Marina Bay Singapore to usher New Year in style

Let's visit Singapore this year end!


SINGAPORE, Dec 16 (NNN-Bernama) -- The eighth edition of Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2013 promises to usher in the New Year in style. A kaleidoscope of fireworks will illuminate the scenic skyline around the Bay at the stroke of midnight.

The event is jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

But the fun begins way earlier. Expect to be enthralled by concerts, film screenings and other fun-filled activities along the waterfront around Marina Bay, the Esplanade Concourse, and The Promontory @ Marina Bay.

All these activities will lead to a climax comprising a choreographed eight-minute fireworks display, themed 'Dari Tanah Ini' which means “From This Earth”.

The choreography serves to inspire Singaporeans to reflect upon Singapore's past as a nation and pay homage to its humble beginnings.


Most anticipated event in Singapore

URA chief executive officer, Ng Lang said: “The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown is one of the most anticipated events not just for Singaporeans, but also for visitors from all over the world." He said the Bay has become a space for the community, with a wide array of programmes and activities held all year round, culminating in the year-end Countdown.

Benson Puah, CEO, The Esplanade Co Ltd, meanwhile said: “As we give thanks and look back with gratitude on an eventful year that has passed, we look to the new year with hope that the shared spirit of our humanity will bind us more resolutely as a people and as a nation.

He said 2012 has also been a significant year for Esplanade as we commemorated our 10th anniversary.

The fireworks display will be accompanied by a musical score written by Cultural Medallion winner, musician and composer Iskandar Ismail.

The piece showcases strong South-east Asian influences, including traditional musical instruments, such as erhu (Chinese stringed instrument performed by Sununy Wong), suona (Chinese wind instrument by Liu Jiang), Malay percussion instruments (by Riduan Zalani) and Indian flute (by Rajandra Vadivale). -- NNN-Bernama


Source

Teluk Bako-Buntal set to become tourism spot with migratory birds

This should be good news for Sarawak tourism:

Kuching: The Teluk Bako-Buntal area in Sarawak is set to become an ecotourism spot due to the lure of the presence of migratory birds.

Sarawak Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment permanent secretary Datuk Sudarsono Osman said the inclusion of Teluk Bako-Buntal in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network’ would further help promote the area in ecotourism.


Great potential for Sarawak ecotourism

“Participation in the network will benefit the economic, social and environment sectors and foster relations with member countries and boost Sarawak’s profile in ecotourism based on migratory birds.

“The network provides a channel for exchange of ideas and information, transfer of expertise and technology, developing human capital, and research and development in ecotourism.”

He said this in his speech at the closing of an awareness workshop on the nomination of Teluk Bako-Buntal as a site for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network.


Put Malaysia on the World Map

Sudarsono said the inclusion of Teluk Bako-Buntal in this network as a site for migratory birds, would place Sarawak and Malaysia on the world map in ecotourism and research on migratory birds.

Also present was Sarawak Forestry Corporation managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Ali Yusof, who said that Teluk Bako-Buntal was a stopover site for 32 species of beach birds during the winter.

“It is estimated that 20,000 to 25,000 birds stop at Teluk Bako-Buntal during a stopover period. The nomination of Teluk Bako-Buntal as a ‘Flyway Site Network’ can contribute to the preservation of the beach bird species which are increasingly threatened,” he said.

The East Asian-Australasian Flyway is one of nine major routes of migratory birds in the world. The route starts from the Artic Circle in Russia and Alaska, then south to East and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. – Bernama