Visiting Singapore: Marina Bay Sands

Before we ever made it to Singapore, I had been keeping a list of landmarks I want to visit when the moment arrives. And at the top of that list, just below The Merlion, is the triple-towered skyscraper that forever reshaped the Singapore skyline. The majestic structure, called the Marina Bay Sands, opened in June of 2010 and is one of the most opulent hotels in the world. It's also touted as the most expensive casino ever built.

The nightly laser light show at the Marina Bay Sands.

Upon arrival at the Singapore Changi Airport, we immediately approached the Marina Bay Sands concierge service to inquire about our airport transfer. We were directed to the coach pick-up bay where the Marina Bay Sands' complimentary shuttle picks up hotel guests every 30 minutes.

The spacious bus has comfortable seats and large windows that offer tourists a wonderful view of the city.

It's definitely hard to miss the imposing towers of Marina Bay Sands with its reflective glass facades glimmering in the sunlight. The iconic structure is situated across the Singapore river, beside a giant observation wheel called the Singapore Flyer.

Within 20 minutes, we were dropped off at the basement of the Marina Bay Sands. Only a few hotel staff were on hand to assist arriving guests with their luggage. I had to pull one of ours behind me while carrying my son up the escalator to the hotel lobby.

The lobby of the hotel exhibits the same ingenuity that the towers' revolutionary structural design vividly projects.

The enormous lobby is adorned with an impressive geometrical piece that is suspended in the atrium. The unusual art form, which looked alien to me at first until I did a little research, is a "Drift" sculpture. This three dimensional drawing in space is a real eye-catcher that totally evokes curiosity and wonder.

There are several check-in counters but we still had to wait in line for a few minutes due to the immense number of guests. Sterling wine is offered for free on check in while, finally, a hotel porter tagged and took our luggage.

We arrived at our room on the 43rd Floor of the Marina Bay Sands Tower 3. We didn't even notice the luxurious space and the flashing welcome note on the flat screen TV before we dropped everything to go straight to our huge hotel room windows showcasing the panoramic view of Singapore's skyline.

A night's stay in a Deluxe Room with City View (rooms on the 19th floor and above of Tower 3) starts at 529 SGD (plus tax). Around Php 21000/night.

The jaw-dropping view from our room.

Even my son was in awe.

This spacious 47-square meter room comes with complimentary airport transfers, access to Sands SkyPark and Banyan Tree Fitness Club and free high-speed internet access.

Paiza bathroom amenities.

I love how the soap was designed not to slip from your grip. Innovation in small things!

Automatic Private Mini-Bar. Caution! You lift a single item, you automatically get charged.:) 

After our mini photo-op, we finally gave in to our hunger pangs and went straight to The Shoppes for lunch.

On our way to The Shoppes, we passed by the plush casino which is billed as the most expensive  in the world.

The Shoppes is a premiere retail center, with over 300 stores, conveniently located inside the Marina Bay Sands. 

After our hearty lunch at the Rasapura Masters food court, we took our time exploring the spectacular mall. Exclusive luxury brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, the Ferrari Store and Juicy Couture among others make this world-class shopping destination an essential stop for tourists.

The Digital Mall Directory system.

My shopping motto: Only the Devil wears Prada. Angels like me should be perfectly content to just window shop.:) 

The Ferrari Store. It's a little disappointing that we weren't allowed to take pictures inside the store.

The Ferrari fans didn't go home without a souvenir.:)

There's also an abundance of French pastry shops that sell my all-time favorite dessert, French Macaroons.  It took me three stores and several macaroons, however, to find the perfect level of chewiness and texture that I am looking for.

Sweetspot at the Marina Bay Sands.

TWG Tea Company sells their macaroons with a hint of tea flavor. (The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands).

Darcis (The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands).

Finally, the best Macaron de Paris from Darcis.

The mall is also brimming with attractions. Aside from the skating rink beside the food court, guests can take a relaxing Sampan ride which is reminiscent of our Italian gondola ride at The Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes in Las Vegas.

Our gondola ride at the Grand Canal Shoppes of The Venetian Las Vegas,  December 2008.

Just above the canal where the sampan boats glide is another iconic feature, the glass and acrylic "Rain Oculus". This strikingly unconventional work of art and engineering empties rainwater and channels it into a spiral pattern down the canal.

 

The waterfront promenade, where one can observe the whirlpool motion of the Oculus, also offers an unobstructed view of the city's financial district.

Back at the hotel, we decided to check out the famous SkyPark Observation Deck where one can enjoy a  mesmerizing 360-degree view of Singapore. Perched atop the 55-storey Marina Bay Sands hotel towers, this platform also houses the world's longest elevated swimming pool.

The infinity pool stretches out for 150 meters and offers a spectacular view of the surrounding city skyline, including Singapore's world-famous landmarks.

A view of downtown Singapore from the vanishing edge pool of the SkyPark .

Several Jacuzzi pools, long benches and deck chairs for sunbathing dot the poolside.

After our 3-day escapade to this leisure destination, I could only stare at our shopping loots, small mementos that will always give me a nostalgic feeling for the modern city with colossal skyscrapers and the cleanest surroundings I have ever seen. I will surely be saving for a second take on Singapore, a whole new adventure to explore another side of the Lion City that I have yet to see.

The Great Singapore Sale. It truly is!

Beside the Merlion, Singapore's famous icon.

A view of the Marina Bay Sands from the Merlion Park.

Marina Bay Sands

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

10 Bayfront Avenue

Singapore 018956

Hotel Reservations Mainline: +65 6688 8897

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Visiting Singapore: Singapore Airlines & Singapore Flyer
Visiting Singapore: Makansutra Gluttons Bay
Visiting Singapore: Rasapura Masters Food Court

Visiting Singapore: Rasapura Masters Food Court

The Rasapura Masters Food Court, located at Basement 2 of the The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, offers a wide array of mouth-watering delicacies from Southeast Asia. There's even a Gerry's Grill, but we decided to skip the Filipino food to try the ethnic flavors of Singapore.

This high-end food court is at the Canal Level of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, just beside the skating rink.

A branch of the Filipino restaurant, Gerry's Grill.

The food center's luxurious setup lets customers watch while their food is being expertly prepared by cooks through the exposed kitchen behind the counter. This certainly fueled my already burgeoning appetite for Singapore's gastronomic delights.

We ended up ordering mostly Chinese dishes, though.:) That's because many of the food we saw will not pass the standards of my son's picky taste buds. Especially the more spicy Indian and Malay cuisine.

Noodlestar's La Mian with Braised Beef which is basically just pieces of superbly tender and delectable beef floating with hand-made egg noodles in beef broth. This is definitely the best noodle soup I have tasted so far. And to think that I grew up living in a Chinese community.

La Mian with Braised Beef, 8 SGD (Php 280).

We bought some dim sum as well to go with the hot soup. The real star is the Pork Dumplings. I have tried quite a lot of nice Pork Siew Mais (steamed meat dumplings) but this one takes home the prize. The size of the morsel which was more than twice that of a regular pork dumpling and its meaty goodness totally pleased my carnivorous palate.

Prawn and Pork Dumplings, 4 SGD per order (Php 140).

We also finally tried the Hainanese Chicken Rice, a classic Singaporean dish. We chose the roasted chicken over the steamed. The chicken alone is nothing special but combine it with the Hainanese (ginger) rice and the flavorful condiments and you've got yourself a real winner.

Hainanese Chicken Rice, 8 SGD (Php 280). The condiments (soy sauce, chilli sauce and ginger sauce) brought this dish to a whole new level. 

For our refreshments, we ordered Fresh Watermelon Juice and a cup of Fresh Dragon Fruit Juice which turned out to be quite good.

Fresh Dragon Fruit and Watermelon Juice, 4 SGD (Php 140).

Rasapura Masters absolutely raised the bar for mall food courts. Ultra-posh surroundings and a great variety of food choices right smack in the middle of shopping heaven.


Rasapura Masters Food Court
Basement 2-50, Canal Level
(Beside Skating Rink)
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Related Articles:
Visiting Singapore: Singapore Airlines & Singapore Flyer
Visiting Singapore: Makansutra Gluttons Bay
Visiting Singapore: Marina Bay Sands

Neo at 2

Neo is 2 years old.

But he is not your typical cute kid for he’s not plump and chubby.

He might be frail-looking, but he’s the epitome of health.

He might be besieged by allergies, but he gets by with just a little help.

He might look small, but he can spell and count beyond his age.

He might act a little awkward, but he can dance the “Dougie” adorably.

He might be a late speaker, but he can sing well and hit the right notes.

He might not be good with crayons, but he can finish difficult puzzles impressively.

He might be addicted to Deal or No Deal, but he watches it partly to learn numbers.
He might have found it difficult to jump, but he practiced it daily until he finally can.
He might be quite gawky, but he can definitely throw a bowling ball just like his daddy.
He might be afraid of beeping horns, but he can watch a booming fireworks display up close.

He might have always kept me up at night, but his bright mind makes the best company.

He might be quite serious for a kid, but only because he prefers to study.

He might be a little talkative, but his intellectual chatter never fails to amaze me.
He might have stared blankly into space at times, but only because he has a knack for recalling things that happened months ago.
He might have constantly butt heads with me, but he never fails to hug me in the end.

He might be occasionally naughty, but only because he loves to make me laugh.

He might be a little too attached, but only because he appreciates my company.
He might be demanding from time to time, but that's because he’s just like me.

He might have given me hell during labor, but he made it worth my pain.

He might have changed my life and plans, but only for the better.

Neo is 2 years old and will not always stay a baby.

But in my heart, he will. ♥♥♥