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Singapore Flyer Traps 173 Tourists

December 24, 2008 at 8:02 AM | 0 Comments

The world's biggest Ferris wheel shut down for six hours Tuesday night, trapping 173 passengers in capsules high above the ground after an electrical fire cut power to the attraction. Ten of the trapped managed to rappel out of their bus-sized pods, while the rest waited for the Singapore Flyer to restart to escape by foot.

While the wheel has lost power three times before, it's never been for as long as six hours. Officials were able to restore some AC and the intercom system after a time to help comfort the trapped tourists. Still, one said that wasn't enough to convince her to make a repeat visit:

I love Singapore but I don't think I'll come to the Flyer again.

As when Whistler's gondola broke down, we were really only curious about one thing: Tourists on the Singapore Flyer had to resort to using plastic bags because while the capsules can hold up to 28 people, they don't have bathrooms.

Related Stories:
· Tourists Safe After Drama at World's Biggest Ferris Wheel [AFP, via Google]
· Singapore Flyer Opens Again and Again [Jaunted]

Sexy Japanese Cartoons Coming To Singapore

November 5, 2008 at 11:30 AM | 0 Comments

The only sight more ubiquitous in Asia than a woman dressed in flannel Hello Kitty pajamas is an internet cafe plastered in anime posters. The Anime Festival Asia ’08, hosted at the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore November 22-23, pays homage to the cultural phenomenon.

The location site is even odder than the cartoons themselves, since anime is a distinctly Japanese creation. It’s the first of its kind, and the event is expected to draw more than 80,000 attendees.

The event's flyer reads as follows:

If you know what Shojo, Shonen, Hentai and Yaoi means; if you know all the characters in Naruto and their special moves; if you know every single one of Clamp’s works and how they link up, then Anime Festival Asia 2008 is exactly right for you!

Um, our answer to all of those questions is an emphatic "Not really!" But are we into watching obscenely well-endowed people with enormous eyes fight each other using strange futuristic weapons? Why not. There are worse ways to lounge off a hangover.

Related Stories:
· Singapore to Hold Japanese Pop Culture Festival [Japan Times]
· Anime Festival 2008 [Official Site]
· Casinos Coming to Singapore [Jaunted]

[Photo: super_rats]

Tommy Lee and Vince Neil Lure Passengers

October 28, 2008 at 9:05 AM | 0 Comments

Singapore’s Changi Airport is pulling out all the stops to make sure its customers don’t stray. From adding terminals to providing free entertainment, there seems to be no end to their schemes to stop us from flying through places like Dubai or Hong Kong instead.

Now they’ve got a "Smile Campaign" going to improve customer service within the airport (which doesn’t sound too original), and they’re also using a celebrity meet-and-greet idea to entice people to come.

Last week slightly-aged rockers Tommy Lee and Vince Neil from Mötley Crüe welcomed passengers at Terminal 2. Because there’s obviously, uh, a strong connection between Mötley Crüe and Singapore.

--AmandaK

Related Stories:
· Welcome to Singapore, I’m Tommy Lee [The Age]
· Changi Airport’s Getting Greedy for Terminals [Jaunted]
· Changi Airport Wants to Entertain You [Jaunted]

[Photo: Aviation Record]

Casinos Coming to Singapore; Too Late for Senegal's Diplomats

October 16, 2008 at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments

We're not surprised to learn that in Singapore--the country that totally banned chewing gum until 2004--it's not that easy to find a place to gamble. It's not illegal, but there aren't any casinos, so that makes it tricky, although come 2009 they're planning to open their first.

Until then, you have to find your own way to have some blackjack fun, but the way of the Senegalese Consulate is not the one we recommend. This week the ex-honorary consul of Senegal was jailed for two months for allowing his office in Singapore to be used as a gambling den.

Big money was changing hands at the consulate casino and perhaps it's a good thing that Singapore will get a real casino soon; we figure the cocktails available from the Senegalese Consulate probably weren't up to par.

The first of two recently-licensed casinos will open next year and the other in 2010. Lucky for the consul, he'll definitely be out of jail by then.

Related Stories:
· Ex-Senegal Consul Jailed, Fined [Straits Times]
· Singapore Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of coming casino site: Singapor3]

Pats on Back Mean Two Buck Fares at Jetstar Asia

August 21, 2008 at 9:33 AM | 0 Comments

Low cost carrier Jetstar Asia was jumping up and down at the recent Skytrax LCC awards, because it got two trophies: Best Low Cost Airline in Asia and Best Low Cost Airline in South East Asia. (Surely the second follows from the first, right?)

We're not so excited about the awards, but the special they're promoting in celebration is pretty neat. The airline is having a big fare sale with some tickets going from S$2 ($1.40) for travel until mid-November. The $2 fares are for the short hop from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, but longer flights aren't too bad either, as long as you like multiples of 11--fares are $11, $22, $33 and so on.

Buyer beware: Unlike the European airline industry where you'll always see taxes and charges loud and clear, the final bill on your Jetstar Asia could be a lot more than $11 or $22.

Related Stories:
· Jetstar Asia Prepares to Leave the Nest [Jaunted]
· Jetstar Asia coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jetalone]

Rev Up for the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix

July 28, 2008 at 9:18 AM | 0 Comments

If you're addicted to old school Mario Kart on Wii, or just love fast cars, head to Singapore for the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, slated to take place on September 28, with practice runs on the 26 and 27. The coolest thing about this Grand Prix is that it's the first race of its kind held at night and the first street race in Asia.

The course will be lit with state-of-the-art technology and a high-tech lighting system designed to highlight the 23 curves and twists of the course that will line the marina. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Bourdais and Fernando Alonso are all set to take it on.

Race tickets are available online but moving fast, so don't waste time. Also, a variety of hotel packages offering rooms combined with tickets (at reasonable prices) can be found here.

Related Stories
· Singapore Grand Prix [Official Site]
· Datebook: Singapore [NYT]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Formula_1_Singapore]

Asian LCCs: Valuair Has Cool Lunchboxes

June 19, 2008 at 12:30 PM | 0 Comments

Valuair is a Singapore-based low cost carrier that's slipped under our radar until now. It started out with big plans to practically conquer the Asian market--it was even the first LCC to start up in Singapore--but things didn't go quite according to plan. After a bit of a merger with Jetstar Asia, Valuair's routes are more limited.

The carrier's just added a few evening flights to the Singapore-Sumatra route, and the rest of its flights are also to Indonesia, especially to Jakarta and Denapasar (Bali).

Valuair tries to differentiate itself a bit from rival LCCs with hot meals and--get this--a free baggage allowance. We're quite taken with this Valuair lunchbox. Who can't love an airline that wishes you "Bon Airppetit"?

Related Stories:
· Valuair [Official Site]
· Valuair Launches Evening Flights to Medan [Asia Travel Tips]
· Low Cost Carriers coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ian Fuller]

Changi Airport Wants to Entertain You

May 16, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 0 Comments

The great hub of Singapore's Changi Airport is already on the way to getting bigger, but now it's also getting better. Head to the third floor of the Terminal 2 building and you can now hang out in the Entertainment Deck, formally referred to as the "one-stop integrated entertainment zone."

The powers-that-be know that transit passengers have needs--could they mention this to other airports?--so the Entertainment Deck is there to help us pass the time: there's a free LAN gaming room, Xbox and Playstation consoles to use for free, a free cinema, music booths and a comic and collectibles shop.

You read right, heaps of that stuff is free to use. Isn't Changi Airport a friendly place? It almost makes you want to get stuck in transit waiting for a delayed plane... but not quite.

Related Stories:
· Changi Entertainment Deck [Official Site]
· Changi Airport's Getting Greedy for Terminals [Jaunted]

Singapore Airlines Headlines: PDF Viewers and Roaring Tigers

April 23, 2008 at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments

It's all good news from Singapore Airlines this week. For a start, the carrier's rolling out a new on-board entertainment system, called eX2, which has quite a few features we like. As well as nice new 1280x768 screens, it will also include some PC applications like Media Player and PDF and photo viewers. That means you won't even need your own computer to look at stuff--just plug in your USB stick and read your own documents, listen to your own music or scroll through your own photos.

At the same time, Singapore Airlines must be pretty pleased with itself that its young spin-off Tiger Airways is growing up. The budget carrier that services the Australasian region is 49 percent owned by Singapore Airlines but is already making enough money not to need any cash injections from Mom and Dad. Tiger is even talking about looking for other airlines to acquire.

So that's the week for Singapore Airlines: the mile high club isn't important on planes--plugging in your USB stick is and little Tigers can grow up to be big and strong. They must be smiling over there.

Related Stories:
· Singapore Airlines Launches New Entertainment System [eTravel]
· Tiger Airways Has Earned Its Stripes [The Age]
· No Sex Please: We're on Singapore Airlines [Jaunted]

[Photo: William Hook]

Changi Airport's Getting Greedy for Terminals

March 19, 2008 at 10:00 AM | 0 Comments

The paint on the third terminal at Singapore's massive Changi Airport is barely dry, but they're already thinking about the fourth. According to the Singaporean transport minister:

We must expand our capacity and add the fourth terminal because our status as a global aviation hub is threatened by rivals.

Although we still see Singapore as the clear choice for a hub fly-through, apparently officials fear that Dubai, Bangkok or Hong Kong could overtake them. Using an "if we build it, they will come" philosophy, Singapore hopes that the stray long-haul passengers who've started flying through Dubai instead will return.

With plenty of budget airline action happening in the Australasian region too, the budget airline terminal at Changi is also going to be expanded. They're predicting an increase in LCC passenger numbers from 2.7 million up to 9 million by 2009. With that many passengers circling the skies, we're hoping to see plenty of bargain prices.

Related Stories:
· Singapore Plans Fourth Changi Terminal [Business Traveller]
· Behind the Scenes at Changi T3 [Jaunted]

[Photo: stupz]

Ferris Wheel Travel: Singapore Flyer Opens Again and Again

February 29, 2008 at 9:15 AM | 0 Comments

We've been getting excited about the Singapore Flyer for years now, and after this month's soft opening, it'll officially open tomorrow, March 1. But the the good Ferris wheel people of Singapore won't rest then, because they'll be preparing for the really proper Grand Official Singapore Flyer Launch, scheduled for April 15.

If you can't make any of the opening ceremonies, you can check on things by pulling up the Singapore Flyer webcam: When we checked, the wheel wasn't moving, and the weather suggested you wouldn't be able to see to Malaysia or Indonesia as promised.

Everyone wants a piece of the Singapore Flyer at the moment, with ASEAN politicians taking a ride this week, but the Singapore Flyer wants a piece of us too. They're promoting a What Wheel It Be? contest, where creative uses of a picture of the Singapore Flyer in any kind of work of art could win you some audio equipment. We're just hoping for an invite to the Grand Official Finally-It's-The-Last-Opening launch in April.

Related Stories:
· Giant Ferris Wheels Are the New Final Frontier [Jaunted]
· Singapore's Big Wheel [Jaunted]
· Flyin' the Singapore Flyer [Jaunted]

Giant Ferris Wheels Are the New Final Frontier

February 12, 2008 at 4:36 PM | 0 Comments

Earlier this week Singapore opened Singapore Flyer, a new 165-meter-tall observation wheel, expected to draw 2.5 million visitors in its first year of operation.

The Singapore Flyer tops London's Eye by some 30 meters, but while the London wheel may be the most famous, it's actually the Star of Nanchang in China's Jiangxi province that was the highest wheelie ride until this week.

Singapore already has Berlin and Beijing breathing down its neck; both cities are set to release even taller wheels. Orlando, Qingdao and Dubai are all planning massive circular structures in the coming years too.

Looks like the halcyon days of "build a giant wheel and they will come" are a thing of the past. For now, Singapore is ready, offering adults 30 minute rides at $29.50 and throwing in gorgeous vistas of one of the cleanest countries in the world. Your move China.

Google map after the jump, though the Google Blimp needs to take a new photo of Singapore's Marina Bay, as the flyer does not appear to show up as of yet.

[Photo: stephen_au]

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