A few hours at Sentosa

Day 5
Feb 3, 2013
Singapore

My flight back to Manila was not until 9 PM so I decided to go to Resorts World Sentosa. I skipped Universal Studios (which was a good thing since it rained that afternoon) and just went to see the largest indoor water tank in the world - S.E.A  Aquarium, home to more than 800 species of marine animals.

Exploring Marina Bay Sands

Day 4
Feb 2, 2013
Singapore

I have been in the Marina Bay Sands complex for the past 2 days already for the conference but I never really had the chance to explore it, save for a quick walk around the Shoppes, where I cannot afford a single thing, and the ArtScience Museum the previous day. So, after moving to Hermes' place where I stayed for the weekend, I met Joanne and Mitch who toured me around the complex.

We first went to the Skypark where I got to see a bird's eye view of the Marina Bay and a partial view of the infinity pool which was understandably closed to tourists.

After we were roasted at the Skypark - Singapore is hot in every sense of the word - we went to the Gardens by the Bay. First stop was at the Cloud Forest, a cool-moist conservatory featuring the world's tallest indoor waterfall and a 35-meter tall mountain covered in lush vegetation, which can be explored via walkways.

We then went to the Flower Dome which features a collection of plants from all over the world.

After exploring the 2 conservatories, we decided to stay here until night time to witness the light and sound show which started at 7:45 PM.

Business trip at Singapore

Day 1-3
Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2012
Singapore

It was way back in August 2003 when I first went to Singapore. Airfares and hotels were heavily discounted back then since it was post-SARS outbreak. We flew via Singapore Airlines, no less, and stayed at a 4-star hotel, all for 225 USD for 3 nights.

Fast forward to 9 and a half years later and I got the chance to go back to Singapore, and this time, it was for free. My supervisor sent me there to attend a Low Cost Carrier conference - to rub shoulders with the CEOs of low cost carriers around the region, some of which are our clients.

For the first 3 nights, I stayed at  the avant-garde Studio M hotel. The room I booked was smaller than I expected but it was very cozy and elegantly-designed. The only real drawback was the tight space in the toilet room - there was not much leg room in it and I am only 5'6".

Studio M loft

Studio M toilet room

The 2-day conference was held on Jan 31 to Feb 1 at the Marina Bay Sands, the latest world-class integrated resort in Singapore which opened 2 years ago. The place is popular due to the impressive Skypark which connects the hotel's 3 towers. 

Marina Bay Sands hotel

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

After the conference, I treated myself to the ArtScience Musuem at the Marina Bay Sands complex to see a few exhibits - the Art of the Brick and Outside In.

The lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum

The Art of the Brick features Lego sculptures by New York-based  Nathan Sawaya. The awe-inspiring collection includes Yellow and a 6-meter long T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.

Yellow

T-Rex Dinosaur Skeleton

The Outside In Photograph exhibit showcases works by Magnum photographers. Mark Power's 'Sound of Two Songs' is an intimate account of a foreigner's impression of Poland. Jacob Aue Sobol's 'I, Tokyo' is a pictorial journal of his experience living in Tokyo.

Sound of Two Songs

I, Tokyo

Later that night, I met a few of my friends from Singapore to celebrate my birthday. It was nice to catch-up with old friends/ex-officemates, most of them I have not seen for a very long time.

Joanne, Hermes, Rica, Gen, Andrew, Mitch, and myself