Marina Bay: An urban micro district overflowing with excitement

In the last few years, in an attempt to create a waterfront buzz town, the Marina Bay waters, which were once open sea, have been turned into the heart of the city's fresh water reservoir after the river mouth was dammed. The Marina Barrage dam is a waterworks complex with cafés, a restaurant, a solar roof garden and a gallery that explains how and why water deserves our attention. With an excellent roof vista, it beckons a photograph of the entire cityscape skyline, the bay and the Singapore Flyer wheel. The challenge is to try to get them all in one framed shot.

All about luxury

Glowing malls, sleek offices, dreamy hotels, a jingling casino and cool luxury apartments are all set to open in 2010. A new Marina Bay Police command center has also been set up to enhance security in the precinct, a natural consequence when expensive penthouses offering 360 views attract the high nets to move in. In addition, when the massive mushroom-like Marina Bay Sands casino resort opens with jostling crowds, the extra surveillance will be welcomed. 

Freestylers jump and run from Clarke Quay to the Esplanade.

Freestyling, skateboarding and racing

With a myriad platter of events centered around the bay, the urban planners wrote a fat advertising cheque to market and sell the Marina Bay brand. One such event is a novel parkour-inspired Urban Freestyle fun run. The 6.5 km trail has nine fun obstacles along the way, like a car jump station, where freerunners can test their abilities to the max. 

Outside this event, usually on weekends, you might spot freestylers parkour along the river in open spaces from Clarke Quay to the Esplanade. They are a free spirited group and anyone can join in. Nobody envisaged that the manufactured landscape and street furniture could prove to be useful for stuff like this. Likewise, look out for skateboarders attempting board flips, leaps or just grinding down the edges of public benches. A seemingly constant nightmare for those who maintain these things, but they do add a bit of color and soul to the place.

At the spanking F1 Pit Building, the next Formula Drift Singapore race will show you how not to behave on regular roads. Drifting is an alternative auto sport where drivers make their cars slide and speed round tight asphalt corners. The idea is to burn rubber and show how maneuverable modified cars can be when pushed to extremes. Revving that gas guzzling engine over the red line can be a soothing sound for 'MOD' (modified car) enthusiasts. For this, speeding is actually encouraged.

33 emerging designers at the new Parco Marina Bay mall.

Designer shopping

Finally, add shopping into the mix and expect to see charming shopfronts like French inspired café-retailer Octa Hotel at the new Parco Marina Bay mall. Look out for the Tokyo Pop Up Store bazaar from 33 emerging designers. It will be even more convenient when Promenade MRT station start operations (Circle line) just below the mall.

2010 is likely a watershed year for Marina Bay as the urban jigsaw pieces come together and the excitement gauge is just starting to rev up.

Service information:

Marina Barrage: 260 Marina Way, Singapore; tel: +65 6514 5959; www.pub.gov.sg/marina

Gallery Café: 02-04 Marina Barrage, 260 Marina Way, Marina Bay,Singapore; tel: +65 6223 7313

7th Storey Live Seafood & Charcoal Steamboat: 01-05/06 Marina Barrage, 260 Marina Way, Marina Bay, Singapore; tel: +65 6222 7887; www.sunrestaurant.com

Sustainable Singapore Gallery: 8 Marina Gardens Drive, Marina Bay, Singapore; tel: +65 6514 5959

Marina Bay Sands: 1 Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay, Singapore; tel: +65 6688 8868; http://www.marinabaysands.com

Parco Marina Bay: Millenia Walk Mall, 9 Raffles Boulevard; tel: +65 6595 9100; www.parco.com.sg