Historic icon, 14th Century Chinese Junk Ship goes interactive
Dubai, UAE: MTE (Marketing Themed Environments) Studios, creators of the UAE's first and only 25-metre traditional Chinese Junk resembling the ship manned by Ibn Battuta, the great 14th century Arabian explorer and Ibn Battuta Mall introduce new interactive elements in the China Court exhibit.
Additionally, MTE Studio's storytelling tours will include a stop at the exhibit to describe the adventures that Ibn Battuta had near China to enhance the edutainment experience.
According to Ludo Verheyen, Director, MTE Studios, “We are delighted to introduce the icon to visitors through interactive features and story tellers who are already popular among visitors to Ibn Battuta Mall. We can assure visitors that they will be impressed with the opportunity to board such an incredible masterpiece and enjoy the 3-D aquarium that will definitely leave a true to life impression on them.”
The Junk is life sized has a significant presence at the mall not only as a static display, but is interactive as well, allowing visitors to access and explore its interior. In fact it is also a perfect backdrop for exhibitions and functions at the mall. Just recently, the DSS stage was set up on the water and performers had access to the stage through the ship.
One can actually experience what it must have felt like inside the Chinese Junk in the 14th century. As an added attraction, state-of-the-art technology has been used to create a virtual aquarium by which one can observe marine life ranging from different schools of fish to Great White sharks.
At the stern of the boat, those interested can learn about how Ibn Battuta ended up on the shores of the Maldive Islands by way of an interactive exhibit. Both education and entertainment have been incorporated into the making of this great adornment.
The Junk will be partially placed in water, propped against jagged rocks to capture the feel and scene where Ibn Battuta actually struck land. According to history, the boat Ibn Battuta was travelling upon was destroyed during a storm, and though most of the crew and other travellers managed to escape, there was no room left on the makeshift raft for Ibn Battuta.
Ibn Battuta spent a terrifying night on the slowly sinking ship before he was greeted by a rescue boat sent by his travelling partners the next morning. Smaller Sampans (a wide, flat-bottomed skiff, often having a mat-covered cabin with living quarters) will be used for interactive exhibits, offering visitors a more hands-on experience.
Visitors to the ship will soon be able to witness a sound and light show on a stage built in the water adjacent to the magnificent Junk. As smoke and mist machines create the atmosphere of fog at sea, a narrator will explain what happened to Ibn Battuta during those moments.
2007-01-11