- Mimolette is now just Mimo.
- Majestic Bar next to New Majestic Hotel might have closed --- can anyone verify this? Another one of my favourite places, argh! (Klee has closed and Handlebar at Gillman Village is on the chopping block.)
- The ATM Hall at Resorts World Sentosa doesn't let ATM users make deposits? (Unverified till I see the machines for myself.)
- Select Books has been around since 1976 --- woo!
- At the Long Bar at the Raffles, the Singapore Sling comes out of a drink dispenser --- just like bandung!
(For those of you not familiar with Singapore's fine casino establishments, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents have to pay a S$100 "casino levy" each time they want to step inside the casino. Even if I just want to have a look-see and don't carry any money with me.)
Guess I'll have to get to know some casino staff when I get home, or have a friend with a non-Singapore passport pop in and report back to me.
Labels: Singapore stories
9 Comments:
Noooo! not Handlebar!!!
A real shame, isn't it? I think I will drink in kopitiams when I go back. Got more longevity (although no aircon).
I can pop by. (OK, I've already been to MBS twice.) What do you want to know?
@Anonymous - Thanks for the offer! Would you mind getting in touch over email? You can reach me at: yumei [at] toomanythoughts [dot] org
Hey yes, Majestic Bar closed. I'm quite sure in the second half last year, as I was there in the first. I was pretty disappointed to walk past it one day and see it all dark and abandoned.
Pity about that...I liked the open-air seats on the roof and downstairs.
Hey how've you been? Singapore has certainly changed in complexity and texture quite a bit since the two IRs have opened. I did a walk about of the skypark at MBS recently - magnificant and splendid views galore!
Like you, I haven't had the chance to visit both the casinos because I don't gamble and shirk at the thought of paying $100 for a viewing experience.
@Enid - I liked that each level and the outside space had a different feel because of the respective artworks. And I LOVE Donna Ong's art (the clockwork installation on the walls of the ground floor bar area). A friend updated me that Restaurant Andre has taken over the space --- hope it kept the art!
@Cool Insider - Yes, it's very strange to be excluded from the casino's territorial space strictly based on one's citizenship and ability and/or willingness to pay. It's like the government has turned the casino space into "foreign" territory which it administers --- must show passport and, if you're from a certain country, pay a "visa" fee to enter.
If you just want a bird's eye view of the MBS casino without paying $100 levy, just take the lift to the 5 level where the restaurants are located and get a 360 degree view.
@Anonymous #2 - I've seen the casino from that level. What I would like to do is go and rub shoulders with what's going on inside, spend a little time observing how people interact with the games, the machines, the staff, each other, etc.
Of course I could just make it all up. But with proper travel writing pieces, I always try to write about things I've experienced firsthand. Peering down from the restaurant level wouldn't be the same thing. :(
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]