The Singapore Flyer is one of the iconic sights of Singapore. It is the largest observation wheel in the world. It is 30 meters taller than the London Eye and if you are familiar with the wheel on Navy Pier in Chicago, the top of that one would fall just below the center of the Flyer.
You ride in giant enclosed capsules that can hold 28 people. On Thursday afternoon it was not too busy so they were only loading 10 to a car. This allowed everyone to have plenty of room to walk around and take loads of photos.
There are also special packages available including a dinner ride. We took the regular tour.
As you start your journey, you realize there is almost no feeling of movement. The wheel is quiet and smooth and only the changing horizon lets you know that you are moving. The cars are positioned on the outside of the wheel and therefore you have an unobstructed view in all directions. There is so much to see that you are constantly moving from side to side to get a better view. Even Ken, who is notoriously uncomfortable with heights, was comfortably moving around and not feeling the least bit intimidated.
One of the interesting pieces of architecture viewed from the wheel included these two structures amid a large expanse of construction at the entrance to the Singapore River. We later found out that they will be the conservatories for the new (and second) botanical gardens being built in the Marina Bay area.
Another interesting sight was the amphitheater built on the banks of the river in an area that was the old harbor. The stands are on land and the stage area is the largest floating stage in the world. From this height it is difficult to get a sense of its size. There will be more from there in a later post.
We got a great view of our hotel, the Pan Pacific, and all of the many great hotels in the marina area. That green area at the base is the swimming pool and it was fantastic! The elevators are capsules that travel up the outside of the building and give fabulous views as well.
As we neared to top we were about 15 minutes into our journey. It takes 30 minutes to complete a revolution. The time actually flies by because there is so much to see.
At the very top it is a long way down. And as you crest the top you get the best view of the most incredible building anywhere.
The Marina Bay Sands Casino is a complex of three towers connected at the bottom by a common lobby and at the top by the Sky Deck. The Sky Deck houses pools and restaurants and clubs and with our trusty guide Caslin we knew we would be visiting the Sky Deck on Saturday night.
The building in the lower left is the Artscience Museum. That is not a typo. It is a Museum dedicated to showcasing the close ties between art and science. We spent Saturday afternoon there so you will here much more about it in a later post. In the background is the financial district of Singapore and many beautiful old British Colonial buildings which have been repurposed for modern day use.
Returning to earth is really quite sad. It is so peaceful and beautiful flying above the city that you could stay up there for a long, long time.
But all good things must come to an end and so did our ride on the Singapore Flyer. At the base there is shopping (of course) and eating (of course) and a small forrest garden to walk through.
And even though you are no longer flying high, the Flyer is always there to bring a small and a happy memory to its visitors.
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