Singapore Luge and Skyride at Sentosa

luge n. (luzh) , a type of small sled on which one or two persons, lying face up, slide feet first down snowy hillsides or down steeply banked, curving, iced chutes similar to those used in bobsledding.

sled... ice... snowy hillsides... exciting?

There's no snow here in Singapore, at least not in Sentosa, but you can try the luge going down a steep downhill. But first, you need to go up the hill. It's a long way up so there's no better way to get there other than the Skyride. It's an open-air cable-driven chairlift which gives you a fantastic view of the beach, the sea and the nearby islands. This leisure ride will coast on top of the trees, don't look down and just try to enjoy the view of the other Sentosa attractions. Don't forget to smile when you're nearing the tower with a camera. You can view your pictures once you alight and can have them printed if your smile is good enough for you.

Then it's time for the Luge! Pick just the right size of helmet and proceed to the starting line. There, friendly guides are waiting for you with your ride. They'll give you a crash course on how to drive... a luge.

It's quite simple. The luge is a self-driving car system in which riders control the speed by pushing a pair of handlebars back and forth. The luge ride goes downhill, relying on gravitational pull to move. Pull the handle bars towards you to completely stop, release a bit then you're on way again. Understand and follow the simple instructions from the guides. When you're already gliding down, make sure you show some courtesy. Slow down when others are overtaking. When it's your turn to overtake, let them know of your intention before you proceed. Just be careful! There are also cameras on the track near the finish line so make sure you slow down and smile!

Tip: Read what's on the guides' jersey. "Once is never enough" Be sure to get more than one ride. They charge less for extra rides. Although the ride up may get a bit boring, the luge ride will definetely make up for it. It's open till late at night.

Although safe for all ages, common restrictions apply. To ride the luge, riders must be in good health and free of heart conditions, motion sickness, epilepsy, back & neck problems and other physical limitations. Expectant mothers cannot ride.

DHL Hot Air Balloon Wordless Wednesday #15

Singapore Sling

If you're into cocktail drinks, you might have seen it in the menu, or better yet, have tried it once or twice.

The Singapore Sling was originally meant as a woman’s drink, hence the attractive pink color. It is said that it was created in or around 1915 in the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel probably under the original name of Straits Sling (Straits Settlements), renamed commonly and then officially the Singapore Sling some time between 1922 and 1930.

Here's the Raffles Hotel recipe:

30ml Gin
15ml Cherry Brandy
120ml Pineapple Juice
15ml Lime Juice
7.5ml Cointreau
7.5ml Dom Benedictine
10ml Grenadine
A Dash of Angostura Bitters
Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry

A trip to sunny Singapore will never be 'fruitful' and 'complete', without enjoying this delightful concoction!

Tags: Singapore Sling, cocktail

Theatre on the Bay Wordless Wednesday #14

Tags: Esplanade, Singapore

Night Safari Singapore

If the faux-spooky feeling that the animals could pounce at you any time isn't enough reason to pay for the cab ride out there, the tram tour guides' overly dramatic delivery delivery definitely is. Anyway, if you're already planning to go to the Singapore Zoo, you might as well include the Night Safari in your itinerary as it is just next door.

The Singapore Night Safari is the first zoo where you can creep around in the dark and spy on tigers, elephants, lions and numerous smaller four-legged surprises, carefully lit by just enough light for us see them but for them to still think it's night time. It's a unique experience, so instead of wandering around a normal zoo during the daytime and watching weary creatures snoozing in the corner, you can see what their doing at night.

This premier night zoo houses over 1000 animals of 120 exotic species in eight zones re-created to simulate geographic zones like the Southeast Asian rain forest, African savanna, Nepalese river valley, South American pampas and Burmese jungle.

Strike out on your own along the walking trail or relax in a tram ride - whichever you choose, works on the sensible principle that some animals are more active at night.

I suggest you take the tram ride first when they open at 6 pm to get a feel of the dark environment. After the ride, immediately queue up for the Creatures of the Night Show. The show is postponed when it's raining. You can spend the rest of the night exploring the trails that you will see during the tram ride. If it's raining, you'll miss the show and you can't explore the trails and you won't be able to see the animals up close.

You can also watch the tribal dance performances, eat at the Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant (the tribal dancers will go and disturb you while you're eating if no one is watching them in the show area), go shopping for souvenirs and take photos.

Do bring you insect repellents to keep harmful insect at bay. You can also bring your umbrellas and jackets. The walking trails are adequately lighted so torchlights are not required; bringing them is also not advised as some are tempted to point them at the night animals which is a big no no.

Night Safari is a wild adventure (don't forget the tram tour guides!) not to be missed.

Tags: Night Safari, Singapore Zoo

Singapore National Flower Wordless Wednesday #13

Hungry Ghost Festival

For the Chinese, the 14th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar is when the gates of hell open and the dead will again walk among the living. It's the start of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

It is believed that during this time, the souls of the unborn and that of departed ancestors and friends are released from Purgatory to wander the earth for 30 days. The souls of the dead ignored by relatives may do acts of mischief, so steps must be taken to appease the spirits before they go on a rampage. Hell money, paper offerings and joss sticks are burnt to see to their material needs; food is offered so that the souls do not go hungry and thus less likely to wreck havoc.

Neighbourhood celebration dinners or zhong yuan (popularly known as getai) are held on the feast day, with auction of goods, operas and song performances being part of the festivities. The Buddhists and the Taoists have different ways of celebrating the feast. As ghosts are believed to dominate events, no auspicious activities such as such as weddings and business launches are held during this period.

It's a very solemn festival of ancestor worshiping. The festival nevertheless represents a connection between the ancestors and the descendants, the living and the dead, earth and heaven, as well as body and soul.

So what do you have for the ghost sitting next to you...?

Singapore National Day Wordless Wednesday #12