Suntec Fortress

Guess by now, 4 million ears & more would have known or heard about the mega event that Singapore is currently hosting.

The venue.. Suntec City or rather Suntec Fortress as it's been morhped into. In all my 26 years here, I've never seen more police and security personnel in a single place before... not even during my 21/2 years in the army.

Steel barricades with barbed fences are surrounding the convention center, reinforced by huge concrete blocks to prevent even tanks from breaching through.

Hundreds of police, gurkas, & disaster relief personnel are present at every shift round the clock, every day.

Helicopters are circling the venue at regular intervals & from my desk at Suntec tower2... I can even see snipers & survellience personnel perched on rooftops all over the place.

Groups of heavily armed police & swat units patrol the entire area... not only in the convention center but also the shopping mall, foodcourt, lifts, toilets, every nook and corner you turn... you won't be able to walk 5 min before bumping into the next patrol.

Outside, even the dog unit are activated... patrolling the carparks, roads & the outskirts of the building.

Inside the main convention center which I managed to see the night before the barricades goes up... I'm somehow reminded of Changi airport. Metal detectors, red carpets, huge cascading water feature, police officers everywhere...

Yet, despite all the 'prison-like features'.. Suntec has been through a really good makeover. She was dolled up real good...

Every single road has been given a good facial (paved), every inch of land finely manicured & pedicured (amazing variety of flowers everywhere.. & yes, even sunflowers!!), had a good milk bath (every square inch of the building cleaned & disinfected... a few times!), a nose job (renovations are completed in 1/3 of the time!) & a new wardrobe (huge banners & posters.. & new lightings all around.)

She is indeed stunning!

Well, managed to take some pictures while dodging the half a dozen or so eyes monitoring your every movement from the boys in blue...







Pretty contrasting picture eh?
Guess the welcome doesn't extend to everyone..



































(All pics courtesy of my Samsung E900... hehee..)
Will post more soon!!