4] WINGS OF TIME -a must watch, when in Singapore

4] WINGS OF TIME

         (A must watch show when in Singapore)

While writing a travelogue on our Singapore visit I realized that ‘Wing of times’ needed a separate chapter. It was our second day at Singapore, 17^th January, 2017 to be precise. After lunch we proceeded in car to Sentosa island, had cable car ride,  luge & sky rides, followed by the show ‘Wings of Times’, accompanied by newly acquainted friends, Shreeram Sharma and his wife Mamita, from Nepal and Anurup Bhartiya and his wife Nikita, from Kanpur. They were indeed a good company! Here are some photos with them:

                                   [The Cable car ride with our newly acquainted friends]

Perhaps, the first of its kind, Wing of Times is the only permanent night show in the world, set in the open sea, across Silosa beach. Before the show would begin we had managed to occupy the front row seats. I took these snaps. 

"Mamita, have you ever eaten 'tacos'?", I asked Mamita, who was sitting next to me.
 "Why, of course! Those traditional Mexican - corn or wheat tortilla folded triangular things with some fillings, I simply love them. Those things right in front of do remind us of them, don't they?"she replied.
"No, they look more like 'nachos' or those 'Mad Angles' to me," said my wife. I think, all of us thinking gastronomically. 

The show began promptly at the stroke of 8.00 pm. It was set in the majestic open sea right in front of us, against back drop and a larger-than-life water screen. Spanning several vistas and across the fabric of time, a multi-sensory extravaganza that took us all through an epic tale of courage, mystery and magic. A contemporary storyline weaved together with experiential fusion of multi- media effects with 3D projection mapping, state-of- the-art lasers, robotic water fountains and giant water jets (water sprinkle from these fountain and jets we would often feel on our face and hands), pyrotechnics created and produced by a team of Sentosa locals and internationally acclaimed entertainment experts – ECA2 (French company). I  do enjoy fairy tales. They bring out the child in me. So this man of seventy became young child of seven once again! And began to watch and record / video shoot what being unfolded before front of us:  

It all began with two teenagers strolling on a beach.Who are they? 

Rachel, a curious, energetic and fearless teenage girl. She sees something on the beach and curious as she is,  she needs to find out what it is. 

Felix, unlike Rachel, is timid and conservative. He is unsure of his capabilities and adventure is the last thing on his mind.But he cares for her. 

“Rachel, Rachel, where are you?”

“Is that you, Felix? 

“Oh, there you are!”

 “Are you following me?”

 “Every one in the class is looking for you.”

 “Look at this place. I want to show you something.Look at these strange stones.I want to have a closer look. Come. ”

 “They are just stones”

" But I want to have a look at these strange stones.They are so big! Catch me if you can! "

 “No. Stop! Hey wait!”

“If are scared join the others. Don’t be such a coward. ”

“Rachel, wait… wait for me!”

 He tries to stop her.  " Rachel, stop, stop" , he cries running right behind her.

“Ooo...Ooh!”

  But it's too late. She stumbles!

A mystical pre-historic bird-like giant creature appears suddenly before them' 

  " Who are you?" 

" I'm Shahbaz from the glorious ancient world! I just woke up from my Milleniums of slumber. All I want is to return to the beginning of my time and find my way back home."

 " How do you intend doing that?" 

 "On my wings of time, of course!"

“That sounds like an adventure! Can I come along?”
 
 “Oh Rachel! Are you okay?”

 “ Hee, hee! (She giggles) Oh, by the way, I'm Rachel and this my friend, Felix.”

 And off they fly!

 

 " Tell us, how exactly you can travel through time?" 

 "Thanks to my wings of time, of course!"

And together they travel across beautiful landscapes and the mysteries of time. Their journey starts from 21^st century (we see tall towering buildings in the background) and brings them through artistic interpretation of the British Industrial Revolution (Huge interlocking gears and pistons).

 "Look at that! We are reaching Great Britain in the 19^th Century. Enough of my running commentary!"

 

Then they are in the Silk Road Era. [The era   from the second century BC to the end of the fourteenth century AD, a great trade route originated from Chang'an (now Xian) in the east and ended at the Mediterranean in the west, linking China with the Roman Empire. Since silk was the major trade product that travelled on this road, it was named the Silk Road in 1877 by Ferdinand von Richthofen – a well-known German geographer. This ancient route not only circulated goods, but also exchanged the splendid cultures of China, India, Persia, Arabia, Greek and Rome),Mayan Pyramids (The Maya are a people of southern Mexico and northern Central America (Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras, and El Salvador) with some 3,000 years of history. Archaeological evidence shows the Maya started to build ceremonial architecture approximately 3,000 years ago)].

 “Incredible! Look Felix, we must have reached the silk road!”

Passing through the under –water world.

 And African Savanna. [A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland grassland ecosystem characterised by the trees.The savannas of Africa, including the Serengeti, famous for its wildlife, are typical of this type. The Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) is also included in Savannah (disambiguation) · ‎Tropical and subtropical · ‎Temperate grasslands)].

 Rachel falls off in the sea. Felix jumps and ...

 “Rachel, Rachel...oh!”

He gets her out of the water... and carries her in his arms.

 
“Felix, you've saved me. You may not be such a coward after all!”

 Then they share a long, long kiss! They continue their onward journey  .. on the wings of time!

 "...we are getting closer to my homeland, the ancient time! Ah, I need a break!"

 “May be some one will help”

 "I'm a great saviour!"

Then there is this very significant song which goes this way: 

When you are travelling far from home (we were indeed far from our – in foreign country- Singapore), don’t be scared!

When you are travelling far from home don’t be scared!

You are not alone (Of course, I was not alone—my wife was there with me! Haa,.haa!)

You are not alone.

Find Courage, find courage in you ( Both of us have plenty of it! Haa, haa!)

Courage within you!

Let the dream come true!

Keep on hoping! Dream will come true!
 Keep on hoping!
 Keep hoping! Keep hoping! Keep hoping.......

They reach his home.

 "The ancient time! Ah, I'm home, my friends! Thank you for the company."

“It's so beautiful over here!”

 “Yes. But how do we make it home?”

  "Don't worry. I can take care of that."

And off flies Shahbaz. 

And Rachel and Felix find themselves back on the beach.  In the process Rachel and Felix discover more about themselves. We see them running across the expanse of sand, dancing, hand in hand and wide smiles writ all over their faces.

 “Oh Felix! What an adventure!”

 Here is the entire video that I had captured on my canon camera: Oops 


 https://www.facebook.com/vinay.trilokekar/videos/1439871162710294/

 Well, if your on Facebook, and my Facebook 'friend', you can view this very video.

                                             The End

Or is it? No!Then began the fire works!  Here is that video.

Thus we ended our day at Sentosa with this Award Winning Outdoor Night Show. Yes, we were mesmerized by this technologically wonderful, multi-sensory presentation of water display laser show, breath-taking fire effects with accompaniment of spectacular music and the song as we soared through space and time in this magical adventure as the story unfolded.  I couldn’t help myself but exclaim,“Wow!”

                                                                                     Vinay Trilokekar