The Singapore Eye - the great wheel of boredom?
Corporations are rushing to offer journalists complimentary tickets to take The Singapore Eye for a spin, but it seems like those who have taken it have complained that it was a boring thirty minutes ride.
One journalist highlighted that he was stuck in the container for 30 mins without water or food and by the time he touched down, he could have drank the whole Singapore river dry.
Those with heavy bladder also didn’t have an enjoyable time on the Singapore Eye.
Another journalist who took photos while seating the Singapore Eye described his album in Facebook as “Singapore Flyer–a boring way to fly“.
Guess the Singapore Eye isn’t for everybody.
Hahah! If these people think the Singapore Flyer is boring, wait ’til they discover that F1 is just about extremely loud cars going round and round very fast with not much overtaking. But I like that, so it’s fine with me. =)
(Oh, not to mention that some grandstand seats in the Singapore race will not have access to a giant screen.)
Vroomm..
However, I have a different take on sports though.
Sometimes, it is not just about the game, but soaking in the atmosphere is itself fun to enjoy.
at the back of people’s mind, they tend to associate the flyer with the standard ferris wheel in theme parks. maybe because it looks the same but ‘fly’, the bigger wheel won’t. at least with the ferris wheel, there is sufficient momentum to thrill you and the ride, more exclusive.
i have not tried it yet but i shall give it a pass unless sponsored.
For the regular Singaporean, what you see from the Flyer can be seen when you drive over the flyovers along ECP (near the Rochor exit). It is just lower than the Flyer. You have the mouth of the river, the Suntec shopping area, the tall office buildings in CBD, the condos in Tg Rhu area, the Expressways, some trees, some ocean space and whatever. Yes, it can be quite boring.
The only thing about the Flyer is that you pay to see these boring things and the experience to turn one round. It will not be a surprise that in some later dates, it will be part of some school excursion destinations, like the S’pore Zoo or Bird Park. Just to make up the numbers. I will take Six Flags any day.
People have, we also must have. Sigh…
I wonder what will happen if the wheel operators offer to rent out telescopes… Is it still legal ar?
ah yes, six flags for me anytime too!
Yes, it was a boring ride. It was yesterday, Saturday, and I can see many empty cabins. There is only 4 benches in each car, that means only12 people can be seated. The rest got to stand for the whole 40 minutes! Some kids got so bored, the sat on the floor playing card game. The view is anything but breathtaking… another spinning white elephant, I suspected.
Well, things are getting a little more interesting. During the IT Show 2008 (Suntec), some exhibitors were offering promotions that come with FREE Singapore Flyer tickets. I guess that this will make up some of the attendance numbers. It can be assured that they will announce that the Flyer has record numbers of visitors after a while. Well, we know where some of the numbers come from.
There was this girl distributing SF’s flyers on the bridge to the Convention Centre.
It happens that the Flyer is also painted white.
I guess this were the tickets that were bought before the launch and that’s why they have announced tickets have been sold out three month in advance.
I am not against SF. I bet lot of tourists would like to take a ride on it. Singaporeans might wait for free tickets.
But I would like some honesty from the media here when they write about the SF. Call a spade a spade.
If there’s seriously no business in the future, the wheel can be revamped into a hanky-panky joint. “Cabin 3, you have 5 minutes before touchdown, please finish your act, clean up and dress up.”
Good one xaj.
Can be applied to other activities, speed dating, speed gambling etc.
make the ride shorter and cut the price of the ticket
read Tourist Trap :) OR one shot entertainment.
However incorporate dining into the trip maybe just maybe hint cable car jewel box ;) ;)
Not been on it, and have little interest in hanging out with strangers in an enclosed space for 30mins and paying (how much again?) for it. The Sentosa Cable Car is shorter, therefore better, for this kind of high altitude thrills IMHO. But I do admit it makes a great tourist attraction, but will it be deserted when the viewing deck on top of the Sands casino opens? But the Spore Flyer is definitely landmark. I am a commercial artist, and have already incorporated it into an illustration I just did for a government magazine. It’s definitely easier to draw than the Merlion.
Honestly, I think taking the Singapore Flyer ride is like trapping in a lift. Hardly move!!! The views of the surrounding are “very normal”. I would urge Singaporean to wait till the ticket price come down by half before you attempt to take that ride, if you must.
Spending time for a movie worth more than this. S$29.50 is very expensive. My judgment is that the ride is worth not more than $9.50. No wonder 80% to 90% of the capsules were empty during weekdays. I am not kidding or against SF.