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Snippets of Singapore's Life

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  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited December 2022
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    Audience at my community hub during a world cup 2022 match

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    Audience at my community hub. It was during an early match of round of 16.

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    The moment Brazil was going home as audience jumped for joy on 10 Dec 2022

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    Audience generally were all ecstatic that Brazil was out, beaten by Croatia during the penalty shootout.

    https://youtu.be/TTeHPpCLwlc

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    The ultimate champion. A fine lad.
    Post edited by 168sean168 on
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited May 22
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    My clubhouse had an event on Saturday 20 May 2023 to watch EPL. Originally it was supposed to be Chelsea Vs Manchester City but the match was changed to Liverpool Vs Aston Villa

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    A restaurant was engaged to cater roti prata, a kind of pan fried dough. That was the main reason I appeared

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    This is plain roti prata, to be eaten with the fish curry sauce provided

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    I saw this interesting packaging yesterday for the first time. It was a celebration of a Thai woman, kawipom winichthaoprathom, who help thousands of stray dogs and cats by providing an animal shelter. She was the first Thai woman to appear on a Hershey package. It was a celebration of Women's Day.

    Seeing this brought to mind the Bud Light saga in US. I think the celebration of the former was a better worthy cause. :smile:




  • suetopia
    4243 posts Member
    Always such interesting pics, @168sean168. :smile:

    Thanks for posting them! :grin:
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    suetopia wrote: »
    Always such interesting pics, @168sean168. :smile:

    Thanks for posting them! :grin:

    Hey @suetopia , have not seen you around in a while! Thanks for your comment!
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
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    I went to a beerfestival on Sunday, it was my first experience and I was reminded of my game!

  • @168sean168 Thanks for posting these! I haven't been on these forums for a long time but I wish I had. My wife is Singaporean and I was wondering what things were like during (and post) pandemic. This really helps!

    Unfortunately your posts make me very hungry! The best part of Singapore, bar none, is the food. When I visit I'm always trying to make my rounds to the hawker centres to get the essentials - laksa, char kway teow, otah-otah... and of course hainanese chicken rice. From what I've seen, arguing about where the best chicken rice is... well this seems to be a national pastime!

    Keep posting!
    I like routine!
  • anaquarind wrote: »
    @168sean168 Thanks for posting these! I haven't been on these forums for a long time but I wish I had. My wife is Singaporean and I was wondering what things were like during (and post) pandemic. This really helps!

    Unfortunately your posts make me very hungry! The best part of Singapore, bar none, is the food. When I visit I'm always trying to make my rounds to the hawker centres to get the essentials - laksa, char kway teow, otah-otah... and of course hainanese chicken rice. From what I've seen, arguing about where the best chicken rice is... well this seems to be a national pastime!

    Keep posting!

    Hey thanks for reading my posts!
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited August 10
    On the 9 August 2023, Singapore celebrated its 58th National Day. After gaining self governance from its colonial master in 1959, Singapore became part of Malaysia in 1963. But in 1965, Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia, likely due to the fears of the diminished powers of the ruling Malays.

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    Some MRTs here were decorated with the National Day celebration banners. The message for this year 2023 was Onward as One.


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    People were having a fun day out waiting for the National Day Parade (NDP) celebration.

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    People were waiting for the NDP to start. On the left was Fullerton Hotel. Long ago during colonial days it was a fort guarding the sea next to it. Later it became a postal office and finally a grand hotel. The sea in front of it has been reclaimed into land. The tall building at the back is named Swissotel the Stamford. When it was in operations in 1986, it was the world's tallest hotel at 73 storeys. I stayed one night before though sadly without partner.

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    After a long wait, people looked to the skies as the Red Lion skydivers made its entry. They would land at the field in front of the City Hall, called Padang, the location this year for the NDP.

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    The eight skydivers made its descent without a hitch.

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    These shots were taken from the pov of the camera man of the Red Lions. The Red Lions are members from the Commando unit.

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    The City Hall and the large field (Padang) on a normal day. This area had been used to conduct the NDP.

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    A girl looked on in amazement at a string of coloured explosions in the skies.

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    A CH-47SD Chinook helicopter carried the state flag, escorted by two AH-64D Apache attack helicopters. This was when the Nationl Anthem was played at the Padang. I actually do not understand the lyrics except knowing that it means to move forward Singapore. This is because it is in Malay language, our national language. The language is also used in our foot drills commands.

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    The state flag was flown around the Marina area and it complemented the nice view of Marina Bay Sands.


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    Then, in an enhanced salute to the nation, five F-16D+ fighter aircraft performed the bomb burst manoeuvre.

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    As they parted ways, three F-15SG fighters did a fly-through across the Padang.

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    The RSAF’s largest aircraft, the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), made its entry next, accompanied by four F-16D+ fighter aircraft – two at each wing.

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    The helicopter formation fly-past, featured the CH-47F Heavy-Lift helicopter and the H225M Medium-Lift helicopter. The latter made its debut in NDP.

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    A pair of F-15SG fighter aircraft then appeared in the sky to perform a dual high-G turn, a cross turn and a vertical climb manoeuvre.

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    Two F-16D+ fighter aircraft flew side by side, and then crossed each other’s flight flying off in opposite directions.

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    Meanwhile, an F-15SG aircraft came in the opposite direction, flying towards the intersection of the F-16D+ flight paths and pulling upwards in a vertical climb. 

    At this point after the air show, the audience not inside the Padang at City Hall had nothing to do but to wait for the fireworks

    The people at the Padang would get to watch the full performance of marching complete with singing and dancing displays. I have never won any NDP tickets before. It was supposed to be a ballot. Some people have the opinion that new citizens and PRs seemed to have higher chance of getting it.

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    The performance at the Padang as seen for ticketed audience and home TV viewers. Actually my town community hub also broadcasted it live on the big screen.

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    A nice dazzling fireworks to wrap up the night. It happened at about 815 pm. People have started to gather in the area in the afternoon to get a good spot to watch the flyby and the fireworks.

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    People making their way home. Some roads were closed to accommodate the human traffic.

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    A huge crowd thronged the street. This sculpture is called Momentum by David Gerstein. Standing at 18.5 metres tall, it is Singapore’s tallest public sculpture. 

    “Momentum” is made up of human-shaped figures side by side, depicting the upward spiral of progress, energy and momentum, very much like the precinct it is located in and the people who work in it.

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    I felt that the diversity of the crowd and the sculpture was really matching.


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    Due to the various road blocks, I found myself steered away from my intended destination and found myself at Lau Pa Sat, which means Old Market in a Chinese dialect. This is a hawker centre that is located right in the centre of the business district. It is the most beautiful hawker centre we have here, constructed in the 1800s in Victorian style. In the evening, one vehicle street next to it would be closed and the street would be converted into satay street.

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    The food centre was doing a roaring business after the NDP ended as many people descended there.

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    My mouth was itchy and I bought myself a Char Kway Teow, a local delight. The words are chinese dialect meaning fried flat noodles. This was a medium size and it cost 10 SGD. The price is on a higher side as this is a more premium hawker centre and prices have also soared in the past few years.

    So this was how I spent my 9 Aug 2023 National Day. If you like to see flyby and fireworks, the months of June and July are the best time to visit as almost every Saturdays, rehearsals and early NDP shows for schools were conducted.
    Post edited by 168sean168 on
  • 168sean168 wrote: »
    On the 9 August 2023, Singapore celebrated its 58th National Day. After gaining self governance from its colonial master in 1959, Singapore became part of Malaysia in 1963. But in 1965, Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia, likely due to the fears of the diminished powers of the ruling Malays.

    Kv9iQMa.jpg

    mHBdZDb.jpg

    Some MRTs here were decorated with the National Day celebration banners. The message for this year 2023 was Onward as One.


    qsSCVLE.jpg
    People were having a fun day out waiting for the National Day Parade (NDP) celebration.

    tTgPWNp.jpeg
    People were waiting for the NDP to start. On the left was Fullerton Hotel. Long ago during colonial days it was a fort guarding the sea next to it. Later it became a postal office and finally a grand hotel. The sea in front of it has been reclaimed into land. The tall building at the back is named Swissotel the Stamford. When it was in operations in 1986, it was the world's tallest hotel at 73 storeys. I stayed one night before though sadly without partner.

    uAJE1UD.jpeg
    After a long wait, people looked to the skies as the Red Lion skydivers made its entry. They would land at the field in front of the City Hall, called Padang, the location this year for the NDP.

    h12fpFd.jpeg
    The eight skydivers made its descent without a hitch.

    C8kNN8A.jpeg
    A girl looked on in amazement at a string of coloured explosions in the skies.

    ORIsMvB.jpeg
    A CH-47SD Chinook helicopter carried the state flag, escorted by two AH-64D Apache attack helicopters. This was when the Nationl Anthem was played at the Padang. I actually do not understand the lyrics except knowing that it means to move forward Singapore. This is because it is in Malay language, our national language. The language is also used in our foot drills commands.

    AA4h67j.jpeg
    The state flag was flown around the Marina area and it complemented the nice view of Marina Bay Sands.


    k8cjgQQ.jpeg

    Then, in an enhanced salute to the nation, five F-16D+ fighter aircraft performed the bomb burst manoeuvre.

    pdTijUE.jpeg

    As they parted ways, three F-15SG fighters did a fly-through across the Padang.

    OOWLZYJ.jpg
    Ky5HXHc.jpg

    The RSAF’s largest aircraft, the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), made its entry next, accompanied by four F-16D+ fighter aircraft – two at each wing.

    wnoUx4Z.jpeg
    The helicopter formation fly-past, featured the CH-47F Heavy-Lift helicopter and the H225M Medium-Lift helicopter. The latter made its debut in NDP.

    bYpiALe.jpg

    A pair of F-15SG fighter aircraft then appeared in the sky to perform a dual high-G turn, a cross turn and a vertical climb manoeuvre.

    C4LK2pj.jpeg

    WKBtUMW.jpeg

    To be continued

    Very cool and informative...Thanks for sharing Sean!
    Fear my pointy horn!
  • Thank you @Rhinomix76 for reading!

  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited August 10
    I just watched the broadcast of the NDP23 and below were some shots I took from the 2.5 hrs show.

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    Singing of the national anthem moment with the flown state flag.

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    The marching contingent comprising the military forces, police, civil defence, schools and even public and private companies.

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    The barrel of a ceremonial 25-pounder artillery gun. It is used to conduct a 21 gun salutes to the President.

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    The guns were placed on floating barrages operated by combat engineers.

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    The feu de joie celebratory gunfire by the guard of honour contingents.

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    The Padang was converted into the venue for the NDP show.

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    Colours’ are the set of physical flags and colour schemes that are associated with a particular regiment within the army.

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    Contingents marching and saluting the President.

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    Assets from the military, police and civil defence were paraded.

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    This was my favourite segment of the show, a Chinese song performed by Olivia Ong.

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    Rock tempo segment of the show. The song Fireworks was also performed here.

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    Aerial view of the fireworks.

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    Our President, Madam Halimah Yacob, took selfie with some performers. It was a scary moment for the bodyguard as she nearly fell after being pushed forward by the performers.

    This will be her final NDP as a new Presidential election is coming.
    Post edited by 168sean168 on
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited August 24
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    Two Sundays ago I was at the Jewel Singapore Changi Airport to see some Marvels decoration.

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    The event ran through the June school holidays. This gigantic Iron man figure was the best exhibit there.

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    The Thor hammer was also big

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    It was difficult to get a nice shot when I had to depend on strangers.

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    The large Captain's shield.

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    The rain vortex can be viewed from multiple levels.

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    At the top level of Jewel, there is a ticketed section. There are things like bush maze, slides, mirrored maze, rope net walks. Some more Marvel exhibits were there.

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    I could only see from a distance away at this infinity stones gauntlet.

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    Figures of Captain America, Black Panther and Antman as seen from a distance.

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    Another iron man model in the ticketed area.

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    I saw this Barbie prop at the cinema of Jewel and had to take a photo.

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    Come nightfall, there were two Marvel light and music theme shows at the rain vortex. The first one was only 2 mins and it simply showed the comic versions of the main avengers including Captain Marvel to the tune of Endgames Avengers assembled song. The Australian girls sitting around me were quite dismayed

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    Later there was a longer show at 8 mins. It just included animation characters from Disneys over the years and also a repeat of the 2 mins marvel show.

    Actually both the shows weren't so good. The usual light and laser shows on normal nights were better. However the endgame song continued to play in my mind for a few days. The end of the best era of Marvel with Endgame.

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    A night shot of iron man. Really beautiful
    Post edited by 168sean168 on
  • 168sean168 wrote: »
    nMzjNz1.jpg
    Two Sundays ago I was at the Jewel Singapore Changi Airport to see some Marvels decoration.

    1PkXGcH.jpeg
    The event ran through the June school holidays. This gigantic Iron man figure was the best exhibit there.

    81LzSRP.jpeg
    The Thor hammer was also big

    qRYgD7I.jpeg
    It was difficult to get a nice shot when I had to depend on strangers.

    9HAy1A4.jpg
    The large Captain's shield.

    KpmeGXK.jpeg
    The rain vortex can be viewed from multiple levels.

    Kh7Y1uo.jpeg
    I saw this Barbie prop at the cinema of Jewel and had to take a photo.

    aODXDkH.jpeg
    Come nightfall, there were two Marvel light and music theme shows at the rain vortex. The first one was only 2 mins and it simply showed the comic versions of the main avengers including Captain Marvel to the tune of Endgames Avengers assembled song. The Australian girls sitting around me were quite dismayed

    SHXeX2Y.jpeg
    Later there was a longer show at 8 mins. It just included animation characters from Disneys over the years and also a repeat of the 2 mins marvel show.

    Actually both the shows weren't so good. The usual light and laser shows on normal nights were better. However the endgame song continued to play in my mind for a few days. The end of the best era of Marvel with Endgame.

    ppNnUel.jpeg
    A night shot of iron man. Really beautiful

    Awesome! Love the pics, especially the Thor's hammer placement.
    Fear my pointy horn!
  • Glad you like it @Rhinomix76 !
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited September 29
    Today 29 SEP 2023 is the fifteen of August in the lunar festival. It is mid autumn festival or mooncake festival. It is not a public holiday though.

    I was at a Chinese temple last night for this occasion. This temple was rather unique as it houses deities from Hinduism and even has a section for Islam. A very old temple here.

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    This temple organises free food distributions on certain occasions like this one. In the background is God of fortune. The banner says good fortune in the year of the rabbit.

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    Very long queue for food from different stalls. It started at 630 pm.

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    The food served are a varieties of classic hawker centre food in small quantity. Chicken rice is an iconic food here. I packed back a big bag of the rice towards end of the day. It was offered by the stall.

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    The food is offered to all. South Asian workers were also there. There was also many factory workers. But most of the visitors tend to be seniors.

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    Concurrently with the event, there was a performance here which we called Getai meaning Song Stage. It is like a cabaret with gaudy costumes.

    The big lady on the left, Liu Ling Ling is the most famous host here for getai. Next to her is Sunshine Cola, the youngest and prettiest host for Getai from Malaysia. She is also an actress and singer herself. The other two ladies are performers who called themselves the Precious Sisters.

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    An ugly depiction of Chang Er. She was from a folklore about a lady who landed on the moon with a rabbit.

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    The costumes are a main highlight of the show too and the hosts usually take efforts to change their costumes a few times in the show.

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    The festival decoration in my town hub. It is apt that it is the year of the rabbit and also there is a rabbit on the moon.

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    My friend said that this Chang Er ate too much moon cake and rabbit stew.

    I didn't buy any moon cake as I found them too expensive. With each piece at least 15 SGD. The festival has been tainted by capitalism and mooncakes are used as gifts to build social and business relationships. I was given two pieces of plain mooncake without the egg yolks by an auntie friend
    Post edited by 168sean168 on
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited October 2
    A few weeks ago I was at my clubhouse, Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association and there was a mini Cosplay event going on there.

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    I think this girl was not part of the featured guests and went onto the stage herself before event started.

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    This was the first cos player featured. Actually I am not familiar with the cosplay community. At times when they held an event at the convention centres, a ticket was required to enter.

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    A cos player posing around down stage.

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    I think this was one of their dedicated photographers. I was surprised he was controlling access by asking me to stop taking photos.

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    Another cosplayer posing for the host for some private photos.

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    There was a mini exhibition hall where merchandise was sold. The key cosplayers were likely there to provide their autographs on their products.

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    A lucky boy grinning lasciviously. It was a happy day in his life.

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    More posings.

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    I like the dressing of this cosplayer

    I didnt stay and left after seeing this two cosplayers.

  • Fear my pointy horn!
  • 168sean168
    4590 posts Member
    edited November 3
    Yeah, I was there about two weeks ago loitering around in the public area. The virtual waterfall has not set up yet. These are some shots I took there

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    A view of one of the halls.

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    At a pop up store selling Funko collectibles. I think some rich people like to buy these big head figures.

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    There was a mini exhibition on Monet

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    This is a new art installation. It was based on the old flipping boards that tells the airline arrival and departure timing. Below the board there was this computer screen for you to take a photo of yourself. Then the board will flip into an image of you. This board was showing me in a baseball cap.

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    I was at a airlines viewing gallery. A lady below in the transit area has a camera pointing at me. I would like to think that she was taking my photo. But I knew she was taking a selfie.

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