Sentosa Island

Two weeks ago Matt and I ventured out to Sentosa Island. Although Singapore isn't exactly known for its beaches, Sentosa is the place to go if you feel like lazing around in the sun with the sand beneath your toes! In addition to Sentosa's 3 beaches (Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong), there are many other attractions on the island (it's actually home to the future Universal Studios opening some time next year!). We started our days adventure with a walk to the MRT Station at Clarke Quay and from there rode over to Harbourfront. There are a couple of ways to get over to the island - one being the light rail train and the other being the more exciting of the two...the cable car. Now, I absolutely hate being suspended in the air, but I decided to brave it for the sake of a memorable experience (that seems to be my life's new theme lately!). My sweet husband who knows of my fear even went as far as paying extra for a glass bottom car...how very thoughtful of him. Ha! We took the round trip ride to Mt. Faber (the Singapore side) and then back around to Sentosa Island. Once we got out of the car, we beat the heat with some New Zealand Natural ice cream. YUM!! Our next stop was the Images of Singapore Museum. It was a lot of fun! We learned about the history of Singapore starting with the founding fathers from Singapore's 4 main ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. We traveled through a wax museum timeline where we saw exhibits featuring Singapore's early days as a fishing village to the islands growth as a trading port up through the nation's independence after WWII. If you live in Singapore and haven't been to the museum, I highly recommend you go! After the museum, we made our way over to Siloso Beach, the most popular of the 3 main beaches. We could have taken a tram ride over there, but tram rides are for tourists! We're locals now which means we walk everywhere ;-) Siloso Beach was packed with loungers, swimmers and volleyball players. We spent a good hour soaking up the sun then enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Trappiza! When the day was over, we took the light rail train back to Harbourfront and did a little shopping at Vivo City - the biggest mall we've been to so far. There were crowds everywhere which kept reminding me of Christmas back home...the one time I try to avoid the mall. As we headed back home, we walked slowly through Clarke Quay and enjoyed some of the shows being put on for the Singapore River Festival. Everything was all lit up! The day was perfect and we can't wait to go back and check out some of the other attractions that Sentosa has to offer! :-)

I love passing through Clarke Quay on our way to the MRT station. It's so colorful and there's always people around!

No durians on the MRT. DARN! I was really hoping to bring along some fruit that smells like the sewer.

Here we are at the MRT station ready to enjoy our day at Sentosa!

The Cable Car!

Inside the cable car, trying to pretend I'm not hanging over the water.

We were way high above the trees.

Two nice things to look at - the view and my handsome husband!

Looking down over the water on our way to Sentosa.

Don't let this smile fool you. I was nervous!

Yes, we made it to Sentosa! I can finally get out of the cable car ;-)

Matt is ready to tour the museum!

As we entered the museum, we walked through the Four Winds Trading Office where we learned about the founding fathers of Singapore. Each had a desk. Here we are at the Indian desk.

After we left the Four Winds Trading Office, we watched a video where each screen actually came to life and spoke at different times! We learned of the founding fathers "Golden Wish" for family, community, peace and harmony for the island of Singapore.

Looks like Matt is just inches away from his Singapore Adventure. Funny, but I thought our Singapore Adventure started the day we moved here :-) Guess I was wrong!

Ah-hah! I've made it. Now my true Singapore Adventure will start...

The founding fathers of Singapore

A deep conversation with Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore.

This wax exhibit portrayed Singaporean kids playing "Congkak." I took the picture because the game sounds exactly like Mancala...a game that I've played with many family members and friends back home! It made me homesick for just a quick second!

Who needs a ride?

If only Matt would actually ride me around town in one of these things...life would be so much easier!

The Merlion is an ever present symbol here in Singapore. This particular one is HUGE (as if you can't tell!). We've read that the half-lion, half-fish represents Singapore's roots as the "Lion City" and the nation's close ties to the sea. The funny thing is that while you might think that the Merlion has been a part of Singapore's history for hundreds of years, it turns out he was created in the early 1970s by the Singapore Tourism Board.

No matter where we go there is always beautiful greenery surrounding us. I can't stop taking pictures of it so lucky for me, I always have a hot model by my side ready to pose! :-)

Looking out toward the pathway to all the beaches.

A view of Siloso Beach.

After a delicious dinner at Trapizza, Matt was all smiles!

As we were headed home for the day, we saw this peacock just walking around! Matt tried several times to get it to fan its feathers, but he didn't have any luck :-(

Clarke Quay, all lit up at night for the Singapore River Festival.

This has nothing to do with going to Sentosa, but look Mom and Dad - I actually tried a dragon fruit! It tasted like a really bland kiwi fruit...but at least it looks pretty!

No surprise, Matt ate the dragon fruit too.