The Marina Bay Scoop

Marina Bay Sands Casino Gets License (Update2)

freshgreencities — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:54:37 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] Hot on the heels of the opening of a helix shaped foot bridge, the Marina Bay Sands Casino got its license to gamble yesterday. The were hundreds of passerbys walking on the bridge trying to take in the atmosphere on Sunday night. The bridge was christen ‘The Helix’ after a suggestion from the public. But it was the helix shaped structure that was first proposed to link the two sides of the bay was the common known working name. Then there is the story of how the name Marina Bay came about, but that is another story.

Update: There will be a FREE (for guests only) shuttle bus service from Changi Airport to Marina Bay Sands from the airport coach stands.

Update 2: 36,000 visitor throng the Marina Sands Complex in the first 24 hours of opening.

- SCOOP

Marina Bay on CNNGo

freshgreencities — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:45:49 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] Thanks to the amazing team at CNNGo, a travel and leisure website, my write-up on Marina Bay appeared under the CityPulse section – SINGAPORE at PLAY. Read it here>

Urban Freestyle Fun Run

Obstacle 2 with 7 more to go

The Finishing Leap

Festival Billboard

They come in Waves

What the Hell is Thunder Tea Rice?

freshgreencities — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:45:55 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] A Hakka(dialect group in China) dish that is all vegetarian and probably a dish served thousands of years ago. Lei Cha Fan is the mandarin name and it consists of spinach, cabbage, nuts, tofu, beans and lentils served in brown rice and a bowl of green tea. Love it or loathe it, its an acquired taste as the tea is bitterish thick soup and the mains is plain to taste, but it is served in Singapore with ikan bilis or fried anchovies that gives it a more balaced flavour. There is an outlet at Lau Pa Sat market in the CBD on Shenton Way. Ask the tea ladies there for directions. – SCOOP

April’s Fool Came And Left

freshgreencities — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:19:07 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] The April fools’ story that was supposed to appear on April 1, did not. It’s probably gone stale over the years. Will wait for a few more days for it to surface and then declare that the proverbial fool is finally gone. – SCOOP

UPDATE: It’s GONE fool!

Thunderstorm Colours of The Singapore River

freshgreencities — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:13:51 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] Not long ago, you could smell the Singapore River before you see it. These days, it much better although it could still reek at times. The colour of the waters has changed since the damming of the bay as silt washed from the land gets to stay in the water for longer, especially so after a heavy thunderstorm. But give it a week when it all settles to the bottom, the water is surprisingly clear on blue sky days.

One would have thought all the fish would be gone too. Surprisingly, they are still there, according to a guy whose been fishing there since young. Without agitation from sea waves, one could spot fish near the surface, flapping its gill occasionally. But don’t ask me what fish they are. Some sea birds, probably migratory have cornered a spot for their lunch. No one thought you could see such wild instincts happen right in the urban centre. I got my video camera and filmed the entire bait and switch, these smart birds stand really close to the water with some bread an old man was throwing to the pigeons. All the fish that are swimming around seem to know that its food and come really close to the surface. Then BAM!!!. That smart bird plunges his beak in and pinches out one small fish. And by carefully not letting it slip away, the bird swallows the flinching fish in one gulp, you could see the fish still moving all the way down his neck – SCOOP

April’s Excitement – Fun Runs

freshgreencities — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:03:50 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] April 2010 is packed with activities around the Bay area. There will be an exciting urban freestyle fun run, a Formula Drift race and the soft opening of the Sands complex.

The dry weather in Feb has moved on and that bush fire burning smell is largely gone. The grass is sure looking green again. – SCOOP

Marina Bay Casino To Open Apr 27

freshgreencities — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:47:38 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] The word is out today that phase1 of the Marina Bay Sands Complex will open on Apr 27 2010. This comes on the heels of the first resort that opened earlier February. Marina Bay Sands, a US$5.5bil complex hopes to hire about 10000 people to run its 2500 hotel rooms, conventions, entertainment and casino. Singapore’s government overturned a decades old ban on gambling in hopes to add to the vibrancy of the city by offering ample nightlife and tourist offerings. Lets wait for it – SCOOP

Singapore Sentosa Casino Gets Approval To Open(Special Post)

freshgreencities — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:30:20 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] As first reported here on the Marina Bay Scoop early this week. Sentosa Singapore first legal casino was given the nod to open its doors. This is on the back of the successful end to the Singapore Airshow 2010 trade days. The approval is effective today 6 Feb 2010. – SCOOP

[Additional] This is a special post not related directly to Marina Bay but to the gaming industry in Singapore, as Sentosa is also an important part of the system.This is historical as Singapore overturned a ban since 1965 on gambling to diversify the economy.

Crockfords Towers, an exclusive VIP only hotel should have opened up to some high rollers on this lucky day. That is good news to the business,I reckon. – SCOOP

Singapore Property Tycoon Dies -Ng Teng Fong 1928-2010

freshgreencities — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:32:59 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] Singapore’s largest developer by projects, Tycoon Ng Teng Fong has died of bleeding in the brain. His company, Far East Organization built more than 700 projects in Singapore including The Fullerton Hotel and Marina Bay’s One Fullerton strip. Dubbed the ‘King of Orchard Road’ for his malls along the shopping district, he has endeared the ups and downs of the industry in the past 5 decades.

His vision and astute reading of the market has also anchored the Singapore River line as top waterfront destination. His projects starts at the bay and dot the banks to Robertson Quay, further up river. Known to be extremely hardworking and frugal in living. In the early years, he has been to known to stay in the office till 11pm and staff members arguably stay with him till late too. Some say that he packs his own lunch, even on flights overseas. His company remains a privately held entity till today while the listed units include Yeo Hiap Seng, Orchard Parade and SinoLand(HK).

A rags to riches story of Singapore’s richest man (Forbes US$8b) will be retold as a legendary entrepreneur. – SCOOP

Casino May Get OK during Singapore AirShow 2010

freshgreencities — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:32:45 +0000

[MARINA BAY/SINGAPORE] The Casino at Resorts World Sentosa may get the go-ahead during the Singapore Airshow 2010. Afterall, the casino is meant for foreigners and what perfect timing is it to be when all the big wigs of the aviation industry and their clients fly in for the trade days starting 2 Feb.

Furthermore, all the worlds’ media will be in town to cover the event and it is a no brainer to report on the impact the recession on air travel and its recovery. Short of plain factual reporting on orders, they would need to find a bright spark in all the gloom to report on. It will add a little buzz for all the delegates and guests who may look forward to getting into town at night when their work ends for the day. You may even see some extending their stay for a few extra days, extending into the weekend since flight schedules are not really a problem(they own the airlines anyway).

Since the Airshow is a bi-annual event, missing this beautiful window would be a shame on all the planning put in. Not to mention, 2 years of hard work by thousands of nameless people who put everything together to come up with the building, the staffing, the operating procedures, trial and errors. The next major international event (F1 )will be a stretch away in September, too far and momentum is lost. Imagine the agony of the project will turn to a complete delight and a casino opening would be the perfect icing of the cake for all.- SCOOP