Singapore Vacay Day 3: Universal Studios

Yey, it's theme park day!


Theme parks are a must-go for tourists, especially for families with kids. But I think adults have more fun in them because they can act young even for a day.


Day 3: Universal Studios

The Hubby and I geared up early for our trip to the Universal Studios. We ate free breakfast at the hotel café (which is named Blabbers—go figure!). The Kiddos requested the Hubby to buy the Hainanese chicken meal from Kopitiam, which they also ate last night after the Night Safari sojourn. Aba’t, nasarapan ang mga mokong—they couldn’t have enough of it! (S$4.50~Php150). 

We set out to walk to the Dhoby Ghaut  Station, which was a good three blocks from our hotel. We rode the train to VivoCity, where we transferred to another train going to the Sentosa Island.

At last, the Universal Studios!!!

Some background: The Universal Studios Singapore was officially opened in March 2010. Basically the baby of the family not only because it's the newest, but also because of its size. It has special attractions uniquely adapted to Singapore. The park is divided into seven themed zones surrounding a lagoon. It’s open on Monday-Sunday from 10:00am-9:00pm. Tickets are priced at S$72 for adults (~Php2448). Note: We bought the entrance tickets online.

The moment that we alighted the train, a cornucopia of colors and images and throngs of people shocked our senses. We didn’t know where to start posing for pictures!

We were looking for the Universal globe, and this is what we found. I guess the real one was covered because it was being renovated. Well, a globe is still a globe...

It was too hot that day that we wanted to step into that fountain...hmmm...maybe later?

This was as close as we could get to the Merlion.

Sigh! We missed my niece, Trina. Aside from the fact that she was a source of energy for the Kiddos during our trips, she was also able to take our family pictures. Here, we were never complete in the photo ops. (We really thought of you, Manang Trin!)

Hollywood is the first theme zone of the park. There’s not much to do here but to take a lot of pictures since what you would see are souvenir shops and restaurants, lined with replicas of Hollywood Boulevard buildings and palm trees.

Where else can you find a car with loads of popcorn?

The 1,500-seat Pantages Hollywood Theatre promises to entertain the visitors with broadway-like shows. At that time, the musical 'Monster Rock' was showing. But the schedule was still at 12:30, so we decided to come back later. 

The Fam agreed that if ever one of us got lost, we would go back to this fountain and wait for the others. Luckily, that never happened.

Off to Madagascar!Madagascar greeted us with this giant tree with a freakin' skelly in a parachute.

A carousel for kids, not cool for my Kiddos though.

We found out that the Madagascar Crate river boat ride was not yet available. So that was it for this zone? Pffft!

Next stop? Far, Far, Away Castle to hopefully see Shrek and Fiona!

Shrek's shack. Knock, knock, anybody home?

Let's go then to Fiona's castle. Maybe the ogre couple is there?

We took a ride at a junior roller coaster in the Enchanted Airways. Hey, it was the Dragon!

Woohoo! Paolo survived the 'scary' ride! I know, right?

They found the ogre! Smile, Paowee!!!

To the Shrek 4D show. We entered the dark dungeon of Lord Farquaad, and we saw the three little pigs and Pinocchio being held captive. Wait, hasn’t Lord Farquaad been gobbled up by the Dragon in the first Shrek movie? Yup, but he was back as a ghost, and he wanted Fiona to join him to kingdom come. So he was torturing these poor pals of Shrek to tell him the whereabouts of the Princess. And we were all prisoners in the dungeon too! Hehehe! It was kind of corny because the squire hosting the show was too mechanical when he delivered his lines. Anyway, we were allowed to enter the theatre to experience a Shrek movie in 4D—which means that when Donkey sneezed, we felt a burst  of mule drool on our faces; when our heroes rode the chariot to look after Fiona, our chairs were also moving and vibrating; when Lord Farquaad, the ghost, glided past the screen, we also felt a swoosh of air behind our ears--those things. You get the drill.

Before we started, the staff announced that a father was looking for his seven-year old son, because he got lost in the crowd. Ooh, I wouldn’t want to be in that position. Buti na lang, baby damulags na ang mga Kiddos ko. I wonder when did he find his kid?

Issa and I got a little bit woozy because of the moving seats plus the 3D ogreglasses. But-over-all, it was a fun movie ride.

Next stop: the Waterworld show.

We had to wait for the show to start under the heat of the noon sun. And I tell you, Singapore’s weather is very much like the Philippines’. So lining up for 30 minutes under the sun’s full glory was kind of dizzying. Translation: The thought of my skin getting dark after years of patiently scraping its melanin with Papaya soap was making me dizzy!

But it was worth the sunburn. The show was spectacular. If you were to choose to watch just one show, just go for the Waterworld. It is based on Kevin Costner's movie of the same title. Amazing pyrotechnics and Hollywood stunts were performed right before our eyes. I know, we are not so impressed anymore when we see action films in movies, but it’s a different thing when you experience the action right before your very eyes. If you don’t want to get wet, don’t sit near the stage. The actors have a field day splashing water to the audience. Also, if you have little children with you, you’d better think twice of bringing them to the show. There were two kids who cried their hearts out when they saw guns shooting and tanks exploding. Tsk tsk. Their parents were warned, weren’t they?

We were kind of famished after watching the Waterworld actors diving in the water, so we decided to grab lunch at the nearest resto, Discovery Food Court. While the boys were ordering, the girls went out for a walk beside the nearby fountain and see what was there.

Princess Fiona's froggy daddy king

Good thing we explored, because guess who we saw? Shrek and Fiona in the flesh!

Taken by the Universal Staff. Claimed this from the Dark Room for S$12 (~Php408). Mahal naman!

Back to lunch. Issa was ecstatic over her Fairy Godmother's potion bottle. You don't need a beauty potion anymore, baby!

The airconditioned café was full inside, so we chose to eat al fresco. Our lunch:  Chicken rice (again?), tofu, fruit salad, and a potion from Fairy Godmother (tasted like iced tea though!)

It was about 12:20 when we finished lunch. We rushed back to the Hollywood theatre to watch the musical Monster Rock scheduled at 12:30. It was about monsters like Dracula, Wolf, Frankenstein, Mummy getting a fresh lease of life to sing rock songs (huh?). Yeah, the singers were good, but I couldn’t relate to what they were singing, or why they were singing in the first place. Sorry, wasn't jumping up and down on my seat;-(

Back to exploring. This time: New York. This zone highlights New York's streetscape, including the New York Public Library (at the background).

 

There was even a manhole coolant, reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's famous skirt raise.

Only one show, Lights, Camera, Action! Hosted by Steven Spielberg was the main attraction in this zone. It promises special effects as an empty sound stage is transformed into a hurricane setting in New York. We skipped this one because we wanted to get on with the rides first.

Beside New York is Sci fi City. It’s supposed to project life in the far future where everything is hi-tech and modern. This is where the Battlestar Galactica dual roller coasters are located.

Wanting to save the best for last, we went ahead to the next zone: The Ancient Egypt

The zone features obelisks, pyramids, and replicas of pharaoh’s tombs. An enclosed roller coaster ride, the Revenge of the Mummy, is here to scare the riders with twists and turns while being pitted agains fireballs and insects and mummies. So they say.

We were apprehensive to ride an enclosed roller coaster because we had a bad experience at the Space Mountain of Hongkong Disneyland. We were afraid the dark plus the roller coaster would not be a good combo. So we decided to delay riding it. Mamaya na lang.

The Lost World really lived up to its name, for this was where the day went down the drain for us:-(

The Jurassic Park rapid ride is one of the most popular rides, and for good reasons.

 We rode a round raft drifting through a river-like maze, while being assaulted by fake dinosaurs on the river bank, with matching fog and warning sounds. The highlight was going through the long, dark hydroelectric plant tunnel, and at the end of it, our raft was catapulted up by a vertical elevator. At the top of the ceiling was a large T-rex mouth  waiting to eat all the passengers whole! Of course, it was just scare tactics. And of course, my Daughter didn’t see the T-rex because she had her eyes closed all the time. (Kainez!) To top it all off, we suddenly descended on a 30-foot steep ramp, and two dinos drenched all of us with water from head to foot. It was good that we bought a plastic poncho each (worth S$2 din ha!) before entering the ride. At least our bodies didn’t get wet, but our feet were all soaked—socks, shoes, toes…no mercy! Tip: Bring a fresh change of clothes if you plan to ride this one.

kosmix.com

Although it was a good adventure ride, the hours of waiting was not at all that cool. When we entered the building, they indicated that the wait would last for 2 hours, but thinking it was not that bad, we bravely went on. Little did we know that the long anaconda-like queue plus the standing plus the heat inside the building would painfully kill our excitement to ride the raft. When it was already our turn, we were too tired and dehydrated to shout and be excited.

Meanwhile, the Hubby didn’t go with us and he just waited for us outside. Imagine waiting in mid-afternoon for three straight hours, not knowing what time we would be coming out. This was a big mistake in our schedule. Oh well.

After that fiasco, all of us were resigned to go home. We missed the Donkey, the Mummy, and the Steven Spielberg spiel...

But wait, there’s one more ride to try before heading to the exit—the Battlestar Galactica!

It is claimed that Battlestar Galactica is the world’s tallest dual roller coaster. They start and go at the same moment, so at one point, the two coasters seem to meet. The Blue one, the Cyclone, has inversions, loops, and corkscrews, while the passengers’ feet are suspended. The Red one, called Human, although with no inversions, is faster and can reach the speed of 90 kph.

The Youngest was the only one raring to try the Galactica, and it was up to his brave, supportive Mom to go with him (ahem!). The Hubby has vertigo, and the Daughter and the First Son were both wusses (You asked for it, you two!).

The Youngest and I chose the Human.

Great shot by the Hubby!

Woot! Woot! We survived it!

Youngest: “Let’s try the other one, Mom!” Sure, I said. But the Hubby pulled us back to reality and said enough is enough. Hmmp, mga KJ!

At 44, I have the Galactica bragging rights written all over my face;-)

And we reluctantly relented to the three Losers’ wish to head back. But more pictures were to be had.

The Kiddos bought some souvenirs from the Universal Studios Main Store...

...while the mother hen bought some cupcakes for her flock.

Psst...Po the Kungfu Panda is following you. Talaga?

Getting crazy with Mr. Reese's

Biggest chupa chups

I remember Tita Ban and Lola!

Kisses for Mama O!

Gotcha, Mr. Hershey's!

To the Best Father in the World--thanks, Dad!

Why can't we be like little kids who could do something fun like this?

Well, we had fun too! Thanks, Dad!

We passed by VivoCity Mall and had dinner.

Extra: Who could resist the lure of MAC store? (Humirit pa ang lola!) Tao lang po. 

Yey, MAC Lady Gaga!

My day is complete. Let's go back to the hotel.

 To be continued...

Singapore Vacay Day 2: A Night in Safari

Day 2: To Singapore and Night Safari

Our flight was at 8:00 am, so we went to the check-in counter at 5:30. The Airphil check-in people weren’t there yet, so we had to wait for them to arrive. (Didn't they say to check-in three hours before an international flight?)


Meanwhile a few pics in the Mactan-Cebu International Airport:

After paying a tax of P1,600 each plus a terminal fee of P750, we went to this resto next to the waiting lounge. My eyes got bigger when I saw the exorbitant prices on the menu. The four slices of ham and cheese sandwich the Daughter and I shared was Php450! And this ham and egg and rice meal? Php250! But the kids were hungry so we reluctantly gave in.

Airport Lesson: Don't go to an airport joint where the Pinoy servers greet you in Japanese! (Moshi! Moshi!)

The 3 ½ hours flight to Singapore was generally calm. We finally arrived at Changi Airport.
 

 

Coming from a third world airport, of course we had to have pictures taken at the Travellator!

 

Changi Airport was a sight to behold.

My heart beat faster when I saw the shopping possibilities at their airport.                            (mind control: must..not..go..yet!)

For the game addicts, Changi gives you some things to tinker with as soon as you arrive.

Welcome to Singapore!!! Clean, sleek, modern everywhere you turn.

After eating at McDonald's in the airport, we took the train going to our hotel. We had to transfer trains three times, but it was just a breeze. We arrived at the hotel at about 2:30 pm.

Now let me talk about the hotels in Singapore.  Like any other big cities in the world, Singapore lodging can be very expensive. Thank God for the internet, it is now possible to search for a hotel to suit your budget and needs. Most hotels don’t allow more than two people in a room, so it was a problem for us because we were an odd number five. Some hotels are less expensive, but the walk from its doorstep to the means of transportation is a gruelling 20 minutes. Some of the locations are not suitable for children (rated R, kasi ang lugar daw!). Finally, we found the Strand Hotel in Bencoolen St., a stone’s throw away from a train station where we would be alighting from the airport. Across it was a fast food restaurant, Kopitiam, and 7-11. It could accommodate all the five of us in one room, with 2 queen sized beds and one single bed. The toilet and bath are separated, so it’s ideal for a group of people. They had free breakfast for the five of us—poached eggs, 2 chicken hotdogs, 2 pieces hash browns, and some beans. Plus, we could also get from their buffet table—toasted bread, noodles, and beverages. At a price of S$280 a night (Php9,500+), I think there was nothing we could ask for. (Okay, maybe more smiles from the staff would make it perfect?)

(Fresh from the oven: The Hubby complained to the hotel today (April 28) because when he checked his credit card bill online, he was surprised that they charged us twice for our stay! When he emailed the Strand, they admitted they made a mistake and said they would cancel the billing at once. Naku, be very careful when you use your credit cards in hotels!)

A view from our second floor window.

We let the kids rest for a while, while the Hubby and I walked around to familiarize ourselves with the area.

The buildings have interesting architecture.

The bus stops were ultra clean…

...and so were the buses (and the train stations—listen up MRT!).

Traffic was orderly and efficient.

Speaking of efficiency, on the Night Safari website, it said that the Singapore Attraction Express to the Night Safari  bus would pass by this bus stop (Princep St.) at 6:20 pm. We walked toward the bus stop at 5:45 pm, for the Hubby was anxious that we might miss the bus. (Btw, he’s always anxious about the time, which can be a little bit stressful;-)) Lo and behold, the bus arrived at exactly 6:20. (Holy guacamole, how do they do that?) So off to Night Safari, as scheduled!

 The Night Safari is one of Singapore’s most famous visitor attractions for young and old alike because it is the world’s first wildlife park for nocturnal animals. The park can be explored either by walking their three trails or by riding a tram. The 40-hectare park boasts of over 1,000 animals, which a lot of them are threatened species.

The park opens at 7:30 p.m. so the buses arrive just in time. Entrance fee to the park for adults is S$32 (~Php 1,088) and for children 3-12 years old, the fee is at S$21 (~Php714).  

It was good that we were able to ride the SAE bus because they also issued the entrance tickets on the bus, so we didn’t need to get in a long line upon arrival. Oh, the bus fare was $S8/person (~Php272) back and forth.

Upon entering the park, we saw some men in tribal costumes doing some fire-eating and acrobatics. Sus, andaming ganyan sa perya ng Pilipinas, so we opted to ignore the show altogether. Later, we discovered that they were from the Thumbuakar Tribe of Borneo. Tama, hindi nga tayo nagkakalayo ng mga ninuno;-)

There were so many people that night (I didn’t know why—was it because it was a Good Friday? E, ala namang Good Friday sa Singapore a!)

When we entered, we saw a lot of people queuing up for the tram ride. So to save on time, we started walking through the Leopard Trail. (As it was already dark, the pictures were not as clear.) The animals were just a few meters away from us, so looking at them was kind of amazing and scary at the same time. What if they decided to jump, especially the hyenas and the bears! "What the heck", as my son said, "if the animals attacked, we could sue them, and then we could get a lot of money, Mom! "  Hmmm…no thanks, anak!!!

When we reached the end of the trail, that’s when we saw a deserted waiting area for the tram, so we were able to ride it without a long line. The tram ride was very educational because you get a near glimpse of the exotic animals from the different regions of the world (like the Himalayas, Nepalese River, Indian Subcontinent,etc.) and at the same time, a tour guide explained the different animals quirks and uniqueness. (Yes, they call our kalabaw, the water buffalo from the Philippines!) The park reiterated the four R’s to protect the environment—Reuse, Reduce, Replant and Recycle.

The highlight of the Night Safari adventure was watching the Night of the Creatures show, which tourists say one shouldn’t miss. But the line was sooo long, should we still go? Yeah! We would have wasted precious money if we hadn’t. So even if we had to queue for one hour to get in the next scheduled show, which was at 9:30pm, we patiently did it. Nakakapagod tumayo ha!!! My kids were saying, this had better be worth it.

Fortunately, the show was very entertaining. Set in an amphitheatre, they have trained some animals to do things like pick up some trash and put them in the proper bin, smell some food, etc etc. They also chose some audience participants to interact with some animals. (If you are brave, then you should sit in front!) You will be in for a good laugh and be amazed at the featured animals.  It has been said, and I will say it again—don’t leave the Park without seeing this show!!!

The show ended at around 10:00, and we decided we had enough animal-watching for the night. We went back to the SAE bus, and because we have already paid for our fare, we didn’t have a hard time lining up for a bus or a taxi home. The bus that we rode going there was the same one that was reserved for us.

The boys were hungry so they went to Kopitiam, a fast food joint across from our hotel, for a night recap. The Daughter was not feeling well (she already had cough a day before leaving for Singapore) so I had to take her back to our room. We were all able to sleep at around midnight.

To be continued…