Well, sleep did not happen until 2.30… too hot and people talking downstairs kept me awake for very long. Luckily we are up early. After great breakfast (so says Luc – white bread, butter and Nutello) and banana and best pear ever tasted for me, we set off to the MRT station. They do not sell the tourist pass at this station, so we opt to buy single tickets. Great system, you get plastic card and if you deposit on the other side, you get S$1 back!
We get off at Harbor Station, but have no idea where the Sentosa train or bus departs from. We end up in one of the big shopping centers and try to follow the Sentosa signs. We eventually end up at the cable car, which is not working right now, so, a long trek back to the bus after we get directions for a cleaner. It takes us more than 1 ½ hour to get there.
Sentosa Island is situated just outside Singapore and linked with cable car, monorail and bridge. It has been created around entertainment – like a mini Disney World on the beach. Our first stop is at the Imbuia Section where Luc immediately insists in seeing the 3D movie shows – at a price – about R 300 for the 2 shows… I complain bitterly, but what can you do?! The first show is Pirates of the Caribbean – it is 3D with extra effects, added by the chair that moves around and blows out wind, creating the feeling that the giant spider in the movie is climbing over you. Luc freaks out when it feels like the crabs are climbing up your legs – next moment his 3D glasses are off and he is hanging onto me! There is no stop – bats, skulls and we even get sprayed with water!
The Extreme Ride is slightly different – now we are strapped into more “active” seats and we are going down a rollercoaster ride, following the story of a tree being logged down.
From here we take the bus down to the Palawan Beach area, where we are booked to swim with the dolphins. They are not yet ready so we go for quick lunch – we share stunning roasted sweet pork and rice, great clear soup and lots of fruit. The prices here considerably more than Phuket.
We cross over on the hanging bridge to a little island, which is the Most Southern Point of Asia. It is nearly one and we run of to the Dolphin Lagoon for our date with the dolphins we have been waiting for since April.
Whist I sign all the indemnity forms, Luc makes friend with Elliot, how is from Perth. Luc also meets his match when it comes to talking, because Elliot talks non-stop (but very entertaining!). We are dressed up in live jackets and booties and after the briefing on the beach – of which I missed half cause I was worried about the locker keys I lost! However discover that it takes a very long time for these dolphins to get their pink colour – more than 15 years – they are born grey and then slowly they loose the grey to pink.
We are divided into smaller groups and I take Luc and Elliot under my wing. Finally we are in the water and we slowly swim into the deeper section. Our first session is with one of the teenage girl dolphins (who’s name in the excitement and chatting between the boys, I missed). She circles us and then gradually comes closer until we are finally allowed to stroke her. We get a chance to give her some instructions – and the boys love the “jumping in the air trick” – until Luc gets a big fright when she does a spectacular jump right over his head!
We then go off to meet Pat – the most mature dolphin. He is a character – has nearly no teeth left. We get to pose for a painting – whilst we hold the paper, Pat does the painting!!! It is supposed to look like the two of us (must add that Pat did a good job of the female anatomy - two very distinct outcrops!).
We have several pose opportunities and before we know it the 30 minutes is over….
Luc now wants to go to the Eco Ride – those two wheelers on which you stand and steer by leaning to the front or sides. We end up walking for miles (or so it felt), until I manage to persuade him to rather use the free tickets to the underwater world (and aircon!). We meet up with Elliot and his parents again and the two boys are full of beans – running from one exhibit to the next! I must say that Cape Town Aquarium definitely tops this one by far! It is finally time to say goodbye to Elliot and his parents and also to Sentosa, as we have to run to meet Winsome and Katie. We take a bus to the Sentosa Monorail.
On the bus Luc chats up a group of very nice young ladies. Turns out they are from Thailand and on a conference. He entertains them with his stories and as we say goodbye, one of the girls (Srichawin) gives us her business card and invites us to come and stay at the resort she is working at – turns out they are all in the hotel industry! Luc is so chuffed with his new friends and we bump into them again on the other side!
We take the MRT to City Hall, where a very nice security lady explains to us where to get the bus to the Singapore Flyer. We are running late and I am worried that we are not going to meet Winsome and Katie within the time we agreed upon. Struggling to find the right bus stop and as I get onto the third bus to speak to the driver, I hear a familiar voice behind me – Winsome and Katie – how is that for timing – coming from completely different directions, what are the odds!
We finally get the right bus, for which we have to pay $2 – which we will supposedly get back on the other side the conductor tells us. Turns out to be a travel agent who immediately lures us into his office when we arrive at the flyer. Luckily we are streetwise and make a quick run for it. Winsome and Katie decides that this trip is not for them and opts for a coffee, whilst we find the real ticket booth and get discounted prices!
The Singapore Flyer is the highest Ferris wheel in the world (at 165 meters). Each cabin can take 28 people and we are amazed to see that some people actually host conferences inside. It is a spectacular ride – as the sun is beginning to set. We can see the whole city and as far as Indonesia and Malaysia. It is a 30-minute ride and we see a floating soccer field – which they turn into an amphitheatre. Also see the rooftop of the sport stadium built for 2010 World Junior Sports Event. There is a lot of development all around the city and we see for the first time how much of the land has been dry-docked. Heard that Singapore was established by Mr. Raffles – after which the Raffles Hotel was named – this hotel has the most photographed person in the world – the bellboy! We have a great laugh when we see waiters having to run with plates of food to the capsule next to us, where they were serving dinner – shame the poor waiters, only have a few minutes to get the food there in time!
We are starving and the next stop in Clark Quays, really pretty area around the river and lots of shopping centers. Here all the restaurants are high end and we walk around stealing with our eyes and noses!
We make a quick stop at the top end of Serrangoon Street so that we can give the girls a bit of the Little India feel – this is only a block from our hotel. I venture into a local Indian take-away café. Discover great fruit juice. The owner is a really nice man who tries his best to get me something that is not spicy. He makes me taste his Yellow Dhal – which is divine, but not so good for my “bugged” tummy. In the end I take a big bowl of his flavored basmati rice.
We chill out outside the Mitraa – it is very hot and I have my last Tiger beer. Jack and Luc have long conversations. (Jack by the way, discovered who we are and wanted me to share the story of meeting Mandela. We even pose for a photo!).
When we get to the room, I try to get Luc to bed, but he does not want to put down his PSP. Eventually it bombs out and he looses all his games! He is in tears, whilst I have to juggle between speaking on Skype to Uri, my dad and Rozelle!. Eventually I manage to get him to sleep, looses my wireless reception (which was a miracle that my computer managed to pick it up on the 3rd floor). I take a ¼ sleeping pill that I got from Winsome.
