The 'S-Factors' of Singapore

The 'S-Factors' of Singapore

By Ana Marie S. Tiangco

March 15, 2011, 10:33am

MANILA, Philippines - The past few years have seen a dramatic rise in Filipinos visiting Singapore.

With very affordable air fares enticing even the ordinary Filipinos to travel, Singapore evolves as one of the more popular destinations for travelers because of its proximity to the Philippines which means short travel time, and its “S-factors”—sights, sounds, shopping and sumptuous food!

A familiarization trip to Singapore, organized by the Singapore Air Lines, Silk Air, the Singapore Tourism Board, Resorts World Sentosa and Tradewinds Tours and Travel, allowed us to marvel at the Lion City’s S-factors and why Singapore has charmed its way to the hearts of many Filipino tourists:

SIGHTS

Universal Studios Singapore, the first and only Universal Studios' theme park in the region, is fully operational. It is packed with attractions, specially designed for Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa, so that visitors will be the first to experience many new rides and shows based on blockbuster hits. Universal Studios Singapore boasts of a collection of world-class attractions including the Far, Far Away Castle from the world of Shrek which is a 4-D adventure. From your seat, you could see, hear and feel the action as you join Princess Fiona and Shrek in their fairytale adventure; Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, which would thrust you into the Costa Rican rainforest  ruled by dinosaurs. The thrilling (and wet) river raft ride navigates through primeval dinosaur habitat; Revenge of the Mummy where you are plunged in total darkness while riding a high-speed roller coaster as you face head-on with warrior mummies in a psychological thrill ride. And, there’s Waterworld, a live water show which feature death-defying stunts, awesome explosions and thrills.

Not to be missed is Steven Spielberg’s “Lights, Camera, Action” which features a freakingly scary scenario of Category D tornado hitting New York City where you feel like you’re right in the heart of the heart-stopping catastrophe.

Plus, there’s the Lake of Dreams which combines the dramatic effects of water, fire and laser technology and the Crane Dance, which showcases the largest pair of animatronic cranes complete with multimedia spectacle of lights, sound, water jets and pyrotechnic effects.

SOUNDS

The musical extravaganza, Voyage de La Vie, is a theatrical circus spectacular which tells of the journey of a young boy and his encounters with love, imagination, conflict, life and death. Created by world-renowned creative producer Mark Fisher, Voyage de la Vie presents an international cast of circus stars from 16 countries (including a Filipino understudy for the lead role!).

Every so often, international musical celebrities are invited for concerts and shows in Singapore. Before we left, it was Elvis Costello’s turn for a one-night only show. And upcoming was the roadshow of the wildly popular, Lion King show.

SHOPPING

It is hard to ignore the shopping bug when in Singapore.

The Orchard Road is the favorite shopping destination of budget travelers and shoppers because of good buys at friendly prices. New and exciting shopping malls are also mushrooming in Singapore, a testament to the high influx of tourists. There’s also Mustafa, a 24/7 mall, which sells practically anything under the sun, at budget-friendly prices.

For high end shoppers, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, features the latest merchandise from international luxury brands, unique specialty stores, breathtaking art pieces and more. Duty-free shopping and on-the-spot Goods & Services Tax (GST) rebates also make shopping in Singapore so much fun.

SUMPTUOUS FOOD

Apart from the natural beauty of a tourist destination, a major factor why they are popular with visitors is because of their gastronomic delights. Singapore, definitely, scores high in this department.

Singapore offers fine dining experiences, theme dining, quick indulgences, contemporary dining, the bet of Asian street gourmet and exciting bars and clubs.

At Resorts World Sentosa alone, there are 30 different cuisines at more than 60 dining outlets. From mouth-watering Asian street gourmet to delectable gastronomic delights by Michelin-starred chefs, any visitor’s food indulgence will be superbly gratified.

Explore Singapore via SINGAPORE AIRLINES and SILK AIR. For great fares online, visit: www.singaporeair.com and www.silkair.com. To know more about Singapore, where to stay and what to do, check out the SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD - www.yoursingapore.com and RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA -www.rwsentosa.com