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SENTOSA
LIST
ONE DAY TRIP TO SENTOSA
One fine Sunday, I started my trip to Sentosa by first traveling to HarbourFront MRT Station.
Sentosa Express ticket counter
From the MRT Station I walked to Level 3 of VivoCity where the Sentosa Express was available.
I bought a ticket which cost me S$3.00. The ticket allowed me to take unlimited trip by Sentosa Express at the Sentosa island. The ticket only lapsed after I checked out of the VivoCity Sentosa Express Station.
Having passing through the Sentosa Express gate, I boarded the monorail cabin. The monorail started to move. It stopped at the Resorts World site. The recorded message gave an explanation of the Resorts World which is scheduled to be operational inYear 2010. It continued its journey to Imbiah Station.
Resorts World at Sentosa under construction.
Imbiah Station is situated at an area called Imbiah Lookout.
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Imbiah Station.
Having alighted from the Sentosa Express, I headed to the Merlion. It is the tallest icon in Singapore measuring 37m high. Unfortunately, it is closed. I could not go up and enjoy a panoramic view of Sentosa and surrounding island.
The Merlion.
There is a hotel opposite the Merlion namely Treasure Resort Sentosa.
The Treasure Resort Sentosa.
I walked back to the Imbiah Station and tried to look for Carlsberg Sky Tower. On the way, I found actually various flowers were on display, probably for the past Chinese New Year. The splendor of the flowers struck open my heart. I felt extremely delighted and expected a nice day ahead.
A garden at Imbiah Lookout.
I took the escalator which brought me to the corridor leading to the Carlsberg Sky Tower. The Carlsberg Sky Tower is 131 m high and was built at a cost of US$4 million.
The Calsberg Sky Tower.
I bought a ticket for the Carlsberg Sky Tower which cost me S$12.00 (for adult). I went aboard the cabin of the Carlsberg Sky Tower. It rotated while ascending and later descending, bringing panoramic view of the Sentosa Island and surrounding islands. Among the views which I captured including the golf courses, the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Song of the Sea set out in the sea, Siloso Beach etc.
The Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom from the Carlsberg Sky Tower.
The Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort from the Carlsberg Sky Tower.
The set-out in sea for the Song of the Seas show from the Carlsberg Sky Tower.
From the Carlsberg Sky Tower site, I walked to the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. I bought a ticket which cost me S$10.00. The Butterfly Park keeps 1,500 live butterflies. I saw plenty butterflies of different species inside the park. There is a section where the visitors may take photo with the parrots. During a photo session with a parrot, something dropped on the floor. The parrot was shocked and flew immediately to the tree branch nearby.
The Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom.
Parrots in the Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom.
A butterfly in the Butterfly Park.
The Insect Kingdom has a rich collection of insects.
Beetles of the world
There is cable car traveling between Faber Hill and Sentosa Island. I did not take the cable car. It must be exciting to take one as one can have a panoramic view from Faber Hill all the way to Sentosa.
Instead of cable car, I took the Sentosa Luge & Skyride. It cost me S$9.00. The Luge operated based on principle of gravity. The luge cart slided all the way down the slope. At the end of the 650 trail, I transferred to the skyride. The Skyride brought me back to a place near the starting point of the Sentosa Luge.
Sentosa Luge where you can see 2 visitors on the luge. It operates by steering and controling while sliding down the slope with obstacles in front of you.
Skyride.
Sentosa 4D Magix is located near the Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom. It is a show of synchronization of visual effects, surround sound, individually controlled motion seats and special effects.
Sentosa 4D Magix
Sentosa Cineblast was an exciting ride which combined high definition wide screen projection, digital technologies and state of the art 6-axis motion system. The fare is S$16 for an adult.
Sentosa Cineblast entrance
A place to experience and to know Singapore better is to see Images of Singapore. It showed the interesting history of Singapore, multi-racial cultures, a diversity of festivals in Singapore.
Images of Singapore.
I walked back to Imbiah Station from which I traveled by monorail to the Beach Station. The Songs of the Sea show is located not far away from the Beach Station.
Songs of the Sea site. There are seats at the other side of the fence.
A building at Beach Station where visitors can find food and beverage.
Visitors may take a tram from Beach Station to Siloso Beach. Due to time constraint, I took a bus (which is free for all visitors) to Siloso Station.
Visitors waiting for tram to Siloso Beach, Sentosa.
Not far away from the Siloso Station is the entrance to Rasa Sentosa Resort.
Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa Resort gate.
Alighted from the bus, I walked to the Siloso Beach. It was full of visitors. Some were having their picnic. There were 2 games of beach valley ball going on. Many were having their sunbath under the tropical sun.
Siloso Beach. You can see a valley ball game is going on.
Siloso Beach.
The Undersea World is located here.
I bought a ticket to Fort Siloso. It cost me S$8.00. I was advised to wait for a tram inside the gate.
Ticket booth of Fort Siloso
After waiting for about 10 minutes, a tram car came out from the road leading to Fort Siloso, passed the gate and make a U turn back to the tram station where I was waiting.
Tram car arriving at the tram station. Visitors are waiting to aboard the tram.
On the tram, the tour guide explain the history of Fort Siloso briefly. The tram brought us to the fort where photographs, replica are on display. There is a Surrender Museum, the event of which triggered a turn in history.
3 canons in front of Fort Siloso.
Canons facing the sea.
After visiting the Fort, I walked down the road to the Souvenir shop and tram station. Another tram brought me back to Siloso Station. From there I took a bus back to Imbiah Station where I aboard a monorail all the way back to VivoCity. That is the end of my trip to Sentosa.
Souvenir shop and tram station.
ARTICLES
Sentosa - The Key Tourist Spot in Singapore
Once known as Pulau Belakang Mati, in Malay “Island of Death from Behind”, in a 1972 contest organized by Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, this island was renamed “Sentosa” meaning in Malay “Peace and tranquility”.
Sentosa Island together with a neighbour island Pulau Brani naturally plays an important role in protecting the Singapore Keppel Harbour which is one of the busiest harbours in the world, from the monsoon and rough sea.
Sentosa has an area of 704 kilometre square and is located 0.5 km from the Southern tip of main island of Singapore. 70% of the island is covered by secondary rainforest. It is a habitat of monitor lizards, monkeys, peacocks, parrots and other native flora and fauna. It has a beach stretching 3.2 km.
Historically, Sentosa is an important military spot. It was fortified to protect the harbour and coal stock. During World War II, the island was used as a British Military Fortress. Following the surrender of the Allied Forces on 15.2.1942, the island became a prisoner of war camp for Australian and British prisoners of Japanese./p>
In 1970, the Singapore Government decided to develop the island into a
holiday resorts for local visitors and tourists. Since then, some S$420
million of private capitals and another S$500 million of Government
funds have been invested to develop the island.
One of the attractions available in Sentosa is Underwater World & Dolphin Lagoon which is an oceanarium located on Western part of Sentosa. Opened in 1991, it has more than 250 species from different region of the world.
The oceanarium has a 83m long travelator that moves visitors along a submerged glass windowed tunnel from which visitors can look at the marine live like sharks, turtles, fishes, coral etc. A Dolphin Lagoon was included which houses some Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. “Meet the dolphine” sessions are held daily.
Song of the Seas show was started on 26.3.2007 replacing the 25 years old Musical Fountain show. It is the world’s only permanent show set in the sea. It has a spectacular pyrotechnics displays, a live cast and an open air viewing gallery for 2500 visitors.
Situated at the Imbian Lookout Zone, Carlsberg Sky Tower is the tallest
free-standing observation tower in Asia. At 110 m above ground, 131
metre above the sea level, it offers visitors a panoramic view of
Sentosa, Singapore and the Southern Island.
Merlion is a 37 metre high structure. It was opened in 1996. It recalled the story of Sang Nila Utama who saw a lion in Temasek (Singapore’s old name). Visitors can take a lift up to 12th floor to view the city state.
Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom is another attraction. It has 15,000 live butterflies with more than 50 species. The Insect Kingdom houses some 3,000 species of rare insects from all over the world.
Cineblast is the only Singapore ride. It was opened on June 2007. It is a simulation ride which brings visitors on an extreme 3D long ride using the latest technology. It is equipped with unique sound and light technology that is found in theme parks like Universal Studio in the United States.
Fort Siloso which is situated at the west of the island was built by the British in 1880 to guard the narrow western entrance to Keppel Harbour. On display are ammunition bunkers, barracks, gun emplacements of the fort and collection of photographs, documents and film chips.
Visitors who like fun may join the new year eve party i.e. Siloso NYE (New Year Eve) Splash held annually at Siloso Beach.
Sentosa aims to be one the world's most luxurious holiday locations. It
has the first Asia tourism academy. One of the Integrated Resorts
- Resorts World at Sentosa incorporating a casino is situated at Sentosa. It costs S$5 billion.
When it is completed in late 2009, Sentosa will be much more competitive
in tourism industry in the Region.
This article has been published in ezinearticles.com on 4 January 2008.
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The Integrated Resorts of Singapore
Integrated Resorts by definition is resorts with mixed development like hotel, restaurant, convention centre, theme park, shopping, casino etc. Because of the gaming component – casino, integrated resorts development has stirred a great controversy among the Singaporeans.
The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Long announced the cabinet’s decision to develop 2 integrated resorts in Marina South and Sentosa. The Singapore Government stated that the aim of the Integrated Resorts is to boast the country’s tourism industry. There has been very keen competition from the neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. According to the Government, the Integrated Resorts are expected to create some 35,000 jobs directly and indirectly.
There has been debate among the Singaporeans on the plan to build Integrated Resorts. Religious groups and social workers voiced their disapproval as the negative social impact of gambling.
The Government however, promised to have proper and strict safeguards to limit the social impact of gambling, among others exorbitant entrance fee and the casinos would not extent credit to local population.
Marina Bay
It is located at the Marina South of Singapore. Currently, there are a few prestigious hotels operating like Ritz Charlton Millenium, Oriental Hotel, Marina Mandarin Hotel and Pan Pacific Hotel. It has panoramic view of the sea and tranquil environment.
The Government of Singapore called for request for concept in December 2004. It received overwhelming response from the industry. A total of 19 bids were submitted during the request for concept.
In the formal bids later, 4 companies/consortiums submitted their tender including:-
i. MGM Mirage/CapitaLand
ii. Harrah’s Entertainment/Keppel Land
iii. Las Vegas Sands
iv. Genting International/Star Cruises
Eventually, Las Vegas Sands succeeded in their tender, by committing the highest development investment of S$3.85 billion. The concept was designed by Moshe Sofdie consisting of 3 layer shells containing conference halls, 3 hotel towers linked to top floor of a sky garden.
Sentosa
Sentosa which means transquility in Malay is a popular island resort in
Singapore. Previously, it was known as Pulau Belakang Mati (Island of
Death from behind). Statistics shows that it has been visited by some 2
million people annually. It has a shetered beach of more than 2
kilometres in length on the southern coast, historical Fort Siloso from
World War II, two golf courses and 2 5-star hotels.
Sentosa island has an area of 704 square kilometers. 70% covered by secondary rainforest. It is the habitat of monitor lizards, monkeys, peacocks, parrots as well as native flora and fauna.
Since its inception of development in 1972, Some S$420 million of private capitals and S$500 million Government fund have been invested to develop the island.
3 consortiums submitted their proposal on 10 October 2006. They are:-
i. Kerzner International with CapitaLand
ii. Genting International with Star Cruises Universal Studios
iii. Eight Wonder with Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, Melco International Development Limited, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc.
The bid were reviewed by a ministerial committee and a tender evaluation committee and results were announced on 8 December 2006. Genting International and Star Cruises won the bid. Genting committed to a development investment of S$3.85 billion.
What makes Genting Interntioanal stood out is its track record in gaming operation and running a theme park at Genting Highland in Malaysia.
This article has been published in ezinearticle.com on 4 January 2008.
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