A Weekend at the Marina Bay Sands
The MBS is a building that defies any easy description. The main hotel consists of three 55 story hotel towers that are all linked at the base by a continuous interior atrium and at the top by a "Sky Park" that spans all of the towers. The Sky Park on the 57th floor has restaurants, bars, an observation deck (the world's longest cantilever structure) and an absolutely dazzling 490 foot long infinity edge swimming pool.
Well after working very hard on Days 5-8 it was time to enjoy the weekend for Days 9-10!
The plan was to check into the amazing Marina Bay Sands (MBS) hotel for two nights. Just to be able to say we did!
The plan was to check into the amazing Marina Bay Sands (MBS) hotel for two nights. Just to be able to say we did!
The Marina Bay Sands From Merlion Park
The MBS is a building that defies any easy description. The main hotel consists of three 55 story hotel towers that are all linked at the base by a continuous interior atrium and at the top by a "Sky Park" that spans all of the towers. The Sky Park on the 57th floor has restaurants, bars, an observation deck (the world's longest cantilever structure) and an absolutely dazzling 490 foot long infinity edge swimming pool.
A Night View From the Rooftop Swimming Pool
The pool alone is amazing. The Sky Park is designed to anticipate 19.68 inches of wind generated movement. And since the towers are all built on reclaimed land they are designed with an expectation of some settling. Hence, the engineers installed 500 adjustment points under the 376,500 gallon swimming pool, allowing periodic fine tune the pool to assure the infinity edge works.
Nearby Gardens By The Bay
By Day
(Note the number of ships awaiting time at the Port of Singapore)
Nearby Gardens By The Bay
By Night
The MBS project includes more than just the hotel and casino. The complex includes a huge shopping center, various entertainment venues (the Sing Jazz - Singapore Jazz Festival was on while we were there), a full convention center, ice skating rink, the Singapore ArtScience Museum, a full MRT subway stop and the adjacent Gardens by the Bay.
After a series of delays and cost overruns, the project was finally completed in 2010 for a budget of $8,000,000,000 (yes that's billion) dollars. Making it the most expensive stand-alone resort project ever.
It employs 10,000 directly and another 20,000 indirectly.
Singapore's ArtScience Museum
After a series of delays and cost overruns, the project was finally completed in 2010 for a budget of $8,000,000,000 (yes that's billion) dollars. Making it the most expensive stand-alone resort project ever.
It employs 10,000 directly and another 20,000 indirectly.
The MBS casino is also unique in that it restricts free access to non-resident visitors. Singapore residents must pay a hefty daily $100 entrance fee if they wish to play in the Sands Casino.
During check in one of the members of our party was upgraded to a truly amazing suite on the 54th floor. Her suite was larger than my entire home back in Phoenix. It included a multiple bathrooms, full business center, a billiards table and butler service.
MBS Towel Art
My own suite was about 1400 SF and included 2 bathrooms 3 giant flat screens and (this is important) different towel art awaiting me each day.
I loved that.
While I really enjoyed my time in the rooftop pool, I had to cut my time short when I realized I was getting one heck of a sunburn even with a hat and swim shirt.
When our splurge at the MBS came to an end on Sunday, We checked into a local business hotel (which is showing kinda major signs of wear and tear) that shall remain nameless.
So for the rest of my free time Sunday I explored some of the more historic parts of Singapore beginning with the Fullerton Hotel. This is a historic rich former government building (the main floor used to contain Singapore's central post office). It was re-purposed into a spectacular hotel complex of its own. Its site is truly amazing. One side faces the Singapore River and the other faces old Singapore Harbor (now the Marina Bay).
The Fullerton Hotel was developed as part of a total redevelopment package that included numerous projects along the harbor including the redevelopment of the historic Clifford Pier. To immigrants arriving in Singapore this pier was their "Ellis Island". Now it is a stunning restaurant.
The Fullerton tract development agreement requires that no building may ever be built capable of obscuring views from the hotel to the bay. Part of the development was MerLion Park (the MerLion being Singapore's icon).
Across the Historic Anderson or Cavenaugh Bridges you reach a clustery of Singapore's most important Colonial era buildings and the famous statue of Sir Thomas Raffles.
I loved that.
While I really enjoyed my time in the rooftop pool, I had to cut my time short when I realized I was getting one heck of a sunburn even with a hat and swim shirt.
When our splurge at the MBS came to an end on Sunday, We checked into a local business hotel (which is showing kinda major signs of wear and tear) that shall remain nameless.
So for the rest of my free time Sunday I explored some of the more historic parts of Singapore beginning with the Fullerton Hotel. This is a historic rich former government building (the main floor used to contain Singapore's central post office). It was re-purposed into a spectacular hotel complex of its own. Its site is truly amazing. One side faces the Singapore River and the other faces old Singapore Harbor (now the Marina Bay).
The 1928 Fullerton Building
The Re-Pruposed Building re-opened as The Fullerton Hotel in 2001
Brunch in The Fullerton
With the Hotel's Postal Service Mascot
The Fullerton Hotel was developed as part of a total redevelopment package that included numerous projects along the harbor including the redevelopment of the historic Clifford Pier. To immigrants arriving in Singapore this pier was their "Ellis Island". Now it is a stunning restaurant.
The Clifford Pier
The Fullerton tract development agreement requires that no building may ever be built capable of obscuring views from the hotel to the bay. Part of the development was MerLion Park (the MerLion being Singapore's icon).
MerLion Park
(One of Singapore's Most Photographed Sites)
Across the Historic Anderson or Cavenaugh Bridges you reach a clustery of Singapore's most important Colonial era buildings and the famous statue of Sir Thomas Raffles.
The Anderson Bridge
Old and New Singapore
The Marina Bay Sands from The Anderson Bridge
The Victoria Concert Hall
The clock tower of the Victoria Concert Hall is a timeless landmark. The building was built in stages with the first stage completed in 1862 and the final stage completed 47 years later in 1909.
I'll be working through Thursday but will then have my last 2 more days of free time to sightsee before returning home Sunday. So I've still got time to visit the famous Raffles Hotel with its Long Bar. I'll likely take a pass on a Singapore Sling there however with its price tag a little north of $30.
The last photo is the interior of the ParkView Sqaure (where the local architects we are working with have one of their offices). It is a modern building designed by a set designer from Hollywood to be retro deco. The locals refer to it as the "Gotham" Building.
The lobby bar is named "Divine" and features a vertical 3-story wine cooler. Note the cable gantry above. When a guest buys wine requiring retrieval from the almost 150 high chiller, a bartender clad as a fairy "flies" up using cables to retrieve the needed bottle.
Divine at ParkView Square
Just never know what will be around the next corner in Singapore!
Roadboy's Travels © 2016
It all looks so beautiful!
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