When the discussion of private jets comes up, it’s usually in regards to the the lavish and extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous. Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford…They all travel by private jet. In fact, Donald Trump’s private Boeing 757 is estimated to be worth around $95 million and comes complete with double beds, a sofa lounge and a marble bathroom.
But because of this impression, many deals on flying via private jet go unnoticed (I know for a fact I wouldn’t be looking at flying privately for my next trip) but maybe, just maybe, flying by private jet doesn’t actually have to be so expensive.
According to an infographic from BuddyLoans, if you do your homework then there are deals to potentially be had. For example, traveling for business or as part of a large group of people? An entire private jet can cost from as little as £800 going up to the $2,000 price range (entirely depending on airline, type of jet, etc) which could average out at around £145 a person. Can you fly business class for that amount?
Looking outside of the price range and there are so many benefits to flying private. For example, you can have a much more negotiable baggage allowance instead of having to adhere to the very specific weight requirements per airline and you can also have a much more minimal time to wait for departure.
Any frugal traveler out there will be away of the sites that allow you to compare the prices of flights on different airlines, but do you know there’s also price comparison sites for private jets? jetsuite.com are a good example of this. Also, if you have much more flexibility in your availability of when you can fly then you’ll be more likely to be able to snap up those cheaper, last-minute or random timed flights. Flying on empty leg flights is also a possible solution for anyone looking for a deal on private jets. Empty leg flights are when the private jet is booked for a one way journey and must fly back in order to board its next passengers for its next destination. You can usually expect to save up to 75% when choosing to fly on an empty leg flight.
Check out the infographic below for loads of more information on how to save money when flying private – you’ll be amazed.
How to get a deal on a private jet [Infographic] by the team at Buddy Loans
After the first season of Food Hero, her name keeps rising to popularity. Yes, she is Michele Lean, one of the winners of the program. She is known for her passion in culinary world. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on September 1st of 1982, Lean spent most of her early life in the Capital City of Malaysia, Borneo, Melbourne, and Hong Kong. It is even difficult for her to answer the question, “We are you from?” since she considers them all her homes.
A passionate traveler, beach and marine life lover, Travelfore fortunately make a in depth interview with the woman with full name Michele Yi Wen Samantha Lean.
Here, Michele shares her insight about foods and cultures, discusses Food Wars Asia and offers advice on how to make the most of your culinary adventure. Read on:
Would you please share about your program Food Wars and how it differs to other food TV shows?
“There are cooking programs, there are eating shows and then, there’s Food Wars! I’ll take you with me on a journey where you’ll get to experience cooking and the eating in two different kitchens that serve the same dish. Together, we’ll meet the owners, the fans and wait in suspense while the panel of judges decide which of the two locations serves it best in a blind fold taste test.”
When you travel around the world, what are the basic differences between Asian and Western food?
“I’d have to say the usage of spices. It is very much dependent on the geography, culture and history of the country. Even within a country, you’ll find differences in the food just going from north-south or east-west.”
You have ever visit Indonesia. What is your favourite Indonesian foods? Please explain why?
“Kek Lapis. I love kek lapis. It always fascinates me how each layer alternates between light & dark so consistently. I’ve even gone through the trouble of googling ‘best kek lapis in Jakarta’ before a layover, called the baker and ordered it a few days before my flight and had it delivered to me just before my connecting flight. I took a 2 kg kek lapis with me on my travels and ate some every day.”
In your opinion, is there any correlation between food and culture?
“Definitely. I’ve always firmly believed that no matter how many sites you visit or how much time you spend in a country, you’ve never really experienced a place’s true culture until you’ve eaten local food from places frequented by locals. Unlike language, eating and food is universal. It gives us a better understanding of a country’s culture without the language barriers.”
What are heritage foods that have been cooked since thousand years ago?
“Haha…in 1015? I suppose something with meat and vegetables – depending on where in the world you were at the time. Definitely no fast or processed food.”
How can a food considered has good taste in your opinion?
“Taste is very subjective but in my opinion, balance is key. The right balance of spice, textures and flavour is what I look for. And soul – the best food is cooked by a cook who cares.”
You’ve stay for long time in Malaysia, Singapore and China. According to you, what country which has the most culinary richness?
“I’ve actually lived in Malaysia, Australia and China the longest and all of these places have a rich and diverse culinary heritage. To pick one would be like asking me to tell you which of my two sisters was my favourite – impossible. 😀 ”
Interview With Michele Lean
When did you start to cook and what food was being your first cooking?
“The first thing I ever made on my own was an omelete. I was 7 or 8 and wanted to make that for my dad because he loves eggs. Before that, my sisters and I always put together Mother’s Day breakfast for my mum but if I remember correctly, it was mostly made up of juice and cereal or sandwiches.”
Who influenced you to love cooking?
“My mum and my grandmother. They are fantastic cooks, love experimenting with different cuisines and they would always involve us. My sisters and I would watch and they’d teach us by getting us to help out with tasks that became increasingly more difficult as we grew more experienced in the kitchen.”
Have you ever learn cook formally?
“Yes, I trained in traditional French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa.”
Besides cooking and acting, what are your activities?
“I love scuba diving, yoga and I’d like to start longboarding soon. And travel – I travel a lot. I’m addicted to travelling and new experiences but I also love revisiting countries and getting to know them better.”
Have a plan to open a restaurant someday?
“Let’s see! 😀 Time will tell. I love food concepts and if the right opportunity comes along, I’d definitely pursue it.”
What is your next goal for culinary industry?
“I’d like to challenge the misconceptions that people have about food and get people to try things they wouldn’t normally eat or say they don’t like without actually having tried it.”
Have a plan to be a business woman that not in culinary industry?
“Up till now, I’ve dedicated my career to involve food and travel (my two greatest passions) and plan to continue to do so. Even if I were to go into a different industry, I imagine it will always encompass some form of travel and food.”
Please share your advices for them who interested in being chef?
“Experiment, keep learning and try EVERYTHING – unless you’re allergic to it, then stay clear. J Find a mentor, a school or a restaurant you like and absorb all the knowledge you can. Also, I suggest working out. It helps to build stamina in the kitchen.”
Michele Lean
Food Wars Asia Premieres on Food Network, Tuesday, 7 April 2015 at 8.00pm (7.00PM JKT/TH)
Food Hero Michele Lean, travel lover and passionate about all things food, sets out to find the most celebrated dishes in Singapore and Malaysia, food that defines destinations and create local rivalries spanning generations. From Singapore’s famous Fishball Noodles to Malaysia’s Nasi Lemak, Food Wars Asia pits nation’s most famous culinary rivals against one another for a final showdown, where a blind taste test will settle the debate once and for all on who makes the best dish in town.
Want to participate Food War TV Show?
Know two great places in your country that’s serving the same dish and you can’t decide who’s best? Leave your comments on www.facebook.com/foodnetworkasia!
Indonesia Fashion week is an annual international fashion that is held in Jakarta as a mode center of Indonesia. It is held as a form of appreciation toward many designers in Indonesia and the world. Many designers from all around Indonesia join the event to promote their works in order to be acknowledged by the world. They prepare the designs and the best fashion items that they have made in order to be able to compete with many designers from all over the world.
Indonesia Fashion Week event always chooses different themes every year. In the beginning, Indonesia Fashion Week event was held in 2012 in Jakarta Convention Center. It was very interesting and it successfully attracted many designers and fashion mode observers as well as fashion lovers to take part. They give appreciation toward Indonesian creation and traditional Indonesian cultures from different islands and ethnics from all around Indonesia.
What Makes Indonesia Fashion Week Different
The event also functions to show to the world that Indonesia is multicultural and multiethnic nation, which has so many best quality fashions that truly reflect the richness of culture. In this event, so many experienced and new designers can join and become more and more shinny in the world of fashion designing. This event can give the chance for many designers to discuss their ideas so that they can produce unique and creative creations.
Indonesia Fashion Week also aims to introduce new designers and Indonesian culture toward the world. As a national event with international class, Indonesian fashion week always successfully attracts the world’s attention and tells the world that Indonesian culture has its own characteristics compared to any other countries. One of fashion items, which always become the focus of attention, is batik, as it is an Indonesian world heritage. Many famous Indonesian designers, such as Anne Avantie, have focused in this traditional fabric and given special modern touches to produce both classical and contemporary designs.
Other Indonesian traditional fabrics include songket and tenun, which also offers different and classy look. Therefore, the fashion week is different from similar events held in other cities, such as Paris, New York, Milan, London and any other fashions cities.
The Look of Indonesia Fashion Week 2015
Indonesia Fashion Week 2015 will be held on February 26th until March 1st 2015 in Jakarta Convention Centre. This event will promote Indonesian traditional culture through its fashion, accessories and many more. This event will be covered with fashion shows, exhibitions, competitions, seminar and workshop. It aims to give new knowledge about the development of fashion in both Indonesia and other countries that might give some inspirations for many designers.
This event will be attended not only by Indonesian people but also by many people from other countries especially for those having the deal with fashion. There will be 32 fashion shows, 665 brands and more than 1920 items in this year’s event. Therefore, it proves that this event is very big and many people will be involved in this event. Many designers have prepared their best fashion designs and collections to be launch in Indonesia fashion week. It is expected that it will bring the success just like the previous events held in Jakarta.
There are a number of international flights to Split airport from around Europe. Many people come to experience the varied wonders of Split, and Croatia as a whole each year, and it is no wonder, with the many sunshine hours, mild temperatures, picturesque scenery and fascinating historic and cultural sights on offer. Split Airport is second only to Zagreb airport in Croatia and sees many people flow through it, especially in the summer, when the number of visitors increases dramatically. In summer, charter flights from around Europe swell the number of scheduled flights to the country.
Getting to Split from Split Airport
The Airport is actually about 25 km west of the city itself, close to the town of Trogir. Fortunately, it is very easy to get to and from Split airport with taxi transfer, a popular option among tourists and there are public transport options like buses also available. Airport buses run from the terminal to Split city centre – they stop at the east end of ‘Riva’ and the fare is around 30 kn. Local buses also run from the public road just outside the airport and are a cheaper option, though you must change buses to get all the way to the historic centre and they can be a little hit and miss, so it is almost certainly not worth it for the casual tourist.
Transportation options
A taxi from the airport to the ferry port or Diocletian’s Palace in the centre of old Split will take around 30 minutes and should cost around 270 kn, though drivers will often agree to 220 kn if you agree a price up front. Pre-booking a taxi is often a good idea as you will often get a better price doing it this way. A Split airport taxi transfer will also ensure that you are able to meet your return flight, if you are not happy to rely on public transport, or if your plane leaves in the middle of the night, when buses do not run.
Diocletian’s palace
It is easy to get around the historic centre on foot, and this is indeed the best way to see it. Walk around the harbour area, Diocletian’s palace and the old town’s maze of streets. It is also a good move to rent a bike and use that to transport yourself up Marjan’s hill, along the Riva (waterfront of Split) and even out on the ferries onto the islands in the Adriatic if you so wish. Buses will take you from Split’s historic centre to any of the more modern outlying districts that you may wish to visit.
Excursions from Split
Outlying attractions can easily be visited by bus or car. Be sure to take the opportunity during your stay to visit the castle villages of Kastela, and the Roman city of Salona, both of which can be reached by bus, taxi or under your own steam if you choose to hire a car. It is worth noting that if you buy your bus ticket from a kiosk rather than from the driver on the bus, then it is a little cheaper. If you are going to spend more than just a few days in Split, it is recommended to take a short bus trip to the vibrant and relaxing Vodice, where you can enjoy the famous Blue Beach and party in the evening.
So, as you can see, getting to and from Split Airport and transport in and near the city is easy and trouble free. So book your flight today, and come and explore this sublime city.
It’s celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of March at Boulevard November 1st, located in Puntacana Village, opposite The Punta Cana International Airport. The celebration begins with a parade of international delegations from Aruba, Curacao, Haiti and Saint Martin, as well as a selection of the very best from the Dominican Republic.
The parade features more than fifteen of the top carnival troupes and is alive with colorful costumes and masks to showcase the cultural traditions and folklore of the country to thousands of locals and tourists from around the world. A live concert features music styles such as merengue, bachata and reggaeton marked the official end of Carnaval.
Entrance to the Punta Cana Carnaval is free, but tickets to sit on a stage during the event are available for purchase.
Click on image to hear the official carnaval’s songClick on image to hear the official carnaval’s song
This is one of the many attractions Punta Cana has to offer.
Since there are so many things to do, besides the classic scuba diving and romantic walks on the beach, you have to book yourself a worthy place which meets all your most demanding needs and desires.
Please check all our properties we have across all the island, for sure you will find an excellent match according your budget.
See some of our luxury villas by clicking the image:
Bali is a great place to enjoy the vacation. Bali offers many beautiful beaches and temple. Bali also offers great variety of water sports. For you who like adventure, Bali is a perfect place to visit. It is not only the beauty of the land offered in Bali. Bali is also famous for its BALINALE, the abbreviation of Bali International Film Festival. You can have a vacation while seeing the great film in this event.
The film festival event becomes another tourism attraction in the Land of God. It is a good way to promote the tourisms of Bali to the world. Bali has become the setting of a Hollywood movie that involves famous stars like Julia Roberts, and BINALE is another way to attract the attention of world’s class filmmakers.
Balinale: History and Concept
This annual event is held at the Beachwalk Mall, Kuta Beach, Bali from 12th to 18th October 2014. It was first held in 2007 by Bali Taksu Indonesia Foundation to appreciate the film workers. The films given award are from all genres: fiction, documentary, feature, and others. This year’s event focuses on “Women in Film” to give appreciation to women who contribute much in filmmaking process, including filmmakers, writers, producers, directors, and actors.
This event is not only representing film, but also representing some activities, such as Free Open Air Cinema, Daily Film Screenings, Demonstrations, Film Industry Forums, Opening Night Premiere, Awards Presentation, Children’s Charity Program and a series of Educational Workshops dedicated to improve the skills of young independent Indonesian filmmakers. The event also included seminars or workshop; so new comers in filming industry can ask for some advice from the seniors.
Participants are not only from Indonesia, but also from Oscar, BAFTA, and Cannes award winning filmmakers. It will help BALINALE to achieve its mission for global creativity. This is evident from the fact that the event has been affiliated with some awarding events like Motion Picture Association. Besides going to this event, you can also taste the delicious food of Bali. There are many choices of food, which you can have in Bali.
The 2014 Balinale Event and Indonesia’s Film Industry
The 2014 event of BALINALE will involve 59 films, which come from 18 countries from around the world. However, most of them are Asian films, since the event involved 23 Asian countries, 2 international movies and 3 world premieres. This shows a significant increase in the number of films, which are nominated for awards. Last year, the film-awarding event involved only 37 films. In the event, you will be able to watch new release movies.
The best Indonesian movies will also take part in the film festivals. They include 12 Menit: Kemenangan Untuk Selamanya, Bajaj Bajuri The Movie, and Slank Nggak Ada Matinya. More interestingly, some Indonesian films will also be listed in the Free Open Air Cinema. They include Onomastika, Garuda Superhero, Volcanic Rock Breakers of Batur, and Perjalanan. The board of jury has carefully selected the best movies throughout Asia and related movies based on the pre-specified standards without discriminating the origin of the movie.
The annual event will be a place to see the bets movies from various categories, like documentary film, short films, or event full movie. In addition, special review screening will be offered to introduce new movies for the public.
Batik is very famous around the world. Since it is stated as a cultural heritage from Indonesia, batik has been promoted in many events. Many clothing items and fashion accessories now are made from batik, such as clothes, trousers, skirt, dress, some crafts, and bag. Batik provides you with ethnical look of Indonesia. Now, Batik is not only a fabric pattern worn by the Javanese royal families. Instead, it has been a national intangible asset. Various batik motives are now available in many areas in Indonesia, from Java to Bali, Sumatra, and even Borneo Island.
Pekalongan Batik Week
If you are a batik lover, you can go to Pekalongan Batik Week, in which batik is displayed in an outstanding way. The objective of this event is to preserve Indonesia’s precious art of batik. Located in Pekalongan City, Central Java, the event is held at Jetayu Cultural Area and displaying various batik motives from different areas in Indonesia. This event was started on August 8th and it will finish on October 12th 2014.
The activities held in Pekalongan Batik Week included Indonesia Culinary Festival, Welcome Dinner, Nusantara Archipelago Batik Exhibition, Pekalongan Batik Carnival, Batik’s Motifs for Public Officials’ Uniforms Competition, Batik Lanterns Festival, Fashion Show, Batik on The Street Theatrical Performance, Pekalongan Great Sale, Art and Cultural Performances, National Batik Gathering, Exhibition Booths competition, and more.
You will see for about 140 booths at Jatayu Sport Center. Provincial government, cities and regencies, state owned enterprises and various private sectors participate in this event. It is a good event to visit for those who want to know the wealth of batik crafting in Indonesia or for those who are looking for the best and limited batik motives. If you like to have a business or want to run a garment store with Batik clothing and accessory items, this event can be a start to seek for a business partner.
Pekalongan Batik Week is not only about the exhibition of batik, but also culinary event. You will find delicious food the regencies around Central Java. The taste of Java will blow you away. You will taste sweet, spicy, and crunchy foods here.
How is Batik Pekalongan Different?
Pekalongan has been known as the centre of Batik. Batik pekalongan is famous for Batik Pesisir or Coastal Batik motif. It is different from Royal Batik of Solo and Yogyakarta. The Coastal Batik is mostly dominated by brown, yellow, black, and blue colors. This batik has a great chance to be explored more because it has unique features. so, what make Batik Pekalongan different? Batik Pekalongan got the influence of China and Netherland in colonial times. Even though it is more like batik Yogya or Solo batik, batik Pekalongan has more combination and variation of colors. Batik making skill has been an integral part of the community economic life in this regency.
Many people from other cities buy batik here to be sold again. You will find many accessories that go well with batik here. The shape is so unique so you can buy it as a gift to your family. Visiting a country means learning the culture. You will find many beautiful traditions in Pekalongan. Pekalongan Batik Week will give you experience that you will never forget. Get the feel of batik by going to this event in Indonesia. Your stay will be welcomed by many friendly people from Indonesia.
Holiday is something to wait for many people in Indonesia. Daily routine creates boredom of mind which needs to be refreshed. By being a working mom or working dad, there will be less family time. So, holiday is the way reunite the family and make the relation closer. When it comes to holiday, people will flood the city with cars, motorcycles and other vehicles to go to places they want. Even a traffic jam does not stop people to go to their destination. It is worth to do because long holiday does not come up often. Usually, people in Indonesia get long weekend holiday on Ied Mubarak, Christmas, and school holiday. It is always fun to have a vacation.
There are many tourism spots that you can find in Indonesia. There are beach, mountain, lake, themed park, waterfall, cave, and many more. One spot which is often visited by families is themed park. It gives one stop entertainment fun. With all the facilities included, people can have a pleasure time with their family. Besides, kids will love it so much with the theme given.
There are some famous themed park that you can visit in Indonesia for your upcoming holiday. They are:
1.Jungleland Bogor
It is said to be the biggest themed park in Indonesia. Located in Sentul City, Bogor, it covers an area of 35 ha. You can find 31 rides here for any age with their uniqueness. The location is strategic with vast parking area. It can take in 1000 cars, 3000 motorcycles, and 300 buses.
There is also a package for students, so they can get discount. For individual or group, there will be different price. So, you had better go there in group to get discount. But going individually is fine too since the price is reasonable.You can enjoy a great adventure here.
2.Dreamland Ancol
It is an amusement park located in capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta. It is a great amusement park for many people in Indonesia. You can see Sea World, Atlantis Water Adventure and Marina Beach and Fantasy World. So, for you who like to play in the water, this is the perfect place. Not only that, you can buy beautiful souveneers here.
There is Art Market inside Ancol which sells paintings, handicraft, key chains and other souveneer products. You can find something antique here. Moreover, you can see the artists in their work. You can enjoy an artist who does painting, wood-carvers who makes the sculpture, and many more. For you who like a play, you can enjoy theater performance in a local dialect. Dreamland Ancol is open from Monday to Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
3.Bandung Trans Studio
Bandung Trans Studio is the biggest indoor themed park in Indonesia. It is located in Bandung, West Java and covers 4ha area. It has 20 exciting rides which are divided into three different zones: Studio Central Zone, The Lost City Zone, and Magic Corner Zone. Every zone has its own uniqueness. In the center of the place, you can see costume parade of characters in Hollywood. It is always fun to see.
One place that you should not miss when visiting Bandung Trans Studio is “Dunia Lain” or another world. It will give thrilling experience with many ghosts coming from the dark along the way.
There are still many more places that you can visit in Indonesia. While themed park is family best choice, you can have it for your long holiday. Choose one suits to you and your family!
Melaka is a state in Malaysia. It is well-known for its historic sites. The capital of this state is Melaka City. The city center, known for its historical, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 7th 2008. This state represents one Malaysia as the culture vary. It is also known as the patriotic symbol of Malay since many Malays born here. Melaka was founded by Iskandar Shah, the last king of Singapura. He found Melaka as a good port. This state is led by a Governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri).
Melaka covers an area of 1,664 km2 and it is divided into three districts: Central Melaka, Alor Gajah, and Jasin. The population of Melaka in 2010 is 66.1% Muslim, , 5.7% Hindu, 24.2% Buddhist , 3.0% Christian, 0.2% Taoist, 0.6% follower of other religions, and 0.2% non-religious. As the influence of colonialism era of Dutch and the descendants of Portugese, there are many historical places showing the culture of Portugese. They are Fort of Famosa, St. Peter’s Church, St. Paul Church, and Christ Church. It is a great place to have a holiday.
When you decide to visit Melaka, do not forget to see the historical places, as well as the delicious food offered. They are:
Fort of Famosa Fort of Famosa is a fort which was built in 1511 by the Portuguese. Famosa means famous in Portuguese. This fort has been controlled by Portugal in1511-1641, Netherlands in 1641-1795, and Britain in 1795-1807. During Dutch invasion, this fort had much damage. This fort is the oldest building in Asia. The small gate named Porta de Santiago is the only part remaining. For you who like to have a historical experience, going to this fort is a great choice.
Jonker’s Walk Night Market
Hunting food is always fun at night. The cold air and the beautiful view of the lights will make it more romantic. You can enjoy food in Jonker’s Walk Night Market in Melaka. The food will satisfy your tounge with its finest meal.
Beside the food, you can also enjoy attraction shown. When you see a kungfu movie with throwing knives and eating fire scene, you can see it also here. The slogan is “Malaysia Boleh” which means Malaysia can do, you can get all the exciting things.
Morten Village
Another attraction given in Melaka is Morten Village. It is located in the middle of historic city. People call it “a living museum” with its many historical sites which is still used by the people. It has 85 homes and 52 Melaka traditional dwellings. It is always fun to visit Morten Village with the unique houses.
Spicy Food
Melaka is famous for its spicy food. You can try to have Chicken Spicy Food, Claypot Spicy Food, and many more. The uniqueness of the food here is the red sauce which is so spice. The food is eaten together with rice, staple food of Asian. For the side dish, you can have anything you want, from seafood, eggs, or meat. Usually it is put in the spicy sauce.
For you who do not like spicy food, you can have another food for your meal. But, one in a time, tasting this food is fine. You will not regret tasting the delicious food offered here. The foodstalls and restaurants are easy to reach along the way in Melaka. Malaka is waiting for you. So, are you ready to go there?
Sentosa is a very popular island just south of the main Singapore island. It is visited by some five million people a year. It was first developed about 40 years ago but was often a disappointment to visitors. Now it is coming into its own and I suggest that it is a ‘must-visit’ place to see for all Singapore visitors. There are now sufficient offerings of interest to adults and children to keep everyone amused for a day or two.
Sentosa Express
There are basically four ways to reach Sentosa Island, the cable car from Mount Faber or Harbourside, the Sentosa Express light rail from VivoCity, the footbridge from near VivoCity, or a taxi from anywhere within Singapore.
The Sentosa Express light rail station is on the 3rd floor of the VivoCity shopping mall beside the large food court. You need to buy a ticket which currently costs S$4 round trip. The train operates every 5-8 minutes from 7 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. daily. Once on the island you can walk to many of the attractions but there are also three bus routes and one beach tram route to help you reach some of the more distant attractions.
Sentosa cable car
The cable car is the most exciting way to reach Sentosa. It begins at The Jewel Box on Mount Faber which houses a retail shop, the cable car station and five different restaurants and bars. This was constructed with the cable car in 1974. There is also a cable car station in HarbourFront Tower 2 near VivoCity. The current cable car cost is $26 (Adult) and $15 (Child) and while this seems high there is no disputing the fabulous view you get on the ride across to the island.
Beaches
Beach Station is the end of the Sentosa Express light rail system and is a transfer hub for the bus and beach tram services. The beach stretches both east and west from here and you can walk in either direction.
Tanjong Beach and Palawan Beach are to the east. Tanjong Beach is popular for its tranquillity and solitude. The sand is clear, the water at times less so. The Tanjong Beach Club offers seafood from around the globe, tropical fruit cocktails, beach volleyball, a pool and entertainment at night.
Family-friendly Palawan Beach has good sand and interesting shops and eateries. There are wading pools and water fountains for kids to cool off in, an aviary and the Animal & Bird Encounters show. A suspension bridge links to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, a small islet with a viewing deck at the top of the towers which are located there.
Long Siloso Beach stretches to the west of Beach Station. This is claimed to be Singapore’s hippest beach, and on weekends it is alive with people day and night. There are bars, several shopping options, and bistros and restaurants.
This is also where you can access the 450 metre Zip-line which travels 75 metres above ground level at speeds of up to 60 km/h, across the jungle, the beach, and the sea.
Merlion Plaza
Merlion Plaza has the Imbiah Sentosa Express station and the centre-point here is a 37-metre tall replica of the Merlion complete with viewing galleries and a souvenir shop. An admission fee applies. This forms a north-south axis through the island. The northern end leads to the Festive Terrace while in the south a winding walkway leads to the beach.
Escalators connect to the Imbiah Lookout area where there are several food outlets including Starbucks, The Arches, and Tastes of Singapore.
Images of Singapore
I think Images of Singapore is one of the better attractions in this area. It is an historical museum with exhibits showing the history of Singapore using multi-media displays, multi-screen theatre presentations and wax models. There are numerous exhibitions covering Malay rule, the British period, the Japanese occupation, and early independence under Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Madame Tussauds Singapore will open late 2014 and will include a boat ride known as ‘The Spirit of Singapore’, featuring iconic local landmarks. The ride will connect the new wax museum to the existing ‘Images of Singapore’ attraction in the same building.
Resorts World Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa has added a number of further attractions to the island. Marine Life Park is claimed to be the world’s largest oceanarium. It consists of several major attractions: S.E.A. Aquarium, the innovative Maritime Experiential Museum where you can experience Singapore’s past as a trading port, Dolphin Island, and Adventure Cove Waterpark.
Then there is the Trick Eye Museum which refers to an art technique that turns two-dimensional paintings into three-dimensional images through the use of optical illusions.
There are two free shows that you should see. Lake of Dreams is a spectacular choreographed display of fire, water and light with a musical score. It is presented every night at 9.30 p.m. at Festive Walk. Crane Dance is produced each night at 9.00 p.m. at the Waterfront.
Universal Studios Singapore
This has become sensational Sentosa biggest attraction. There are seven zones around a lagoon all with roller coasters or other movie-themed attractions. You can purchase your day passes online and save time queuing when you arrive at the park. A one day pass costs S$74 for adults and S$54 for children.
On weekends the park can get quite crowded so arriving early is a smart move. Normal operating hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. but they do vary throughout the year.
Other attractions
There is much more to Sentosa. Some of the other attractions are Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon, Fort Siloso, Wavehouse Sentosa, The Tiger Sky Tower, The Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Sentosa Nature Discovery and Nature Walk, Sentosa 4D Adventureland, Skyline Luge Sentosa, and iFly.
Wings of Time features dancing water fountains, enhanced pyrotechnic effects, and a live cast. You view the performance from a large open-air viewing gallery. The 25-minute show runs twice nightly every evening at a cost of S$18.
