Sentosa Island , an Overview

Singapore Cable Car

The Singapore Cable Car links Mount Faber on the main island of Singapore to the resort island of Sentosa across the Keppel Harbour . While the cable car to Sentosa originates from the Jewel Box in Mount Faber , most visitors will embark from HarbourFront Tower Two terminal. Opened in 1974, this cable car can bring visitors from HarbourFront to Sentosa Island in 5 minutes. While at the top, one will enjoy the view of the Singapore city skyline across the Keppel Harbour . Upon reaching Sentosa, buses (free of charge) will take visitors around the island.

Sentosa is also accessible through the Sentosa Express monorail that was opened in January 2007. With its terminus at the Vivo City shopping mall, the monorail has four stations in Sentosa. The monorail operates every 5-8 minutes from 7 AM to 11:45 PM daily. Within Sentosa, the buses which are free of charge are divided into three routes, identified as the Blue, Yellow and Red lines. Buses run from 7 AM to 11 PM (weekdays) and 12:30 AM (weekends).There is also a tram service called the Beach Tram. This tram service links the three beaches together. Private cars and taxis are also allowed inside the island.

Inside Sentosa: Underwater World

The Underwater World, located on the western part of Sentosa, is Asia 's biggest oceanarium. Known as the "voyage to the bottom of the sea," its 83-meter submerged acrylic tunnel with a moving travellator allows visitors to view over 2,500 sea creatures from 250 species in close proximity. From sharks and stingrays to eels, stonefishes, sea dragons, piranhas and turtles, visitors can truly experience close encounter with marine animals.

With over 10 years of remarkable achievements, this oceanarium has been visited with over 20 million people. There is also a touch pool where visitors can have contact with the starfishes, stingrays, and even baby sharks. For those who don't mind getting wet, there are also interactive programs: the Dive-with-the-Sharks program and Dive-with-the-Dugong.Even beginners, the non-scuba qualified, can avail of these programs.

Inside Underwater World, one can experience a unique and revitalizing therapy, complete with a foot massage at Fish Reflexology. Open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM, Fish Reflexology is a unique foot massage where spa fishes nibble on the dead skin of one's feet, making the skin smooth. One can choose between the Turkish spa fishes and African spa fishes. The treatment concludes with foot reflexology or head and shoulder massage performed by their qualified reflexologists.

The Underwater World Singapore is open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. Last admission is at 8:30 PM.

Inside Sentosa: Dolphin Lagoon

The Underwater World includes a Dolphin Lagoon which is home to some Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as the infamous pink dolphins. These pink dolphins are actually freshwater dolphins, unlike saltwater dolphins that are grey in color. The Dolphin Lagoon was carefully constructed to stimulate a natural environment similar to those of the pink dolphins'. Visitors can get to observe a series of interactive, spectacular performances and feeding and training sessions. During these Meet-the-Dolphinssessions held every day, lucky visitors are even allowed to enter the waist-deep pool and interact with the dolphins.

There is also a Swim-with-the-Dolphinsprogram where visitors can wade next to the dolphins. This lagoon was primarily developed to promote awareness and conservation of these highly intelligent and endangered marine animals.

Dolphin Lagoon at the Sentosa is open daily from 10:30 AM to 6 PM. Last admission is at 5:30 PM.

Inside Sentosa: Images of Singapore

Images of Singapore is the winner of the 2005 Themed Entertainment Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Reinvention of a Cultural Heritage Centre.Near the Cable Car Station, this attraction gives an educational and kid-friendly retelling of the colorful culture and vibrant heritage of Singapore , made possible through life-size figures, animatronics and state-of-the-art special effects. Images of Singapore is definitely a journey to the very soul of Singapore ? from its legends and folklores to stories of adventure, perseverance, values, honor and cultural diversity.

Open from 9 AM to 7 PM daily with the last admission at 6:30 PM, there is also an Images of Singapore Shop selling items uniquely Singapore . Right after the Images of Singapore tour, one can have a gastronomic feast at the Taste of Singapore restaurant, just located within the area.

Inside Sentosa: Songs of the Sea

On late March 2007, the Songs of the Sea show replaced the 25-year-old Musical Fountain show. Be mesmerized with the show's live cast and dramatic effects, spectacular pyrotechnic displays, water jets, brilliant lasers, special computer imaging, bursts of fire, captivating music and stunning flame bursts. With the stage set in the sea, this $30 million investment was developed to enhance the attractions inside Sentosa. There is also an open-air viewing gallery which can accommodate up to 2,500 visitors. The show runs daily at 7:40 PM and 8:40 PM and lasts for 25 minutes.

In less than a year, Songs of the Sea already received international awards such as  Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement: Event Spectacular and  ASEANTA Award: Best ASEAN New Tourist Attraction.

Oscar & Co. is the exclusive souvenir shop of Songs of the Sea with fun goodies for sale such as plush toys, light wands, children's slippers and photo frames.

Singapore Flyer (World's Biggest Ferris Wheel)

Experience Singapore like never before on the world's largest observation wheel. Offering primarily a bird's eye view of Singapore in its breathtaking and panoramic height, the Singapore Flyer stands at 165 meters above ground level. Thirty meters taller than the London Eye, the Flyer has the same height as with a 42-storey building. Constructed at an amount of $240 million dollars, this is definitely a one-of-a kind experience you wouldn't want to miss.

Enveloped safely in a capsule, one can experience the sensation of being on top of the world, overlooking Singapore 's magnificent 360° views such as the Singapore River , Sentosa Island , Merlion Park , Raffles Place , and even neighboring islands of Malaysia and Indonesia . Inside the Flyer terminal, there are also a wide range of restaurants, shops, facilities and activities.

Authentic local dishes are also available at the Flyer, such as the popular restaurant Seafood Paradise . There is also a wide array of cuisines at the different restaurants offering European, American, Indian, and Japanese delicacies.

If Singapore 's #1 pastime is eating, shopping which is #2 in their list is also possible at the Flyer from jewelry stores to boutique shops and souvenir items. At the upper floors, there are also a man-made tropical rainforest, flight stimulator, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and Kenko Reflexology and Fish Spa.

Located at Raffles Avenue , the Singapore Flyer's ticket booths are open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Daily flights, on the other hand, is from 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Each flight takes about 30 minutes, which is also equivalent to one rotation of the flyer.

Bintan Lagoon Resort

Only a 55-minute ferry ride from Singapore 's Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, one can reach the Bintan Island or Negeri Segantang Ladain Indonesia . Famous for its beaches, tropical gardens and views of the South China Sea , Bintan eventually became a popular weekend getaway for Singaporeans. Bintan, an island of 1,866 square kilometers, is the largest of the 3,200 islands in the Riau Archipelago and is one of the world's oldest and busiest maritime trading routes. The capital of Bintan is the southwestern city of Tanjung Pinang . Located less than 45 kilometers south east from Singapore , the island is more accessible in Singapore than from other Indonesian islands.

A lot of accommodations are available at the Bintan Island , and this includes the Bintan Lagoon Resort, part of a 300-hectare lush development which is also one of the major regional sponsors of the Amazing Race Asia 1.

The Bintan Lagoon Resort offers various amenities for relaxation. Aside from the beachfront gardens with traditional Javanese ambiance, there are also 18-hole world class golf courses within the vicinity. Boasting of its Indonesian tropical paradise, Bintan Lagoon offers thrilling water sports to complement their perfect white beaches. End the day with a course through the coast with an all-terrain vehicle and a rejuvenating Javanese massage at the Taman Sari Spa.

Bintan Lagoon also offers tours around the island. Places to see include the Bintan Elephant Park or Elephant Sanctuary where visitors can feed the elephants, take pictures and even ride them into the forest trails. Visitors will definitely be amused with the Sumatran elephants' performances such as playing football.

There is also a Mangrove Discovery Tour, a two-hour eco-adventure that includes riding a speed boat along the Sebung River . This tour highlights the importance of maintaining mangroves for the protection if its coasts and sustenance of the ecosystem as the mangroves provide habitat for wildlife.