done, I exited from the pop-up store to this sight.

Head over to The Meadow if you want to enjoy a magical gastronomic evening under the stars, surrounded by 50 magnificent Christmas trees. The Christmas Tree Café offers a selection of tantalising gourmet festive food and drinks from $6.

Sinfonia Ristorante strives to deliver a fine dining experience that is accessible for all gourmands.
Christmas Wonderland Featured Item: Chicken Wings with Tomato Blue Cheese and Roasted Beef Ribeye in Veal Jus

Mr. White, a pop-up restaurant conceptualised by WMartin and Taste Singapore, specialises in fusion cuisine that extracts the best elements of different culinary traditions to create a wholly unique multi-sensory experience.
Christmas Wonderland Featured Item: Wild Honey Hammer Wings, Smokey Sausage and Wagyu Beef Burgers

London’s Burger & Lobster has long queues at their outlet at Jewel Changi Airport. However, the queues here are shorter, if you haven’t yet tried their delicious burgers and lobsters!
Christmas Wonderland Featured Item: Brisket Roll, Original Mini Lobster Roll and Grilled Prawn Skewers

I couldn’t help ordering the combo comprising of a Beef Brisket Roll and Original Mini Lobster Roll ($25).

The beef brisket roll was flavourful and juicy with every bite! I enjoyed it as much as I did the lobster roll.

Dessert Wonderland – a first ever collaboration between iconic brands N2 Extreme Gelato, Happitea, Durian Edition and Tokyo Lamington.
Christmas Wonderland Featured Item: Durian Kakigori, Bandung Lamington and Malt-coated Roasted Sweet Potato

Lychee Oolong Tea

Head over to the Meadow Theatre for some theatrical productions (additional tickets are required to be purchased). Check the official website for show timings and prices.

The Old Shoemaker (SG) – 29 November to 1 December 2019
Snow Play (UK) – 4 to 8 December 2019
Trash Test Dummies (AU) – 11 to 26 December 2019
Vitaly – Pure Wonder (US) – 20 to 26 December 2019

Festive Market
Experience a truly authentic Christmas atmosphere with a total of 24 festive huts at the Supertree Grove, featuring speciality food and beverages, plus an opportunity for visitors to shop for Christmas gifts, all at one location.

Savoury dishes and returning favourites include the succulent Jumbo Turkey Drumstick from The Beast, Christmas Roast by Fat Belly, Garlic Onion Rosti from The 6ixs Rosti, a Street Food Circus version of Butterscotch Beer Fish & Chips, Mac Taco’s Christmas Taco perfectly paired with Turkey and Cranberry, Shiso’s Meatless Meatball Skewers and Pita Tree’s Chicken Paella.

Dessert lovers can indulge in sweet treats like the Rainbow Candy Cane Prata and Waffles from Fooditude, Pancake Hut’s (by Sofnade) own version of a Christmas Tree Pancake Stack and kick back with a glass of wine and classic panettone by Vino Amore. The Swag Social returns with their sinful Red Velvet and Mochi Donut Balls, Coffee Bandits entices with their Snowy Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich and waffle lovers can try the Signature Hot Chocolate and Buttermilk Waffles from French patisserie, Paul. Those who need a bubble tea fix can sip on Brown Sugar Deerioca and Matcha Brown Sugar Deerioca from The Alley, whilst admiring the view of the illuminated fairground.

The Beast prides itself on serving true blue Southern comfort food that warms your soul and puts a smile on your face!
Christmas Wonderland Featured Item: Jumbo Smoked Turkey Drumstick

Besides providing amazing and delicious food, The Swag Social also believes in providing food that puts a smile on your face, like a glow in the dark candy floss!
Christmas Wonderland Featured Items: Red Velvet & Matcha Mochi Donuts Balls

The Alley is renowned for its intensive tea selection, premium handcrafted ingredients and combination of artisanal and creative brewing practices. Some of their popular beverages include Brown Sugar Deerioca & Matcha Brown Sugar Deerioca.
Christmas Wonderland Featured Item: Chocolate Wonderland

Brewerkz, Singapore’s longest-running craft brewery experience, returns to Christmas Wonderland this time with an event-exclusive bespoke craft brew.

Named after the age-old tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, the Brewerkz Mistletoe Kiss White Beer features a refreshing plexus of cloves, vanilla and banana, brewed to conjure the familiarity and warmth of Christmas celebrations.
Christmas Wonderland Featured Item: Full Bar, Cocktails – Mistletoe Margarita, White Christmas Mojito (Rum), The Grinch Vodka, Snowman’s Gin.

Enjoy the sweetness of Christmas served to you in one bite at a time at Sofnade’s Pancake Hut! Don’t forget to grab their mini pancakes as well.
Christmas Wonderland Featured Items: Christmas Tree Pancake Stack

Carnival Games
18 traditional carnival games and rides are available to all visitors of Christmas Wonderland to enjoy. Tokens are required to ride and play.

Lucky Draw
All visitors to Christmas Wonderland stand a chance to win one of 12 prizes in The Great Christmas Wonderland Giveaway in four draws conducted on 6, 13, 20 and 26 December. Prizes include a 3-day trip for two to Bali, Pattaya or Penang, inclusive of a two night stay at Hard Rock hotel and return flight tickets, 3-day staycation with Hilton Singapore, weekend drives with Volvo as well as shopping vouchers. Terms and conditions apply.

Just make sure you collect one of these pamphlets at the admission gates, as it contains the lucky draw participation form.

Christmas Wonderland runs from 29 November to 26 December 2019.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 5pm to 11pm
Friday to Sunday, Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec): 4pm to 11pm
Christmas Eve (24 Dec): 4pm to 12.30am

Venue:
Gardens by the Bay
18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953.

Ticket Prices:
Standard Admission (Online): $6 (29 Nov – 12 Dec), $8 (13 Dec – 26 Dec)
Standard Admission (Onsite): $10
Concession – for senior citizens (Onsite): $6 (29 Nov – 12 Dec), $8 (13 Dec – 26 Dec)
*Entry is complimentary for up to 2 children under 0.9m for each paying adult.
*Separate charges apply for certain Christmas Wonderland attractions, OCBC Skyway and Gardens by the Bay conservatories

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE AND SAVE
Purchase admission tickets online to enjoy savings of up to 40%. Additional charges for some attractions within the event grounds as well as into the Conservatories apply.

For more information and to book tickets for Christmas Wonderland, visit www.christmaswonderland.sg or official ticketing partner KLOOK at www.klook.com.

Exploring Christmas Wonderland at Gardens By The Bay (2018)

Christmas is the time of year when Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. For many other people, it is the time for holidays, merry-making, spending year-end bonuses and catching up with family.

For those who are in Singapore and in need for some festive atmosphere, Christmas Wonderland, an annual year-end event held at the Gardens By The Bay since 2014, has officially opened and there are many activities that cater to varied interests, but the main highlights would be the 7-storey high luminarie mirror maze, a brand new “Garden Rhapsody – The Christmas Special” light and sound show at the Supertree Grove, a magic show by world-class illusionist Rob Lake, an outdoor skating rink specially flown in from Switzerland, German kinetic light installations at Santa’s Grotto and getting to meet Mr. Claus himself!

If you start your visit from the main drop-off area, near the Visitor Arrival Centre, you will find Asia’s tallest golden luminarie Christmas Tree, which stands at a height of 20.7 metres.

Look for the grand luminarie archway nearby and the path will lead you to one of the entrances to the Christmas Wonderland.

I’m not sure how many people share my view, but I feel that the sky looks best when taking pictures during the “blue hour”.

If you do a bit of walking around, you can also find various lighted archways around the park (do be mentally prepared as there will be many “photo bombers” around).

The places that you’ve seen up to this point, can be found at the non-ticketed area at the Gardens By The Bay.

Do note that Christmas Wonderland is a ticketed event and the prices will vary depending on the dates of your visit. More details on ticket prices can be found at the end of this post.

The festivities are spread across the Supertree Grove and The Meadow, so there’s a fair bit of walking to be done.

At the heart of the Supertree Grove stands a 22-metre high luminarie mirror maze, the biggest in South-East Asia. Visitors can navigate through this maze of mirrors without worrying about getting lost inside, as the layout isn’t complicated at all! (a slight disappointment for me, as I do love a challenge!)

The lights were quite mesmerizing to look at and I couldn’t help taking a few more shots from different angles!

Even a furry friend could be found enjoying the festive atmosphere, as well as the lights!!

Other light displays can also be seen as you make your way around.

Although it doesn’t snow in this part of the world, visitors during this period can experience the wonders of “snow” at the Supertree Grove during Blizzard Time.

“Snow”fall timings (schedule is subject to change pending weather conditions):

• 6:30pm – 6:35pm
• 7:55pm – 8:00pm
• 8:55pm – 9:00pm
• 10:00pm – 10:05pm

Garden Rhapsody – The Christmas Special
This ongoing light show now has a festive feel, with a repertoire of familiar Christmas songs.

• 7:45pm
• 8:45pm

Festive Market
A total of 24 wooden huts can be found in the vicinity and these are modelled after the traditional Christmas markets found across European cities. Shopaholics can look for unique Christmas gifts here, whilst the foodies can enjoy specialty food and beverages.

I usually can’t help ordering a serving of rosti whenever I can find it and there was a stall by The 6ixs Rösti, which serves this traditionally Swiss dish, with a South-East Asian twist!

However, I decided to go with something more traditional to go with the festive season and thus I ordered an “Original” Rosti with Turkey Breast.

As you make your way towards The Meadow, you will find traditional Carnival Games and Kiddy Rides. Tokens are required for these – games start from $4 and rides from $6.

Skating Under The Stars
Specially flown in from Switzerland, this outdoor skating rink features an 8-metre tall illuminated Christmas tree.

Open from 30 November to 26 December 2018, 4pm to 11pm daily.
Admission (Tickets available on-site only):

• Adult $10/session
• Child (12 years old and below) $8/session

There are about eleven skating sessions held daily.

I like the feeling of peace and tranquility when all skaters have been cleared from the rink.

Santa’s Grotto
This is the place to visit if you want a short break from Singapore’s hot and humid weather!

Meet Santa in air-conditioned comfort and along the way to meet the-man-in-the-red-suit, selfie/wefie enthusiasts can be kept busy with several festive installations and a kinetic light installation from Germany.

Meeting Santa Claus…

Slice of SAVOUR
“Slice of SAVOUR” is a bite-sized version of the SAVOUR Gourmet Festival and foodies can sample modern French cuisine by Michelin-star chef Emmanuel Stroobant’s Saint Pierre, contemporary Italian cuisine by Chef Simone Depalmas from Sinfonia Ristorante, modern Chinese bites from Blue Lotus by Chef Ricky Ng, juicy burgers from Three Buns by Potato Head Singapore, all-day café-bistro favourites from Bee’s Knees and artisanal Christmas cocktails by Three Wisemen (prices from $6 onwards).

Festive Entertainment
The Cassa Armonica, an 8-metre high illuminated gazebo, plays host to various carolling groups, as well as seasoned performers like Rani Singam, Joanna Dong, Sara Wee, JAWN and several others (check the official website for the performance schedules).

Tip: Try to time your meal time with one of the performances, so that you can enjoy some musical entertainment with your food and drink!

Magic Show
Catch “The Magic of Rob Lake” at the performance tent at The Meadows. Rob Lake was a quarter-finalist in America’s Got Talent 2018 and in 2008, he was the youngest magician in history to receive The Merlin Award as ‘International Stage Magician of the Year’ from The International Magicians Society – one of the industry’s highest accolades and the equivalent of an Oscar.

Duration: 45 mins (Daily, from Tuesdays to Sundays)
Showtimes: 7pm and 9pm
Additional 45min Shows (select days) at 5pm (on 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Dec).
NO SHOWS on 3, 10, 17 Dec.

	ONLINE	ONSITE
Adult	$12	$14
Child (12 years old and below)	$8	$10

Prices are not inclusive of Christmas Wonderland Admission ticket.

Lucky Draw
From 30 November to 26 December, all visitors will stand a chance to win one of ten prizes in three Christmas Wonderland Giveaway draws conducted on 7, 14 and 27 December. Prizes include three Genting Dream cruise holidays for a family of four worth $4,600 each, a 3-day trip for two to Bali, Pattaya or Penang, inclusive of a two night stay at Hard Rock hotel and return flight tickets worth up to $2,500 each as well as shopping vouchers.

Overall, the Christmas Wonderland is good fun for both young and old and puts you in a festive mood. My only grouse is that the weather isn’t cold enough to match the magical holiday atmosphere, but that shouldn’t put you off from visiting and soaking up the atmosphere! ^_^

Opening Hours:
30 November – 26 December 2018, 4pm to 11pm daily

Location at Gardens By The Bay: Supertree Grove and The Meadow

Admission Ticket Prices:

DATES	ONLINE	ONSITE
30 NOV – 6 DEC	$4	$6
7 DEC – 13 DEC	$6	$8
14 DEC – 26 DEC	$8	$10

* Entry is complimentary for up to 2 children under 0.9m for each paying adult.
* Purchase entry tickets online at least 1 day before your visit. Same-day admission tickets can only be purchased at the ticketing counters onsite.
* Separate charges apply for certain Christmas Wonderland attractions, OCBC Skyway and Gardens by the Bay conservatories.
* Separate charges apply for tickets to The Magic of Rob Lake. Save up to 30% with the special Family & Friends online bundle.
* Tokens are required to play the carnival games and rides.

Tickets can be purchased at www.christmaswonderland.sg or at on-site ticketing booths.

Note:
The luminarie light sculptures are lit from 30 November to 26 December 2018, 7pm to 12am (daily), except for the luminarie at the Gardens by the Bay visitor arrival area at the Main Entrance, which will remain lit till 1 January 2019.

[Review] Addams Family Musical in Singapore (2017)

Direct from the UK, The Addams Family have recently moved into the MES Theatre at Mediacorp and have brought along their entire clan, who are classified as being either living, dead or undecided.

For those who are still unfamiliar with this musical comedy, it is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the creators of multi award-winning Jersey Boys, with music and lyrics by Tony Award nominated Andrew Lippa.

Differing from the TV series, in this musical, Wednesday Addams is all grown up now and has a shocking secret that only her father Gomez knows – she has fallen in love with a sweet young man (Lucas Beineke) from a normal respectable family. Having been pleaded by his daughter to keep his “cara mia” Morticia in the dark, audiences will get to see whether Gomez manages to keep Wednesday’s secret until the two families meet for dinner, which turns out to be an eventful evening. Will love triumph or will there be disastrous consequences?

Photo Source: Mediacorp Vizpro

Playing the iconic role of Gomez Addams is established actor, Cameron Blakely, who was recently seen in Singapore’s season of Les Misérables as Monsieur Thenardier and also has a string of theatrical and film credits to his name. He seemed at ease with the role and sounded very convincing with his Spanish accent.

The role of Gomez’s beloved wife, Morticia Addams, is played by Rebecca Thornhill, who joins this show direct from the West End production of Mathilda The Musical, playing Mrs Wormwood to great acclaim.

If you had watched the previous run of this musical in Singapore in 2013, which was from the USA, this current production showcases a brand new orchestration and presentation. The sets look different in this West End version and it has also scaled down on the number of props used as compared to the Broadway version. According to the producers, having fewer props makes it easier for the show to go on tour.

Opening set:

Music is played live and you can find the musicians in the orchestra pit. Now this is what the real musical theatre experience should be like!

It’s funny how my favourite scenes in the musical have changed with this UK production. My new favourites are the opening scene and “Pulled”.

Wednesday Addams is played by Carrie Hope Fletcher, who previously played Éponine in Les Misérables. Apart from having an impressive theatrical and acting credit, she also has a strong social media following.

I loved her vocals, especially in “Pulled” and found that this song seems to grow on you, as I was even singing it when I got home.

25-year-old Grant McIntyre made the role of Pugsley Addams very believable and I wouldn’t have guessed his age if I didn’t know it!

Full Disclosure – this scene is one of the highlights of the show, so do pay attention otherwise you might miss the plot!

Photo Source: Mediacorp Vizpro

Excerpts from the musical:

There were many comedic moments in the show and I especially liked the part when Uncle Fester, played by Cory English, took a dig at the members of the audience who were seated at the cheapest seats!

During the night that I watched the show, somehow the audience didn’t get it when Lurch, played by Dickon Gough, broke out in song. I guess probably only true Addams Family fans will find it funny, as they will know that this butler usually only speaks in a series of grunts and groans.

I was somewhat horrified to find that “Thing”, whom I’ve always known to be a hand, turned out to be an arm in this show!

Despite feeling unsettled by the new interpretation of “Thing”, another one of my favourite songs is “Crazier Than You”, which features Wednesday and the Beineke family.

Photo Source: Mediacorp Vizpro

I thought the sound system at the MES Theatre was excellent, as we could hear every single word that was being spoken and sung. However, during some of the group scenes, the lead singer sometimes gets drowned out by the other vocals and thus I felt it could have been better if the sound balancing was tweaked a little.

Photo Source: Mediacorp Vizpro

The cast members divulged that they had injected some of their own interpretations to their characters. I thought they all did a great job!

Family ties are extremely strong in the Addams Family, so do come and meet this kooky family. I’ll leave you with parting words that the entire Addams clan will articulate to you,
“It’s family first and family last
And family by and by
When you’re an Addams
You do what Addams do or die!”

Venue:
MES Theatre at Mediacorp
[Map]

Getting There by MRT:
One North Station – take exit A and walk towards the left for about 11min.

Show Dates:
15 Nov 2017 – 03 Dec 2017

Show Times:
Tues – Fri: 8pm
Sat & Sun: 2:30pm & 8pm

Ticket Prices:
$65, $95, $135, $165 (excludes booking fee)

Special thanks to Mediacorp Vizpro for the invite to The Addams Family musical!

Oktoberfest & Thirsty Thursdays one-for-one drinks at Siloso Beach and other Night events!

Love relaxing and unwinding by the beach? From 5th October, consider heading to Sentosa in the evenings, as the Oktoberfest celebrations will kick off about three months’ worth of Thirsty Thursday deals at beachside bars, restaurants, hotels and attractions across the resort island.

Between 5th and 8th October, F&B outlets at Siloso Beach are celebrating Oktoberfest with authentic German beer and cuisines served by staff in traditional Bavarian costumes. Watch German music performances and take part in games including Hammer a Nail, Speed Cage Soccer and Golf Bunker Challenge.

Participating F&B outlets have partnered with Singapore’s only German Microbrewery – Paulaner Bräuhaus, to provide an exclusive Oktoberfest experience.

Enjoy live music with your cold brew.

Visitors to the Sapphire Pavilion may be “persuaded” to participate in a Chicken Dance in the midst of your Oktoberfest celebrations!

I’m not a huge fan of beers, but I have to say that this beer was really smooth and was quite enjoyable!

Some of the Oktoberfest fare include dishes like Traditional Pork Knuckle, Bavarian Meat Patties, Gourmet Sausages and Roasted Capon Chicken.

Dates: 5 – 8 October 2017
Time:
Thu & Fri: 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Venues: Sapphire Pavilion (Siloso Beach) and Participating Partners Venues
Participating Partners: AJ Hackett, Coastes, Flame Bar, Sand Bar, Mambo Beach Club, Ola Beach Club, Wave House Sentosa and Siloso Beach Resort
Admission: Free (but Island admission and car park charges apply)

Thirsty Thursday deals
From 5th October to 28th December, one-for-one drink promotions are being offered at AJ Bar & Beach Dining, Bikini Bar, Coastes, FOC Sentosa, Hotel Michael – Michael’s Lounge, Ola Beach Club, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore – Rock Bar and Wave House Sentosa.
More details can be found here.

I have to say that some of the beach clubs look pretty cool and the setting makes you feel as if you are in another country!

Coastes

Ola Beach Club

Mambo Beach Club

Wave House

Free GrabShuttle Service on Thursdays
Every Thursday from 5th October to 28th December, starting from 6pm, those who work in the Pasir Panjang and HarbourFront areas can enjoy free entry into Sentosa and complimentary rides to the doorsteps of these F&B outlets by hopping onto the Thirsty Thursday Bus (i.e. a special GrabShuttle service). Real time bus arrival timings will be available on the GrabShuttle App.

Guests working in the Pasir Panjang area can board the GrabShuttle service at Mapletree Business City and Mapletree Business City II. Departing at about every 30 minutes, the bus will bring guests to FOC Sentosa, Coastes, Bikini Bar / Ola Beach Club, Wave House Sentosa / AJ Hackett, Hard Rock Hotel / Hotel Michael and VivoCity.
[Last boarding at 1st stop (Mapletree Business City) is at: 9.30pm]

Guests working in the HarbourFront area can board the GrabShuttle service at VivoCity, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Singapore, HarbourFront Tower One and Keppel Bay Tower. Departing at about every 45 minutes, the bus will bring guests to FOC Sentosa, Coastes, Bikini Bar / Ola Beach Club, Wave House Sentosa / AJ Hackett, and Hard Rock Hotel / Hotel Michael.
[Last boarding at 1st stop (VivoCity) is at: 9.15pm]

The GrabShuttle route can be found here.

Photo Credit: Sentosa Development Corporation

Other Night Events at Sentosa

Merlion Magic Lights!
See the majestic 37-metre Sentosa Merlion come to life with vibrant and colourful lights and projections! This light and music extravaganza features a new neon theme for the first time!
Date: From 1 September to 29 October 2017
Time:

• Weekdays: 7.45pm to 9.15pm (30-minute show intervals)
• Weekends: 9.45pm to 10.15pm (Additional show)

Venue: Merlion Plaza (Imbiah Station, Sentosa)

ONE°15 Christmas Boat Light Parade
Singapore’s only Boat Light Parade, this features a flotilla of power and sail boats dressed in bright Christmas lights and decorations.

On 18 November, a lighted parade of boats will be on static display at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove from 7pm – 10pm. On 19 November, boats competing for the top honor of “Best of Show” will parade from ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, past iconic landmarks in Sentosa including Siloso Beach, Fort Siloso and Resorts World Sentosa, before arriving at the Sentosa Boardwalk, in front of VivoCity, between 8pm and 9pm.

Date: 18th to 19th November 2017
Time: 7:30pm onwards

Pop Up Night
Curated by urban artist Samantha Lo (aka Sticker Lady) and Singaporean visual artist, soph O, special neon light art installations will be put up at prominent areas along Siloso Beach, including the jetty, Ola Beachfront, Emerald Pavilion. There will also be interactive activities including UV Tattoo, Light Painting Booth and an interactive Doodle Wall.

Date: From 20 October to 12 November 2017
Time: 7pm to 11pm
Venue: Siloso Beach

Popcorn Movie Nights @ Sentosa
Singapore’s first beachfront outdoor movie screening series at Palawan Green. This weekly free outdoor cinematic experience combines awesome food, music and film for the perfect mid-week escape.
Date: 18 & 25 October 2017
Time: 6pm
Venue: Palawan Green (Beach Station), Sentosa

For more details on the night events, click here.

Sentosa Sandsation 2017

Building sandcastles is an activity usually associated with kids, but these days it has evolved into an artform.

“Sentosa Sandsation 2017“, a three-week long sand sculpture festival (from 1-17 September), is Southeast Asia’s largest sand festival and features more than 30 larger-than-life sand sculptures.

The exhibition area is spread across 2,400 square metres on Siloso Beach and visitors can walk through three zones with different themes, which include a competition zone, as well as sculptures depicting Singapore’s unique blend of culture, humour, quirks and colloquialism. Admission is free and the event is open from 10am – 9pm daily.

Leading the team of sand sculptors for Sentosa Sandsation 2017 is JOOheng Tan, an internationally-acclaimed Singapore sand artist, whose works have been showcased in over 70 cities across more than 20 countries.

An interesting fact is that the sand sculptures are made with just sand and water! 1.2 million kg of sand has been used and 300 tonnes of seawater needed to compact the sand. In case you’re wondering, the sand will be recycled after the event.

Apparently neither rain nor wind will affect the sand sculptures as the rainwater will be absorbed (and evaporate), while the compressed sand will not be affected by the wind.

Zone 1: Our Sandsational Singapore (Singapore, Ho Say!)

This features 15 three-dimensional sculptures inspired by local culture and I found that most of the sand sculptures in this zone are tongue-in-cheek representations of familiar Singlish phrases. The sand piles here are about 16ft (4.87m) high!

Download the MixGo mobile app for an enhanced experience and watch the sculptures come to life with various Augmented Reality effects (the app also includes behind-the-scenes video features, simulated photo frames and filters, as well as gamification features).

Sentosa Sandsation

So Jialat! (Using lots of strength)

Use the MixGo app to scan the picture…

A photo frame will appear and you can use it to take your pictures.

Blur like Sotong, Gabra like Zebra (to describe a person as being totally clueless, and messes things up)

Using the MixGo app, an octopus appears on the screen!

Kelong (match-fixing)

Singapore National Theatre

Lia’h Boh Kiew (to express one’s inability to understand)

Jiak Zua (to jiak zua or eat snake literally means to skive or shirk responsibilities)

So Wayang (an act of pretence)

Steady Pom Pipi (to describe one’s ability to remain cool under pressure)

Kan Cheong Spider (refers to a person with a nervous disposition, one who is easily flustered)

Cut Queue (to jump queue)

Talk cock sing song, play ping pong (to engage in nonsensical conversation or to make no sense)

Chope! (to reserve a seat)

So Kiasu (afraid to lose out)

Tok Kong (superb, top of line)

Using the MixGo app here will launch a game:

Zone 2: Sentosa International Sand Sculpting Championship

Based on the theme “Imagination”, 14 renowned sand artists from 13 nations around the globe are participating in this championship and the sculptors spent a total of 28 hours over three and a half days to create these creative works of art.

On 31 August, Portugal’s Pedro Mira was crowned the winner of the Sentosa International Sand Sculpting Championship, clinching the Golden Shovel Award and a cash prize of USD 5,000. Togo’s Bob Atisso and Poland’s Borecki Wiaczeslaw were presented with the Silver Shovel Award (and USD 2,500) and the Bronze Shovel Award (and USD 1,500) respectively.

The winning sand sculptures were judged based on various criteria including concept, design, originality, three-dimensionality of the works, as well as carving technique.

[Belgium] …if cats got bigger? by David Enguerrand

[Canada] Tropical Splendor by Michel Lepire

[Czech Republic] Lion City by Jakub Zimacek

[France] The world through children’s eyes by Benoit Dutherage

[India] Save our Oceans by Sudarsan Pattnaik

[Italy] Smog City by Leonardo Ugolini

[Mexico] Way (or Uay) by Calixto Molina

[The Netherlands] Entangled by Marielle Heessels

[Poland] Evolution by Borecki Wiaczeslaw (Bronze Shovel Award)

[Portugal] Broken Heart by Pedro Mira (Gold Shovel Award)

View from the other side of the sand sculpture:

[Russia] Dreams by Aleksei Shchitov

[Spain] Everything can be possible, so why not? by Cuesta Marin Montserrat

[Spain] Game Over by Sergio Ramirez

[Togo] The Drive of Illusion by Bob Atisso (Silver Shovel Award)

Zone 3: Shifting Sand 2

In this last zone, JOOheng commemorates his 20th year of transforming ordinary sand into incredible artworks through a series of interactive sand art pieces.

Visitors can “step into” the art pieces and become part of the artwork.

A different theme is planned for each weekend and those who visit between Mondays and Thursdays will be able to witness the artist at work.

Week 2 (work in progress):

On the final weekend (15-17 September), JOOheng will be sculpting a vision of Singapore in the year 2040, based on a winning sketch submitted by a local child aged 5-12 years old who will imagine how it will be like to live and play in future Singapore, and what makes us a happy and cohesive nation.

Sentosa Islander members will get the exclusive opportunity to snap a photo with the interactive sand artwork from Fridays to Sundays*, from 12pm to 9pm. Simply flash your Islander membership card to enter the photo area and have your photo taken with JOOheng’s interactive sand art! You will need to provide your email address or mobile phone number, so that the photograph can be sent to you.
*Only valid on the following dates: 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 September 2017, from 12pm – 9pm.

People’s Choice Awards
Visitors to this sand festival can take part in the People’s Choice Awards and pick their favourite sand sculpture by taking a photo with their favourite sand artwork, posting it on Instagram with the hash tags #SentosaSandsation and #SandsationalContest, plus stating the reason(s) for their choice. One winner will be drawn from the entries featuring the most popular sculpture, and this person will get to enjoy a 2D1N Sentosa staycation package. The results of the People’s Choice Awards will be announced after 20 September.

Event Details
Date: 1 – 17 September 2017

Time: 10am – 9pm daily

Venue: Siloso Beach, Sentosa

Admission: Free
(Note: Island admission and parking charges apply)

Getting There: Guests can enter the island for free via the Sentosa Boardwalk, or take SBS Transit’s Service 123 to get to Sentosa’s Beach Station.

As part of the resort island’s 45th anniversary celebrations, from 4-10 September 2017, Singapore residents will also enjoy free entry to Sentosa with a waiver of charges for the Sentosa Express monorail and gantry fees for cars, as well as free rides on Sentosa’s on-island cable car line which brings guests directly to the Siloso Point Station where the event is. The free cable car ride starts from the Merlion Station at Imbiah (opposite the Sentosa Express Imbiah Station).

Those who are making their way from Beach Station can hop onto the Beach Tram and get off at Mega Adventure, where you can find the entrance to the sand festival.

Augmented Reality Effects Bring New Life to Exhibits at the Trick Eye Museum Singapore

Combine 3D together with Augmented Reality (AR) and you’ll get an out of this world experience!

27th May 2017 will mark the launch of Trick Eye Museum Singapore’s new AR mobile app, which you can use to take pictures at the museum and also discover the additional animations which appear with each of their art exhibits. This app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You can use the app to take both photos and videos of yourself interacting with the art installations. There are added sound effects and music if you take videos using the app and you can watch some of my clips towards the end of this post.

The AR experience starts outside the entrance to the museum, where there is a hideous sea serpent waiting to pounce on unsuspecting visitors!

Running apps on your mobile with AR features does drain your phone battery life and I forgot to bring a power bank, thus in order to conserve my phone battery, I took only AR photos and videos during this visit, but I’ve also included some pictures from my previous visits for comparison.

If you have visited this 3D art museum since the last time when they had refreshed their artworks, you would be familiar with the rest of the pictures in this post but do take a look at how the pictures have been enhanced to provide a more fun and entertaining experience to your museum visit.

Original:

With AR turned on:

It puzzles me as to why a tiger has appeared at the Island of La Grande Jatte! Really unexpected!!

If you already think that this scene from the “Ghost” zone looks impressive in 3D…

…you will be pleased to know that it looks even better with the AR features turned on! I felt as if I was part of an animated movie with the skeletons moving about!

Some of the artworks have not-so-elaborate AR features, but the effects are still good as they enhance the visuals of the 3D exhibits.

Original:

With AR turned on:

Original:

With AR turned on:

Original:

With AR turned on:

Here are some other scenes with AR effects:

The addition of the AR features are best captured on video and you can “interact” with some of the animated characters (this is a chance to show off your acting skills!).

Here’s a compilation of some of the exhibits (please excuse my poor acting skills):

Do note that unless you are taking a selfie, you won’t have any idea of what special effects or animations are taking place in the space around you. If you have a friend helping to record the video for you, that person will need to be the director, otherwise it is pretty much up to your own imagination with regards to how to react in the scene!

Don’t worry if it’s too noisy at the museum, as the app will not record the background noise but instead overlay its own music and sound effects to your video.

Overall it was good fun and the AR effects certainly provide a different kind of interactive experience with the art installations!

Things to take note of before heading to the museum:

• • Download the “Trickeye” app (Free) from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
  • Bring along a power bank in case your mobile battery runs low from using the app.
  • Try to familiarise yourself with the functions on the screen, otherwise if you are not sure, you can always refer to the tutorial page.

From 27 May to 26 June 2017, visitors to the museum will enjoy 50% off admission prices for tickets purchased from the Trick Eye Museum and Sentosa ticketing counters.

Thanks to Trick Eye Museum Singapore for the media preview of the new AR features!

Chocolicious Fun at Universal Studios Singapore!

Chocoholics are in for a treat at Universal Studios Singapore’s latest Chocolate Garden attraction! Go on a Chocolate Adventure from now until 28th May 2017 and indulge your sweet tooth in some of the available offerings.

The entrance to the Chocolate Garden can be found between the Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase ride and The Brown Derby.

This walk-in attraction contains several themed areas like Lollipop Land, the Fondue Garden and there’s also a Choco Hedge Maze!

Lollipop Land

The swirls of colours immediately catch your eye when you enter the garden.

It makes for a nice photo spot.

There is an area for kids to decorate their own lollipops and they can add them to the Lollipop Garden!

Cocoa Hedge Maze

Get lost in this maze and who knows, you may even find some chocolate treats hidden amongst the bushes! It’s a pity the hedges aren’t high enough for adults to get lost in, but kids would probably enjoy this!

Fondue Garden

For a limited time, marshmallows are given out for free near the entrance to the Chocolate Garden, but if you haven’t had enough of them, you can purchase more at $1 for a set of 2 packets, each containing 2 marshmallows. The stickers that you see on the left of the photo below are for those who have registered for the cupcakes and cookies workshops.

Now if you have your marshmallows in hand and using the sticks provided, go dip them into the various chocolate fountains for a sweet indulgence.

There are several chocolate fountains of different varieties like Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate and there are even Strawberry and Pandan flavours!!

Character Meet and Greet

There are a few characters that you can meet in this area – Candice Cupcake and Mama Cookie are two newly introduced characters at the park and then there’s everyone’s favourite Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.

Candice Cupcake is such a sweetie pie!

Mama Cookie is quite a feisty character!

Then there’s Cookie Monster donning a chef’s hat and an apron. Who’s the guy next to him? Well, he’s the Chocolate Man…

Chocolate Man Hunt

The Chocolate Man wears a badge or patch with the words “Are You Looking For Me?” and he will be roaming the park. Look carefully for him as you explore the park and when you do find him, shout “Got you! You are the Choco Man!” and you can win a mystery prize, which ranges from retail and dining vouchers to Universal Studios Singapore admission tickets!

Cupcakes & Cookies Workshop

If you are feeling creative, you can sign up for one of the sessions where you can decorate delicious cookies and cupcakes. It costs $6 each for a cupcake or a cookie.

We were first given a demonstration of how to decorate a cupcake and the kids looked like they couldn’t wait for their turn to try doing it!

  

Here are some samples of cookies and cupcakes that have already been decorated – they all looked like a sugar overload to me!

  

Ok, now’s my turn to have a go at cupcake decorating and we were given some white chocolate, strawberry chocolate, four different bottles of cream and lots of candy sprinkles!!

On the left is my chocolate chip cupcake and on the right, my completed masterpiece!

  

I coated my cupcake with strawberry chocolate, but didn’t add that many candy sprinkles as I don’t like my cupcakes to be too sweet! Mama Cookie saw it and approved of it! ^_^

You can bring your cupcakes/cookies home after you have finished decorating them, i.e. if you don’t plan to eat them on the spot. A word of advice – if you’re doing cupcakes, do remove the flag before you put the cupcake into the box. I forgot to do so and mine was a little squashed after I put the lid over.

Here’s a quick recap of what you can find at the Chocolate Garden:

Schedule:

I wandered around the park to see if I could interest any of the park’s characters in some chocolate.

The Minions weren’t interested – oh yeah, I forgot that my cupcake wasn’t banana flavoured (you can see my squashed cupcake here).

The Raptor looked keen and about to escape from his enclosure! Then again, he’d probably eat anything! Oh well, I’d better run along before he really escapes!…

Do go check out the Chocolate Garden and the various characters there. It’s also a good place to hang out to get away from the scorching sun!

Other Chocolate Flavoured Dining Offerings

Chocolate-flavoured delights can be found at various dining outlets in the park and these include Cho-infused Curry with Chicken Katsu, Nutella & Cheese Fries, Crispy Chicken Strips with Chocolate Dip and Cocoa Slush. Visitors can purchase the Sweet Tooth Package and choose three selected chocolate-themed items at participating dining outlets for just $20.

A Chocolate Adventure is a new experience included with regular paid admission to Universal Studios Singapore. Now until 28th May 2017.

Mulan The Musical (木兰少女)

Mulan The Musical (木兰少女) runs from 16 December 2016 to 5 February 2017 at the Resorts World Theatre. This musical comedy from Taiwan, which is making its overseas debut, brings a different twist to the legendary story of Hua Mulan (花木兰).

The cast includes Zhou Ding Wei in the leading male role (the General), Taiwanese singer-actress Li Qian Na and Lai Ying Ying taking turns in the role of Hua Mulan and Singapore artistes Pierre Png and Ann Kok in supporting roles.

At the beginning, we are introduced to the Hua family, where the head of the household has some health issues, the older sister Hua Mulian (played by Ann Kok) was pregnant out of wedlock and the younger brother Hua Xiong, who exhibited some effeminate traits.

If you are familiar with the story of Hua Mulan, you will know that she took her father’s place in the army out of filial piety. However, in this version, she reluctantly agreed to take the place of her father as her siblings couldn’t make the mark and she was deemed to be the most qualified candidate in their family. Thus, Mulan disguised herself as a man and joined the army as Hua Munan (花木男), which is a more masculine name.

Pierre Png plays the army captain, also known as “Encik” and several of his scenes are hilarious! Be prepared for some vulgarities in the dialogue as some of the scenes have local influences and may remind the local audience of Singapore’s National Service.

Look out for this bathroom scene where someone accidentally opens the door to one of the stalls (whoops!) but I won’t spoil the fun for you, so you’ll just have to go watch!

My favourite part was this subsequent bathroom scene with the strawberry-scented soap! It was quite funny, but also romantic in a kind of way.

Whilst at the army camp, both the General and Mulan’s childhood friend Guanfu fall for her and it was amusing to see them wrestling with the idea of having feelings for someone of the same gender. At one point, Mulan was accused by her best friend for being indecisive and liking two guys at the same time (劈腿).

Well, there is a bittersweet ending to the story and in my personal opinion, it resolved the dilemma for Mulan to have to choose between the two!

Apparently, the script has been modified for the Singapore audience, to incorporate local humour and colloquialisms. Current societal issues have also been weaved into the story and these include single parenthood, compulsory military service and LGBT issues.

The music during the second half of the show sounded much better than that in the first half. I was most impressed by Zhou Ding Wei’s vocals and I felt that his voice outshined the rest of the cast.

Curtain call:

It turns out that I absolutely loved that bathroom scene with the strawberry-scented soap, so I just had to get this picture taken as a keepsake! LOL!

Do note that Mulan the Musical is about two hours long with a 15-minute intermission and the show is in Mandarin, but English subtitles are displayed on screens located at both sides of the stage. I wonder which translation software did they use as I found some of the English subtitles to be strange and it was quite funny – one example was 马子 (girlfriend) being translated as “pony”!

Overall, I liked the show for its comedic elements more than the musical numbers.

Dates: 16 December 2016 – 5 February 2017, select nights (please refer to show calendar)
Time: 8pm
Venue: Resorts World Theatre
Prices*: Cat 1: S$128, Cat 2: S$98, Cat 3: S$68, Cat 4: S$38
*Prices exclude SISTIC booking fee and handling charges. Terms and Conditions apply.
Tickets are available from SISTIC or at the Resorts World Theatre.

The photos in this post are credited to Resorts World Sentosa, unless otherwise stated.
Thanks to Resorts World Sentosa for the invite to watch Mulan The Musical.

Latest Exhibits at the National Museum of Singapore

As part of the final stage of the National Museum of Singapore’s revamp of its permanent galleries, the Glass Rotunda has reopened on 10th December 2016 after two years of renovation works. Two permanent installations “Story of the Forest” and “Singapore, Very Old Tree” are showcased here.

Story of the Forest

• Glass Rotunda, Entrance on Level 2
• Daily from 10am – 7pm
• Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs.

Health advisory:  Those who are prone to epileptic fits or seizures may want to use your discretion on visiting this exhibit due to the lighting and moving/flashing images.

Upon entering the upper level of the Glass Rotunda, one is greeted by the sight of a floral blizzard.

You’ll soon find yourself being immersed in a larger-than-life interactive digital installation that is inspired by the National Museum of Singapore’s prized William Farquhar’s Collection of Natural History Drawings. This treasured collection was brought to life by internationally renowned Japanese digital collective, teamLab, using the latest cutting-edge technology to transform 69 drawings into animated illustrations.

As you make your way down the passage towards the lower floor, visitors will encounter various flora and fauna. Try to spot and interact with the various animals that inhabit this forest! I found that the birds and the deer are easily startled and tend to take flight when you approach.

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Black-naped Oriole

Ohh…I spotted a Black Panther!

I love the vivid colours and that the scenes change from day to night and as you walk along, it may start to rain too!

For a more immersive and educational experience, visitors can download a free mobile application via the App Store or Google Play and you have the option of going on “hunts” to “capture” the different flora and fauna that call the Glass Rotunda home. Valuable insights into the illustrations from the William Farquhar collection will be revealed when you have successfully “captured” the animals using your phone’s camera function.

When you reach the lower level of the Glass Rotunda, you can either sit or stand in the middle of the room to take in the 360 degree view of the scenes being projected. This display certainly takes your breath away and is simply visually stunning!

Singapore, Very Old Tree

• Glass Rotunda, Level 1
• Daily from 10am – 7pm
• Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs.

The lower level of the Glass Rotunda houses the Singapore, Very Old Tree exhibit by renowned local photographer and artist Robert Zhao. This features 17 images of significant trees in Singapore and around the vicinity of the National Museum, as well as various stories which present visitors with an alternative perspective of Singapore’s history and the personal connections that Singaporeans have with our local trees.

What is Not Visible is Not Invisible

• Exhibition Galleries, Basement
• 7 Oct 2016 to 19 Feb 2017
• 10am – 7pm (from 1pm on Thursdays)
• Free admission for Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and visitors aged 6 years and below.

This exhibition of multi-media installations uses unconventional approaches in art-making and features selected artworks from the French Regional Collections of Contemporary Art (FRAC). Its title and design takes inspiration from the artwork of the same title by French artist Julien Discrit.

Go on a philosophical journey with the various artworks, which will take each visitor into a new state of mind through personal interpretations of the presentations, its surrounding space and context.

When you enter this space, you will see three infrared lightbulbs strung from the ceiling in front of a blank wall. These bulbs are triggered by the viewer’s presence and they will light up to reveal the ultraviolet text on the wall: “What is not visible is not invisible”. The work only appears when it is seen, thus highlighting that to express the invisible, one needs to paradoxically have to make it visible.

I’m not good at interpreting art pieces, many of which are too profound for me, but cobwebs – yes, I agree that sometimes these are “invisible” if you don’t notice them.

This exhibition has several spots for those who like to pose for photos or if #OOTD is your kind of thing.

Moving through the exhibits, I came across a room filled with green balloons (Work No. 262 by British multimedia artist Martin Creed), but my foodie mind immediately made me think of luscious green grapes, thus I didn’t know how to interpret this installation.

I think it makes quite a nice background for a photo – no?

This one below is titled “Repulse Bay” (by Dominique Gonzales-Foerster) – I was a bit confused as its name reminded me of the beach in Hong Kong, but then again, it also resembles a swimming pool! Apparently the artist’s intention is to attempt to have an exterior/interior situation where you are unable to differentiate between whether you are indoors or outdoors.

I was clueless as to what these pieces of paper are for but apparently you can take one home if you like. The faces do look cute!

Wings of a Rich Manoeuvre

• Level 2, located above the bridge
• Daily from 10am – 7pm
• (do check with museum staff on the timings when the chandeliers will be in motion)

This is a new kinetic installation by home grown artist Suzann Victor and it took 2 years to be completed! This stunning contemporary masterpiece features 14,000 handpicked precision-cut Swarovski crystals accentuated by sophisticated LED technology that hang from eight wing-like stainless steel chandeliers. Wow…each “wing” spans 1.2m in length!

At various times in the day, these chandeliers will swing, being propelled by customised electromagnets and they can form 8 different swinging patterns. I especially liked them when the blue lights were turned on, but you need to be quick to photograph them as the light patterns will keep moving and changing too!

Address:
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897.
[Map]

Telephone: +65 63323659 / +65 63325642

Opening Hours:
Daily from 10am to 7pm.
Last admission to Glass Rotunda at 6:15pm.
Last admission to all other galleries at 6:30pm.

[Media Preview] Universal Journey – the World’s Largest Indoor Light Display!

The Universal Journey is a brand new experiential festive light display, which is the highlight of this year’s Santa’s All-Star Christmas at Universal Studios Singapore. It features eight thematic zones of wonder that have been constructed with the use of a total of 824,961 light bulbs! Yes, you read the number correctly – this whopping number of lights have earned the theme park a Guinness World Record for having the largest light bulb display in an indoor venue!

Take a step in and you will find a Big Planet amidst a backdrop of stars in the night sky. There’s a hole in the middle of the planet and it resembles a wormhole or a time warp tunnel!

The lights in the tunnel change colours, so you can take your pick of your favourite colours when posing for pictures.

You will soon be transported into the Enchanted Pine Forest, where you can find trees in a mesmerizing assortment of colours!

Upon closer inspection, you can see that the lights come from these tiny LED light bulbs.  How on earth did the Guinness World Record Officials manage to count the total number of light bulbs?!!  I think I would be all googly-eyed and probably lose count after a while!

After passing through the forest, you will enter the Haven of Pixies, which is a magical realm and it feels as though you have stepped into fairyland!

From here we get a glimpse of the next zone and the combination of all the lights is quite a breathtaking sight to behold!

Ohh…what is that long archway which looks a little like a slinky toy?

This is called the Rainbow Bridge and its name was inspired by Thor, as divulged by Ms Andrea Teo, Vice President of Entertainment at Resorts World Sentosa.

The colours move around, producing different effects and I thought it was quite fun to walk through this!

Even Marilyn Monroe appeared to be enjoying herself in this space! ^_^

The archway at the other end of the bridge will take you into Herald’s Square.

Imagine stepping into a quaint European town without having to buy a plane ticket to get there!

Cute deer can be found close to the foliage.

  

Betty Boop certainly enjoyed posing for pictures with them!

There is a side door to another room which contains the Land of Great Gifts.

I just love Christmas light displays and this entire place and its atmosphere is simply amazing with its dazzling array of lights that I just had to get a photo to remember the experience!

Here’s a walkthrough of the Universal Journey, but you really have to be here to soak in the atmosphere!:

Bring family and friends, or you can even have a romantic date here and take lots of pictures! It certainly promises to be a dazzlingly spectacular and memorable experience!

We even did a mannequin challenge there – see if you can spot me in Resorts World Sentosa’s video! LOL!!

Santa’s All-Star Christmas will be held from 1st December 2016 to 2nd January 2017 at Universal Studios Singapore.