Adventures in Singapore: Chapter 10: Sentosa Island

We started the day with a yummy breakfast at a restaurant on Dempsey Road, an English place with a tropical flair – great shop! Delicious!  Jeff’s scrambled eggs toast and side bowl of bacon!  Fruit & yogurt for Emma

My order: Pancakes – literally cakes baked in a pan with mangos and topped with ice cream and cane syrup, with a nice side bowl of bacon

I mentioned in Chapter 9, Sentosa Island felt like Pinocchio's Pleasure Island.  See the picture from the movie on the right… look at the photos at the end of the post… Pleasure Island indeed!  Check out it’s website: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/ Their slogan is “Sentosa: Asia’s Favorite Playground”  Play ground indeed… this trip into Sentosa we drove, you pay a admittance fee to drive onto the island – like an entrance toll, and parking fees are a standard Singapore feature (they are set up like ez-pass toll scanners) 

We already played around Imbiah Look out, our first stop was to Siloso Beach!   We didn’t intend to get in, although Jen brought the girls a change of clothes (and I did too!) I had to take a dip in the straight of Singapore!  (see the oil tankers in the background) The girls had fun too!  

 

Cleaned up and headed to the Amusement Park and Mall part of Sentosa

Lunch at a Swanky Chinese Restaurant just outside of the Theme Park

  Emma and Ethne are very good with chopsticks!

Our Feast! We tried many things, noodles, fried wonton like things and some of the best sweet and sour pork ever!

Singapore’s Famous Chili Crab

Jen loves steamed dumplings

 

Hershey Store – never that far from Hershey, PA

  Candylicious!

Then off to Universal Studios Singapore for some rides! http://www.rwsentosa.com/Attractions/UniversalStudiosSingapore

The Girls love Characters! Woody Greats everyone at the park!  I have never been to an amusement park that was so empty, we were there mid week and well, summer is all year. Madagascar Merry Go RoundFar, Far, Away…. to Shrek’s house & castle

Ethne was just tall enough to go on a Roller Coaster!  She was brave!

  Jurassic Park

Another watering spot.  Our Favorite Ride!  We rode over and over again!

Weeeeeee!Soaking Jurassic Park River raft tour

The Mummy   

(Great ride inside, not for the kids, real fire… hottsy!) 

Ethne Driving the Egyptian Safari jeep – good driver – Emma refused to get it, she declared it a scary ride, so she watched.

Future Land  Tea Cups (space ships) the girls love this! – I managed to take pictures while we were spinning, right when the ride started! That is the look of glee!

New York City Scene 

We had NY Pizza for dinner on the way out as the park was closing.

Evening outside, but we aren’t done yet… next stop…

Hershey Store and Candylicious for some very important shopping!

  

Exhausted from a very fun day on “Pleasure Island”

Sentosa: Asia’s Favorite Playground!

Adventures in Singapore: Chapter 9: Mount Faber & Jewel box

Atop Mt. Faber is a cable car terminal and some ritzy restaurants called the Jewel Box. The design is quite impressive  I have pulled the descriptions below off their website:  http://www.mountfaber.com.sg/ I was surprised there was mention of the  restrooms – while I didn’t use the ones described, the outdoor grounds restroom were also impressive, I even photographed them, great signage, nice design with a mixture of textures: glass, stone, concrete, & tile.

“Resting amongst the lush foliage at the top of Mount Faber, The Jewel Box stands as Singapore’s iconic hilltop destination.

At 106m above sea-level, Mount Faber is Singapore's third highest hill and a popular tourist destination. The hill, originally named Telok Blangah Hill, was renamed Mount Faber in July 1845, in honour of Captain Charles Edward Faber of the Madras Engineers. Captain Faber built a narrow winding road to the summit of Mount Faber for the installation of a signal station and flagstaff to complement military operations on Sentosa island.

In 1974, Singapore’s first cableway system and the first in the world to span a harbour was launched. This cableway linked Mount Faber and the Sentosa island. In 2005, this humble cable car station underwent its biggest refurbishment and rebranding and was transformed into a unique and captivating tourist destination, THE JEWEL BOX.”

The transformation into Singapore’s iconic hilltop destination was conceptualized by Mount Faber Leisure Group’s CEO, Ms Susan Teh. The name was inspired by the building’s architecture - a musical jewel box whose luminous lustre could be witnessed from afar. The twinkling star-lights, changing colour washes on the exterior façade, and the glittering cable cars that traverse in and out of the unique façade at night, attract millions of tourists and locals to uncover and delight in the many gems that can be found within its confines.

The Jewel Box houses a retail shop, cable car attraction rides and 5 gem-inspired Food & Beverage establishments – Black Opal, Emerald Lodge, Empress Jade, Moonstone, Sapphire - each offering a distinct dining experience. Designated as a premium gateway, The Jewel Box offers a premium and differentiated experience for guests to Sentosa island’s attractions including Resorts World@ Sentosa and Universal Studios”

  “Architecture: The Jewel Box is a stunning integration of nature and style, while carefully preserving the environment. The material used for construction such as timber decking – used for restaurant flooring – has been recycled to maximum possible extent.

Other highlights of The Jewel Box that will definitely catch your attention are:

• The three mature Angsana trees that have been integrated into the design of the The Jewel Box’s iconic green extension
• Elegantly-curved Hiba wood arcs which tower over Mount Faber and use state-of-the-art “gluelam” technique – a first in the region
• Soaring Angsana tree, encased in crystal, simulating a ‘tree-in-a-vase’ effect

“The Landscape: There is a lot that you can indulge in at The Jewel Box. Along with  a spectacular view of the scenic backdrop from the peak of Mount Faber, you can:

• Soak in the sultry evening breeze amidst the natural settings of the hilltop and the romantic backdrop of the setting sun
• Catch a bird’s eye view of pyrotechnic displays    
• Sip cocktails with a post-card perfect backdrop, or wine and dine in exclusivity as you experience Sky Dining™

“Iconic Washroom: The Jewel Box’s magic continues to unfold itself even with the innermost sanctuary of its iconic restroom. With its textured slate walls and floors, they are an attraction unto themselves. The sculptured bathroom commodes by designer Alessi resemble smooth minimalist white marble eggs; and the floor to ceiling windows overlook a spectacular harbour view. Awarded Best Toilet in the World by a French website.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cable Car takes you across the Harbor to Sentosa Island - beautiful views of the harbor and city, we go through a building and arrive in Sentosa Island.  To describe Sentosa Island, it reminds me of Pinocchio's Pleasure Island.        It is a tourist , come for amusement draw.  You can drive, as we do later – next post all on Sentosa adventures, but we traveled there first by cable car!  See the Oil Tankers out in the water…

View of one of the busiest docks in the world

Fly over the almost finished Casino

Greeted by the Singapore MerlionWe get off on Sentosa at Imbiah Look out.  With a variety of activities to do, we first enjoy a short nature walk!  We are coming back to Sentosa another day so we spend our time just at Imbiah lookout.

 

Cool off our toes in a nice splish-splash – I love these people friendly water spots. Always wear shoes you can take of easily! Keep a small towel or washcloth in your bag!

            Take pictures with the cultural center fella!    

Hello again Giant Merlion!

Went for a ride with mickey mouse… ever wonder what happened to these coin operated mall rides, they are all in Singapore – everywhere!  I loved these as a kid, and so do my nieces! 

Toured the cable car interactive museum

And back to the Jewel box!