It has been such a hectic period. These few weeks have flew past so quickly, particularly since it’s the project submission period. I have projects for all six modules I’m taking this semester, even the economics one (EC3381). Each group is a little different, and different groups bring with them different high and low points.
Ultimately, project submission also means that the semester is ending! Indeed, next week marks the last week of school for me as a third-year student. Unreal how time just goes by like that!
Today, Chelsea and I went to a ‘budget’ viewing area in Singapore – the 50th storey skybridge of The Pinnacle @ Duxton, HDB’s signature project that was completed in 2009. The most un-HDB flats of HDB flats. When we reached the ‘garden’ linking all the blocks on Level 3, Chelsea told me it felt like UTown. It did. It’s clean and modern, with not that many people loitering around.
Where’s everyone?
We headed to block 1G, where we could purchase an entry ‘ticket’ to the 50th floor at $5 each (‘budget’ is not the same as ‘free’) at a management office located at level 1. The ez-link card system didn’t really work so the attendant had to manually give us entry to the skybridge.
After the one-minute (or so) lift ride up to the 50th floor, we entered the skybridge (not before the attendant spotted us on the CCTV and remotely unlocked the gates).
And again… where’s everyone?
Before even talking about the view, the sheer fact that there was barely anyone on the skybridge makes this place a must-go. Especially when you compare this to the huge mass of people up on the Skypark at Marina Bay Sands.
And this is worthy of a Skypark nomenclature. Sure, there’s no fancy pool here, but it feels more like a park because the bridge links all seven blocks of the development together, which makes for some substantial strolling if you feel like it. And you should – the views are astounding (again, for the budget price of $5).
Basically a 360 degree view of Singapore from Tanjong Pagar – you can see Sentosa and the ports to the southwest, the Central Business District to the southeast (virtually all the buildings; Marina Bay Sands was blocked though!), and Bt Timah Hill and loads of other HDB flats to the north. From the top, I could even see a little bit of the rail corridor, and probably some Indonesian islands far down (Batam?).
I remember Han Liang and I coming here but were stopped at the gates because we didn’t pay the $5. We should have… the view is great.
A great time to visit this place would definitely be in the evening, as you can catch the sunset. However there were heavy clouds that blocked the sun (which is also a good thing, I guess!). There are also plenty of sitting spaces all around the bridge, unlike that other skypark where you pay $20 as a visitor and can just stand around. Plus the small number of visitors really make this place feel like a sanctuary above the busy city below.
Following our little trip up, we went to a nearby place called Eight Cafe and Bar for dinner. She had some ‘exotic’ laksa sauce pasta that tasted great and I had a spicy baked chicken leg that tasted amazing. And then we had our usual Toastbox coffee. (HAHAHAHA)
And now, some photos I took while we were on top of the Pinnacle, no filter. You really should go visit it someday – it’s great.
Swee Life 
Great view =)