A Tourist at Home: Views from the Marina Bay Sands

The spacious and long foyer of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. So that's what it looks like under those three pillars.

You could say I am one of those Singaporeans who never bothers to go near those attractions or sights where tourists to Singapore invariably hang around. That is until one of my overseas friends turns up and literally drags me to these spots, singing their praises about how Singapore has changed in such a short space of time, and for the better too. So many thanks to the Voss family from Illinois who paid for a one-night luxurious overnight stay at the Marina Bay Sands so they can soak in what sexy new Singapore has to offer. And they also had the luxury of being able to invite their Singaporean friends to come enjoy the view. And that's exactly what my son and I did this early evening... 

A view looking westwards, capturing part of the MBS rooftop pool and much of Keppel Harbour, once the world's busiest container port.

Marina Bay and the skyscrapers of Shenton Way, Singapore's banking and commercial centre. 

Panorama of Marina Bay and the Civic Centre of Singapore.

On the left,  a clear view of Fullerton Hotel (former GPO Building) and the infamous Merlion (presently under wraps). On the right, Esplanade Theatres on the Bay and the buildings around the Padang.

A view that captures two of Singapore's premier performance venues, Victoria Concert Hall  on the left and Esplanade Theatres by the Bay on the right.

A closer look at the roof of the ArtScience Museum, presently exhibiting props from the Harry Potter movies. 

Probably the best overall view of Singapore looking all the way up north to Malaysia.

Looking eastwards, the buildings of Marina Square, the Floating Stage, the Singapore Flyer and Kallang River. Building is now taking place at Kallang to construct the new Sports Hub.

Panorama of the Kallang River Basin, Tanjong Rhu and the Marina Barrage.

This is where Marina Bay meets the sea (Straits of Singapore).

View of Singapore's latest tourist attraction - the Gardens by the Bay, with its two impressive looking Conservatories.

Finally, a panorama of the far South of Singapore island, with a view of Indonesia's Riau Islands (Bintan and Batam).