Our first day to Sentosa we used the mass rapid transit (MRT) system. A very sophisticated, accessible, transportation system. There are lots of ways to get to Sentosa but the MRT is the fastest, just a 20-minute ride from the center of Singapore city. Sentosa is an island resort of theme parks, beautiful beaches, the best beaches in Singapore, a luge ride, cable car, monorails, plenty of food stalls and gorgeous vegetation. All just 85 miles north of the Equator.
We took the cable car to the top of the mountain so we could ride a luge down a monitored course. The Skyline Luge has four tracks; the Jungle Trail, the Dragon Train, the Kupu Kupu Trail, and the Expedition Trail. We get situated into our luge, hold on to the handlebars and start steering ourselves down the hill. Just as you’re about to pick up some speed and fly down the hill for some great fun a person is there to yell at you to “slow down”. Still, very fun. We swam in the ocean, went to the Southernmost point of the Asian continent, walked across the suspension bridge, tried lots of delicious food, got too much sun, and did tons of walking.
My first mango ice was out of this world. For one, it’s so hot and I’m sweating places I didn’t even know could sweat. Plus, the mango ice is so refreshing and a great way to cool down. The shaved ice isn’t just shaved ice. It turns out that Gula Melaka, a type of sugar made from coconut palm helps the shaved ice to be dense and sticky. So, when the mango ice comes to you it’s a 6 to 8-inch mound of ice topped with fresh cubed mango and a delicious sauce drizzled on top. Yum.
Each morning in Singapore we go to a local mall with a Japanese Bakery where we select 8 mini-pastries. Some with meat, cheese or custard and that’s our lunch. We try as many modes of transportation as possible. One fascinating means was a bus that had stools for seats with a mural of a bar scene. Some buses/MRT had TV sets that showed humorous programs. It was fun to hear people laughing their commute time away.
My Observations in Singapore:
- Every place is really clean.
- The buses have televisions on them. A very good distraction for crowded buses and long distances.
- The “commercials” on the televisions were on terrorism. All with a catchy tune – It’s real. Stay alert. Take care of each other. I’m 29. I’m 46. I’m 13. I’m 64. I’m 5. Take care of me. In case of emergency, watch out for each other – help each other.
- Sensational food.
- Marvelous malls. Like no mall I’ve seen in the states. Every name store you know is there. Airy, clean, open, five-ten stories high. One had dozens of bowling alleys and 80+ billiard tables.
- Fast, very fast-moving escalators.
- Hawkers. (hawkers are stalls of local food around the perimeter of a food court.)
- No touting. (touting is “soliciting any other person persistently or in any manner as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance.” Fine is between $1,000 to $5,000 and/or jail.)
- Singapore Days are August 1-10.
