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Published: December 7th 2010
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Not every entry needs to be about remote, dramatic or romantic places...this is an entry for the children, the children that are in all of us....this entry is simply about a family week-end of fun! But before that, I was lucky enough to have a full week at home, with few great parties, first the evening of the St Andrews ball (black tie and long gowns), as well as a great party at Koi during the week (fashion and vodka!)...yes, we even get a social life in Bangkok...well, this is only valid when we are actually in Bangkok!
Christmas is coming very soon...and yes we are going to head to colder weather pretty soon. But the aim of this week-end was the newly opened Universal Studios in Singapore. The theme park has been opened for few months. Not all the rides are completed, as they still have to open the "family ride" Madagascar as well as a special effects show.
Leslie has already visited Universal Studios in LA and I went many years ago to the one of Orlando, but this was a first for Mari. Universal Studios in Singapore is based on the island of Sentosa. In size,
it is also the smaller park....but most important, you have to read this before you go!
Universal Studios sell mainly their tickets online. There are no ticket booths at the entrance of the park. And guess what, I didn't know it! Arrived in Singapore...and found out while asking my hotel....oups...ok, go online, just to found out that tickets are sold out for the next 3 days! And we are here only for the week-end. You can guess my stress! No direct solution for me. Mari and Leslie were arriving on a later flight, so I went to pick them up at the airport with the "bad news".
At Changi, Sentosa World Resort, which is running Universal Studios do have info booths...so I stopped to ask...and yes there is a solution, some travel agents do have extra tickets! The guy took his phone, and found us 3 tickets waiting for us in the other airport terminal, all this just prior to the arrival of Mari and Leslie. Ouf, I'm safe! And thanks to the person at the Sentosa booth for the info and the great service, you saved Leslie week-end!
Leslie and Mari arrived on time, we
jumped in a taxi...direction, the night safari. This is one of "the" place to visit in Singapore. It is only open after sunset till midnight, and it's simply a night zoo. But no real cages to be seen here, as the place is introduced to you in the form of a little safari ride through the noctural animals. You also have a show as well as few trails to walk. Leslie and Mari loved it, was not my first visit here, as I came here for the first time 13 years ago with my parents. The highlight for Leslie must have been the close look at the leopard...ok, less exciting for Mari and I after having seen the big cat in Okavango just 2 weeks ago!
We went back to our hotel pretty late, before waking up early the next day for Universal Studios...and a little Leslie who couldn't wait to have the doors open. Sadly we started under a rainy day, but it cleared to brighter weather later on during the day. Due to the rain, Galactica ride was closed. This is a huge roller-coaster...we were not lucky for this ride. Beside it, we could do every single
ride between 10am to 5pm due to the small size of the park...and you know what, this is ok for me. Ok, LA park is much more impressive due to the visit of the Studios. There is not really any emphasis on "Studios" here, it is simply a fun park....but really fun one if you are a family with a 10 years old fun pre-teenager. And if you ask, yes he did exactly all the same rides as us.
We spent our Sunday visiting Singapore, walking from the Merlion all the way back to the St Regis on Orchard road. On the way, lunch in a great food court, time to shop also a little, and spent the afternoon lounging by the swimming pool of our nice hotel.
What a week-end! If you can guess, it was not about parties and great restaurants...but it was indeed about great family time, and ahead of Christmas, these moments are the ones I cherish the most.
Next trip coming soon. Leslie has 3 weeks school holidays starting on 17th of December...and yes, we won't be in warm Bangkok for Christmas!
But till there, with love from 3 of us...keep
weel, wherever you are...
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liliram
liliram
Just in time!
Gee, thanks for this blog Peter. Our family is flying to Singapore this New Year and visiting Universal Studios. Oh yes, we booked online for tickets , just as you advised! Like you and Mari, it should be easy to enjoy the park as much as leslie and my own little ones. The hurricane scene is new and I look forward to that. Cheers!