Halloween Horror Nights @ Universal Studios Singapore (新加坡环球影城: 万圣节)

Since it's almost Halloween, I decided to post some pictures I took at last year's Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore. Am still deciding if I should go again this year. It was fun.

Did a quick last minute paint job on my nails for the fun of it :)

There were many bloody/ghostly/scary characters wandering around the place and trying to creep visitors out. I have no idea why I screamed every time they rushed up to us. I think I over-psyched myself for the event.

There were a couple of photo spots and one of them was The Siamese Twins.

A Japanese ghost.

A mummy.

Other random fun bloody characters I can't identify.

He moves. Suddenly. Anyone keen to take a picture with him?

A psychic. I wouldn't want my fortune told by her.

This sexy lady in her abode was by far my favourite scene of the night.

Stitch's voodoo toy - I insist - looking like a rooster.

Rusty supermarket trolleys and piles of garbage set the atmosphere.

It's not everyday that you get to drink blood so why not?

My courage and sensibility somehow deserted me that night, and although I was looking forward to The Vengeance of the Matriach horror house, I backed out when we reached the front of the queue. I was still really keen though, especially after seeing how beautifully atmospheric they made the courtyard out to be, with a man in Peranakan garb holding an oiled paper umbrella and strolling solemly up and down the courtyard in the misty night.

I took 10 minutes to muster whatever bit of courage I had, with the encouragement of the staff, to finally go in. It turned out to be less scary than I imagined it to be, mainly because I had actually read a visitor's review of the journey prior, and knew where to expect all the scares. Still.

Singapore Toy Game and Comic Convention (STGCC 2012)

We went to STGCC 2012 last weekend, expecting it to be better than the previous year's only to be disappointed. Most of the displays and artists invited were the same as last year's, and though there was quite a good variety of cosplays, I have yet to see a brilliant cosplayer, professional ones included. Simply doning a costume doesn't make you the character.

Well, I'll leave you with some photos taken on that day.

Chop for the purpose of re-entry on the same day.

Most of the hall was occupied by little booths like these.

Tristan Eaton painting giveaway.

Drawings by Keatopia for sale.

Comic covers lining a wall.

The Joker.

The Incredible Hulk.

I can't believe how real these look. Again, back from STGCC 2011.

Hell Lotus, a collaboration between Mighty Jazz and Clogtwo.

Chicken Little miniature.

Morbid Happy Tree Friends miniatures.

One Piece miniature.

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac miniatures.

Athena in gold and purple.

My favourite figurine of the day, The Illusion of Depressing Love by Fool's Fantasy.

Close up detail.

There was also a stall selling Japanese snacks, stationery and toys. For $15, you could also dip your way to plushies and miniatures.

I got myself a white strawberry chewable sweet. Frankly, it tastes just like ordinary strawberry.

Some of the cosplayers that day. As usual, I'm not enough of an otaku to be able to identify the characters.

The most popular cosplayers and guests for the day, was of course Kosaka Yun and Touya Hibiki.

iLight Marina Bay 2012

The boy and I made a trip to Marina Bay Waterfront last evening, to see what the iLight Marina Bay 2012 festival was all about. It features innovative and environmentally sustainable light art installations along the promenade from Marina Bay Sands to the Merlion.

Garden of Light by Hexogon Solution Singapore is a projection on the facade of the ArtScience Museum telling a story of environmental sustainability and to highlight the beauty of nature. For the half hour we were there, we only saw this static field of flowers though. It seemed like a beautiful wallpaper.

Parmenides 1 by Dev Harlan is supposed to be a hypnotic 3D projection of swirling abstract patterns which create an amazing sense of movement, colour and form. While I stood in the dark for five minutes, I again saw only a static orange ball. Perhaps you'd have the patience to wait longer.

Sweet Home by Aleksandra Stratimirovic is an installation of lampshades which evoke a warm and homely atmosphere in a chaotic, polluted street through the use of light and colour. Is it a coincidence the artist is from Sweden? The moment I saw the installation I told the boy it feels like Ikea.

Key Frames by Groupe LAPS from France, is a display of more than 20 static stick figures made out of LED light tubes that combine with music to create a choreographed display of movement. It isn't surprising then, that I found this installation to be the most interesting and dynamic one, out of the few I saw.

There are supposed to be 31 installations in all, but we only came across 7 of them which were located nearer to Marina Bay Sands. Despite the website promising a night carnival, workshops and talks, it wasn't as bustling as we had expected. It didn't help that most of the installations were underwhelming and the IT Fair and The Bodyshop Sale was happening just across the road at Suntec City.

iLight Marina Bay 2012 is on till 1 April 2012 from 7:30pm to 11pm at the Marina Bay Waterfront. You might want to go down for a romantic after dinner stroll. Perhaps things are more interesting over at the Merlion :)

Dayview: Marina South Gardens By The Bay

Today's the last day to visit the Gardens By The Bay at Marina South before it officially opens in the third quarter of 2012.

We could navigate better during the day and found the Gardens bigger than we had thought. The best time to pay a visit would be around 5pm and stay till the sun sets.

The Dragonfly Lake with a good view of the SuperTrees at the Silver Garden, as well as Marina Bay Sands.

When the sun has just set.

Curious about the nightview of Marina South Gardens By The Bay?

Nightview: Marina Gardens By The Bay

The Gardens by the Bay at Marina Bay South is open for preview in conjunction with the 20th World Orchid Conference. A ticket to the Orchid Conference will entitle you to a preview of the Flower Dome at the garden as well.

If you are driving, just head towards Marina Barrage. You have a choice of paid parking at one of the carparks at the Garden itself, or you could park for free outside Marina Barrage, though the walk to the Gardens will take about 15 minutes.

I love the work of art that is Marina Bay Sands. As soon as I realised that I could see it from about almost everywhere around town, I have been wanting it as the view from out my bedroom window :')

If you arrive at the Gardens By The Bay after nightfall, the main attraction would be these SuperTrees, all lighted up in changing colors.

Another pair of eyes which reminds me of the Esplanade would be the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forests. Since we did not manage to preview the interior of the Flower Dome, we could only admire it's external structure. See those posts along the path? You might want to use them as tripods to capture a picture of the Singapore Flyer in the background.

Stay tuned for the Gardens by the Bay in daytime. Or you might want to pay the place a visit yourself this weekend.