Inspired by the Business Times article found here (http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/news/393588/MBS_Makings_of_a_big_star.html), I decided to make a trip to Marina Bay Sands on 26 Jun 10.
Marina Bay Sands (website: http://www.marinabaysands.com/) is more than a casino. There are shops, restaurants, lounge, an outdoor area for you to see the Singapore skyline and a SkyPark for you to get a bird's eyeview of the surrounding islands. In year 2011, there will be performance theatres, exhibition halls and maybe even "sound and light" shows on certain nights.
Besides the surfboard-like SkyPark, you may noticed some "flappers" outside the 55-storey hotel. These are collectively known as "Wind Arbor". The flappers created a water ripple-like effect when the wind blows and look nice both daytime and at night. Inside the hotel main lobby (above, bottom row, right pic), look up and you will see some steel spider-web like structure, called "Drift".
The buildings opposite the hotel are the shops (or "shoppes"). Near the outdoor area, you will see an inverted dome structure. This is NOT a wishing well, so please do not throw your "lucky coins" down the dome. This is also not a litter-bin. There may be security cameras trained at the structure, so good luck to the person who attempts to throw rubbish down this dome. :-)It is actually called a "rain oculus", designed to catch rain water which will drip into a "canal" in the shopping centre. If you happened to be at the "shoppes" when it rains, you may like to take a look at this rain-catching "oculus" from the basement. I spotted some drain-holes in the "canal", so I am confident it will not overflow and flood the basement shops during extremely heavy rainfall.
One function of the "canal" is for the romantics who may like to catch a sampan ride (as opposed to a gondola ride) in the shopping centre. I would not expect the sampan ride to be "rocky", even when the weather outside is stormy.
In the main hotel, there is a lounge with 'live' music playing, called "Fuse" (top row, left). Next to it (top row, right) is an international buffet restaurant called "Rise". At the other end (bottom row) is a Chinese restaurant called "Jin Shan" ("Golden Hill" in Mandarin).
One function of the "canal" is for the romantics who may like to catch a sampan ride (as opposed to a gondola ride) in the shopping centre. I would not expect the sampan ride to be "rocky", even when the weather outside is stormy.
In the main hotel, there is a lounge with 'live' music playing, called "Fuse" (top row, left). Next to it (top row, right) is an international buffet restaurant called "Rise". At the other end (bottom row) is a Chinese restaurant called "Jin Shan" ("Golden Hill" in Mandarin). I shall not mention the other Chinese restaurant located at the casino area which is served by 2 slow lifts. If both lifts broke down while the guests were already in the restaurant, the Singaporean restaurant patrons may have to pay Casino Levy (S$100 per Singaporean) to leave the place via the Casino.
Marina Bay Sands has a "kids club" for you to "park" your kids, while you "park" yourself at the casino, shops or restaurants. The kids will be entertained by electronic games, cartoons and the staff would even play table-tennis or table-soccer with your kids if they wish to. The "Casino" signboard is popular with non-patrons (especially those below the age limit) to take a picture to show they have been near a casino.
Marina Bay Sands has a "kids club" for you to "park" your kids, while you "park" yourself at the casino, shops or restaurants. The kids will be entertained by electronic games, cartoons and the staff would even play table-tennis or table-soccer with your kids if they wish to. The "Casino" signboard is popular with non-patrons (especially those below the age limit) to take a picture to show they have been near a casino.
