Marina Bay, Singapore

I was standing on the most upper floor of One Marina Boulevard Building before the meeting commenced when I snapped below panorama photo using my IPhone 5. It's beautiful to me and with the IPhone, it makes my blogging life became easier. It was very convenience and handy just to bring IPhone to snap photos and upload the record of my travelling and/or daily life journal. All photos in this entry was taken on 1st April 2013 to record my day trip event to Singapore, on official visit.

When I entered the meeting room, I was taken away with the gorgeous view of Marina Bay. It was slightly after 9.30 in the morning and with a fresh coffee aroma, I was definitely in a mood of capturing the moment. The marina bay was not fully completed during my family trip in June 2010, thus, I was admiring the astonishing building, Marina Bay Sands, officially opened on 15th February 2011 from a distance. The main contractor of the building far right of the photo was Ssangyong Engineering and Construction, a Korean international contractor.

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay, developed by Las Vegas Sands as the world's most expensive stand alone casino property at SGD8 billion (about MYR20 billion), including cost of it's prime reclaimed land. It has the casino, hotel rooms, a convention-exhibition centre, the shopping mall, a museum, 2 large theatres, 7 "celebrity chef" restaurants, 2 floating Crystal Pavilions, an ice skating rink, and the world's largest atrium casino. The exclusive attraction of the complex are a 340m long SkyPark and a 150m infinity swimming pool, set on top of the world's largest public cantilevered platform, which overhangs the north tower by 67m.

On the other hand, I was enjoying my guest simple and cosy office decoration. The flower pots stay healthy under loving cares of the caretaker. 

We had an Indonesian food inside 1 of the restaurant inside "The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands" after walking in a near distance. Everything was within the Marina Bay vicinity, very convenience development indeed. Many joggers were doing their routine though it was a hot sunny day.

The view of the floating boats are nice to see. It is available for ride at a certain rates. However, I dont have much time left for the rides.

This is another interesting object that I found and could not resisted taking it's picture that I found within the Olympic Walk as it was an art of peacocks feather.

My happy faces with a restaurant at The Shoppes background using an IPhone 5 camera application.

After the official duty ended at 3pm, I headed to see a family friend in Aloha Beach. They have gathered there for 3 days celebrating their family members birthdays, born in March and April. I was lucky to join their leftover BBQ sea foods and enjoyed the Singapore hawkers food. They are so kind to ordered my family's favorite lamb soup for take away. Lucky that it went through the immigration checks.

Below is the last photo that I took from the plane. The plane take-off at 1915 and I safely reached home after 2200 hours. It was a hectic journey but a reunion with Kak Nonie and Abang Amin was worth all my effort to get there. Hope to visit again soon.

Singapore, Sentosa Island - Part 2

Event date: 8th June 2010

Among the attractions of Sentosa Island is the famous Merlion Statue, Tiger Sky Tower, Butterfly Garden and Insect Kingdom, Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon, Songs of the Sea, Sentosa 4D Magic, Sentosa Cineblast, Fort Siloso, Megazip Adventure Park, Azzura Beach Club and Sentosa Luge and Skyride (photos inside previous entry, click Sentosa Island - Part 1). It was raining heavily when we were about to reach the resorts World by bus. The bus stop not far from the ticket counter. After we purchased the tickets, we took a ride with provided vehicles provided by the resort in the rains. Here are some of the our photos.

Winds and rains dulls the trip

Sad face!

Resort World Sentosa was opened for the public on 14 February 2010, which was the first day of the Chinese New Year that year. The casino complex also includes a Universal Studios Movie Theme Park, which opened its door for sneak peek of videos for the first one week of operations from 14–21 February, followed by full operations on the 22nd February 2010. We skipped most places and went ahead to the Merlion Statue. By that time, the rain had slow down and allowed us to explore the surrounding park of Merlion.

A gigantic 37-metre tall replica of the Merlion

For those who want to get further information and the attractions of what Sentosa Island is offering can visit their website at ttp://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/. You can also buy online ticket for the offered package. The online ticket must be redeem 3 months after purchased and have 14 days validity period.

Sentosa Island seen across the Vivo city

Everybody agreed that we should be heading back as the weather was still cloudy and there's no sign that it's the sun will rise. We took Sentosa Express Train straight to Vivo City and explored the external area before hubby and the boys went ahead the sports shop.

That night, when we said our farewell to our host, we concluded that our trip to Singapore, 4 days 3 nights are none other than satisfactory. We shall visit again. In sha Allah :)

Singapore, Sentosa Island - Part 1

Event date: 8th June 2010

Kak Nonie had prepared breakfast at home, it was like celebrating eid when looking at the foods spread on the table that she prepared. She was overly excited with our visit after many years and we are indebted to her kindness. The plan for our 3rd day before headed back the next morning was having fun in Sentosa Island and shopping. Brother Amin said that we could park at the bus station near Vivo City shopping mall and take the bus to reach Sentosa Island.

Sentosa Express

Bus que at Vivo City bus station

Sentosa is a popular island resort, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a 2 km  long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, 2 golf courses, 2 five star hotels and the Resort World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore. Sentosa Island once known as "Pulau Belakang Mati & Dead Back Island" before it was changed to "Pulau Panjang @ Long Island" in 1870. The first name was not having a good fengshui, being a swampy and once a killing field. 

While waiting for the bus

The island was renamed Sentosa in 1972, which means peace and tranquility by suggestion received from public. The Sentosa Development Corporation was formed and incorporated on 1st September 1972 to oversee the island development. Ever since, about S$420 million of private capital and S$500 million of Singapore government funds have been invested to develop the island to it's present state.

The causeway bridge was opened in 1992 connecting Sentosa to the main island. In 1974, the Singapore cable car system was built, linking Sentosa to Mount Faber. A series of attractions were subsequently opened for visitors including Fort Siloso, Surrender Chamber wax museum, Musical Fountain and the Underworld World. 

The Sentosa Monorail system was opened in 1982 to transport visitors across seven stations located around western half of the island. On 16 March 2005, the monorail service was discontinued to make way for the new Sentosa Express, which commenced operations on 15 January 2007. An environmental assessment conducted by the government of Singapore concluded that the construction of the resorts on Sentosa would to result in high likelihood of high scale biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, soil erosion and climate change, as well as several other destructive ecological impacts.

Syhirah said "Scarry ma scarry!!!"

In 2009, construction of a new foot bridge began. The S$70 million Sentosa Boardwalk includes themed garden, shops and eateries. There are covered walkways and travellators along the boardwalk for rainy days. The boardwalk, was officially on 29 January 2011, provide visitors with an alternative mode of travel to reach the island.

Excited for second ride

The main reason why we should return is because not 100% Sentosa Island was open at the time of our visit in 2010. Coupled with raining day when we were there, the children's did not really satisfied with what they experienced inside the Universal Studios Singapore. What they truly enjoyed was only the cable car ride up to the top and coming down with that cute little ride shared in the photos. I hope that 1 day they would be able to see and read this with their children. We, adult waited for them to finish while having a snacks and drinks.

Friendship is meant for keep :)

Wait for my next entry for more photos and adventures in Sentosa Island - Part 2. In the meantime, a photo of me and the adorable fish. Stay tune guys. Thanks for reading my blog. Peace!

Singapore, Sultan Mosque

Event date: 7th June 2010

After an exhausted walks in Singapore Zoo, we went to Arab Street for lunch. It was the Malay area nearer to Sultan Mosque. The food was delicious. After lunch, we drove to Sultan Mosque and parked there. Masjid Sultan a.k.a Sultan Mosque is located at Muscat Street and North Bridge Road within the Kampong Glam district of Rochor Planning Area in Singapore. The mosque is considered as one of the most important mosques in Singapore. The prayer hall and domes highlight the mosque's star features.

When Singapore was ceded to the British in 1819, Temenggong Abdul Rahman, the island's chief, and Sultan Hussain Shah of Johore, under whose jurisdiction Singapore fell, acquired small fortunes in exchange for their power. Sir Stamford Raffles also granted the Temenggong and the Sultan an annual salary and/or allowances and the use of Kampong Glam for their residence.

The area around Kampong Glam was also allocated for Malays and other Muslims. Sultan Hussain built a palace there and brought his family and a complete entourage from the Riau islands. Many of the Sultan's and Temenggong's followers came to Kampong Glam from the Riau Islands, Malacca and Sumatra.

Sultan Hussain then decided to build a mosque befitting his status. He constructed a mosque next to his palace from 1824 to 1826 with funds solicited from the East India Company. With a two-tiered pyramidal roof, it was of a typical design. The original building was replaced with a new mosque.

At JR Fragrance shop near Sultan Mosque

The management of the mosque was headed by Alauddin Shah, the Sultan's grandson, until 1879, when he passed the torch in to five community leaders. In 1914, the lease was extended by the government for a further 999 years and a new board of trustees was appointed, with two representatives from each faction of the Muslim community.

By the early 1900s, Singapore had become a centre for Islamic commerce, culture and art. Sultan Mosque soon became too small for this burgeoning community. In 1924, the year of the mosque's centenary, the trustees approved a plan to erect a new mosque. The old mosque had by then also fallen into a state of disrepair.

The architect assigned for the work adopted a Saracenic style, incorporating minarets and balustrades. The mosque was completed after four years in 1928. Sultan Mosque has stayed essentially unchanged since it was built, with only repairs carried out to the main hall in the 1960s and an annex added in 1993. It was gazetted as a national monument on 14 March 1975. The mosque is owned and managed by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS).

Another beautiful blue mosque at the junction, within Kg. Glam

There's a shopping arcade surrounds the Sultan Mosque. We had the opportunity to shop for ourselves and for souvenirs. After that, the children's had a good time at the shopping mall, especially at their favourite Topman/Topshop boutique at a shopping mall near Brother Amin's house.