Happy New Year 2013.

KL just had Uniqlo, Singapore responded by having region's first H&M!

Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) will open its first Southeast Asian store on Orchard Road by autumn next year.

With 2,000 outlets worldwide, Sweden-based H&M is a global fashion retail giant and pioneer of design collaborations with international style icons such as Viktor & Rolf, Stella McCartney, and Karl Lagerfeld.

The success of getting H&M to venture into Singapore, which is known for its high fashion awareness, came just after Japan's Uniqlo double-storey store opening in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Singapore's Marina Bay Sands opens at 3.18pm today.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore's second integrated resort-cum-casino, located at downtown Marina Bay, opens its doors to the public for the first time this afternoon.

Marina Bay Sands is built by one of the world's largest gaming company Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Today, it would open the first phase of the resort with 963 out of the planned 2,560 hotel rooms, a portion of its shopping mall, some restaurants and fine dining outlets, the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the event plaza, nightlife offerings and the Sands Casino.

The rest of the hotel rooms and suites, the 1 hectare sky terrace-on-the-roof known as Sands SkyPark and additional shops would be available as part of the grand opening on June 23.

The Art-Science Museum in the shape of a floating lotus with laser shows at night, Disney's The Lion King @ Marina Bay Sands Theatre, and the remainder of the shops would open towards the end of 2010.

Luxury brands and designer chefs that have committed to open flagship outlets in the integrated resort include:

- Anne Fontaine,
- Bally,
- Blancpain,
- BOSS Hugo Boss,
- Bottega Veneta,
- Breguet,
- Bvlgari,
- Burberry,
- Cartier,
- Chanel,
- Daniel Boulud,
- Davidoff,
- Dior,
- Fendi,
- Ferragamo,
- Franck Muller,
- Gucci,
- Guy Savoy,
- Hermes,
- Hublot,
- Jaeger-LeCoultre,
- Louis Vuitton,
- Manolo Blahnik,
- Mario Batali,
- Max Mara,
- Miu Miu,
- Nieman Marcus (?),
- Patek Philippe,
- Prada,
- Ralph Lauren,
- Santi Santamaria,
- Stefano Ricci,
- Tetsuya Wakuda,
- Tiffany & Co.,
- Vacheron Constantin,
- Van Cleef & Arpels,
- Wolfgang Puck,
- Yves Saint Laurent,
- Zadig & Voltaire and many more.

*** THE END ***

Acknowledgement: Photo credits to 13oh5, Benyahzee and nsohan.

Singapore plans to build a new waterfront city in Tanjung Pagar as part of its plan to expand the Central Business District.

Singapore's Economic Strategies Committee has revealed future plans to redevelop the port land at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Pulau Brani after the port's lease at terminals there expires in 2027.

The future waterfront city will be comparable in size to Marina Bay.

[Source: Various media and SSC Singapore.]

Welcome to Resorts World @ Sentosa, Singapore

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Special thanks to "Jpatokal" for these wonderful photos

at the Soft Opening today.

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Singapore's first ever Casino will be opened at a later date, but won't be too long from today's opening of 4 hotels.

The underground hall leading towards the casino is magnificent.

Somehow the casino main entrance differentiates between Singaporean/PR and foreign nationalities.

The much anticipated Festive Walk retail mall is still closed for construction works.

Amongst stores that you can expect are those you could easily find on Orchard Road such as Bvlgari, Chanel, Coach, Tod's and Ralph Lauren.

There is also Asia's first Victoria's Street BRA store.

Singapore's first Hard Rock Hotel has a nice man-made beach and lagoon. Its Rang Mahal Restaurant looks quite exclusive.

Hotel Crockfords' Chihuly artworks stunned me for a moment. Impressive!

Festive Hotel indeed has a more jovial mood.

Frankly, the whole area is still under massive construction. I say give it another few months and we shall partayyy there!

- THE END -

Every youth has a Facebook account nowadays, that includes Ris Low, former Miss World Singapore 2009 who resigned recently.

I guess Ms Ris Low likes DORAEMON too,

besides wearing RED, LOUD and something that "Boomzzz" when she's feeling naughty.

19-year-old Ris Low is already one of the most controversial Miss World Singapore in recent years

She was panned in the media for her poor command of English, and then made headlines again when a Singaporean paper reported that she was sentenced to 24 months of probation for credit card frauds in May.

Last Friday, Ms Ris Low has confirmed her conviction on 5 charges of misappropriation, cheating, using illegally obtained credit cards, and impersonating their users' identities.

Listen to what she has to say about herself and fashion:

Did she impressed you?

She of course made me laugh.

*** *** ***

Anyway, here's a glimpse of the 22 finalists, one of which will represent Malaysia in the upcoming Miss World 2009 in South Africa:

Ermm not bad lah!

I was sooo freaking busy lately... but anyway I was in Singapore chillin out at Ion Orchard and Orchard Central over the Merdeka weekend.

Ion Orchard is like Singapore's response to KL's Pavilion. Very nice facade but the interior is simply too small, low ceiling, cramped and congested, especially the food court during office hours.

The Louis Vuitton there is amongst the best retail store I've ever seen. It is also the largest LV boutique in Southeast Asia.

Orchard Central has a hippie decor but the mall is still quite vacant. The outdoor escalator overlooking Orchard skyline is quite cool.

I was quite disappointed with the stores in Orchard Central especially the small small ones that look like stores in pasar malam, except these ones selling expensive goods. The 10 floors just failed to excite my shopping/dining, for that I would choose Ion Orchard.

Ok I'm off to bed... cya soon!

In Singapore, a woman was seen stopping by the road and then aggresively hitting his male partner with her high-heel shoe in his face and private part for many times.

He did not retaliate throughout the assault at all! (I feel sorry for him)

What say ya? What should the guy do?

The Nando's chicken restaurant chain will be opening their first ever restaurant in Singapore soon.

ION Orchard

Singapore's newest mall opened last weekend!

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Source: Forumer Lifestyle-1881

6 theme parks equal 6 thrills; 6 hotels equal 6 unique themes. It's like waking up to 6 totally different holidays.

Welcome to Resorts World @ Sentosa, Singapore.

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The region's most compelling integrated resort city is due for opening in early 2010, roughly 10 months from today. Here's a look at the upcoming hotels and attractions:

1. Universal Studios Singapore® is where your fantasy world begins. When completed, it will be Southeast Asia's most prominent theme park with a total of 24 new rides and attractions, including a pair of dueling coasters that brush past one another in several near misses in their aerial combat. Dinosaurs, lemurs, ogres and Egyptian mummies will add to your thrills and adventures in each of the 6 themed zones.

Universal Studios Singapore under construction [Source: Theme Park Guy]

2. The Marine Life Park will be the world’s largest oceanarium with 700,000 fishes in 20 million gallons of water. Admire the dolphins, feed some sharks or interact with reef fishes, there are certainly so much fun for the family.

A roller coaster under construction [Source: Theme Park Guy]

3. The Maritime Xperiential Museum is a large 360-degree innovative multi-sensory educational museum and theatre. At the theatre, visitors will "board" an Arabia-bound ship that docked in Singapore 1,100 years ago. The ship ran into an ocean storm, and eventually the ship and its crew sank to the ocean floor...

Photo May 2009_1 [Source: The big-dog]

4. The Equarius Water Park will be amongst the world's most exciting water theme parks. A thrilling water slide that takes you on a wet and wild ride through tree tops and jungle greenery; "Snakes and Ladders" where water cannons defy gravity; jungle pavilions beneath the verdant forest and a surf pool.

The Festive Walk, Resorts World @ Sentosa

5. The FestiveWalk will be home to roving shows of lights, lasers, fire, water and special effects. It is the greatest place to meet, shop, dine, or drink and party. Be entertained by some of the world’s most spectacular street shows such as the magnificent Crane Dance at the waterfront tip.

Photo May 2009_2 [Source: The big-dog]

6. Le Vie, a purpose-built resident theatre show, is an epic delivered through powerful music, dazzling stage sets and splendid costumes. The musical acrobatic is a story of one boy’s journey to manhood as he discovers morality, sacrifice, and love. It will be put together by Mark Fisher, Pink Floyd and U2.

Hotel Michael (left) and Maxims Tower Hotel Casino (right)

7. Ultra-deluxe of Crocksford Tower (formerly known as Maxims Tower), an all-suite hotel at Resorts World @ Sentosa that overlooks the Singapore harbour and the Southern Islands. It will be home to Singapore's second Casino and the city's finest hospitality establishments.

Photo May 2009_3 [Source: The big-dog]

8. Hotel Michael, a truly boutique hotel that carries Michael Graves' signature stamp from floor to ceiling – and everything in between.

9. The Hollywood mania extends to the glamourous Hard Rock Hotel Singapore. The resort-hotel will have one of Asia's largest ballrooms.

Maritime Xperiential Museum (top) and Spa Villas

10. Sitting above the musical extravaganza Le Vie is the Festive Hotel. Contemporary and chic.

11. Sited at the fringe of a tropical rain forest, Equarius Hotel makes an ideal getaway for nature lovers and families.

Resorts World @ Sentosa, opening in 2010

12. At Resorts World @ Sentosa's Spa Villas, wake-up calls come in the sounds of waves and the beckoning of dolphins. Your ideal honeymoon stay is incomplete without pampering yourselves in the award-winning ESPA Spa Sanctuary, while catching the sunset with open sea views with your loved ones.

Singapore's first integrated resort + casino, Marina Bay Sands is expected to open earlier - in December 2009.

As Singapore's economy recovers from the global financial crisis, the city-state is hoping that Resorts World @ Sentosa alone will attract 15 million visitors in the first year of opening.

www.rwsentosa.com

The truth is I found no job in Singapore. But the good news is... ...despite the worsening economic crunch and the political "democrazy" in Malaysia..., I still, very fortunately started my career today in Petaling Jaya (aka as KL for overseas friends to understand).

Well that's all I want to say before going to bed... Wait.

See some shots I took in Singapore last week before you leave my page.

I was there a few days before God calls and strikes the symbolic statue Merlion, reported here. To some superfitious Chinese this is bad omen indeed, especially given such difficult times in this finance-mania city state.

Almost everyday the sky is crying.

The first thing on the first day of work that my boss gave was a book entitled: "Please Don't Do What I Just Tell You" by Bob Nelson. Wooo.

And tomorrow I see audit again...

--- Courtesy of Patchay@SkyscraperCity & SSC Forumers.

When was your last trip to Singapore and how did you spend your holidays there? Honestly, I had not much "Buzz" when I last visited the nation state a few months back.

Future Buzz

But in a few years time, things will change dramatically.... The recent announcement of the first casino within an Integrated Resort (IR) at Marina Bay will put Singapore on the forefront of travel destinations in continental Asia if not the world. Very soon, the Singaporean government will announce the winner of the second IR at resort island, Sentosa.

Whose fantasy will prevail at Sentosa?

Take a look at the 3 final proposals and why not dream for your choice in Singapore...

1. Genting-Star Cruises' Resorts World Sentosa

The proposed resort city caters to the mass-market; focusing on family and children's entertainment and edutainment.

Highlights of Resorts World Sentosa:

1. A theme park by Universal Studios consisting of more than 22 featured mega-attractions.
2. Quest Marine Life Park is to be the world's largest oceanarium, also include bat rays, dolphin and shark sanctuary and the world's largest collection of coral reef and open ocean fish.
3. Equarius Water Park, a water theme park with water-based adventure rides such as ‘Water Coaster’ and 'Snakes and Ladders’, all integrated within the natural tropical environment.
4. Maritime Xperiential Museum, said to be the only museum in the world dedicated to the maritime heritage of Asia and marine archaeology. One of the centrepieces of the museum will be a 360-degree multimedia-rotating theatre where visitors board an Arabia-bound vessel that sank near Singapore 1,100 years ago.
5. A zone dedicated as the "Shopping adventure of Asia" consisting of the world's largest collection of 'flagship concept stores' such as Cartier, Nike and Hamleys.
6. Six hotels, including a hotel-cum-casino designed by world famous architect, Michael Graves, a Hard Rock Hotel and a six-star hotel-cum-spa by the world renowned ESPA brand. There will be spa therapies with dolphin interaction in specially created spa lagoons.
7. A biomed research and learning centre led by world renowned genomics scientist, Dr J Craig Venter.

2. Kerzner-Capitaland's Atlantis Sentosa

The second bidder is by luxury hospitality group, Kerzner partnering developer, Capitaland. The proposed resort, named after the underwater lost city of Atlantis, and the resort atmosphere is set ahead of time in the year 3000.

The resemblance of fish, salad, soaked tissue papers or a Mid-autumn festival lantern immediately comes into your mind. The proposed city will have gigantic glass canopies, if built, will become the most iconic landmark for Singapore.

Highlights of Atlantis Sentosa:

1. The Sail - two gigantic glass-and-steel structure that looks like a lotus flower, that will constantly change its appearance, driven by dynamic technology systems that run through its architecture and contents.
2. A water theme park called Aquaventure that would have 14 spectacular rides, such as Squid Tower Slide Complex, River Rides and Crab Playground.
3. Coral Lagoon, to be the world's largest coral lagoon and the world's biggest man-made coral reef where visitors could snorkel or dive. Within the resort, it has the world's biggest jellyfish exhibition, a shark tunnel and sites for deep-sea scuba diving.
4. Aquasphere, the world's largest and most technologically advanced aquarium (bigger than Resorts').
5. AquaLabs featuring a centrepiece futuristic mechanical fish and its habitat as well as other interactive and edutainment contents.
6. The Gardens of Robotanica displaying some 1,000 species of natural and mechanical or robotic flora and fauna. Guests will also interact with walking robots.
7. Gastronomical international cuisines in high-end established restaurants featuring celebrity chefs such as Joel Robuchon, Gordon Ramsay, Santi Santamaria and Sanjeev Kapoor.
8. An entertainment hub for 4 international TV stations - Discovery Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon and Johnson's.
9. Teens-only Club Rush - with entry barred for adults - will have Internet video games, movies, dancing; and a little chocolate and candy factory targeted at youngsters.

3. Eighth Wonder's Harry's Island Sentosa

Called the Harry's Island, perhaps it is the most 'fictional-looking' resort in the world! Yes, it is also the most expensive plan among the three bidders.

Highlights of Harry's Island:

1. In the centre, sits a giant artificial dormant volcano island (Jurassic Park look alike arena), which promises free nightly shows and a theme park with 35 rides and attractions.
2. The Caldera - a centrepiece 10-storey waterfall within Harry's Island.
3. Ten hotels, including a hotel built around a football stadium affiliated to Brazilian soccer star Pele.
4. A wellness, spa, yoga retreat run by new-age guru Deepak Chopra.
5. First ever 'Romance Hotel' cum wedding pavillions by world renowned wedding designer Vera Wang.
6. On 'Orchid Island', there is a hotel-cum-a cooking school with 50 super-F&B outlets run by French celebrity chef Alain Ducasse.
7. An oceanarium incorporating rainforest exhibit headed by Philippe Cousteau, the grandson of the late French undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau.
8. Architectural wonders such as the 'flying deck of cards' hotel-cum-casino called the Crown Towers Hotel, the cubical-style Banyan Tree resort, 'Toy Box' exhibition centre of luxury goods as well as the grand Starwood W Hotel, 8th Wonder Arena and the Franco Dragone Theatre.
9. State-of-the-art Siemens Command and Control Centre and Star TV studios.

So much to see, so much to enjoy. Genius or creative egos are these companies trying to show to the world.

Then, what kind of resort would you spend money on? I would love to see something adventurous, and preferably integrated within a family-themed wonderland for the enjoyment of all ...especially to my beloved little nephews!

--- End of post. Acknowledgements: SkyscraperCity and CNA.

Tags: Asia, Singapore, Sentosa, casino, travel and Patchay-Blogspot. Related post: Marina Bay Sands.