Difference between revisions of "Sentosa"

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{{Contains Chinese text}}
'''Sentosa''', which translates to ''peace and tranquility'' in Malay (derived from ''Santosha'' in Sanskrit), is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two star hotels, and the [[Resorts World Sentosa]], featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.
{{Infobox amusement park
| name            = Sentosa
| image          = [[Image:Sentosa`s logo.PNG|200px]]
| caption        = Sentosa's Logo
| resort          =
| location        = Sentosa Island
| location2      =
| location3      =
| coordinates    =
| theme          = Fantasy, Adventure etc
| homepage        =
| owner          =
| general_manager =
| operator        =
| opening_date    = 1974
| closing_date    =
| previous_names  =
| season          =
| visitors        =
| area            =
| rides          =
| coasters        =
| water_rides    =
| slogan          = Asia's Favourite Playground/Singapore`s Island Resort
| footnotes      =
}}
{{SG neighbourhood
| imagemap=Sentosa locator map.png
| englishname=Sentosa
| chinesename=圣淘沙
| pinyin=shèngtáoshā
| malayname=Sentosa
| tamilname=செந்தோசா
}}
[[Image:Sentosa logo.png|thumb|The former logo of Sentosa.]]
[[Image:Kiki the Hyperactive Monkey of Sentosa.PNG|thumb|[[Kiki the Hyperactive Monkey of Sentosa|Kiki]] is Sentosa`s former mascot.]]
[[Image:Merlion sentosa island.jpg|thumb|The [[Merlion]] statue on Sentosa.]]
[[Image:Imbiah lookout view.jpg|thumb|View from Imbiah Lookout to [[Pulau Ujong|Mainland Singapore]].]]
'''Sentosa''', which translates to ''peace and tranquility'' in [[Malay language|Malay]] (derived from ''[[Santosha]]'' in [[Sanskrit]]), is a popular [[island]] [[resort]] in [[Singapore]], visited by some five million people a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.mti.gov.sg/default.asp?id=148&articleID=6121|title=Mr Lim Hng Kiang at the Grand Opening of ONE°15 Marina Club|accessdate=2008-08-27|author=Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry|authorlink=Lim Hng Kiang|date=2007-09-29|work=News and Events > Speeches|publisher=Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore|quote=As Sentosa enters the next chapter of its long-term strategic masterplan to rejuvenate itself, it is poised to become the premier resort destination in Asia. Last year, the island resort welcomed a record 5.7 million visitors, a 10% increase from 2005.
}}</ref> Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, [[Fort Siloso]], two [[golf]] courses and two [[star (classification)|five-star]] [[hotel]]s, and the [[Resorts World Sentosa]], featuring the theme park [[Universal Studios Singapore]].


==Etymology==
Sentosa was once known as '''''Pulau Blakang Mati''''' which in Malay means the "Island (''pulau'') of Death (''mati'') from behind (''blakang'')".
<ref name="Savage">Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), ''Toponymics&nbsp;— A Study of Singapore Street Names'', Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1</ref>
Sentosa was once known as '''''Pulau Blakang Mati''''' ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 绝后岛) ,<ref name = "Sentosa Sentosa Then, Sentosa Today">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.sentosa.com.sg/about_us/sentosa_island/index.html
| title = Sentosa Then, Sentosa Today
| accessdate = 2008-01-01
| year = 2007
| work = About Us > Sentosa Island
| publisher = Sentosa Leisure Group
| quote = Looking at Sentosa today, it's hard to imagine the island was once a fishing village known as Pulau Blakang Mati; The public was invited to suggest names for the island and "Sentosa"&nbsp;– meaning peace & tranquillity in Malay&nbsp;— was eventually chosen for the island resort. Tasked with overseeing the development, management and promotion of the island, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) was incorporated on 1 September 1972 as a statutory board under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and Industry; Since the island's inception in 1972, S$420 million in private investments and another $500 million from Government funding have gone into developing the island.
}}</ref>
which in [[Malay language|Malay]] means the "Island (''pulau'') of Death (''mati'') from Behind (''blakang'')".
 
The name ''Blakang Mati'' is rather old but may not have been founded in the nineteenth century as generally believed. In fact, there exists an island that was identified as ''Blacan Mati'' in Manuel Gomes de Erédia's 1604 map of Singapore. Other early references to the island of Blakang Mati include ''Burne Beard Island'' in Wilde's 1780 MS map, ''Pulau Niry'', ''Nirifa'' from 1690 to 1700, and the nineteenth century reference as ''Pulau Panjang'' (J.H. Moor). However, early maps did not separate Blakang Mati from the adjacent island of [[Pulau Brani]], so it is uncertain to which island the sixteenth century place names referred.
 
The island has gone through several name changes. Up to 1830, it was called Pulau Panjang ("long island"). In an 1828 sketch of Singapore Island, the island is referred to as ''Po. Panjang''. According to Bennett (1834), the name Blakang Mati was only given to the [[hill]] on the island by the [[Malay people|Malay]] villagers on the island. The Malay name for this island is literally translated as "dead back" or "behind the dead"; ''blakang'' means "at the back" or "behind"; ''mati'' means "dead". It is also called the dead island or the island of the dead.
 
Different versions of how the island came to acquire such an unpropitious name abound. One account attributed the ominous name to [[murder]] and [[piracy]] in the island's past. A second claimed that the island is the material paradise of [[warrior]] [[ghost|spirits]] buried at Pulau Brani.
 
A third account claims that an outbreak of [[disease]] on the island in the late 1840s almost wiped out the original [[Bugis]] settlers on the island. Dr Robert Little, a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[coroner]] investigating the deaths, stumbled upon what was called Blakang Mati Fever, purportedly a type of [[fever]] caused by [[Miasma theory|miasma]]stic fumes arising from decaying leaves and [[swamp]]y water on the island. This event led to a controversy in medical circles at that time as to the causes of what was later recognised in 1898 as [[malaria]] spread by the ''[[Anopheles]]'' [[mosquito]]. The government's malaria research station was originally located here.
 
A fourth interpretation is that "dead back island" was so-called because of the lack of fertile [[soil]] on the hills. However, since the island creates an area of dead water behind it with no wind (hence "still behind" - still or stopped being an alternative translation of mati) it may be as simple as this&nbsp;— less romantic perhaps, but believable from a nautical viewpoint.
 
In 1827, Captain Edward Lake of the [[Bengal]] [[Engineer]]s in his report on [[public works]] and [[fortification]]s had proposed an alternative name for Blakang Mati as the "Island of St George". However, the island was seen as too unhealthy for habitation and his proposed name was never realised.
 
In a 1972 contest organised by the [[Singapore Tourist Promotion Board]], the island was renamed ''Sentosa'', a Malay word meaning "[[peace]] and [[tranquillity]]", from [[Sanskrit]], ''[[Santosha]]''.
 
Through the 1980s and 1990s, a number of pay-to-get-in tourist designations were built on the island, most of which the local people found uninteresting. Consequently, there was a joke that the name Sentosa stood for "So Expensive and Nothing to See Also".<ref>{{citation|url=http://asia.businesstraveller.com/asia-pacific/archive/2010/april-2010/destinations/singapore-on-a-roll|periodical=Business Traveller Asia-Pacific|title=Singapore On A Roll|date=2010-03-31|accessdate=2010-09-05}}</ref>
 
==History==
<ref name="Savage"/><sup>, </sup><ref name="NHB">National Heritage Board (2002), ''Singapore's 100 Historic Places'', Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3</ref>
===Pre-1945===
In the nineteenth century, the island was considered important because it protected the passage into [[Keppel Harbour]]. Plans to fortify the island as part of the defence plan for Singapore were drawn up as early as 1827, but few fortifications actually materialised until the 1880s, when the rapid growth of the [[harbour]] led to concern over the protection of [[coal]] stocks against enemy attack. The [[fort]]s built on the island were [[Fort Siloso]], Fort Serapong, Fort Connaught and the Mount Imbiah Battery.
 
The western end of Pulau Blakang Mati, the place where Fort Siloso is now, used to be called ''sarang rimau'' (the [[tiger]]'s den). ''Salusuh'' is a kind of [[herb]] used as a remedy in [[childbirth]], but there is no explanation of how the fort came to be so-called, the ''orang laut'' of Kampong Kopit only knowing the place by the name of ''sarang rimau''. By the 1930s, the island was heavily fortified and a crucial component of [[Fortress Singapore]], and the base of the [[Royal Artillery]].
 
During the [[Second World War]], the island was a [[United Kingdom|British]] military fortress. The British set up [[artillery]] guns in Fort Siloso that were then pointed to the south, facing the sea in expectation of a seaward [[Japan]]ese assault. However, the Japanese eventually invaded and captured Singapore from the north, after having done the same to [[British Malaya|Malaya]] (now known as West or [[Peninsular Malaysia]]). Following the surrender of the Allied Forces on February 15, 1942, the island became a [[prisoner of war]] camp, housing [[Australian]] and British prisoners of the Japanese.
 
During the [[Japanese Occupation of Singapore|Japanese Occupation]], under the [[Sook Ching Operation]], [[China|Chinese]] men who were suspected, often arbitrarily, of being involved in anti-Japanese activities were brutally killed. The beach at Pulau Blakang Mati was one of the killing fields.
 
===1945-1972===
After the [[End of World War II in the Pacific|Japanese surrender]] in 1945 and the return of Singapore to British rule, the island became the base of the locally enlisted First Singapore Regiment of the Royal Artillery (1st SRRA) in 1947. Other locally enlisted men from Singapore were sent to the island for [[Recruit training|basic military training]] before being sent to other units of the [[British Army]] in Singapore.
 
Ten years later, the 1st SRRA was disbanded and its guns dismantled. The coast [[artillery]] was replaced with [[Gurkha]] [[infantry]] units, first the 2/7th [[Duke of Edinburgh]]'s own Gurkha Rifles and later the 2/10th [[Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood|Princess Mary]]'s own Gurkha Rifles. Fort Siloso and Fort Serapong became a [[Catholic]] [[retreat (spiritual)|retreat]] and a [[Protestant]] [[church (building)|church]] house respectively. Fort Connaught was left in ruins.
 
In the early 1960s, during the [[Indonesian Confrontation]], the 2/10th unit defended the island against [[Indonesia]]n saboteurs. With the end of the Confrontation in 1966 and the withdrawal of the Gurkha units from the island, the British handed over Sentosa to the [[Singapore Armed Forces]] of the newly independent [[Government of Singapore]] in 1967.
 
In 1967, Pulau Blakang Mati became the [[military base|base]] for the [[Singapore Naval Volunteer Force]], which relocated there from its old base at [[Telok Ayer]] Basin. The [[School of Maritime Training]] was also set up there, as was the first Naval Medical Centre.
 
In the 1970s, the government decided to develop the island into a [[holiday resort]] for local visitors and [[tourist]]s.
 
===1972-Present===
The island was renamed "Sentosa" in 1972, which means ''peace and tranquillity'' in [[Malay language|Malay]] (from [[Sanskrit]], ''[[Santosha]]''), from a suggestion by the public.<ref name = "Sentosa Sentosa Then, Sentosa Today"/> The [[Sentosa Development Corporation]] was formed and incorporated on 1 September 1972 to oversee the development of the island.<ref name = "Sentosa Sentosa Then, Sentosa Today"/> Since then, some [[S$]]420 million of private capital and another S$500 million of government funds have been invested to develop the island.<ref name = "Sentosa Sentosa Then, Sentosa Today"/>
 
In 1974 the [[Singapore Cable Car]] system was built, linking Sentosa to [[Mount Faber]].<ref name = "Milestones">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.sentosa.com.sg/about_us/sentosa_island/milestones.html
| title = Milestones
| accessdate = 2008-01-01
| year = 2007
| work = About Us > Sentosa Island
| publisher = Sentosa Leisure Group
| quote = 1974: The cable car transport system, linking Sentosa to Mount Faber, was inaugurated; 1992: A 710-metre long Causeway-Bridge, linking Sentosa to the mainland, was opened for traffic; 1982: Sentosa's monorail system transported its first passengers; 2005: Singapore Open, one of Singapore 's most celebrated sporting events, will be held at Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong Course from 8–11 September with a massive US$2m prize purse, making it the richest national Open in Asia. Monorail ceases operation in March; 2007: The $140m light-rail Sentosa Express system opens, enhancing access to the island within four minutes and connecting to Singapore's public train network.
}}</ref> A series of attractions were subsequently opened for visitors including [[Fort Siloso]], [[Surrender Chamber]] wax museum, [[Sentosa Musical Fountain|Musical Fountain]], and the [[Underwater World, Singapore|Underwater World]]. The causeway bridge was opened in 1992 connecting Sentosa to the [[Pulau Ujong|mainland]].<ref name = "Milestones"/>
 
The [[Sentosa Monorail]] system was opened in 1982 to transport visitors to various stations located around the island.<ref name = "Milestones"/> On 16 March 2005, the monorail service was discontinued to make way for the new [[Sentosa Express]], which commenced operations on 15 January 2007.<ref name = "Milestones"/> An environmental assessment conducted by the government of Singapore concluded that the construction of the resorts on Sentosa would to result in high likelihood of high scale biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, soil erosion and climate change, as well as several other destructive ecological impacts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slideshare.net/micamonkey/environmental-impact-assessment-of-sentosa-integrated-resort |title=Environmental Impact Assessment of Sentosa Integrated Resort |publisher=Slideshare.net |date= |accessdate=2010-01-18}}</ref>
 
In 2009, construction of a new [[foot bridge]] began. The S$70 million Sentosa Boardwalk includes themed [[gardens]], [[retail|shops]] and [[eateries]]. There are covered [[walkways]] and travellators along the boardwalk for rainy days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107758/1/.html |title=Sentosa Boardwalk |publisher=channelnewsasia |date=2011-01-29 |accessdate=2011-02-01}}</ref> The boardwalk, officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on 29 January 2011, will provide visitors an alternative mode of travel to reach the [[island]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_629847.html |title=Sentosa Boardwalk2 |publisher=straits times |date=2011-01-29 |accessdate=2011-02-01}}</ref> In 2010 They built Universal Studios Singapore and Resorts World Sentosa which is now a place for both locals and tourists to enjoy themselves.
 
== Geography ==
 
{{wide image|Sentosa view from VivoCity 31 July 2010.JPG|800px|Sentosa as viewed from VivoCity.}}
 
The island has an area of 5 square kilometres. It lies just half a kilometre (a quarter of a mile) away from the southern coast of the [[main island of Singapore]]. It is Singapore's fourth largest island (excluding the [[Pulau Ujong|main island]]). 70% of the island is covered by secondary rainforest, the habitat of [[monitor lizard]]s, [[monkey]]s, [[peacock]]s, [[parrot]]s as well as other native fauna and flora. The island also has 3.2 kilometre stretch of white sand beach. Significantly large portions of land are currently being added to Sentosa due to [[land reclamation]].
 
==Transport==
[[Image:Volvo B7RLE PA5279K.jpg|thumb|A [[Volvo B7RLE]] on the [[Blue]] Line. Buses currently serve as the main means of getting to and around Sentosa.It is fitted with Twin Vision EDS.]]
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Sentosa Volvo B7RLE Bus.jpg|thumb]] -->
[[Image:Beach station at Sentosa island, Singapore.JPG|thumb|Beach station of Sentosa Express monorail at Sentosa island.]]
 
Sentosa can be reached from the [[Singapore mainland]] via a short [[causeway]] or [[Singapore Cable Car|Cable Car]], which originates from [[Mount Faber]] and passes through [[HarbourFront]] en route to its final destination.
 
The island is also accessible by the SGD$140 million [[Sentosa Express]] monorail, which replaced the [[Sentosa Monorail]] in 2006. It has three stations on Sentosa and one on mainland Singapore. Opened on 15 January 2007, the northern terminus of the line is at the [[VivoCity]] shopping mall on the mainland and the southern one is Beach Station on Sentosa Island. In Vivocity, the mainland [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|MRT]] is in turn served by the [[HarbourFront MRT Station]] of the [[North East MRT Line|North East Line]] and the [[Circle MRT Line|Circle Line]]. The journey takes four minutes.
 
Within Sentosa there are three [[bus]] services, identified as Blue, Yellow and Red lines, and a tram service called the Beach Train. Since 1998, passenger cars have been allowed to enter the island.
 
Visitors can also enter the island via walking over the S$70 million Sentosa Boardwalk which is parallel to the causeway which opened on 29 January 2011. The first two days of its opening were marked with free entry into Sentosa for visitors who walk, and subsequently a S$1 admission fee into Sentosa is charged.
 
==Attractions==
{{main|Imbiah Lookout}}
Sentosa offers a variety of attractions, museums and other facilities to provide a variety of experiences, recreation and entertainment to visitors.
 
===Tiger Sky Tower===
{{main|Tiger Sky Tower}}
The [[Tiger Sky Tower]] (previously known as the Carlsberg Sky Tower) is free-standing observation tower on Sentosa. At a height of 110 metres above ground and 131 metres above sea level, it offers visitors a panoramic view of Sentosa, Singapore, and the Southern Islands. On a clear day, the view extends to parts of [[Malaysia]] and [[Indonesia]]. At ground level, visitors enter a large disc-shaped airconditioned cabin fitted with glass windows all round. The cabin then revolves slowly as it ascends the column of the tower. The cabin has a capacity of 72 visitors.
 
The Sky Tower used to sit at the very spot of what was formerly known as the ''[[Dragon]] Court''.It has a dragon statue in the centerpiece with water spouting out from its mouth.In one of its claws ,it holds a previous logo of Sentosa which was used in the 1970s. Its tail ends at the dragon trail at the northern part of [[Imbiah Lookout]].It was demolished a few months before the groundbreaking ceremony of the sky tower.It  was opened on 7 February 2004, is situated in the [[Imbiah Lookout]] zone in the centre of Sentosa and can be reached by [[Singapore Cable Car|Cable Car]], [[Sentosa Luge|Sentosa Luge Chair Lift]], by [[Sentosa Express]] or by bus.
 
===Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom===
The Butterfly Park is a landscape garden with over 15,000 live butterflies, representing more than fifty [[species]]. Housed in a cool outdoor conservatory, these butterflies range from the 25 millimetre (1&nbsp;in) ''Eurema sari'' to the 150&nbsp;mm (6&nbsp;in) ''[[Papilio|Papilio iswara]]''.
 
The Insect Kingdom houses some 3,000 species of rare insects from around the world, including a 160&nbsp;mm ''[[Hercules beetle|Dynastes Hercules]]'' beetle.
 
===Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon===
{{main|Underwater World, Singapore}}
[[Underwater World, Singapore|Underwater World]] is an [[oceanarium]] located on the western part of Sentosa. Opened in 1991, the living museum has more than 2,500 [[marine (ocean)|marine]] and fresh-water animals of 250 species from different regions of the world. The oceanarium is underground and has an 83 metre long travelator that moves visitors along a submerged glass-windowed tunnel from which they can look at an array of marine life including a [[coral reef]], [[Batoidea|stringrays]], [[moray eel]]s, [[turtle]]s, [[shark]]s, and other fishes. In the 'Dive-with-the-Sharks' program visitors can scuba dive in the large oceanarium, even if they are not scuba qualified. Qualified scuba divers can also 'Dive-with-the-Dugong".
 
The Underwater World also includes a [[Dolphin Lagoon]] which is home to some Indo-Pacific [[humpback dolphin]]s, also known as the pink dolphins. Several "Meet-the-Dolphins" sessions are held daily to allow visitors to enter the waist-deep pool and interact with the dolphins at close proximity. A more involved "Swim-with-the-Dolphins' program, where visitors can interact extensively with the dolphins, is also available.<ref>[http://www.underwaterworld.com.sg/ Underwater World]</ref>
 
===Songs of the Sea===
{{main|Songs of the Sea}}
Designed by Yves Pepin, the Songs of the Sea show, started on 26 March 2007, replacing the 25 year-old Magical Sentosa show. The Malay [[Kampung]] by the Sea or more commonly known as a ''[[Kelong]]'', is 120 meteres long while the rest of the equipment (water jets, water screens, lasers and projectors) is hidden at the back of the kelong. It features pyrotechnics displays, water jets, laser show and flame bursts a live cast and an open-air viewing gallery which can comfortably accommodate 2,500 visitors. The show runs twice nightly.
 
===Sentosa 4D Magix===
The Sentosa 4D Magix is [[Singapore]]'s first and [[Southeast Asia|Southeast Asia's]] original 4-dimensional theatre.
Opened in January 2006 at the cost of S$3.5 million, the theatre is equipped with digital projection and a DTS 6.1 sound system.
Guests are seated on a motion based chair in a typical movie theatre watching a 3D show with visual effects popping out of the screen coupled with environmental effects providing a life-like feel. The current show is the 'Pirates!' in 4D comedy, as offered in other theme parks around the world.
 
===Sentosa CineBlast===
Opened in June 2007, Cineblast, which replaced Cinemania, is Singapore's only cinema ride. It features high definition wide-screen projection and a 6 axis motion system, and takes visitors on a log ride.<ref>[http://www.cineblast.com.sg/ Cineblast official website]</ref>
 
===Fort Siloso===
{{main|Fort Siloso}}
[[Image:Sentosa-Fort Siloso.jpg|thumb|The refurbished Fort Siloso today.]]
In the west of the island stand the guns of preserved [[Fort Siloso]] which guarded the western approaches to Singapore during [[World War II]]. Fort Siloso was built by the British in 1880s to guard the narrow western entrance to [[Keppel Harbour]]. It was later modernised and by 1939 was armed with two {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on}} Mark2 guns and two rapid firing 12-pounder guns. Fort Siloso is now the only surviving coastal gun battery from the twelve such batteries that made up [[Fortress Singapore]] at the start of the war.<ref>{{cite web |title=The "Main Fleet to Singapore" Strategy |work=National Archives of Singapore |url= http://www.s1942.org.sg/bukit_chandu/directory_defence2.htm |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060910142617/http://www.s1942.org.sg/bukit_chandu/directory_defence2.htm |archivedate=2006-09-10 |accessdate=20 January 2006}}</ref>
 
The [[ammunition]] [[bunker]]s, barracks, tunnels, and gun emplacements of the fort are now open to visitors, as a military-themed attraction. Also on display is a collection of artillery guns dating from the 17th century to World War II. Life-sized replicas of British soldiers and other people were on display to depict lives at the fort in the past. There is also an exhibition with a large collection of photographs, documents and film clips.
 
The fort served as the place of [[internment]] of the Singaporean [[political prisoner]] [[Chia Thye Poh]] in the period from 1989 to 1993.
 
===MegaZip Adventure Park===
Located at the top of Mount Imbiah, MegaZip Adventure Park is Singapore's first adventure park with one of the longest and steepest zip wires in [[Asia]], a 12m high ropes course, a free-fall [[parachute]] simulator and a challenging [[climbing wall]].
 
===Azzura Beach Club===
The Azzura Beach Club is a 2-level entertainment, dining and hydro sports facility. Some of the *Wave House Sentosa: Located at Siloso Beach, the {{convert|70000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Wave House consists of the Double FlowRider and the {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=on}} FlowBarrel, Singapore's first artificial barreling wave.
 
===Sentosa Luge & Skyride===
{{main|Sentosa Luge}}
The [[Sentosa Luge|Sentosa Luge & Skyride]] has a self-steering, gravity-driven three-wheel cart. Originally from New Zealand, the non-motorised cart allows rider to speed down a hill over a course of 650 m ending at the Siloso Beach. At the end of the luge, there is the Skyride that can allow rider to see from a high view. It also can be boarded at the start of the Luge.
 
==Defunct attractions==
Part of Imbiah Lookout closed down on 27 March 2007 to make way for [[Resorts World Sentosa]]. Note that some of the attractions listed here may have closed down earlier.
===Sijori Wondergolf===
Sijori Wondergolf was a miniature [[golf]] park. There were 54 landscaped greens set in three different 18-hole courses. It eventually went under redevelopment and will re-open in the following years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/sijori_wondergolf.html |title=Welcome to Sentosa |publisher=Sentosa.com.sg |date= |accessdate=2010-01-18}}</ref>
 
===Fantasy Island===
Fantasy Island was a water based [[theme park]] in Sentosa. Opened in 1994 at a cost of S$54 million, it had numerous water slides and other features. Once a very popular park, it was plagued by several accidents, including two fatalities, and was eventually closed on 2 November 2002.
 
===Sentosa Monorail===
{{main|Sentosa Monorail}}
The Sentosa Monorail circled Sentosa until it closed in 2005. Most of the island monorail was dismantled though parts of the original track structure still remain. The monorail was replaced by the red, blue and yellow bus lines. The [[Sentosa Express]] from the main island of Singapore to Sentosa still remains in service.
 
===Volcanoland===
Volcanoland featured an artificial [[volcano]] along with [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] motifs and scenery. It was closed down to make way for the [[Resorts World Sentosa|new integrated resort]] that will feature a similar attraction.
 
===Musical Fountain===
{{main|Sentosa Musical Fountain|Magical Sentosa}}
The Musical Fountain opened in 1982 and was the star attraction at that time. It underwent three extensive renovations in 1972 (construction), 1992 (upgrading project) and 1999 (major restoration and upgrading project). In 2002, world-renowned fountain designer, [[Yves Pépin]] (who also designed ''[[Songs of the Sea]]'') replaced all the musical fountain shows with the [[Magical Sentosa]] Show for a permanent basis but it did not last long. After operating for 25 years, it was shut down to make way for the [[Resorts World Sentosa|integrated resort]]. Its last show was staged on 25 March 2007. It was replaced by the ''[[Songs of the Sea]]'' show.
 
==Beaches==
 
Sentosa has a stretch of sheltered beach of more than two kilometres in length on its southern coast, divided into three portions: Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, and Tanjong Beach. These beaches are artificial, reclaimed using sand bought from Indonesia and Malaysia. They are manned by the best beach patrol lifeguard team in Singapore. The lifeguards wear red and yellow uniforms and patrols the beaches of Sentosa.
 
===Palawan Beach===
Palawan Beach lies in the centre of the southern coast of Sentosa. There is a suspension bridge that leads to a small islet off the coast which is said to be the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, or Asia's closest point to the [[Equator]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Palawan Beach |work=Sentosa |url=http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/beaches/palawan_beach.html |accessdate=January 30, 2006}}</ref> However, inspection of any map, even those on Sentosa, show that this cannot be the case.
 
There are several bars along the beach offering food and beverage to visitors as well as [[Beach Monorail Station|Beach Station]] of [[Sentosa Express]].
 
===Siloso Beach===
[[Image:Sentosa siloso beach.jpg|thumb|Siloso [[beach]] in Sentosa, with the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa resort overlooking the [[bay]].]]
Siloso Beach lies on the west portion of the southern coast and it is known as the place for beach volleyball and other outdoor activities such as canoeing, skim boarding, mountain biking or rollerblading. There are also dining and shopping outlets along the beach. The [[Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts|Rasa Sentosa Resort]] is located at the western end of Siloso Beach.
 
===Tanjong Beach===
[[Image:Sentosa TanjongBeach 20110213.jpg|thumb|View on Tanjong Beach.]]
Tanjong Beach is a relatively more secluded part of the southern coast. The crescent-shaped beach is sometimes used for special events or parties. The beach bar 'KM8' is located at the beach. KM8 had it`s last party and closed down on 28 March 2009.
 
==Other facilities==
===Hotels===
 
There are six hotels and resorts in Sentosa (excluding [[Resorts World Sentosa]] accommodations):
* Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa has five-star hotel facilities, and 121 rooms to offer.
* Capella Singapore is a luxury resort with 111 [[manor house|manor]]s, suites and guestrooms designed by Lord Norman Foster. It is developed by [[Pontiac Land]]. It was officially opened on March 2009.
* Costa Sands Resort operates a number of [[chalet]]s and 15 [[kampung]]-like huts. It is located on a hill overlooking Siloso Beach.
* [[Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts|Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore]] is a beachfront five-star hotel located at the western tip of Siloso beach, with 459 rooms and [[suite (hotel)|suites]].
* Siloso Beach Resort opened in July 2006. It has 172 rooms, 10 family suites, 1 treehouse and 12 Villas overlooking the sea. In line with ecologically friendly carbon credit practices, over 600 of the original trees that are native to Sentosa island were preserved. 1000 more fruit trees, flowering plants, exotic ferns, and herbs were planted. With the deliberate architecture of the Resort to circumnavigate and protect these trees.
* The Sentosa Resort & Spa is a five-star hotel with 214 rooms and suites.
* W Sentosa Cove Singapore is a 240-room five-star trendy boutique hotel renowned for its Whatever/Whenever service, connected to an adjacent 228-luxurious Residences at W Singapore located at the Quayside Isle collection - opening 30 April 2012.
 
In addition, there are six hotels in Resorts World Sentosa, namely:
*Crockfords Tower
*Hotel Michael
*[[Hard Rock Hotel|Hard Rock Hotel Singapore]]
*Festive Hotel
*Equarius Hotel
*Spa Villas
 
===Spa===
* [[Fish Spa|Fish Reflexology]] is a unique foot massage where Turkish spa fish or African spa fish nibble on the dead skin of one's feet, making the skin smooth. This is followed by a Reflexology session. This is available in the [[Underwater World, Singapore|Underwater World]].
* [[Health Club and Spa]] consists of three deluxe suites, one of which has a private [[whirlpool]] and steam facility, seven single treatment rooms with attached showers and a Thai Pavilion, which is a private, open air garden unit perched over a fish pond and water fall.
* [[Spa Botanica]] is set in the Sentosa Resort & Spa. It has facilities including mud pools and [[Turkish bath|Turkish-styled steam baths]].
 
==Events==
===Barclays Singapore Open===
The [[Singapore Open (golf)|Barclays Singapore Open]] golf event is held yearly at the [[Sentosa Golf Club]]'s Serapong Course. It is co-sanctioned by the [[Asian Tour]], and the [[European Tour]].
 
===Sentosa Balloon Hats Festival===
The Sentosa Balloon Hats Festival began in 2004. It is a gathering of local secondary school bands who would do display marches along the beach from Tanjong Beach to Palawan Beach before a mass display event. The participants would wear balloon hats made by themselves and each school comes up with their unique design. At the end of the event, all the students would pop their balloons followed by a release of a large number of balloons into the air. The event began as part of an attempt to create the world record for the gathering of the largest number of balloon hats. But since then, it had developed into a full scale annual event with performances around the whole island before the marching event began.
 
===Beach parties===
The Siloso Beach in Sentosa is host to the annual ''ZoukOut'' beach dance party organised by [[Zouk (club)|Zouk]] nightclub. On 10 December 2005, some 18,000 people attended the event.<ref>{{cite news| url =http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/183122/1/.html | title = ZoukOut draws record 18,000 party-goers from Singapore and region | publisher=Channel NewsAsia | date= 11 December 2005}}</ref>
 
A new year eve party, ''Siloso NYE Splash'' is also held annually at the Siloso Beach. On 31 December 2005, the party attracted some 15,000 people.
 
===Sentosa Flowers===
Beginning in February 2005, the Sentosa Flowers event is held at the Fountain Gardens, exhibiting a variety of flora and herbs. The festival, which coincides with the [[Chinese New Year]] or the "Spring Festival" celebration in Singapore, hosts other activities including a mural painting competition, photograph competitions and a festival market for gardening enthusiasts.
 
===SWATCH-FIVB Beach Volleyball===
The SWATCH-FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 2007 was held during 24–27 May at the Siloso Beach. This is the first ever Women's world tour event and was the biggest ever beach lifestyle event hosted on the island. This is also the first time Olympic qualification as well as Olympic level athletes compete on Singapore soil for Beach Volleyball.
 
==Current developments==
Plans by the government for Sentosa aims to establish it as one of the world's most luxurious holiday locations, with a [[Singapore dollar|SGD]]$10 billion masterplan for the future involving the construction of private housing at the [[Sentosa Cove]], the aforementioned partial redevelopment of Siloso Beach, and Asia's first [[tourism]] academy. These large scale island redevelopment projects are expected to complete in 2012.
 
===Resorts World Sentosa===
{{main|Resorts World Sentosa}}
The largest impact is expected to be from a family-oriented [[Integrated Resort]], with a [[casino]] at its core. This Integrated Resort is already fully completed. A resort developer and operator was chosen on December 8, 2006. The winning proposal was the [[Genting]]/[[Star Cruises]] consortium in their bid for [[Resorts World Sentosa]]. It has a [[Universal Studios Theme Park]], known as [[Universal Studios Singapore]] which occupies nearly half of the resort space. Development of the resort is financed privately at a cost of $GD5.75 billion and does not receive any government subsidies. The proposal for a casino has met with extensive opposition from many [[conservatism|conservative]] critics. Nevertheless, the government has constantly reassured that there would be stringent measures in place, to maintain the social fabric of the nation Singapore, and to prevent problems such as [[Problem gambling|gambling addiction]].
 
[[Image:Sentosa, Montage, Aug 06.JPG|thumb|center|600px|A collage of Sentosa.]]
 
On the 14th February 2010 at 12.18pm sharp, which was also the first day of the Chinese New Year, Resorts World Sentosa was opened for the public. In Cantonese, 1218 sounded like "prosperity".<ref>[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1037471/1/.html Channelnewsasia.com]</ref>  The casino complex  also includes a Universal Studios Movie Theme Park, which opened its door for sneak peek of videos for the first one week of operations from the 14–21 February, followed by full operations on the 22nd.<ref>[http://www.rwsentosa.com/LinkClick.aspx?link=RWS%2Fpressroom%2F2010%2FRWS+press+release+-+casino+opening.pdf&tabid=57&mid=1023&language=en-US Rwsentosa.com]</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Resorts World Sentosa]]
* [[Resorts World Sentosa]]
* [[Southern Islands]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{official|http://www.sentosa.com.sg/}}
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentosa Wikipedia Article]
* {{Wikitravel|Singapore/Sentosa}}
 
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Sentosa.ogg|2005-02-18}}
{{commons}}
 
{{Sentosa}}
{{Major Tourist Attractions in Singapore}}
{{Islands of Singapore}}
 
{{Coord|1.248|N|103.830|E|display=title|source:nlwiki}}
 
[[Category:Sentosa| ]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Singapore]]
[[Category:Southern Islands]]
[[Category:Military history of Singapore]]
[[Category:Japanese prisoner of war and internment camps]]
[[Category:1972 establishments]]


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Latest revision as of 21:14, 18 October 2018

Sentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay (derived from Santosha in Sanskrit), is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two star hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.

Sentosa was once known as Pulau Blakang Mati which in Malay means the "Island (pulau) of Death (mati) from behind (blakang)".

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

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