Singapore, Sentosa Island - Part 2

Event date: 8th June 2010

Among the attractions of Sentosa Island is the famous Merlion Statue, Tiger Sky Tower, Butterfly Garden and Insect Kingdom, Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon, Songs of the Sea, Sentosa 4D Magic, Sentosa Cineblast, Fort Siloso, Megazip Adventure Park, Azzura Beach Club and Sentosa Luge and Skyride (photos inside previous entry, click Sentosa Island - Part 1). It was raining heavily when we were about to reach the resorts World by bus. The bus stop not far from the ticket counter. After we purchased the tickets, we took a ride with provided vehicles provided by the resort in the rains. Here are some of the our photos.

Winds and rains dulls the trip

Sad face!

Resort World Sentosa was opened for the public on 14 February 2010, which was the first day of the Chinese New Year that year. The casino complex also includes a Universal Studios Movie Theme Park, which opened its door for sneak peek of videos for the first one week of operations from 14–21 February, followed by full operations on the 22nd February 2010. We skipped most places and went ahead to the Merlion Statue. By that time, the rain had slow down and allowed us to explore the surrounding park of Merlion.

A gigantic 37-metre tall replica of the Merlion

For those who want to get further information and the attractions of what Sentosa Island is offering can visit their website at ttp://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/. You can also buy online ticket for the offered package. The online ticket must be redeem 3 months after purchased and have 14 days validity period.

Sentosa Island seen across the Vivo city

Everybody agreed that we should be heading back as the weather was still cloudy and there's no sign that it's the sun will rise. We took Sentosa Express Train straight to Vivo City and explored the external area before hubby and the boys went ahead the sports shop.

That night, when we said our farewell to our host, we concluded that our trip to Singapore, 4 days 3 nights are none other than satisfactory. We shall visit again. In sha Allah :)

Singapore, Sentosa Island - Part 1

Event date: 8th June 2010

Kak Nonie had prepared breakfast at home, it was like celebrating eid when looking at the foods spread on the table that she prepared. She was overly excited with our visit after many years and we are indebted to her kindness. The plan for our 3rd day before headed back the next morning was having fun in Sentosa Island and shopping. Brother Amin said that we could park at the bus station near Vivo City shopping mall and take the bus to reach Sentosa Island.

Sentosa Express

Bus que at Vivo City bus station

Sentosa is a popular island resort, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a 2 km  long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, 2 golf courses, 2 five star hotels and the Resort World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore. Sentosa Island once known as "Pulau Belakang Mati & Dead Back Island" before it was changed to "Pulau Panjang @ Long Island" in 1870. The first name was not having a good fengshui, being a swampy and once a killing field. 

While waiting for the bus

The island was renamed Sentosa in 1972, which means peace and tranquility by suggestion received from public. The Sentosa Development Corporation was formed and incorporated on 1st September 1972 to oversee the island development. Ever since, about S$420 million of private capital and S$500 million of Singapore government funds have been invested to develop the island to it's present state.

The causeway bridge was opened in 1992 connecting Sentosa to the main island. In 1974, the Singapore cable car system was built, linking Sentosa to Mount Faber. A series of attractions were subsequently opened for visitors including Fort Siloso, Surrender Chamber wax museum, Musical Fountain and the Underworld World. 

The Sentosa Monorail system was opened in 1982 to transport visitors across seven stations located around western half of the island. On 16 March 2005, the monorail service was discontinued to make way for the new Sentosa Express, which commenced operations on 15 January 2007. An environmental assessment conducted by the government of Singapore concluded that the construction of the resorts on Sentosa would to result in high likelihood of high scale biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, soil erosion and climate change, as well as several other destructive ecological impacts.

Syhirah said "Scarry ma scarry!!!"

In 2009, construction of a new foot bridge began. The S$70 million Sentosa Boardwalk includes themed garden, shops and eateries. There are covered walkways and travellators along the boardwalk for rainy days. The boardwalk, was officially on 29 January 2011, provide visitors with an alternative mode of travel to reach the island.

Excited for second ride

The main reason why we should return is because not 100% Sentosa Island was open at the time of our visit in 2010. Coupled with raining day when we were there, the children's did not really satisfied with what they experienced inside the Universal Studios Singapore. What they truly enjoyed was only the cable car ride up to the top and coming down with that cute little ride shared in the photos. I hope that 1 day they would be able to see and read this with their children. We, adult waited for them to finish while having a snacks and drinks.

Friendship is meant for keep :)

Wait for my next entry for more photos and adventures in Sentosa Island - Part 2. In the meantime, a photo of me and the adorable fish. Stay tune guys. Thanks for reading my blog. Peace!

Singapore, Sultan Mosque

Event date: 7th June 2010

After an exhausted walks in Singapore Zoo, we went to Arab Street for lunch. It was the Malay area nearer to Sultan Mosque. The food was delicious. After lunch, we drove to Sultan Mosque and parked there. Masjid Sultan a.k.a Sultan Mosque is located at Muscat Street and North Bridge Road within the Kampong Glam district of Rochor Planning Area in Singapore. The mosque is considered as one of the most important mosques in Singapore. The prayer hall and domes highlight the mosque's star features.

When Singapore was ceded to the British in 1819, Temenggong Abdul Rahman, the island's chief, and Sultan Hussain Shah of Johore, under whose jurisdiction Singapore fell, acquired small fortunes in exchange for their power. Sir Stamford Raffles also granted the Temenggong and the Sultan an annual salary and/or allowances and the use of Kampong Glam for their residence.

The area around Kampong Glam was also allocated for Malays and other Muslims. Sultan Hussain built a palace there and brought his family and a complete entourage from the Riau islands. Many of the Sultan's and Temenggong's followers came to Kampong Glam from the Riau Islands, Malacca and Sumatra.

Sultan Hussain then decided to build a mosque befitting his status. He constructed a mosque next to his palace from 1824 to 1826 with funds solicited from the East India Company. With a two-tiered pyramidal roof, it was of a typical design. The original building was replaced with a new mosque.

At JR Fragrance shop near Sultan Mosque

The management of the mosque was headed by Alauddin Shah, the Sultan's grandson, until 1879, when he passed the torch in to five community leaders. In 1914, the lease was extended by the government for a further 999 years and a new board of trustees was appointed, with two representatives from each faction of the Muslim community.

By the early 1900s, Singapore had become a centre for Islamic commerce, culture and art. Sultan Mosque soon became too small for this burgeoning community. In 1924, the year of the mosque's centenary, the trustees approved a plan to erect a new mosque. The old mosque had by then also fallen into a state of disrepair.

The architect assigned for the work adopted a Saracenic style, incorporating minarets and balustrades. The mosque was completed after four years in 1928. Sultan Mosque has stayed essentially unchanged since it was built, with only repairs carried out to the main hall in the 1960s and an annex added in 1993. It was gazetted as a national monument on 14 March 1975. The mosque is owned and managed by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS).

Another beautiful blue mosque at the junction, within Kg. Glam

There's a shopping arcade surrounds the Sultan Mosque. We had the opportunity to shop for ourselves and for souvenirs. After that, the children's had a good time at the shopping mall, especially at their favourite Topman/Topshop boutique at a shopping mall near Brother Amin's house.

Singapore Zoo

Event date: 7th June 2010

All 3 teenage kids forbid me from posting their photos while we were in the zoo as it was not cool for a grown-up dude like them visiting a zoo. They will becoming a laughing stock among their friends, they said. Sigh. Despite of whatever rationale, everybody really had a fun time seeing the animals in a real unbelievable jungle, rather the best rain forest inside the city as Singapore itself is known as a concrete jungle country. Singapore zoo is located at 80 Mandai Lake Road and the night safari (we skipped) is just a short walk away. Admission fee is $22/adult and $14/child (age 3 - 12 yrs old) inclusive of 7% service tax.

Before proceeding with our exploration to see a friendly wildlife, we took a group photo with brother Amin without the 3 boys at the parrot's station. The zoo is being divided into 10 zones, Wild Africa, Fragile Forest, Australian Outback, Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia, Treetops Trails, Gibbon Island, Primate Kingdom, Reptile Garden, Critters Longhouse and Tropical Crops and Orchid Gardens.

The Singapore Zoo, formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens occupies 28 hectares @ 69 acres on the upper Seletar Reservoir within Singapore's heavily forested central catchment area. The zoo was built at a cost of $9m granted by the government of Singapore and opened on 27 June 1973. It is operated by Wildlife Reserve Singapore, who also manage the Night Safari and the Jurong Bird Park. There are about 315 species of animal in the zoo, of which some 16% are considered threatened species. According to the statistic, the zoo is said attracts about 1.6 million visitors each year.

Animals were collected from dealers and donated by sponsors at the initial stage. The Director of the Colombo Zoo in Sri Lanka, was hired as a special consultant in 1970 to work out problems inherent in tropical zoos. When its gates was open for the first time with a collection of 270 animals from over 72 species. By 1990, 1,600 animals from more than 160 species lived in social groups, housed in 65 landscaped exhibits with boundaries conceived to look as natural as possible. At present, its animal collection exceeds 2,000.

Adorable Otter

A pair of white tiger, the zoo major attraction

One of the award winning park inside the zoo is the Savannah grasslands of Wild Africa, where lions, zebras and rhinoceroses freely roam to the rugged canyons of the great rift valley of Ethiopia where it was a home to Hamadryas baboons.

A hamadryas baboons house

After a long walk, we decided to stop for a quick rest at the Elephant station. There are a scheduled animal shows by Singapore Zoo, such as "Elephants at Work and Play Show" being held here. The elephant show is 1 of the most popular among tourist with family especially where a daily token feeding session will give the opportunity to interact with the animals. 

Animals are kept in spacious, landscaped enclosures separated from the visitors by either dry or wet moats. The moats are concealed with vegetation or dropped below the line of vision. Dangerous animals that can climb well are housed in landscaped glass-fronted enclosures.

The zoo has not expanded beyond the original 28 hectares. However, 40 hectares of secondary forest were later developed into the Night Safari. The remaining undeveloped land has been kept as wooded land. Due to its large area, the zoo also offers various modes of rides available within the premises; trams, animals, boat, pony and horse carriage rides. Strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs can also be rented. Rest assured that the facilities such as public toilets are very clean.

The zoo also embarked on various rescue and conservation efforts to protect wildlife. The late Steve Irwin, the animal activist and conversationalist known as "The Crocodile Hunter", admired the Singapore Zoo greatly, adopting it as the 'sister zoo' to the Australia Zoo. He was at the Singapore Zoo in 2006 to officiate the opening of the Australian outback exhibit.

The Wildlife Health care and Research Centre was opened in March 2006 as part of the zoo's efforts in wildlife conservation. The centre further underscores Singapore Zoo and Night Safari’s commitment to conservation research, providing the infrastructure for the parks and overseas zoological partners to better execute their research programmes. The Singapore Zoo is the first zoo in the world to breed a polar bear in the tropics. 

The above photo is the main entrance to the zoo, which is also an entrance to a Night Safari. Please bring your children's along to enjoy the beautiful creation of Singapore Zoo :)

Singapore, 2010 family trip

Travelling date: 6th June 2010

We were invited by aunt on husband side to a wedding on 6th June 2010 in Singapore. Since it was a school holiday, we took everyone along for 4 days 3 nights stay at our closest family friend, brother Amin. Everything has been set and the travel was by road taking my new Honda Civic. We did not even booked a hotel as brother Amin was kindly enough to accommodate us in his comfy penthouse apartment. Below photo was when we were entering Johor Bharu (JB) immigration point. It was a smooth checked at both JB and Singapore check point.

At Singapore immigration point, we purchased a toll card suffice for our 3 days stay. The toll system in Singapore is more advance than Malaysia where the toll shall be charged through detection system planted on specific toll road. In that way, space, manpower and other operating expenses is greatly saved. Our next task was to search a meeting point where brother Amin was waiting. He later took us to the wedding house. Though all the guest had already left by the time  we arrived, we were yet exclusively entertained by everyone.  

Just to witnessed the wedding ceremony day in their mother's bedroom in below photo. After dinner we left the aunt's family.

Thereafter, brother Amin took us for a special supper at his favorite spot not far from his house. Over the years and no written notes, I lost all information of the eating places that we went during our trip. Nevertheless, there's plenty of area that you may opt to go for nice food everywhere in Singapore.

The kids enjoy the Singapore trip so much and they all promised brother Amin to return again in the near future. We managed to cover few places (if not all). Among others are the Singapore Zoo, Sultan Mosque in Kampong Glam district, Sentosa Island, shopping at the Vivo mall and other places of attraction which will be on my next entries.

On second day, Brother Amin had taken us to the Zoo and shopping cum sightseeing at Sultan Mosque and third day to Sentosa Island and more shopping. Our family is greatly indebted to Brother Amin for their kindness being a great tour guide, prepared more than sufficient foods that we can take and the endured patience to entertain the kids (at their best and worst behavior) during our stay. Below photo are interiors of his beautiful apartment. Few months after we left, Brother Amin had sold it and shifted to a new place of which we yet to visit. 

I've known Brother Amin and his wife that we friendly called "Kak Nonie" including the other family members of theirs in Singapore since young age . He became my brother's Shabri good friend for more than 30 years. The family even attended my wedding, thus, when we were just got pregnant to Syahirah, in late 1991, we visited them house for the first time. At that time, Kak Nonie's mother was still alive.

Let's cherish our friendship!