Marina Bay Mist Walk

Marina Bay Mist Walk

I wandered through the Marina Bay Mist Walk one cool evening in Singapore.

This Marina Bay Mist Walk is an area located at the banks of Marina Bay between the Marina Bay Sands hotel and convention centre, and the Marina Bay City Gallery.

Fronting the Marina Bay Mist Walk is a boardwalk where one can walk along the bank of Marina Reservoir to enjoy a quiet view of the Marina Bay city skyline.

The Marina Bay Mist Walk provides an interesting interactive feature for visitors. Here, you can receive a free 'spa treatment'. All you need to do is to stand beneath any of the numerous spouts. Under coloured lights, position your body to enjoy some pampering on your skin when the streams of mist land on you.

Marina Bay Mist Walk Photo 1:

Does the temperature of the misty spray alter with changing colours? Does the mist smoothen wrinkles and frown lines? Does it make your hair stickly, gluey or smelly? Would you catch a cold if you stand here for too long? Is the ground wet, slippery or muddy?

Marina Bay Mist Walk Photo 2:

To answer those questions and more, you have got to visit the Marina Bay Mist Walk to find the answers for your unique skin and body type.

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Christmas Greetings From Seen This Scene That

Christmas Greetings From Seen This Scene That

Here's wishing all readers of Seen This Scene That a Merry Merry Christmas!

I hope you have an enjoyable and wonderful holiday.

Cheers!

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2010 SCMS Full Marathon Completion

2010 SCMS Full Marathon Completion

Today, I completed my inaugural 42.195 km long race at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore.

This 2010 SCMS full marathon completion was rewarded with a beautiful full marathon finisher medal, a full marathon finisher T-shirt and plenty of wonderful race memories to treasure.

My unofficial full marathon completion time was surprisingly faster than I expected. I shall wait for official results to confirm my personal best. As this is my first marathon completion, whatever timing that is achieved will become my PB.

In the process of my 2010 SCMS full marathon completion, I was fortunate not to have sustained major physical damage. Just some muscle soreness and a few abrasions. I'm sure over the next few days, I will discover more aches and tenderness in unexpected areas of my body.

For now, I shall switch off, relax and enjoy the rest of 2010.

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Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview

On this day in December 2010, I shall put on record some of my pre-marathon race thoughts in this Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km preview on a Seen This Scene That post.

Above: Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview Picture 1 - Race T-shirt and BIB.


Writing this is an exercise to prepare myself for my inaugural full marathon run on 5 December 2010.

A bit of background is in order.

I have never attempted to run 42.195km in training and certainly not in a full marathon in Singapore or anywhere else on this planet.

My marathon training for the 42 km Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) race began with preliminary work in 2009 when I first toyed with the idea of participating in a full marathon after finishing a 10 km run.

Regular (and serious) marathon training kicked off about five months ago but disruptions due to mild training injuries and non marathon-related interferences affected my schedule of interval trainings, tempo runs, hill work, long slow runs and other necessary preparation.

My last competitive half-marathon (21km) run was at the 21-km SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon on 12 Sep 2010. Since then, long runs of distances up to 38 km have become a regular fortnightly routine.

What do I expect to achieve at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010?

My main idea is to enjoy my very first full 42.195km marathon run. Hopefully from start to finish and every minute in between.

Certainly the start point of this year's full marathon promises a star-studded line up with scenes of seasonal-themed street decorations and festive lights.

A run through Orchard Road and Chinatown also offers refreshing background sceneries for full marathon runners.

The Marina Bay waterfront will add more visual features to take away the stress of a full marathon run. Away from the city, the run across Marina Barrage is expected to be another scenic highlight.

Above: Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview Picture 2: Marathon Race Route.

I expect to meet a record number of full marathon participants. Competitive runners bring inspiration and encouragement. With runners surging along the full marathon route, I hope that it will raise a wave of positive energy to carry me into the final stretch and beyond.

My pre-race preview of the full marathon running route reveals that for the most part, it is generally a flat one. At about the 37km mark though, when I run up the steep Benjamin Sheares Bridge, I think that would be most challenging segment. It is the steepest incline of the entire race route and by that late phase of my run when glycogen stores are near empty and joints start to feel the heat, I think my muscles, tendons and ligaments will put in the loudest protests.

How about a marathon completion time?

For this race, a marathon completion time is irrelevant. Whatever happens, I shall be contented when I cross the finish line. The time it takes to complete the full marathon will be set in stone as my personal best full marathon record.

With a half-marathon under my belt, I could easily crunch an online marathon timing conversion calculator to come out with a timing. But with actual practice on training runs, I have found to my chagrin that a realistic completion time for the full marathon is going to be longer than the predicted one by a wide margin.

Moreover with suboptimal preparation and recent recovery from injury, it would be unwise of me to pin a time for my target so publicly. In case the pressure on my mind, heart and lungs deflate my ego.

I have extracted from friends and online sources some pitfalls to consider. During racing, emergencies, injuries and accidents are just around the corner for unwary marathon runners. "Hitting the wall", abdominal colic, plantar fasciitis, ITB syndrome, blisters, dehydration and strains / sprains are just a few of many things that could trip runners up in the race.

I hope that with proper medical screening, adequate marathon run training, sensible nutritional support, realistic race pace and a safety-first mindset, I would have reduced risks to the minimum.

As the days count down to the full marathon race, I enter my taper phase with confidence that my mental and physical preparations for the 2010 Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km race will give joy when I cross the finish line.

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Helix Bridge

Helix Bridge

I walked across the Helix Bridge with my family in tow recently.

My first few steps walking along the Helix Bridge did not reveal anything unusual about the newest bridge to be built with great fanfare in Singapore.

From afar, Helix Bridge looks like a curved bridge. This is confirmed when I find myself walking up the slopes at one end of the Helix Bridge, against the pull of gravity.

Helix Bridge is a double helix designed bridge. Yes, it looks like coils of wire and steel were supporting the weight of the Helix Bridge.

Once on the bridge, I did not feel that I could walk up along the walls of steel and wire to complete a loop such that I would end up walking upside down when standing on the roof of the Helix Bridge.

That is impossible and would serve no real purpose except to humour people like me.

The real thrill of walking along this Helix Bridge is to feel the vibration and sway - almost like a bounce, when runners start pushing their way across it.

Coincidence had it that by the time I was midway across the Helix Bridge, runners participating in the 2010 Bull Charge race were huffing and puffing their way across the Helix Bridge.

While the floor and supporting structures of the Helix Bridge looked solid, I did not realize that it was more like a suspension bridge that bounces.

If you plan to take photographs on prolonged exposures on this bridge, be prepared for the perceptible movements and the camera shake.

Have you seen to the Helix Bridge of Singapore for yourself?

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Youth Olympic Park

Youth Olympic Park

The Youth Olympic Park is a park dedicated to the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 and the youths of the nation.

From its name 'Youth Olympic Park', I had imagined that the park was built over an area of near Olympic-sized proportions, filled with representative sports-related amenities for individuals like you and I to try our hands on.

Instead, the Youth Olympic Park is a modest-sized outdoor park tucked away in a corner of Temasek Avenue and Raffles Avenue. It is situated at the mouth of the Helix Bridge entrance / exit, next to the Bayfront Bridge.

Here are some photographs of the Youth Olympic Park.

Youth Olympic Park Photo 1:

Youth Olympic Park Photo 2: There are art pieces like this hung on walls at the Youth Olympic Park.

Youth Olympic Park Photo 3: Is this the tallest tree or the highest mountain in Singapore?

Elsewhere, symbols of the various Youth Olympic sports can be spotted on stands at the Youth Olympic Park that double up as stools for visitors to sit and appreciate the uniqueness of this cozy garden.

Have you seen the Youth Olympic Park in Singapore?

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Mooncake Festival: Lantern Play

Mooncake Festival: Lantern Play

These days, high-tech lanterns that come with dazzling lights, special sound effects and other mind-blowing enhancements are the de facto lanterns for kids.

In my childhood days, I used to play with candles, fire and lanterns made of flimsy paper and sticks. The initial set up required moments of careful preparation. We had to unfold lanterns, set them up in the right configuration before inserting candles on their place holders.

The best part was to start a fire using matchsticks. In the outdoors, a slight breeze could easily extinguish the flame. One wrong tilt and the precious lantern would go up in flames.

At the customary procession round the neighbourhood, more challenges stood in our way. A rough nudge by a friendly neighbour and the lantern would crumble in a heap of fire. If you shifted your wrist at the wrong pace, the tilt would also threaten the continued existence of your lantern. The occasional drip of hot wax onto bare feet exposed by slippers was also a hazard that had to be expected.

So it was with much enthusiasm that I brought my youngest kid out for a lantern parade during this mooncake festival. Besides enjoying the taste of green tea with mooncakes, we spent some time on lantern play.

Photograph of A Lantern

Did you spend time with your family during the mooncake festival for some lantern play?

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Changi Beach At Low Tide

Changi Beach At Low Tide

Grey-coloured sea. Pale blue sky. Little waves teasing a shoreline as far as the eye can see. Is that the picture that greets you at Changi Beach during low tide?

Photograph of Changi Beach At Low Tide :

Would you witness the low tide scene like I did? How many of you have seen Changi Beach at low tide?

Sure there is still scope for beach-side fun and recreational activities. Like sandcastle building. Picnics by the sea. Leisurely strolls on wet sand. Footprints, shoe prints, broken tiles, mangled branches and perhaps some ubiquitous pools of litter.

There are more things to see than what I have described.

So if you get a chance, take a walk along Changi Beach at low tide. See for yourself how the beach line appears.

Changi Beach at low tide. The bowels of the sea are revealed when the tide recedes.

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My Army Half Marathon Race

My Army Half Marathon Race

I've just returned from my Army Half Marathon race, a competitive 21 km run around Marina Bay this 12 September 2010 morning.

Some reasons that made me sign up to race the 21km race of the Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon:

I had already done the 10km Singapore Bay Run on earlier attempts, thus it was time to 'upgrade'.

I wanted to experience the largest mass running race (70000 runners in 2009, 2010) in Singapore.

I wanted to experience the new race route across Marina Bay Reservoir on the Bayfront Bridge and run past the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.

I wanted to renew my experience of running up the Sheares Bridge.

I wanted to witness all the street-side entertainment that included belly-dancers, percussionists, and cheer teams.

I wanted to experience running under the full glare of lights along the Singapore Grand Prix F1 racing route.

I wanted to receive the Army Half Marathon T-shirt, goody bag, personalised certificate and a half marathon finisher medal.

I really wanted to race in an enjoyable atmosphere which was what I received the most benefit from.

Did you run in the 21km Army Half Marathon race?

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Puzzle Pieces For Kids

Puzzle Pieces For Kids

We played with these simple but engaging puzzle pieces for kids on a recent visit to Changi Airport T3.

These puzzle pieces for kids could be found at basement 3 of terminal 3. At the time of our visit, a good crowd of kids and their parents were engrossed in playing them.

Shift the 8-piece puzzle pieces for kids and try to form a complete picture. Sounds easy but until when you try it gets a bit tricky. Certainly worth exercising some grey matter to solve the puzzle.

Photograph of Puzzle Pieces For Kids:

The puzzle pieces for kids are a great idea to attract children's and parents' attention to the mini-exhibition provided by the National Heritage Board. Items were drawn from Peranakan Museum and The Asian Civilisations Museum.

However, I think my kids were more focused on trying their hand at solving the puzzle pieces for kids, then reading about the history of those necklaces and other museum exhibits.

Have you played these puzzle pieces for kids?

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Army Half Marathon Route Map

Army Half Marathon Route Map

I am looking forward to see the sights and scenes along this year's Army Half Marathon route on 12 September 2010.

The Army Half Marathon route will take runners to new routes along the Marina Bay Reservoir. The newest landmark along Bayfront Avenue would be the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort.

I wonder if we would be running along the Helix Bridge past the Youth Olympic Park in the Army Half Marathon route? Running through the Helix Bridge would be a big thrill but I doubt it would be used and 'endangered' by footsteps of about 70000 runners. Will the stainless steel structure take the weight of so many runners in one morning?

More likely the Army Half Marathon organizers would prefer participants to walk, jog or run along the Bayfront Bridge just next to the Helix Bridge which is wider and safer.

However, by using Bayfront Avenue, we would miss other scenes and sights like the Boardwalks along Marina Bay, the Marina Bay City Gallery building and the Promontory at Marina Bay.

There is one way to find out what I will see on that Army Half Marathon route map. Run the Army Half Marathon route on the actual day!

Here is the Army Half Marathon route map for those running in the 2010 edition of the 5km, 10km and 21.1 km route of the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon.

Army Half Marathon Route Map 2010:

Click on map to see a larger version.

Army Half Marathon Route Map 2010 is subject to change.

You can confirm the running route at the SAFRA site. (http://www.safra.sg)

For those who would like to support the Army Half Marathon, visit the Padang on 12 September 2010 from 5.15am to 11am.

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Singapore Southern Ridges Run

Singapore Southern Ridges Run

During one of my regular training runs, the Singapore Southern Ridges was the venue where I explored on foot. For a change of scenery to spice up my training run programme, I chose to go on a Singapore Southern Ridges run. On this occasion, I commenced and ended my training run at Telok Blangah Hill Park.

From the google map, you can note the red line tracing my footsteps. The line reaches westward to the edge of Kent Ridge Park and touches the outskirts of Mt Faber Park to the east.

The red line is recorded via GPS on my Garmin Forerunner 405CX wristwatch. Data recorded on the watch can be downloaded to PC and uploaded onto a Garmin site for analysis. Details of the run like the running speed, altitude and precise route can be studied later in the comforts of home before a laptop or computer.

Each kilometre traversed is recorded by a Lap marker on the map. Lap 1 indicates the point when 1 km is reached, Lap 2 is the 2 km mark, and so forth.

With this technology, my run data allows me to keep track of my training progress without going through the tedious process of measuring non-linear distances on a map as well as keeping time.

Have you tried walking or running along the entire stretch of the Singapore Southern Ridges?

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National Day Celebration 2010

National Day Celebration 2010

National Day Celebration 2010 Rehearsal Photo by chooyutshing

photo by Lobinhoot

Seen This Scene That wishes all readers a Happy National Day Celebration 2010!

Happy birthday Singapore on your 45th big day.

Enjoy your National Day celebration 2010 holiday.

In view of this coming National Day Celebration 2010, I shall be taking a short break.

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Singapore Garden Show

Singapore Garden Show

More photographs taken at the Singapore Garden Festival 2010. I prefer to call it "Singapore Garden Show". No particular reason except that I find this exhibition feels more of a show: you purchase a ticket, turn up and enjoy it like a show and go home. Not much of a festival feel nor interaction needed.

Here are some of my personal thoughts on some of the garden show exhibits at this Singapore Garden Show.

Singapore Garden Show photo 1

This exhibit besides looking pretty and lacy, reminds me of the starting credits in the Matrix movies - the hanging leaves and flowers look like the green dots and alphabets streaming down in the introductory Matrix movie scenes.


Singapore Garden Show photo 2

With clever lighting, this arrangement of metal trays stacked together look like new multi-storey condos with roof-top greenery in a luxurious condominium launch brochure.


Singapore Garden Show photo 3

This one is more interesting. I could title this exhibit as "Test Tube Flowers". Or I could give it a morbid name: "Flowers and Coffins". Do you recognize the semblance?

Read about my visit to the Singapore Garden Festival 2010 here.

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Singapore Garden Festival 2010 Photographs

Singapore Garden Festival 2010 Photographs

Singapore Garden Festival 2010 Photographs -1

It has been two years since I took photographs at the Singapore Garden Festival. The premier garden show of all garden shows in Singapore has returned in 2010.

It was with high expectations that I stepped into the Level 6 Suntec City Convention Centre hall recently. The format of the Singapore Garden Festival 2010 remained pretty much the same.

There were familiar categories like Fantasy Gardens, Landscape Gardens and Floral Windows to The World displays at the 2010 version of the Singapore Garden Festival.

Without hesitation, we went straight for the Best of the Show winning exhibits and subsequently inspected all the remaining garden displays and floral exhibits one booth at a time.

Lighting remained subdued as was the case in the past. I had fortunately upgraded my camera system to one that could take images in dimmer lighting without a tripod.

The air-conditioning was robust for a wet Friday evening but we came prepared.

The advantage of visiting the garden show and taking Singapore Garden Festival 2010 photographs on a week day for a family of five is the ticket price - $18, compared to the weekend price of $36 and the quieter crowd.

Singapore Garden Festival 2010 Photographs -2

There was plenty of leg room and elbow room to capture Singapore Garden Festival 2010 photographs. However occasionally someone will still walk into my photographic composition at the critical time. The good thing about using digital cameras nowadays is the ability to review photographic shots and be able to delete unwanted scenes.

Overall, we felt this year's exhibits were less outstanding compared to the previous edition. For one thing the novelty of seeing the Singapore Garden Festival had worn off. We had something to compare with the last festival, and found the present entries lacking that one final ingredient of oomph.


Singapore Garden Festival 2010 Photographs-3

More Singapore Garden Festival 2010 photographs to come in later posts.

Check out this year's Singapore Garden Festival details here.

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Changi Airport T3 Slide

Changi Airport T3 Slide

I brought my kids to Singapore Changi Airport. After a meal at one of the restaurants there, we strolled around and discovered there was a Changi Airport T3 Slide.

Photo 1 of Changi Airport T3 slide:

Actually, we found two Changi Airport T3 slides. One Changi Airport T3 Slide was about single storey high, while the other Changi Airport T3 slide was about three storey high.

The slides appeared to be made of steel mesh and both slides ran close to each other. Kids lined up at the opening located at the top, entered the tunnel-like slide and re-appeared at the other end of the Changi Airport T3 slide at the other end.

The shorter Changi Airport T3 Slide is free for all kids to try, while the taller slide is only open to those who can produce a receipt for a minimum spend of $30. Each $30 receipt entitles the holder to 2 rides on the Changi Airport T3 slide.

Have you tried out those Changi Airport T3 slides?

Photo 2 of Changi Airport T3 Slide:

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Singapore Garden Festival 2010

Singapore Garden Festival 2010

Singapore Garden Festival 2010 is coming to Singapore again!

This year, Singapore Garden Festival 2010 will run from 15 July 2010 to 22 July 2010 at Suntec City Singapore.

Singapore Garden Festival 2010 is the only Garden Festival in the world to bring award-winning garden and floral designers from the around the world under one roof.

This year's Singapore Garden Festival 2010 will feature a giant centerpiece that has a French connection. Award-winning French author Jean Giono's The Man Who Planted Trees, a fictional tale that has inspired generations of environmentalists and reforestation efforts worldwide, is the inspiration behind this year's highlight.

In the timeless tale, The Man Who Planted Trees, a shepherd set out to reforest the ruined eco-system of a desolate and abandoned valley in the foothills of the Alps, near Provence in France. Painstakingly and patiently over a span of more than 40 years in the first half of the 20th century, he cultivated an entire forest, and transformed the valley into a Garden of Eden with a vibrant lush eco-system. Lured by the beauty of the forested valley, more than 10,000 residents settled in the thriving community there.

Other popular highlights at Singapore Garden Festival 2010 include:

-Best of Show Designer Gardens will feature spectacular creations by local
designers and top award-winning designers from renowned garden shows
around the world. (Full details to be announced later)

-Floral Windows of the World will showcase stunning cut-flower displays by
floral designers from Singapore and abroad.

-Singapore Orchid Show, an exquisite display of Southeast Asia’s rich and
diverse heritage of orchids

-Garden Fiesta, including fringe activities such as talks, demonstrations and
other exhibits catering to the public, families, serious gardeners as well as
hobbyists

-Vibrant Marketplace, offering a wide array of plants, gardening and landscape
products and services, and arts and crafts for sale under one roof.

Singapore Garden Festival 2010 Ticket Charges:

Individual| Weekday Price (Mon to Fri) | Weekend Price (Sat to Sun)
Adult Ticket= S$8, S$12
Concession Ticket (Child, Student,Senior Citizen)= S$5, S$8
Family Ticket (2 Adults and 3 Children)= S$18, S$36
8-Day Pass= S$25
*Free for children below 0.9m

Read more at www.singaporegardenfestival.com

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Southern Ridges Singapore

Southern Ridges Singapore

I returned recently to Southern Ridges Singapore for a walk through a scenic part of this famous outdoor area. My previous visit happened a while ago near the height of public interest soon after the Southern Ridges Singapore was opened to the public.

On this visit to Southern Ridges Singapore, I was to discover several changes in visitor profile. Instead of hordes of camera-trotting visitors and tourists, it was fairly quiet and peaceful along most parts of Southern Ridges Singapore. Those present were mainly folks taking walks or jogs along the connector pathways.

I could also find empty parking lots at Telok Blangah Hill, instead of a full house at the parking lots. The last time I came, I had to park at the foot of the hill.

Another interesting observation at Southern Ridges Singapore was the discovery of monkeys that appeared to have set up 'busking' spots along the Southern Ridges. They were waiting along the footpaths and railings for passers-by to give them handouts of mouth-watering delicacies.

Above: Southern Ridges Singapore Photograph.

Have you seen the Southern Ridges Singapore?

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Playground On A Cruise

Playground On A Cruise

Photograph: Playground On A Cruise

This was the destination that took me close to Resorts World Sentosa during the June school holidays.

If you visit this playground on a cruise early enough, there will not be many other visitors. You will need to board the cruise early in order to get this playground all to yourself. Imagine having all these playground on a cruise to yourself and family.

Have you seen this playground on a cruise ship in Singapore?

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Photograph: Resorts World Sentosa

Photograph: Resorts World Sentosa

Here is a photograph of Resorts World Sentosa taken on a recent visit to an unrelated destination.

Photograph of Resorts World Sentosa.

As a destination without its Gaming component, I think Resorts World Sentosa has enough family-friendly sights and sounds to interest everyone in my family.

With attractions like Universal Studios Singapore, Festive Walk, Marine Life Park (opening after 2010) and Maritime Xperiential Museum (opening after 2010), Resorts World Sentosa ought to generate enough buzz for the entire family.

I will likely wait for the all attractions to be ready, and for the crowds to thin out before visiting Resorts World Sentosa.

Have you paid a visit to Resorts World Sentosa?

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