Feb 17, 2008

SENTOSA ISLAND - SINGAPORE























VIEW FROM CABLE CAR


Sentosa, which means peace and tranquillity in Malay, is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year.[1] Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two five-star hotels.


Transport
Sentosa can be reached from the Singapore mainland via a short causeway or Cable Car, which originates on Mount Faber and passes through HarbourFront en route.

The island is also accessible by the SGD$140 million Sentosa Express monorail, which has four stations on Sentosa. Opened in 15 January 2007, the terminus of the line is at the VivoCity shopping mall on the mainland, which is in turn served by the HarbourFront MRT Station of the North East MRT Line. The journey takes four minutes. The WaterFront Station of the monorail is expected to open in 2010.

Within Sentosa there are three bus services, identified as Blue, Yellow and Red lines, and a tram service called the Beach Train. Since 1998, passenger cars have been allowed to enter the island.


A Volvo B7RLE on the Blue Line. Buses currently serve as the main means of getting to and around Sentosa.


Sentosa offers a variety of attractions, museums and other facilities to provide a variety of experiences, recreation and entertainment to visitors.

Carlsberg Sky Tower

The Carlsberg Sky Tower is the tallest free-standing observation tower in Asia. At a height of 110 metres above ground and 131 metres above sea level, it offers visitors a panoramic view of Sentosa, Singapore, and the Southern Islands. On a clear day, the view extends to parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. At ground level, visitors enter a large disc-shaped airconditioned cabin fitted with glass windows all round. The cabin then revolves slowly as it ascends the column of the tower. The cabin has a capacity of 72 visitors.

The Sky Tower, first opened on 7 February 2004, is situated in the Imbiah Lookout zone in the centre of Sentosa and can be reached by Cable Car, Sentosa Luge Chair Lift, by Sentosa Express or by bus.


Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom

The Butterfly Park is a landscape garden with over 15,000 live butterflies, representing more than fifty species. Housed in a cool outdoor conservatory, these butterflies range from the 25 millimetre (1 in) Eurema sari to the 150 mm (6 in) Papilio iswara.

The Insect Kingdom houses some 3,000 species of rare insects from around the world, including a 160 mm Dynastes Hercules beetle.

Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon

Underwater World is an oceanarium located on the western part of Sentosa. Opened in 1991, the living museum has more than 2,500 marine animals of 250 species from different regions of the world. The oceanarium is underground and has an 83 metre long travelator that moves visitors along a submerged glass-windowed tunnel from which they can look at an array of marine life including coral reef, stringrays, moray eels, turtles, sharks, and other fishes.

The Underwater World also includes a Dolphin Lagoon which is home to some Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as the pink dolphins. Several "Meet-the-Dolphins" sessions are held daily to allow visitors to enter the waist-deep pool and interact with the dolphins at close proximity. A more involved "Swim-with-the-Dolphins' program, where visitors can interact extensively with the dolphins, is also available.

Songs of the Sea

The Songs of the Sea show, started on 26 March 2007, replaced the 25-year-old Musical Fountain show. This showcase is a key $30 million investment by Sentosa to enhance its entertainment product offerings and to attract more tourists. It is the world’s only permanent show set in the sea - boasting spectacular pyrotechnics displays, a live cast and an open-air viewing gallery which can comfortably accommodate 2,500 visitors. The show runs twice a night at 7.40pm and 8.40pm and lasts 25 minutes. An entry fee of S$6 is required for each show. [7]

Sentosa 4D Magix

The Sentosa 4D Magix is Southeast Asia's First Largest 4Dimensional Theatre. It was built at a cost of S$3.5 million and the state-of-the-art theatre offers a whole new generation of movie magic.

Cineblast

The Cineblast is Singapore's only cinema ride, opened on June 2007. The state-of-the-art cinema simulation ride will bring visitors on an extreme 3D log ride using the latest in simulation technology. The cinema is equipped with unique sound and light technology that is found in theme parks such as Universal Studios in the United States.

Merlion

The Merlion stands at 37 metres tall.

The Merlion statue recalls the story of the legendary Sang Nila Utama, who saw a lion in Singapore (originally known as Temasek) while hunting. The 37 metre (12 storey) high statue can be entered through the ground floor, and one can take the lift up to 12th floor to view the city state. Opened in 1996, it is the tallest Merlion in Singapore.

Musical Fountain

After operating for 25 years, the Musical Fountain went into the history of Sentosa when its last show was staged on 25 March 2007. It is now being replaced by The Songs of the Sea show. This nightly show that was staged in the past was used as a water fountain, with lasers and music. The refractive and reflective effect of the lasers against water particles from several directions create a three-dimensional image.







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