Sunday, 19 April 2009

Sentosa Island

A slice of paradise right in our doorstep, Sentosa offers a kaleidoscope of attractions and activities. Once you step afoot the island, be mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the lush greenery peppered with exciting attractions that will certainly blow you away! It’s a themed attraction, tropical resort, nature park and heritage centre all rolled into one!

Sand and Sea
Stretching 3.2km long, soak up the sun along Sentosa’s sun-kissed beaches while engaging in various sports activities or simply chilling out at beachfront bars/pubs. Siloso Beach, dubbed Singapore’s Hippest Beach is the perfect spot for the young and restless.


Palawan Beach serves a platter of fun sports and activities for the whole family! With amenities easily within reach, it’s no wonder why it is called Singapore’s Happiest Family Beach! Take a stroll with your family to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia via the suspension bridge or bring the kids to the delightful Animal & Bird Encounters which is sure to entertain.

Diehard romantics will love Tanjong Beach for their unbeatable ambience and tranquility. Spend quality time with your special someone with a quiet stroll on Singapore’s Most Romantic Beach and bask in the magnificent sunset.

Nature 101
Nature beckons everywhere on Sentosa – keep a lookout for friendly peacocks, monkeys and squirrels. Take a walk at the Nature Walk/Dragon Trail through a secondary rainforest and stop by the vantage point on the summit of Mount Imbiah for a scenic view of the neighbouring islands.

For an up close encounter with Mother Nature’s creations, head down to Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon to meet the friendly pink dolphins and other exciting ocean life. Or admire over 2,500 butterflies from over 50 species and unusual insects like the man-face bugs, stick insects, giant millipedes, scorpions and rhino beetles at the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom.


Singapore Past and Present

Built in the 1880s, Fort Siloso served as the last bastion of the British forces during the Japanese invasion of Singapore. Explore the other historical enclave on top Mt Imbiah where the remains of a former battery lie.

Learn about Singapore’s war years, its colourful culture and vibrant heritage at the three-part Images of Singapore, re-told through life-size figures, animatronics and special effects.

Imbiah Lookout – A first stop for fun seekers
Sentosa’s newest activity zone is a fun filled stop, home to Singapore’s biggest attractions! Imbiah Lookout is the stop for fun filled activities where everything is just a mere 7 minutes apart. From the Sentosa Luge & Skyride to the famous panoramic Sky Tower and the Images of Singapore, you will be spoilt for choice on how to spend your day.

Standing 37 metres tall is The Merlion, which offers a breathtaking view of Sentosa, Singapore’s skyline and the surrounding islands from two viewing decks. If going vertical is your aim, then visit the Sky Tower which takes up to 72 people in its cosy, air-conditioned cabin for a seven-minute ride.

Tickle your senses with Sentosa 4D Magix for that truly interactive experience! This state-of-the-art theatre offers you a whole new generation of movie magic complete with surround sound, individually-controlled motion seats and special “live” environmental effects such as water spray and leg ticklers! And try out CineBlast, Asia’s first and only experiential cinema ride!

For a unique experience, let Sentosa Luge & Skyride exhilarate as you race down a 650km track! Part go-cart, part-toboggan, it is a fun-filled gravity ride that is safe for all ages. Once is never enough! So make sure you take a leisurely ride back to the top on the Skyride as it transports you through a scenic 320m long tree-top ride with.

Spa Indulgence
Immerse yourself in the rich tranquility of Sentosa’s finest spa retreats, a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Get ready to indulge yourself with state-of-the-art facilities at Spa Botanica, a luxurious five-star resort, or de-stress yourself at the Health Club & Spa which houses a private yet open air garden that perches over a fish pond and a waterfall! For a truly unique and revitalizing experience, dip your feet at the Fish Reflexology, Underwater World and get a pedicure from a school of Turkish spa fish followed by a therapeutic foot pampering session by a qualified foot reflexologist.

Night Life
Stroll down the Merlion Walk, a 120-metre-long Gaudi-inspired mosaic walkway lined with colourful mosiac water jets!

Join Oscar and his friends as they embark on an enchanted adventure at Songs of the Sea! Located conveniently by the Sentosa Express Beach Station, this spectacular world-class show comprising of dramatic effects, jets of water, bright lasers, bursts of fires and foot-tapping music is sure to transport you into another dimension where all things magical come to life!

Staying on the Island
With a range of accommodation options (The Sentosa Resort & Spa, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, Siloso Beach Resort, Treasure Resort and Costa Sands Resort), Sentosa caters to all budgets and preferences. A wide selection of food and beverage facilities is readily available on the island while Sentosa’s buses and trams provide easy islandwide access.

With the recent launch of Amara Sanctuary Resort in Sentosa, which is secluded in the lush greens of the island’s tropical garden, it offers an exotic and exclusive stay for its guest. Be it for leisure, business or just a retreat away from the hectic city life.

Transportation

There are 3 ways to enter Sentosa, each bringing a different experience. The newest addition of which is the air-conditioned Sentosa Express. This 140 million infrastructure investment is the island’s biggest investment till date. This integral project is part of a strategy to enhance the transportation system within Sentosa, so that easy accessed can be available from all corners of Sentosa.

Entering the island via the cable car would be an interesting experience like never before, as you get a picturesque glimpse of the city from above.

Be greeted with the smiles from our friendly shuttle bus drivers as they bring you around Sentosa. This is the most convenient form of transportation which takes you around Sentosa. Be sure to hop on the island bus!

Merlion Singapore

The Merlion was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 1964 – the lion head with a fish body resting on a crest of waves quickly became Singapore’s icon to the rest of the world.

Originally located at the Merlion Park by the Esplanade Bridge, the Merlion and the Cub became a popular tourist attraction for visitors. The installation ceremony took place on 15 September 1972, officiated by the then Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Today, the Merlion has found a new home just 120 metres away from its original location, adjacent to one Fullerton.

Measuring 8.6 metres high and weighing 70 tonnes, the Merlion statue was built from cement fondue by the late Singapore craftsman, Mr Lim Nang Seng. A second and smaller Merlion statue, measuring two metres high and weighing three tones, was also built by Mr Lim. The body was made of cement fondue, the skin from porcelain plates and eyes from small red teacups.


Designed by Mr Fraser Brunner, a curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium, the lion head represents the lion spotted by Prince Sang Nila Utama when he re-discovered Singapura in 11 AD, as recorded in the "Malay Annals". The fish tail of the Merlion symbolises the ancient city of Temasek (meaning “sea” in Javanese) by which Singapore was known before the Prince named it “Singapura” (meaning “lion” (singa) “city” (pura) in Sanskrit), and represents Singapore’s humble beginnings as a fishing village.

Saturday, 18 April 2009

The Singapore Tourism Board

The Merlion (simplified Chinese: 鱼尾狮; pinyin: Yúwěishī; Malay: Harimau-Laut; Tamil: கடல்சிங்கம்) is an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Its name combines "mer" meaning the sea and "lion". The fish body comes from Singapore's ancient name back when it was a fishing village — Temasek — meaning "sea town" in Javanese. The lion head represents Singapore's original name — Singapura — meaning "lion city" in Sanskrit and Malay.

The symbol was designed by Mr Fraser Brunner, a member of the Souvenir Committee and curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium, for the logo of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in use from 26 March 1964 to 1997.[1] The Merlion continues to be its trademark symbol since 20 July 1966. Although the STB changed their logo in 1997, the STB Act continues to protect the Merlion symbol.[2] Approval must be received from STB before it can be used. The Merlion appears frequently in STB-approved souvenirs.