Universal Studios Singapore Opening Next Week :)

Universal Studio Singapore 2010 - Sneak Peek..

Universal Studio Singapore was opened for sneak preview during the Chinese New Year Celebrations, from 5pm to 9pm every night between 14 to 21 Feb 2010. The whole park was opened, but none of the rides were operational. Visitors had to pay SGD10 to get into the park. Park tickets for the week were sold out in 2 days. On 05 March 2010, it was announced that the park will start opening on 8:28am. 18 March, 2010, for a soft-opening phrase. From 13 March, 2010 the team members of Resorts World Sentosa and their families can start visiting the park before the public has a chance to do so.

The park is 20 hectares (49 acres) in size, occupying the eastern part of the 49 hectares (120 acres) Resorts World Sentosa. There are a total of 24 attractions, of which 18 are the original or specially adapted for the park. It consists of seven uniquely themed zones which it encircles a lagoon. Each zone is based on blockbuster movies or television shows and each feature their own unique attractions, character appearances, dining and shopping areas. The park will feature the world's tallest Dueling roller coaster based on the hit television show Battlestar Galactica, a castle from the world of Shrek and Monster Rock, a live musical show by the infamous Universal Monsters as well as celebrity Look-alikes. The park also includes about 30 restaurants and food carts together with 20 unique retail stores and carts located around the park.

The park is home to the world’s biggest single collection of DreamWorks Animation theme park attractions, occupying 2 of the 7 themed zones, namely based on "Far Far Away" from Shrek and the island of "Madagascar" from the computer-animated movie Madagascar.

A total of 19 attractions opened on the Opening Day of the park, along with multiple shopping and dining outlets.Universal Parks & Resorts is marketing the park as a "one-of-its-kind theme park in Asia" as they promised that the park will be the only of its kind in Southeast Asia for the next 30 years.

I would probably be visiting the park shortly during a weekday, adult ticket is priced at S$66.00 per day. Weekend ticket will cost S$72.00.

MORE PICTURES COMING UP ... STAY TUNE :)

Resort World Sentosa ---> HUAT AH?

Resort World Sentosa..

With the Resort World Sentosa opened recently... the social ills that comes with gambling addictions, depression, divorce, suicide and high crime rate will rise for sure. Our MM Lee Kuan Yew, had mentioned earlier, punters will not win in the casino..

CNA 19 Feb

With a laugh, Mr Lee said: "They want to gamble. I don’t understand why they want to lose. You surely will not win."

In reference to Resorts World Sentosa, which opened its casino on Sunday, Mr Lee said "the boss counted S$3.5 million" on the first day and S$3.7 million on the second day.

Here are some of the familiar Singaporean behaviour seen at the Resorts World Sentosa. Reported on Sunday Times.

CHOPE - that's my seats

Seats are a premium in the over-crowded casino, and some middle aged female patrons have been spotted leaving packets of tissue paper on the tables to "chope" -or reseve - their seats. Others who need a toilet break get friends to fend off other patrons keen to take their seat.

Those who have visited Singapore food centers will be familiar with this sight, which is uniquely Singapore. This is an ugly habit, what we can do is just simply telling our friends to make his/her purchase first while we waited at the seats.

Chope my seats! In one of the food centers in Singapore, during office lunch breaks.


Shout Out Loud

Punters are loud and animated bunch.

Shouts of "huat ah" (prosperity) are frequently heard throughout the hall.

"Picture, Picture" is another oft-heard phrase at the poker and baccarat tables. It refers to the king, queen and jack cards in a poker deck.

In fact, the more crowded and loud an activity is the better it seems. The tables with the most "action", draw the biggest crowds. Some players will joke loudly with the dealers as if they are old friends.

"Why get so worked up? They think if they shout louder, they will win? If that's the case, the casino would have closed down a long time ago." a retiree who was observing them.

Made yourself at home

Spotted at the casino: people taking off their shoes and sandles as they parked themselves at the jackpot machines. Others slept on the sofas in the rest corners for precious shut-eye time before waking up refreshed for yet another round at the machines.

At the end of the day.. as a Singaporean, I will not fork out S$100 just to go in and gamble.