Archive for March, 2009

Fast Facts:

• Sentosa was once known as Pulau Blakang Mati, which in Malay means the “Island (pulau) of Death (mati) from Behind (blakang)”.
• The island has an area of 5 square kilometres.
• It is visited by about five million people a year.

Out of all the Singapore islands, Sentosa seems to be the most jam packed.  It has attractions ranging from tours to resorts and plazas.  You could call it the head island because you have to request permission from Sentosa if you want to camp or stay over night at Kusu Island, St John’s Island, Sisters’ Islands and Pulau Hantu.  The Singapore Land Authority has chosen Sentosa to manage the offshore islands.

What’s the mystery behind Sentosa?

The island is mysterious because it has gone through several name changes.  It was called Pulau Panjang (long island) before 1830.  But an 1828 sketch of the island reveals that it was also referred to as Po. Panjang.   In 1834, Bennet stated that the name Blakang Mati was given to the hill on the island by the Malay villagers.  From stories of murder, piracy, and even warrior spirits, there are plenty of explanations that people give.  There must be an exciting reason behind the naming of this island, but there doesn’t seem to be one exact answer. Captain Edward Lake proposed a name change to “Island of St. George” in 1827 but it didn’t happen.  Suprisingly enough, the name Sentosa won a 1972 name change competition for the island as it meant “peace” and “tranquility” in Malay.

What can visitors do at Sentosa?

Visitors can check out the Imbiah Lookout, head over to Animal & Bird Encounters or the Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom.  They can ride over to the Cable Car Arrival Plaza or swim in the Dolphin Lagoon.  Visitors can tour Fort Siloso or have some more action-packed fun on the Gogreen Segway® Eco Adventure.   They can go see why the Images of Singapore was the winner of the 2005 Themed Entertainment Association Award.  They can have a high-class movie experience at either 4D Magix or CineBlast; both give cinema a new look and make viewers feel that they are living in the movie!  Come rain or shine, the “Songs of the Sea” is a spectacular performance that many would not want to miss.  Not wanting to spoil the story, you should just rely on the mystery behind its name!

Are there any sports venues?

Visitors might want to first go to the Sentosa Luge & Sky Ride for some excitement or the Sentosa Golf Club for tranquility.  The Luge & Sky Ride has a bumper-boat-tobagan mixture that you have to see to believe, while the Sentosa Golf Club boasts two championship 18-hole golf courses!  Or if visitors (as young as four) have ever felt awe when watching a flying circus act, they will love trying out The Flying Trapeze!  After some sports actions, visitors can have a gratifying experience by seeing the Merlion or go on the Merlion Walk.  Last but not least, the Tiger Sky Tower is Singapore’s tallest observatory!  It offers a beautiful panorama of Singapore, Sentosa and the Southern Islands.  Seventy-two individuals can fit in its cabin and it is available day and night.  It is located next to the Sentosa Cable Car Station.

Relax on the beaches!

There are three beautiful beaches for visitors.  Palawan Beach has a suspension bridge to the most southern part of Continental Asia.  There are a several beach bars on Palawan with full wireless internet access.  For kids, Captain Palawan visits on public holidays, Children’s Day and every Saturday and Sunday.  Children can help him find his lost treasures and special birthday celebrations can be reserved.  Siloso Beach is the most athletic of the three.  Volleyball enthusiasts have made it their home because it has four volleyball courts, and other active people like to visit because of the canoeing, rollerblading, and mountain biking.  Tanjong Beach is said to be very peaceful for those who like to layout and read a book.

Dine and shop in comfort!

There are plenty of beach bars, restaurant, and cafés & bistros.  There is also a Sentosa business dining guide.  There are twelve shopping venues and they are as follows:

1. Billabong @ Siloso Beach
2. Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom Retail/Souvenir Shop
3. Cable Car Arrival Plaza Retail & Souvenir Shop
4. Chng Kee’s Spice of Life (Images of Singapore)
5. Dolphin Lagoon Retail/Souvenir Shop
6. Images of Singapore Shop
7. Island Life Shop
8. Kodak’s Digital Photo Services
9. Oscar & Co.
10. The Merlion Shop
11. The QuarterMaster Store
12. Underwater World Retail/Souvenir Shop

They are too many to go into detail here, but they definitely are worth going into when visiting Sentosa.

Tips for Travelers:

• There are seven high-class hotels:  Amara Sanctuary Resort, Capella Singapore, Costa Sands Resort, Rasa Sands Resort, Siloso Beach Resort, Treasure Resort, and the Sentosa Resort & Spa.  There are also three spas: Fish Reflexology at Underwater World, the Health Club Spa, and Spa Botanica.
• Stay tuned for information on Resorts World, which will open in 2010.
• Check out the latest on the Sentosa website.

Fast Facts:

• Pulau Ubin hosts around 300,000 visitors each year.
• The Chek Jawa Wetlands of Pulau Ubin was officially opened with its new facilities by Mr. Mah Bow Tan, the Minister for National Development, in July of 2007.

Pulau Ubin is shaped like a boomerang and you will want to return like a boomerang once you visit it.   The name Pulau Ubin doesn’t have anything to do with boomerangs; Pulau Ubin means Granite Island.  It continues the life of Singapore in the 1960s with villages and kampongs. There is traditional farming and fishing, along with shops and places to eat. There are plenty of locations to rent bicycles to travel past the forest and greenery. Tourist attractions include the Chek Jawa Wetlands, its boardwalk, the viewing jetty and tower, and a visitor center. Bicyclists and cars can park by the Punai Hut so as to not greatly impact the environment.

What to do:

If you need to escape from the city, you’ll notice that outdoor activities abound at Pulau Ubin. You can ride past coconut and rubber plantations, admire the fruit orchards, take a rest stop under one of the shelters, or even go fishing!  You can use your own tent at the Noordin, Mamam, or Jelutong beach campsites (the last of which is the only one with campfire pits).  The MCC Ubin Resort has a swimming lagoon and chalets, or you can go to the Ubin Lodge if you want to stay closer to the town of Ubin.  If you’ve ever wondered what the ancestors of domestic chickens looked like, you should take a camera because you might find yourself searching for the Red Junglefowl.  Another bird that will grab your attention is the Oriental Pied Hornbill.  There are also wild pigs and a leopard that is rarely seen.  Take plenty of film!

The Sensory Trail:

Visitors have loved traveling through the Sensory Trail.  The fruit trees, herbs & spices, and other special plants in the Mangrove forest seem to call out to be touched, smelled, or tasted.  It isn’t a difficult walk and it takes about an hour.  It is perhaps the best way to introduce someone to the island’s natural side.  If you get hungry from this trail, you will find on the main road of Pulau Ubin four Chinese restaurants and a Muslim stall. There is also a restaurant at the MCC Ubin Resort. These six eating places are the only ones on the island so it is suggested that you bring food along with you (especially if you want to wander about).

Chek Jawa:

Chek Jawa is one of a kind! Six habitats mix together to create a unique ecosystem. The area was chosen to be reclaimed in 1992, but after Chek Jawa was opened to the public in December of 2000, many Singaporeans stunted the reclamation plans. In 2001, an official announcement was made stating that the area would not be reclaimed as long as development were not required of Pulau Ubin. Since July 8, 2007, visitors have a centre, a boardwalk, and the 21 meter Jejawi Tower. To the benefit of Pulau Ubin, a visitor management plan has been set-up for Chek Jawa to retain the sustainability and biodiversity of the area.

Tips for Travelers:

• If you are going to hire a taxi van on Pulau Ubin, remember that the fares are not metered and therefore you will need to negotiate a price before riding.
• The Chek Jawa Wetlands are open from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Here is a remix of the Pulau Ubin visitor guidelines:

• If you want a group activity, you have to contact the National Parks Board. Remember that there are always more visitors during weekends and holidays. You can’t set up markers or checkpoints without permission.
• Roads and tracks are designated, so you shouldn’t wander off! Also, keep to the left in single file so that people don’t run into each other. Always were protective gear before riding, and remember to go slower around bends and when you are nearing a spot that goes downhill.
• Do not drink water from the wells or public restrooms. Granite quarries, ponds, rivers, or any body of water, should be seen at a distance. The same goes for wild animals and especially for wild bees or hornets. If you find a nest or hive during your travels, report it!
• Check out the official website for more information.

Fast Facts:

• Kusu Island is one of the Southern Islands in Singapore, located south of the main island of Singapore (about 5.6 kilometres of distance between).
• St. John Island was once known as Pulau Sakijang Bender.
• St. John Island is also located in Singapore’s southern area.
• In Chinese, Kusu means “Tortoise” or “Turtle Island”.
• In Malay, Kusu is known as Pulau Tembakul (Peak Island).

Kusu Island has two lagoons, barbeque pits, and nice beaches.  Kusu is surrounded by reefs that include a large variety of hard and soft corals.  Marine life in the area includes clown fish, anemone shrimps, and many other fishes and crabs that are rarely seen.  Visitors to Kusu Island can go on a guided reef-walk with the Blue Water Volunteers.   These guides are professionally trained and experienced in leading visitors safely through the best tides for a great view of the reefs.

What is the Kusu Legend?

There are many wonderful legends of Kusu island. The story of how Kusu’s creation was envisioned entails two men and a turtle. Perhaps they were shipwrecked sailors, or just fishermen that were lost in the body of water around the island of Singapore. Either way, a giant turtle found them struggling beneath a powerful storm and transformed itself into a beautiful island to save them. In gratitude, they each honored the turtle and the island in their own way. One man was Chinese and he built a temple. The other was Malay and he built a shrine. But perhaps the most significant part of the story is that they built a sculpture of the turtle together.  Another point to add is that some people say that Kusu really did look like a turtle before it was reclaimed, because of two ridges on a reef: one ridge for the head, and the other for the back of the turtle. Now there are three Malay shrines on Kusu Island, along with the one Chinese temple, and the Tortoise Sanctuary.

Do people continue to honor the turtle?

People continue the tradition of returning to the island and giving thanks to this day, but it is for the Kusu Festival which takes place during the Ninth Lunar Month of each year.  Devotees visit by the thousands and they go to the Da Bo Gong temple to pray.  They pay their respects not to the turtle,  but rather to several deities (especially Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin).   Da Bo Gong is the Merchant God or God of Prosperity.  The temple was built in 1923 by a wealthy businessman and not one of those two rescued men.  Taoists visit each year during their pilgrimage to Tau Pekong Temple and Muslims go to the Kramat Kusu.  There are 152 steps to the top and many people climb up to pray for harmony, marriage, wealth, and health, or in the case of childless couples, children.

Visitors can also take a trip to St. John’s Island.

Visitors cannot stay overnight at Kusu Island and that is why they might be interested in heading over to St. John Island.  St. John Island has a great Marine Aquaculture Centre and it has many opportunities for sports activities and beach trekking fun. There are swimming lagoons and soccer fields. People can rest at the Holiday Bungalow, which has a kitchen, and then go on a picnic. There are also Holiday Camps, but they do not offer much privacy.   In either case, the locals enjoy visiting as well so tourists should make preparations before hand. For some night-time fun, Focus Singapore has waterfront bars and restaurants serving international foods along with local dishes.

Tips for Travelers:

• These are great places to visit, but be respectful.  Kusu Island used to be the burial grounds of immigrants who died in quarantine on St. John’s and Lazarus Islands.
• There is a daily ferry from Marina South Pier that is provided by the Singapore Island Cruise.
• Don’t forget to visit the Kusu Island wishing well for some good luck on your trip!
• Again, remember that camping overnight is not permitted on Kusu Island.  Visitors can stay overnight at St. John Island’s Holiday Bungalow or Holiday Camp.
• Take some very good walking shoes, especially if you’ll be visiting both islands!

Global pharmaceutical giant Abbott has opened a new manufacturing facility in Singapore, aimed at tapping into the growing demand for child nutritional products.

The 52,000-square metre plant, costing US$300 million (S$450 million), is Abbott’s biggest investment in Asia to date. It is looking to further expand its presence in the region, it said.

Read more on Channel NewsAsia.

Specialist logistics group Zuellig Pharma has opened a S$40 million distribution facility in Singapore.

The 290,000 square foot centre will also be the regional headquarters for the firm’s clinical trials and anti-counterfeiting solutions division.

Read more on Channel NewsAsia.