A family holiday in Singapore has to start at the Resort Island of Sentosa. The children have been promised a day at Universal studios which is a 2 minute walk from our accommodation at The Festive Hotel.
After a buffet breakfast Singapore style, we took the Monorail around to explore the island a little more. There was no one in sight. It was 9.00am and there is barely a soul moving on the island. The fun parks weren’t due to open until 10.00am, so we continued on to Siloso Beach for a quick swim.
The heat was already stifling and the sand hot under foot, so the children took no coaxing into the water. It felt strange to be on such a densely populated island and be alone.
No doubt other guests were still finding their way to breakfast. When we had left the buffet we noticed there were queues to get into the restaurant. Thankfully we had avoided the crowds there too.
Siloso Beach comes alive with bands, bars and restaurants throughout the day. There is a huge flying fox ride which takes you from the top of the main island all the way to a little island off the beach.
I would have loved to have tried the iFly, a wind tunnel that simulated skydiving freefall. Brett and I used to sky dive regularly together (prior to the arrival of the smaller children.) We have over 200 skydives each, and used to enjoy relative formation work. In the photo above I had somersaulted from the plane and Brett tracked down and joined up with me in the sky. I would have loved to feel that freefall rush again and practise some moves. Somehow it didn’t happen though… maybe on a return visit 😉
We continued to walk around the island spotting activities such as the Wave House. Surfers seeking the perfect wave can try their moves on this man made wave which can reach up to 10 ft.
Moving on we came to Siloso Fort, a historic attraction which houses Asia’s largest collection of World War 2 memorabilia.
Once you have completed the historic tour you can also choose to take part in a simulated laser combat battle or defend the fort in a game of Skirmish. Our teenager would have loved a game of skirmish but the little kids were set on Universal Studios.
Also, I have come off second best in skirmish to the boy previously, and I didn’t fancy a bunch of new bruises and welt spoiling my bikini body 😉
Back on the bus and across the island we enter Universal Studios right on the dot of 10.00am and there was barely a person in sight. We decided this was our opportunity to do as much as we could before the queues.
Woody Woodpecker grabbed the kids for a quick photo and then it was into the fun park. The kids made a dash to an area with a giant ship positioned above the rides. I mistakenly announced that it must be the Titanic. I was quickly corrected, we were in the Madagascar area.
Another photo opportunity and we were on the Madagascar rides.
From there the day is a blur, going from big kids rides for the thrill seekers and tamer rides for the little ones.
By the end of the day Locky had graduated to some of the scarier rides so I had two adrenaline fiends to join me on the Transformer ride. I think this was my favourite ride. It was located in the Sci-fi area and is a 4D ride.
There isn’t a traditional rollercoaster, but through vehicle movement, optical illusions and special effects it is more real than imaginable. We first encountered this style of ride about 15 years ago at Tokyo Disney and since then the “old fashioned” roller coasters don’t quite do it for me.
We managed to get through loads of the rides before the masses arrived.
So my best tip for my day at Universal Studios is be at breakfast early and at Universal studio by 10.00am. Tickets go on sale an hour before the opening time at 9.00am.
