Yearly Archives: 2009
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” – Arthur C. Clarke
[Written by Jimmy S from Projects]
It was said that good things come in small packages. And some say that they come in pairs. That’s definitely true for USS Sci-Fi City. Arguably one of the smaller zones in USS, Sci-Fi City currently boasts of two attractions – the Battlestar Galactica (BSG) and the Accelerator – due to be opened early 2010 (with another one planned to debut the year after). Not only that, the BSG are duelling coasters and currently the tallest pair in the world.
As a brand new attraction based around the TV series of the same name, the BSG dueling coasters claims many titles. It is the world’s tallest pair of dueling coasters. With both a red conventional coaster signifying the Humans and a blue suspended coaster signifying the Cylons, they will be a pair of the most thrilling rides in USS. With all the twists and turns of the tracks, my legs get all jelly-like just by looking at it. Well it will definitely be in my USS to-do list, that’s for sure! And please, you do not want to puke into the lagoon.
Night view of the BSG from across the USS lagoon
Now something less intimidating but possibly no less exciting is the Accelerator. Now with all the hype surrounding the BSG (after all, it is hard to ignore), we should not forget about the less well known little brother of the Sci-Fi City. Now, what is this Accelerator? As its name implies, it will accelerate you. But the fact is you’ll be accelerated to crazy, dizzying spins. Again, caution to those who cannot handle these, please do not consume food and drinks before hopping onto either this or the BSG.
The Accelerator – looking nice and spiffy – just inviting you to hop on.
For all you collectible junkies out there, don’t forget to visit the Galactica PX where you will get all forms of merchandise from the Battlestar Galactica universe as well as other science-fiction related accessories. Now as part of the conspiracy, there are NO F&B outlets in Sci-Fi zone, since I doubt the Operations people would be happy to clean up people’s puke on a daily basis. So, share some thoughts for the poor souls and please try not to ingest anything that you cannot keep down before taking those rides.
Now we are speeding into the finishing line, I can’t wait for the IR and specifically the park to open. I am eagerly planning getting onto all these rides and go nuts. As I am sure you are as well.
This ain’t for the faint-hearted
[Written by Grace K from Entertainment]
Once every so often, I make a trip up through the misty clouds into the mountains of Genting Highlands to visit Resorts World Sentosa’s sister company, Resorts World Genting, so that I can observe and understand how they organize their events.
Now that Resorts World group has three resorts : Sentosa, Genting and Manila, we try to collaborate on a few big events across the three venues, which makes sense from an economical standpoint, as well as in branding and marketing.
End of November, I was up again to check out their National Lion Dance Championships as RWS is interested in alternating this event with Genting. A bit of history – every odd year (eg.2009), Genting organizes a National Lion Dance competition where the various states in Malaysia compete to be the National Champion. The champion then goes on to participate the following year in the World Lion Dance Championships (every even year). This event is recognized internationally as one of the top lion dance competitions worldwide, attracting teams all the way from UK, Australia, Mauritius and USA. The grand prize for the top team is USD30,000.
I’ve always liked lion dance during Chinese New Year. It’s noisy and fun and it’s something I never get sick of, like fireworks. However, I ain’t never seen anything like this before. A special X structure with poles of different lengths and distance is designed and the specifications are given to the troupes a year in advance. Each team builds its own structure accordingly and practices for a year to perfect its ‘dance’. This is serious stuff. The judging is based on a few criteria – footwork, the coordination between the head and tail, harmony between the lion and the music, the expression of the lion and the degree of difficulty.
In fact, when you look at a really good performance, you can almost ignore the fact that there are 2 persons under the costume. It looks like a real lion from the way it cocks its head, winks, scratches its ear, prances around.
The stunts performed by the teams can rival Jet Li as Wong Fei Hong in Once Upon A Time In China. The lions leaped from pole to pole on hind legs, flipped their front legs halfway down the pole to pluck the cai qing attached at an angle and sprung off the end pole into an immediate roll on the ground. It was a stunning display of martial arts and discipline. Winning team from Muar even had the lion coming out of a box that opened up with colourful flashing lights and pyros . Damn drama.
It was not easy though. Some of the stunts performed were quite difficult and many of the “lions” fell from the poles. But bravely, all got up & went straight back up to complete their performance. There was only one performer that did not. He simply walked off the performance zone in a daze. The judges considered disqualifying him but decided to give him a chance after he explained that he was in such pain that he only thought of looking for help. He also lifted his shirt to show his chest area which had turned a deep black-blue from the bruising.
Here are some of my pictures and a video at the event, but for higher quality photos of the competition, check out this blog on lion dance: http://lionarts.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html
Pure magic
[Written by Tania H from Communications]
There’s something magical stirring in Universal Studios Singapore, in the land of Far Far Away. Inside a fantastical store called the Fairy Godmother Potion shop, Princess Fiona’s fairy godmother (if you remember her, she’s the rotund, bespectacled flying ‘witch’ in disguise who’s actually Charming’s mother) is bottling magical elixirs out of an enormous tank.
Step inside this store and you’ll find wooden beams, brick walls, huge doorways and Shrek characters welcoming you as you enter. The space is bound to draw you into the mystical world of Shrek, where fantastical characters come to life: donkeys shoot their mouths off and ogres are actually friendly.
A rendering of the interior of the store
I was awestruck when I saw the store, which is complete and has been fitted out. There are three things you can do there: there’s a retail shop for you to bring home your memories of the park, a counter where ‘potions’ aka fresh juices would be sold and a ferris-wheel kiddies can ride while their parents shop or get a breather. How awesome is that?
At the Fairy Godmother Potion Shop, you’ll find all things Shrek! Personally, I’m in love with Gingy, the gingerbread man but I absolutely love the huge variety of Shrek plush toys, character caps, photo frames and lots, lots more! (Note to fellow fans of Gingy, you HAVE TO look out for the stuffed confectionery character on the shelves, it’s simply a sweetheart! Get the pun?)
At the drinks stand (called Fairy Godmother’s Potion Factory) where fresh juices are served, the best thirst quenchers for anyone are served. Rejuvenating and healthy, the little ones would love it too. The most wondrous thing is that you can ‘brew’ any concoction you desire, and this is limited only by your imagination.
A youth ‘elixir’ made of beetroot, strawberry and apple juice — let your imagination run wild as you come up with your own potions!
Last but not least, the Magic Potion Spin ride would delight the tykes who’re ever eager to hop on another attraction. Offering the rider a bird’s eye view of the hustle and bustle in the shop, the ferris wheel will allow its passengers a chance to catch the fun and whimsical atmosphere.
Honestly, words and pictures can’t capture the magic you will experience as you will be transported into another world when you set foot into the store. So I shan’t deliberate because I know you’ll come. You know you want to!
See you soon in 2010!
Easy, breezy times
WE know Singapore is one hot country. That, or it is raining. And cats and dogs at that.
So how have we prepared our guests for this, given that we know there will definitely be snaking queues as excited visitors throng the Universal Studios Singapore park once it is opened?
Look at the pictures themselves for an answer.
Guests can queue in relative comfort in the shade provided; coolers are used to keep temperatures down in queue lines as well. This is one of the queue areas in the Madagascar zone.
This picture was taken in on a hot Tuesday at midday, when our very hardworking workers get a break.
So don’t let the weather be a factor in deterring you from visiting us. Come by and visit when we open our doors!
Resorts World Sentosa’s four hotels: Crockfords Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel, as well as SouthEast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park will debut in early 2010.
For MICE bookings, please call 6577 9977 or email us at mice@rwsentosa.com
Exclusive treats in Universal Studios® Singapore
[Written by Tania H from Communications]
What’s a world-class theme park without food? A situation like this would probably leave tonnes of unhappy guests, famished and frustrated. That’s why Universal Studios® Singapore has a wide selection of dining outlets and food carts designed to complement your theme park experience.
Other than our theme dining restaurants like Mel’s Drive-In, KT’s Grill, Hollywood China Bistro and Celebrity Café & Bakery, you’ll see lots of distinctive food carts dotting the various zones and parked outside certain rides or attractions to satisfy your every craving.
However, be warned if you’re watching the scales, because we’ll be serving wicked snacks to whet your appetite for once you start, you can’t stop!
Of these eye-catching food carts I’d mentioned previously, one which stands out is the popcorn cart, which will be selling an assortment of uniquely-flavored popcorn with flavors like green apple, grape, and lots of others. Personally, I’m looking forward to tasting the churros (Spanish fried dough) from the churros cart, which will be out of this world because they are filled with yummy, velvety chocolate!
Imagine the dark, molten chocolate oozing out of the churro as you take your first bite into the hot confectionery. Yum! I know I’ll be on cloud nine, that’s for sure!
If savories are more your thing, sink your teeth into roti-prata wrapped sausages which promise to change your perception of how the local Indian favourite dish should be served. Also, be sure to stop by the pretzel food cart because you’ll live to regret it if you don’t grab one of the mouth-watering cheese-filled pretzels available. Buy a round for your friends and family. I can guarantee that they would be delighted with this treat.
For light snacks, we’ll also have rice-crispy bars, something to keep the kids happy and not be overfed for more exciting rides and adventure for the entire day!
Last but never least, if you’ve never tried turkey legs, I must exhort you not to leave Universal Studios Singapore without trying one, because it’s a truly divine dining experience that tops my snack list anytime. Once you’ve tasted it, nothing else ever comes close.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you with open arms really soon. Think turkey drumsticks. Think churros. Get ready your appetite because you’ll need it. Trust us.
Fabulous Family Fun @ Festive Hotel!
[Written by CY from Rooms]
If you are an avid fan of Resorts World Sentosa, you will probably know which one of our hotels has been creating much interest amongst families. Many can’t wait to bring their children here and the young ones are dreaming to sleep on those loft beds!
Yes, it is Festive Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa. There are many hotels which cater for business travellers, leisure travellers and MICE travelers, and there are also resorts built exclusively to create a romantic getaway for couples. However, how many hotels have you come across that keep young travellers in mind? Festive Hotel is one such example.
The hotel and its staff pride themselves on delivering Fabulous Family Fun because this is what Festive Hotel is all about and what the Festive Hotel team has been tasked to ensure. Besides providing the comfort of a spacious room the staff will also ensure that each and every family member is kept busy with activities available in and around the Hotel and Resort.
The Festive Hotel team has, over the past few months, been cracking their heads to come up with a slew of exciting activities for our young traveler where the fun starts right at the door when guests arrive at the Festive Hotel lobby.
Instead of the typical crystal chandelier lightings you see in most five star hotels, the lobby’s ceiling of Festive Hotel is filled with huge, colorful balloon-like lamps that will instantly ‘light up’ that festive mood in you! It is all jolly and fun in Festive Hotel 365 days a year!
I am sure you would probably overhear a few kids saying: ‘Mummy, mummy, I want those balloons!’
But instead of these ‘balloons’, what we would like to offer our precious little guests are – sweets! Festive Hotel would be incomplete without sweets upon arrival for our young travellers. Besides the sweet treats, the Uncles and Aunties at Festive Hotel team have also been also sourcing for unique amenities for our young travellers. Your children need not fight for them as each would have their very own set. (What exactly are the amenities? we will leave it for you to find out when you stay at Festive Hotel!).
The fun does not stop here. If it is your child’s birthday, be sure to ask for a special treat from us!
Besides catering to the very young, Festive Hotel does not neglect the needs of Mummies and Daddies too. Fancy a spot of retail therapy? Head down to the ground floor of the Hotel, where you can shop to your heart’s content in the boutiques there. If you need to keep your kids occupied, you can also drop them off at the Kids Club located within the resort and Mummies and Daddies can then enjoy their private time.
And the shopping and dining belt is not just confined to the hotel itself, for a few steps away from Festive Hotel lies Festive Walk, an enclave of entertainment and retail delights, and which is opened 24/7.
The Festive Hotel Team and everyone in the Rooms Department is upbeat about everything at this pre-opening stage. From the late night shifts to knowing every inch and corner of our rooms, everyone is fully committed and passionate to achieve our goal!
So be sure to check Festive Hotel out when we are opened.
Festive Hotel, together with Crockfords Tower, Hotel Michael, Hard Rock Hotel and Universal Studios Singapore, will open in early 2010. For more updates, please visit www.rwsentosa.com or follow us on facebook.
Tell us what you need
And we will deliver it to you.
That’s the promise made by our MICE team, who have secured more than 30 bookings, even before our doors open next year.
Given the myriad of possibilities, with the ability to cater to up to 35, 000 MICE guests at any one time, and with so many unique event spaces in and around the resort, including Universal Studios Singapore and 26 function rooms, as well as one of Asia’s largest column-free ballrooms (which can seat a whopping 7,300 guests — we counted!), party-planners are literally spoilt for choice.
Fancy a themed party in Ancient Egypt after a day of meetings? Want to reward your staff with a trip to Universal Studios Singapore? You can do these and more, all in just one location.
What we will need in order to help you throw the Party or Event of the Year, is the following:
Event Name:
Event Type: Meeting / Conference / Corporate Social Event / Private Event
Date / Duration:
No of guests:
Other requirements:
Your name:
Your contact number:
Your email address:
Company Name:
We got to have the information at our fingertips and will provide out-of-the-box suggestions for unique events. It’s all about imagination as running an event in Resorts World Sentosa would be a totally different experience!
Email or talk to the Resorts World Sentosa MICE team today! And we’ll get back to you within the next few days!
email us at mice@rwsentosa.com, or call us at +65 6577 9977
A land of mystery, mummies and engineering wonders that is Ancient Egypt
[Written by Jimmy S from Projects]
Let’s step back in time to the marvels of Ancient Egypt, a land that was one of the three oldest known human civilizations and one that till today is still cloaked with an air of mystery. It is a place of contrasts; highly fertile floodplains of the River Nile, hot and arid elsewhere; highly scientific and mathematical, yet highly superstitious; capable of humanly impossible feats of engineering, yet also condoning some of the darkest deeds of human history. It is a place of wonder. And Universal Studios Singapore will try to bring that to you.
The first of its kind in any Universal Studios theme parks in the world, the USS Ancient Egypt zone would strive to bring the enigma and awe of the exploration era of the 20th century to USS. The area is themed to look like an excavation site and the two attractions here tie in directly with that.
Perspective view of Ancient Egypt from across the lagoon – in the foreground is the Treasure Hunter attraction and the big building in the back houses the Revenge of the Mummy
Partially excavated statue – work in progress
Walking into Ancient Egypt (from either Lost World or Sci-Fi City), you would immediately be confronted by the immensity of the statues holding up the collapsed entry archway. And thus setting the tone for almost everything else in Egypt, you are well advised that big is the order of the day.
The four statues marking the boundary of the land; the Treasure Hunter is in the foreground
Along the southern section of Egypt, you will find an enormous Egyptian tomb, newly excavated and obviously have seen better days. It is the biggest building in the whole of USS so I kid you not when I said things here are mostly huge. This very impressive structure houses the equally exciting Revenge of the Mummy (RoTM) dark ride. Expect to be surprised, thrilled and awed by the experience as you twist and turn your way past flesh-eating scarabs, deadly mummies and Imhotep, the ‘Mummy’ itself. While similar to the rides from US Florida and US Hollywood, USS’ RoTM will have its own storyline and variations. And it promises to be one hell of a ride.
On the right, the Egyptian facade where the Revenge of the Mummy is situated – check out how small a person is compared to the size of that monument!
Close up of the columns to the right of the entrance
If you manage to get out alive and in one piece, drop by Carter’s Curiosities where you can get a hold of some of the excavated treasures. Looks like the archaeologists couldn’t wait to unload their discoveries.
Carter’s Curiosities is right behind that rockwall
Now if you are not into thrilling coaster rides, along the northern shores of Egypt, bordering on the massive lagoon in the middle of USS, you can instead take a serene Treasure Hunters’ ride in an abandoned excavation site. Drive your jeep deep into the site while around you danger lurks in the form of wild animals and the ever deadly scarabs. Take in the treasures hastily abandoned while you wonder what made the excavators disappear without taking their findings along with them…
Part of the Treasure Hunters attraction – work in progress
Feeling hungry? Head towards the Oasis Spice Café, where they served food from the archaeologists’ food stores. Just kidding! Here you can find Mediterranean, Indian and Malay cuisines served buffeteria style. So this promises a varied selection of food for discerning tastes. Enjoy your meal while surrounded by intricately done Egyptian wall murals, warm lighting and a great ambience. Skylight included.
I just love the feel and ambience in the Oasis Spice Cafe, don’t you?
I’m also told there’s a building here that is of a rather mysterious sort. It looks great from the outside but no one really knows what is supposed to be inside. Some say that it is an outhouse. If it is, I’d say it is a very elaborate one at that, that’s for sure. Be sure to check it out.
Now, right beside the Café and in front of the RotM attraction, there is the Pharaoh’s Walkway leading all the way to the lagoon in the middle of USS. While not technically an ‘attraction’, this is a great place to experience, for a moment, life back in Ancient Egypt. Walk in the shadow of the towering Obelisk, flanked on both side by statues of kneeling Anubis as you head towards the viewing platform by the lagoon. There are plenty of photo opportunities with all these awesome backdrops.
The Pharaoh’s Walkway – this is taken while facing the Egyptian tomb with the obelisk and lagoon behind
There is something for everyone here. I just cannot wait to experience all these when the park opens. I’ll be seeing you next year at USS!
Our Sweet Dreams Masters (and Mistresses!)
[Written by CY from Rooms]
‘So come and dance with me, Jai Ho’
In recent mornings, if you see a group of men and women dancing along to the popular Pussycat Dolls’ upbeat song and thought your eyes are playing tricks on you, fret not. It is our bubbly and energetic ‘Sweet Dreams Masters’ from the housekeeping department having their morning exercise.
Every morning, our 40 housekeeping attendants start the day off by warming up their bodies to the upbeat music of various pop songs, of which ‘Jai Ho’ is their favourite!
Catch them in action and you would be totally overwhelmed by their energy and vibrancy. Some of us joined in on one of the routines recently and we can hardly keep up with them! Some of them are already grandmothers and grandfathers. Who says age is a barrier?
After getting all perked up, they are then ready to take the pledge –not the National Pledge but our very own Housekeeping Pledge where they solemnly and sincerely endeavour to be and have:
Helpful
Organised
United
Superb
Enthusiastic
Kampong Spirit
Efficient
Empathy
Passion
Integrity
Neat
Generous
These are the core values which our housekeepers have pledged to encompass. In fact, if you have the chance to interact with them, you would certainly be impressed by how united they are: they have meals together as a team, they are always sharing their food, always sharing a joke while being hard at work.
You will be touched by their generosity and be amazed by their enthusiasm and passion.
With their high level of energy and positive attitude, our ‘Sweet Dreams Masters’ are ever ready to sharpen their housekeeping skills. Jessamyn, who is in charge of Training for Housekeeping, with a team of Assistant Housekeepers who are helping her with the training – Tran and Edilyn (Hotel Michael), Janet (Crockfords Tower), Grace (Festive Hotel) and Annie (Hard Rock Hotel) lead the way in training our enthusiastic housekeepers and getting them up to professional housekeeping standards in our hotels’ mock-up rooms every morning.
From servicing the guest rooms, making up the beds, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, to replenishing the guest amenities, nothing is too difficult for our professional housekeepers with their years of experience.
Our ‘Sweet Dreams masters’ sure embody the Resorts World Sentosa Kampong Spirit. They organise monthly kampong activities like barbeque parties, steamboat buffet and karaoke. These are the times whereby they put down their cleaning equipment and tools for the day and just chill and hang loose with one another, chatting, eating, drinking, laughing and of course…..exchanging the latest news !
So who says that housekeeping is all about cleaning rooms and making beds? Our housekeepers are really a bunch of bubbly “sweet dreams masters.” They have set the stage for your dreams. So slip into your comfortable beds and sleep the night away. Sweet Dreams!
Countdown to ChildAid 2009
[Written by Grace K from Entertainment]
Imagine a world where people help people, children help children and then, you have a taste of what ChildAid is all about. In its 5th year, the event is organized by The Straits Times and The Business Times, bringing together Singapore’s best young musical talents in a showcase that also raises funds for children in disadvantaged circumstances.
What’s more, this year’s ChildAid event will be held at Resorts World Sentosa from Dec 19 – 21 and this will be the FIRST public event to be held here. Roll out the red carpet as this means we are just days away from the concert.
And yes… this also creates a lot of pressure and excitement on our teams to ensure that everything is done to perfection with a healthy dose of oooohs and aaaahs.
If you think about it, ChildAid is almost like Singapore Child Idol as it brings together the island’s best kinder talent with even more nervous parents waiting in the wings. Though there’s no 1st prize, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is an army of talent scouts lurking in the crowd on the lookout for the next Big Star. But I digress.
2009 will be the biggest show in ChildAid history with not only 15 fantastic solo performances, but also for the first time, a choir and a full orchestra. Expect to be entertained. In total, there will be more than 250 performers for this entire concert, in comparison to just 61 in 2008. The orchestra which is made up of the best musicians from several different school orchestras grew from an initial 50 to an 80-strong orchestra because of the quality of talent.
Over 500 kids from all over Asia were auditioned to get into the top 15 spots. These kids are really talented and though this is no stage competition, you can imagine the pressure these kids face in making the cut. The ones who go on and grow up to become professional performers and famous stars will encourage a new generation of talent to forgo the usual iron rice bowl professions and hold on to their dreams. (I’ve always fantasized about becoming the Pink Princess of Death Metal. Detroit Metal City! But then again, a girl’s gotta have her shoes.)
Though all the kids who auditioned were good, there were three in particular that truly stood out. Prodigy #1, Abigail Sin is a 16-year-old pianist who has not only won more awards than I can type but has played for President Nathan on numerous occasions at the Istana. How cool is that? At 16, the only award I won was for making Rock Buns in Home Economics.
Prodigy #2 is Rachel Chua, the exceptional 15-year-old TV performer you may have seen on the popular Taiwanese TV contest, One Million Star. And then there is the phenomenal 10- year- old drummer boy, Theron Lim, who is the Eddie Van Halen of Orchard Road and has been keeping the rhythm to the beat since the tender age of six.
The ChildAid performance will take at our brand new 1,600-seat theatre which will eventually house our resident show, Voyage de la Vie, an original RWS-produced heart-pounding circus spectacular! The word is quite vernacular. (More on VDLV in a future blog)
To give ChildAid a little bit of that somethin’ something’ and RWS pizzazz, we volunteered Creative Director extraordinaire, Jason Ramsburg to choreograph a special song and dance number a la High School Musical’s “We’re all in this together”. This is not to be missed!
See you at the show. Rehearsals start in Dec so look out for the behind-the-scenes pictures on this blog.
Child Aid will be held at the Festive Grand in Resorts World Sentosa from Dec 19 to 21 2009. Tickets priced at $15, $20 and $30 can be purchased from early next month at www.sistic.com.sg