Here's the gorgeous entrance of the Shoppes@MBS. Discovered it when I went exploring around the Art-Science Museum after Steph left for Malaysia and after I took a train from the airport to the city (in search of places to take pictures at and in search for more Hokkien Mee of course!). It looked as if it was going to rain and I had to find somewhere for lunch.
And oh yes...the swirling vortex of terror at Shoppes@MBS. Here are some snapshots...and I'll definitely elaborate about it later in the post. Wait...maybe not too late into the post...but yeah it's coming up.
Here's a closer look. Pretty impressive hey? I haven't figured out what it is for though, but it happens every now and then. I've seen it in action twice.
But first, before reaching the swirling vortex of terror: this is the popular canal on the ground floor of The Shoppes. Feels a little like Venice - shops (or shoppes) at both sides of the canal, and "sidewalks" beside the canal. People pay for a trip up and down the canal, and the other end of the canal is the area where the Swirling Vortex of Terror is.
I also met another photographer who was taking pictures of her son and husband - and here her husband is in the boat. She even provided me lots of awesome tips...
End of the ride. The boatmen swapped shifts...and of course, people got off and went for more shopping. And this is where I parted ways with the photographer I met.
The area where the Swirling Vortex of Terror is. This was before the Vortex was activated, and this is also where the boats took a U-turn and went back to their original location.
Looks pretty calm - for now. And believe it or not, it was raining very heavily outside.
The 2 brave boatmen who managed to survive the Vortex. They were pretty good - they somehow managed to row out of the Vortex, but the boat was shaking very violently when the Vortex was activated.
This was just before the Vortex was activated...
And a few seconds later, the Vortex was activated! The water came down in a trickle at first...but shortly after...
It seemed to slow down a little, and we thought it was over...
But it came back again! This time, stronger than ever. It sprayed everywhere - and it WAS cold! Plus, the aircon was on full-blast.
And here's evidence of the 2 brave boatmen - looking in awe at the Vortex.
They rowed around the Vortex, and oh my gosh, for one moment I thought the boat was going to capsize. Luckily the boat did not capsize, but here's evidence of them clinging on to dear life.
But they slowly inched themselves away from the Vortex...to somewhere safer...
While the Vortex raged on, and shoppers didn't seem to notice. Some of them stopped by, out of curiosity.
After quite a while (including a short period of time where I walked away to answer my phone), the Vortex started losing power.
And then it slowed down really quickly, to a trickle...
And became virtually non-existent minutes later. And of course, boating activity resumed.
Outside the Shoppes@MBS: places where people could sit and relax. Awesome tree-lined pathways outside open-air cafes and the river's just nearby too! There's even a boardwalk for people to sit and relax, and enjoy a fountain show at the end of the day (I'll write more about this soon!).
The amazing architecture of the Shoppes@MBS. It looks even nicer at night.
And of course, I walked across the DNA bridge - to get back to the Esplanade to grab my Beethoven book. It was so good to be back in the Singaporean CBD! And I'm really impressed by the changes and upgrades of this area.
Back in the Esplanade - to enjoy the air-conditioning of course!
Part 2 will be up soon!