fun sentosa!

Fun sentosa!

Discovering the island’s delicious and delightfully daunting attractions

By Nickky Faustine De Guzman

Published: June 2, 2013

The infamous Battlestar Galactica

The Philippines and Singapore may be two distinct countries with different cultures and beliefs but their passion for family bonding trips binds them together. And Singapore, with its integrated resorts, hotels, restaurants, and parks with a plethora of fun-filled offerings fit for the whole family, seems to be quite a Pinoy favorite.
Some Filipino tourists say that one has never really visited Singapore if he or she has failed to do two things: take a picture with the legendary Merlion Statue and second, ride its infamous world’s tallest pair of dueling suspended and seated roller coasters at Universal Studios, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
The first must-do is effortless. Filipinos love taking pictures and mementos of their travels in and out of the country. Pinoys have a knack for capturing every object that reminds them of their journey—including a lamp post and a pavement rock. But the second one…is daunting. Some would rather opt to eat servings of laksa, a tremendously spicy noodle soup, than be tossed, turned, and propelled on several inversions, loops, and near-death collisions of the 90-second daredevil ride.
It isn’t surprising, then, that from the far side of the highly-urbanized Singapore, screams, squeals, and swears (in various languages) punctuate the rather quiet and peaceful Lion City.
“Go ride the Battlestar Galactica Human and Cyclone roller coasters!” the 19 Filipino media RWS visitors encouraged one another, though alarm and anxiety were etched on their faces. The faint-hearted opted to take pictures of the more courageous ones instead.
It was a joy to take photographs and marvel at the sight of the bold riders of the 140-foot tall roller coaster that pushed, pulled, and pivoted them in complete 360 degrees through numerous inversions, zero-gravity rolls, corkscrew twists, and vertical loops to complete the one kilometer route.
Based on the riders’ screams alone, it was fun to temporarily twist and “misplace” one’s internal organs. I’d rather wait for my second serving of laksa.
Fortunately, long before some of us had more helpings of the hot soup, the waiters in Malaysia’s Street Food (one of the hawker food centers in Universal Studios) offered the refreshing chendol, a shaved ice dessert with coconut milk, brown sugar, jelly, and red beans. Just like Manila’s streets, Singapore too has many food stands that sell inexpensive chow such as fried noodles in soya sauce (char kway teow), chicken rice in clay pot, and deep fried meat in soya bean sauce (penang ah long lor bak).
The almost 20-hectare Universal Studios features 30 food carts and restaurants and 23 more rides (18 of which are original) and attractions in seven themed zones fit for the faint-hearted grown-ups and ever-energetic children. The theme park brings together the best of the Universal Studios in the world — Hollywood, California, Orlando, Florida, Osaka—with a castle from Shrek, celebrity ogre, live show by Universal Monsters, and personalities like Betty Boop, Frankenstein, and Marilyn Monroe.
Just a few steps away from the rowdy carnival is another world’s biggest: the Marine Life Park Oceanarium with Adventure Cove Waterpark and S.E.A. Aquarium that offers opportunities for hand-feeding rays and baby sharks, interacting with dolphins, and snorkeling with 20,000 kinds of fishes.
“Resorts World is en route to being Asia’s premier family holiday destination with its colorful tapestry of world-class attractions, accommodations, dining, and entertainment options under one roof. Resorts World Sentosa, for instance, has welcomed over 30 million visitors since opening in January 2010 with notable markets in Malaysia, Greater China, Indonesia, Thailand, and of course the Philippines,” RWS Communications Officer Fabian Foo said.
According to the Singapore Tourism Board, 349,353 Filipino visitors stopped over in Singapore during the first half of 2012 while there were 146, 613 overseas Filipino workers in 2011 (new hires and rehires). Hence, it isn’t surprising to meet and greet Pinoys along the quiet and squeaky clean Sentosa and its neighboring city, Vivo.
When asked if the Philippines will have the same theme park anytime soon, RW Manila’s Karmina de Ungria said that it will be too costly to import original Universal Studios characters. Besides, the management has yet to deliberate about it. In addition, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said in previous reports that the country’s tourism infrastructure is a work in progress. “We are still calibrating the demand [for tourism facilities] because we might bust the machine,” he said. Anyway, RW offers myriad hotel rooms for families on tour: Maxim’s, Remington, Festive, and Hotel Michael among others can accommodate families, friends, and relatives on vacation.
Furthermore, anyone can enjoy Resorts World’s (Manila, Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Hong Kong) sights and sounds via its membership card that offers rewards and perks in dining, shopping, and gaming. The membership card is accepted at all RW branches.
Like an energetic child, the island city remains wide awake even after the sun retires and the screams turn into murmurs. Its vibrant mix of sights, sounds, tastes, and attractions add allure to children and families on tour. Undoubtedly, what happens in Sentosa will not stay in that island city alone.