Sentosa – A mixed experience

Singapore has had an aquarium exhibit on Sentosa for many years but the site has recently been renovated, expanded, and become the Singapore Oceanarium. Today it was opened to the public for the first time. I was looking forward to the visit – and so were several thousand other people.

Unfortunately, we had to wait for about forty minutes while our tour guide sorted out a problem with our booking. Along with the exhibits, the Oceanarium had changed its computer system and tickets booked some time ago on the old system weren’t recognised. Eventually, we were all given paper tickets with a QR code to enter. Not our guide’s fault. As an ex-IT professional, I reckon somebody in the Oceanarium’s IT department needs a good kicking.

Like most of Singapore’s natural attractions this one is set up to educate and there were plenty of school groups in attendance. The tanks started with the simplest forms of sea life (jellyfish), graduating gradually to turtles, corals, fish and so. There are a couple of tunnels through the tanks so visitors can see sharks and rays up close.

When we’d had enough we went to find a seat and a cold drink out in the plaza. We went to a little bakery. There were queues for bread but since we only wanted drinks we avoided queuing. The people buying bread mainly sat in the café and ate it au naturel. I think some of it was brioche. Hey ho. Whatever floats your boat.

From the Oceanarium we were taken to a local restaurant for dinner before a sound and light show. If you’ve been with me so far, you’ll know the food provided on the tour was pretty ordinary, but this place wins first prize. Imagine a school cafetaria with formica tables and disposable table ware. It’s full and noisy but at least we had reserved tables. You line up, take a plate, and pick your food from the buffet. The fare was limited and the hot food (noodles, crumbed fish, spring rolls etc) was cold. Not impressed and not good enough, considering what we paid for this trip.

We were really there for the show, called Wings of Time. It’s a sound and light spectacular set on one of Sentosa’s beaches. It’s pleasant sitting on benches looking out to sea after the sun has set. It never gets cold here at night, with temps in the mid-twenties. The biggest danger is rain but we were fortunate – the only time it did rain on the whole trip was while we were in a restaurant.

The show was fun, combining a water display, laser show, fire effects, and music into a sensory extravaganza. It follows the adventures of a couple of kids who accidentally find an ancient bird who wants to return to its own time, stopping off here and there as it goes.

Here’s another clip with water effects,

Getting out of the place was a real adventure. The access paths were steep, it was dark, and there was a crush of people all wanting to get out. I grabbed hold of Peter’s jacket (he was in front of me) and wouldn’t let go despite others jockeying for position. Everybody managed to get out – but one of our group was missing! In the turmoil and the press of so many people she’d been forced in the wrong direction. But all was well. Soon we were on the bus and on our way back to the hotel.

By the way, if you’ve come here by accident and want to follow the whole trip, tap here.