I went with my Friend to Shaw House Lido for Paddington 2, a movie I’ve been dying to watch for a really long time. (If you would like me to do a review on the movie, please comment.)
In Singapore, there are 3 main cinema “chains” – Cathay, Shaw and golden village, with outlets across Singapore, making movie watching extremely convenient. Each chain has one theatre grander than its counterparts, for instance Cathay Cinneleisure at Dhoby Ghaut and our focus for the day, Shaw House Lido at Orchard.
Ticket sales for the first screening (usually 10am) began at 930AM, but we arrived pretty early, and were told to wait around. The waiting area or lounge is HUGE, and pretty cozy, with mats covering even the sides of staircases so those who are waiting can sit comfortably. This is apart from the round area in the middle of a raised platform, where people can have a little more privacy while chatting with their friends and family during the wait, as well as small sofas lying on the other end of the cinema.
Large ceiling-to-floor windows covered nearly half of the entire level, allowing the place to have one of the best views and lightings I have ever seen at cinemas. While it is not the first time I have came here, it is the first time I could be here alone, and get a full experience of the vast interior space and brilliant view of Orchard road from up high.
I have a perpetual fear of height, hence I did not take any pictures of the ground below. At 6 storeys high, the view is pretty amazing, where most of the architectural landmarks (Marriott hotel, four Seasons hotel, ION Orchard, Wisma Atria, mandarin oriental, just to name a few) can be seen in full view. But despite the extreme proximity of these buildings, it is amazing how green the place is, with the bushy trees along main roads and rooftop garden at ION. While I do go to Orchard very often, this is one of the first times I noticed the intense greening done, and truly start to appreciate the shade provided.
The cool thing with globalisation and commercialisation is how festival is celebrated through decorations and sales. In this case, more prominently the former. Almost every corporation has a Christmas tree like this, with presents at the bottom. I always wondered who those presents are for, and what is inside…? Though logically I am aware that it is more likely that they are empty. The ceiling, however, is slightly more unique, with snowflakes hanging from the down lights. I have to say this is quite a smart design, as it adds on to the magical atmosphere of Christmas when these snowflakes reflect the light, but not excessively (as compared to places which decide to hang fairy lights).
I think my biggest takeaway from this trip is that while we are constantly trying to look for adventures beyond our typical living spaces, why not look for adventures where we usually reside in? I do love going overseas, and experiencing foreign life as a tourist, but when time doesn’t permit, travelling to less visited places within the realms of Singapore can also be a fun adventure on its own.
And yes, Shaw is big enough to house a McDonald’s outlet on its own.