Universal Studios Singapore

We are once again in Singapore.  This time, we are on a "medical holiday".  Nothing serious, I just didn't trust my skin cancer screen during my annual physical in Jakarta.  When I asked for one, the doctor gave me one, but not before saying:  "We only worry about skin cancer with Caucasians living below the equator".  I thought he was joking.  I was staring at him with a look that said: "I am a Caucasian living below the equator".  Basically, my insurance will pay for me to have the procedures (I'm also having a mole removed, I think) in Singapore, but don't deem it an emergency, to they won't pay for the airfare, lodging, or recommend time off of work.  So, I've taken vacation to coincide with our Tuesday, Independence Day holiday, and am using my travel allowance.

It has been a few months since we've been to Singapore.  When we returned from our April visit, we realized we missed the Grand Opening of Universal Studios, Singapore.  We made it a point to go there on our first day this time.  But I'm getting ahead of myself....

We're staying at the Shangri-La Hotel.  When we entered the lobby, my daughter remarked:  "This is beautiful!"  She wanted to move in.  We took several pictures in the lobby - not something we normally do at a hotel.  We're staying in the Towers.  According to their brochure, one of their other sections is "favored by corporate executives, visiting dignitaries and heads of state".  I didn't ask for the rates on those.

This morning, we started with the buffet breakfast at the hotel.  I think it is included in my room rate, but I forgot to ask.  After receiving the bill, I hope it is!  The buffet was amazing, though.  Well worth the price.  And since we only eat two meals when we travel - a HUGE breakfast and a large dinner, we get our money's worth.  I ate more blueberries today than I can typically find in the entire grocery store in Jakarta.  Odd, the things we miss.

After breakfast, we took a taxi to Sentosa Resort World.  This whole area of Sentosa island opened this year.  It includes Singapore's only casino (to which they charge admission for locals, but not visitors), several new hotels (including a Hard Rock), high end mall, several western restaurants, and Universal Studios.

The Universal Studios Singapore (USS) has sections for Madagascar, Far Far Away (Shrek), Jurassic Park, The Lost World (The Mummy), Hollywood and New York City.  Madagascar's primary ride is still under construction.  We spent the whole day in Far Far Away and Jurassic Park.

My daughter is just now tall enough to ride the more advanced rides, so Amusement parks are becoming more fun.  We took another trip to Waterbom Jakarta last weekend, and there are just two waterslides there she cannot yet ride.  At Universal Studios, this meant my daughter went on her first roller coaster.  Two, actually.  And a pretty scary water ride (that she went on with my wife).

This was the day that almost didn't happen.  When we first arrived, the ticket office told me they were sold out for today.  I asked about Sunday:  sold out, too.  I shrugged and figured we'd head off to the Singapore water park.  My wife told me to get tickets for Monday and we'd go after our medical appointments.  As I was buying the Monday tickets, a tour cancelled and their tickets opened up the park.  So I bought tickets for today!

Around 2 PM, it started to pour.  That emptied the park.  Between the afternoon dowsing and the initial "sold out", we had the park pretty much to ourselves from 3 PM until the 7 PM closing.  There was a mere 5 minute wait on the biggest roller coaster at the park (that is currently open).  I went as a single, and was able to use the single rider line.  I had no waiting and hopped in the front of the first car.  Total time from leaving my family, taking the ride, and rejoining the family was less than 5 minutes.  This was 5 PM on a Saturday at a brand new amusement park!  Pretty amazing.

The highlight of the trip so far is two quotes from our daughter.  The first was when she explored our hotel room (which is quite nice).  She was marvelling at the bathroom and announced:  "It has everything!  The only thing missing is a book, so daddy can't read when he uses the toilet."  The second happened at USS.  When we boarded the first roller coaster, I said to my daughter:  "This is your first roller coaster.  Are you ready?"  She said:  "Yes."  When it came to a stop at the end, she looked at me and said:  "My first roller coaster was pretty scary.  Can we do it again?"  Brave girl.

Tomorrow we'll make a quick trip to Chinatown to custom make an outfit for me.  I'll load a picture when it's ready and won't spoil the surprise before then.  The afternoon we'll likely just spend at the pool.

We have several pictures from today, but I neglected to bring the necessary hardware to load the images to my computer, so you'll have to wait until we return on Tuesday night.