Sentosa is Singapore’s number one tourist
destination. Travelers actually say a trip to Singapore won’t be
complete without visiting the theme park- island.
It is visited by everyone-from families to
honeymooners, history buffs to nature lovers.
On a recent trip to Singapore, courtesy of
Siemens, we had a taste of what Sentosa has to offer.
Sentosa is a theme park like no other. There
are no carousels, giant Ferris wheels or even mascots. What it
offers instead is an experience that is a mixture of history, a
bit of education that can be pleasurable.
There are several ways of going to Sentosa—by
bus, by a private vehicle or by the scenic Cable Car. The best
bet? Go find a company that offers packaged tours. We took Tour
East, as suggested by the hotel where we stayed, the
Ritz-Carlton Millenia.
Hiring a tour guide actually makes the visit
to Sentosa more practical and hassle-free. With the many
attractions in the island, going there by yourself, you’re
liable to miss the best it can offer.
It is more advisable to take the afternoon
till sunset option (S$57 for adults, S$31 for a child) because
you get to see more attractions. And for an additional S$8, a
dinner will be added.
First on the list is the cable car ride.
With a maximum of 6 persons in a cabin, this
amazing ride begins at the Jewel Box in Mt. Faber to Harbour
Front Tower Two then to Sentosa Cable car Station. The cabin
offers a spectacular view of Singapore skyline. At night, the
cabin is transformed into a dining room, fit for couples on a
date or a family celebrating a special occasion.
Upon arrival to Sentosa, a bus will take you
to your first stop-the Dolphin Lagoon, home of the famous pink
dolphins.
The pink dolphins are actually fresh-water
dolphins, very different from Flipper. While the salt-water
dolphins are generally grey in color, these freshwater dolphins
are, surprisingly, pink. The trainors say that these dolphins
are nearing extinction and are generally more ‘intelligent’ than
their salt-water counterparts.
At the Underwater World, it is a ‘voyage to
the bottom of the sea’. Its 80-meter transparent acrylic tunnel
allows you to view over 2,500 sea creatures in close proximity.
One of Asia’s largest oceanariums, Underwater World is where you
can experience close encounters with sharks and stingray.
Next stop is the Images of Singapore, where
you’ll embark on a journey to experience the colorful culture
and vibrant heritage of Singapore, retold through life-size
figures, animatronics and state-of-the-art special effects.
Right after the Images of Singapore tour, one
can have a gastronomic feast at the Taste of Singapore
restaurant.
Free-time over, head for Musical Fountain and be enthralled
by this state-of-the-art dramatic display of laser and computer
graphics. Free to everyone on Sentosa, the Musical Fountain is a
nightly attraction featuring "magical Sentosa’, a multi-sensory
show of fire jets, water geysers and computer animation (the
star of which is a monkey).
