Lane County Network

To really enjoy the pleasures of Singapore, a traveler with little time, should spend d the day at Sentosa – the country’s holiday island. Once a British military base, this island which name means ‘peace’ in the Malay tongue, offers more sights to see and things to do, than any place else in Singapore. From white sandy beaches to historic sites to lush green parks and luxury hotels to romantic nightlife, Sentosa has them all. A trip through the island is a never-ending adventure – as Singaporean says, ‘at Sentosa, the fun never ends.’ A causeway can reach the island via ferries or overland. On the other hand, the ideal way to appreciate this pleasure ground of the country is via the Cable Car. The car leaves Mount Faber, the second highest point in Singapore and, as it moves along, offers a panoramic view of the harbor – the busiest port in the world. Like a good number of visitors to that island country, P did not have much time to spend in this city-state. Hence, I joined a half-day tour to Sentosa and I was disappointed.

Even more than the tourist literature indicated, the Cable Car view of the port, was fantastic. As our Cable Car descended to it’s terminal on the island, the first object that caught my eye was the 37 m (121 ft) high in Merlion, a half-lion, half-mermaid fantasy creature which is the symbol of Singapore. At night, this tourist attraction par-excellence, standing on a hill in the center of Sentosa, comes alive during a spectacular light, sound and water extravaganza, Staged three times a night, the Rise of the Merlion show features a spectacle of color lasers shooting from the eyes of the Merlion in synchronization with the symphony of dancing water fountains. Visitors can enter the Merlion, and then ride to the viewing decks in its mouth or those at the crown. From high point, they can enjoy breathtaking views of Singapore harbor, the surrounding islands and, if the day is clear, the Riau Archipelago in Indonesia. On the edge of the Sentosa cable car terminal, we toured the Images of Singapore Museum which includes the saga of Singapore’s pioneers, the Second World war Surrender Chambers, capturing the humiliation of defeat and the joy of victory, and an exhibition of the city’s festival.

I thought how much more fulfilling it would have been if I had explored Sentosa for at least another day. Nevertheless, I had a taste of what Singapore’s holiday isle had no offer – and the flavors were many.