THE SINGAPORE FLYER (21 AUGUST 2008)

Just as I was easing into my jet-setting lifestyle, global fuel price hikes had to put an end to all those fantastic budget airline promos. With sky-high fuel surcharges, I had to be content with taking flights sans fuel surcharge. When the Singapore Flyer (http://www.singaporeflyer.com/) offered my parents complimentary tickets, we were quick to seize the opportunity!

The Singapore Flyer is currently the world's largest observation wheel. It started operations earlier this year. We arrived to find a very quiet complex. The staff outnumbered the visitors, just as what tourists had described to Mommy before. My family and I had the whole capsule to ourselves, which was wonderful. We had a bird's eye view of the city and heaps of space for me to roam about during the ride.

Did I have a good time? Well, yeah, especially when the ride was free! Mommy predicts that, if the Singapore Flyer don't adjust their pricing downwards, the wheel will soon turn into a white elephant. At S$29.50 per ticket, it's an exorbitant price to pay for a 30-min ride to see the skyline. Perhaps, they should consider a 2-tier pricing, one for local residents and one for foreign tourists. If local residents can pay, say, S$10.00 for the ride, it'll probably attract more people. After all, the wheel will already be rotating, so the overheads are the same, whether the wheel rotates for 1 person or more.