Raksotravel’s Weblog

Sentosa Island , an Overview
 
“Stylish indulgence. Action-packed adventure. Romantic escapades. Non-stop partying. World-class living. Whatever your idea of a good life is, it begins right here at Sentosa. ” -www.sentosa.com.sg

The infamous man-made island in Singapore , Sentosa or Sentosa Island is visited by some five million people every year. Meaning peace and tranquility in Malay, Sentosa offers a variety of attractions, facilities and a wide array of fun and educational recreation activities to choose from. The island also has five-star hotels and resorts, a 2-km. long man-made beach and two golf courses. Most people say that one hasn’t visited Singapore without going to the Sentosa Island .

Being considered “a playground for all ages,” one cannot finish exploring the island in less than two days. These are just some of the tourist attractions that can be found inside Sentosa:

The Carlsberg Sky Tower is the tallest free-standing observation tower in Asia . A Merlion replica can also be seen in Sentosa. Aside from the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom , there is also the Cineblast ( Singapore ’s only cinema ride). Furthermore, one can also try the Sentosa 4D Magix which is the largest 4-dimensional theatre in Southeast Asia .

One of the main highlights in Sentosa is the Fort Siloso . A rare historical attraction in Singapore , Fort Siloso was built by the British in the 1880s to guard the country during World War II. Here, visitors can see the military equipments, barracks and tunnels used during the war. Life-sized replicas of British soldiers are also on display to depict what happened at that time. There are also film viewings about Singapore history.

For the adventurous at heart, one can try the Sentosa Luge and Skyride. This self-steering cart allows the rider to speed down a hill going to the Siloso Beach . Tourists can also try the Flying Trapeze to develop one’s mind, body and coordination.

Beaches in Sentosa were developed artificially, using sand bought from nearby islands of Indonesia and Malaysia . These are the Palawan Beach , Siloso Beach and Tanjong Beach . Spas are also available in the island to rejuvenate tired travelers and adventurers. Fish reflexology, where spa fishes nibble on the dead skin of one’s feet to make the skin smooth, is available at the Underwater World. There is also the Health Club and Spa and Spa Botanica at the Sentosa Resort & Spa.

Singapore Cable Car

The Singapore Cable Car links Mount Faber on the main island of Singapore to the resort island of Sentosa across the Keppel Harbour . While the cable car to Sentosa originates from the Jewel Box in Mount Faber , most visitors will embark from HarbourFront Tower Two terminal. Opened in 1974, this cable car can bring visitors from HarbourFront to Sentosa Island in 5 minutes. While at the top, one will enjoy the view of the Singapore city skyline across the Keppel Harbour . Upon reaching Sentosa, buses (free of charge) will take visitors around the island.

Sentosa is also accessible through the Sentosa Express monorail that was opened in January 2007. With its terminus at the Vivo City shopping mall, the monorail has four stations in Sentosa. The monorail operates every 5-8 minutes from 7 AM to 11:45 PM daily. Within Sentosa, the buses which are free of charge are divided into three routes, identified as the Blue, Yellow and Red lines. Buses run from 7 AM to 11 PM (weekdays) and 12:30 AM (weekends).There is also a tram service called the Beach Tram. This tram service links the three beaches together. Private cars and taxis are also allowed inside the island.

Inside Sentosa: Underwater World
 
The Underwater World, located on the western part of Sentosa, is Asia ’s biggest oceanarium. Known as the “voyage to the bottom of the sea,” its 83-meter submerged acrylic tunnel with a moving travellator allows visitors to view over 2,500 sea creatures from 250 species in close proximity. From sharks and stingrays to eels, stonefishes, sea dragons, piranhas and turtles, visitors can truly experience close encounter with marine animals.

With over 10 years of remarkable achievements, this oceanarium has been visited with over 20 million people. There is also a touch pool where visitors can have contact with the starfishes, stingrays, and even baby sharks. For those who don’t mind getting wet, there are also interactive programs: the Dive-with-the-Sharks program and Dive-with-the-Dugong.Even beginners, the non-scuba qualified, can avail of these programs.

Inside Underwater World, one can experience a unique and revitalizing therapy, complete with a foot massage at Fish Reflexology. Open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM, Fish Reflexology is a unique foot massage where spa fishes nibble on the dead skin of one’s feet, making the skin smooth. One can choose between the Turkish spa fishes and African spa fishes. The treatment concludes with foot reflexology or head and shoulder massage performed by their qualified reflexologists.

The Underwater World Singapore is open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. Last admission is at 8:30 PM.

Inside Sentosa: Dolphin Lagoon

The Underwater World includes a Dolphin Lagoon which is home to some Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as the infamous pink dolphins. These pink dolphins are actually freshwater dolphins, unlike saltwater dolphins that are grey in color. The Dolphin Lagoon was carefully constructed to stimulate a natural environment similar to those of the pink dolphins’. Visitors can get to observe a series of interactive, spectacular performances and feeding and training sessions. During these Meet-the-Dolphinssessions held every day, lucky visitors are even allowed to enter the waist-deep pool and interact with the dolphins.

There is also a Swim-with-the-Dolphinsprogram where visitors can wade next to the dolphins. This lagoon was primarily developed to promote awareness and conservation of these highly intelligent and endangered marine animals.

Dolphin Lagoon at the Sentosa is open daily from 10:30 AM to 6 PM. Last admission is at 5:30 PM.