River Safari launches cruise attraction

River Safari launches cruise attraction


SCENIC RIDE: The new River Safari cruise takes visitors around the Upper Seletar Reservoir. Visitors may spot animals such as giraffes, elephants and rhinoceros on the edges of the Night Safari and Singapore Zoo. (PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES)

A CRUISE launched by wildlife park River Safari will take visitors on a 15-minute scenic ride around the Upper Seletar Reservoir.

The cruise plies the man-made lake along the outskirts of the Night Safari and Singapore Zoo. Visitors may spot animals such as giraffes, elephants and rhinoceros on the edges of both parks.

They may also see native species, such as the long-tailed macaque and water monitor lizard, which live around and in the reservoir.

The new attraction, which costs $5 for adults and $3 for children aged between three and 12, in addition to admission tickets to the park, replaces the previous cruise at the Singapore Zoo, which closed on March 31.

Unlike that ride, which was to get visitors from the entrance of the zoo to its farthest point, the latest cruise takes visitors on a round-trip scenic journey along a different route.

This will be River Safari's second boat attraction, after its 10-minute Amazon River Quest ride, which takes visitors down a man-made river within the park. Ticket prices for both rides are the same.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore chief executive Lee Meng Tat said: "The new one is an entirely different experience. It's very tranquil and peaceful, and, if you're lucky, you get to see animals going about their daily lives."

The River Safari Cruise runs daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Each cruise can accommodate up to 50 passengers and is wheelchair-accessible.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Selamat Hari Raya

VEP for S'pore-registered vehicles entering Johor to be capped at RM50

VEP for S'pore-registered vehicles entering Johor to be capped at RM50

The Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for Singaporean-registered vehicles entering Johor will be capped at RM50 (S$19.50), according to a report in Malaysia's New Straits Times.

Malaysia's Transport Ministry says it will set an amount that is affordable for Singaporeans, as it does not want tourist numbers to drop.

The VEP will be introduced at the Johor-Singapore Causeway and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link. The ministry hopes to implement the VEP by the end-2014.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Singapore Food Street launched at Airport Terminal 3

Changi Airport launches Singapore Food Street at Terminal 3

Playing up Singapore's well-known reputation for good food, Changi Airport Group (CAG) has introduced a Singapore Food Street, which boasts fare from 13 popular local hawker stalls.

In a statement on Monday (July 21), CAG said it had set aside 1,000 sq m at Terminal 3 for the Singapore Food Street, which offers more than 200 dishes by household hawker names such as East Coast Lagoon BBQ Seafood, Odeon Beef Noodles and Changi Village Nasi Lemak.

The other 10 hawker stalls are:

Tiong Bahru Meng Kee Roast Duck
Sin Ming Road Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh
Jalan Tua Kong Minced Pork Noodle
Bugis Street Hainanese Chicken Rice
Old Airport Road Fried Kway Teow & Carrot Cake
East Coast Lagoon Fried Rice Noodle
Newton Circus Satay/Satay Bee Hoon
E-Sarn Thai CornerK
Kampong Cafe
Singapore Food Street Beverage Stall

"(The Singapore Food Street) brings to the airport Singapore's colourful hawker food culture, which is a big part of the average Singaporean's lifestyle. Not only do travellers now get to sample the best of local delights in Changi Airport, they can also dine in an environment that is uniquely Singapore," said Ms Ivy Wong, CAG's Senior Vice President of Airside Concessions.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Tourists spend more here

Tourists spend more here

WHILE visitor arrivals to Singapore remained flat in the first quarter of this year, at 3.9 million, tourism receipts edged up five per cent year-on-year to $6 billion.

According to data from the Singapore Tourism Board, tourist arrivals from China dropped 14 per cent, due to tourism laws imposed in October, which dragged down overall visitor numbers.

Travel demand out of China has also weakened in the wake of the Malaysia Airlines MH370 disappearance in March.

Visitor arrivals from Indonesia - Singapore's top visitor-generating country - climbed six per cent.

But visitor arrivals from markets such as Malaysia, Australia and Japan declined one per cent, two per cent, and two per cent respectively.

Visitor arrivals from South Korea (17 per cent) and Vietnam (13 per cent) recorded double-digit growth.

~News courtesy of Business Times~

Malaysia to charge foreign motorists entering Johor

Malaysia to charge foreign motorists entering Johor

Malaysia on Wednesday announced that it will charge drivers of all foreign vehicles entering Johor Bahru.

According to The Star, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the decision to implement the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee was made following a request from the state.

Najib also said the date of implementation of the fee and the rates will be announced later.

Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said the ministry was fine-tuning the proposed VEP charge.

However, he said the VEP charge would not be applicable at the border checkpoints in the northern part of the Malaysian peninsula.

"We are taking a bilateral approach only between Malaysia and Singapore because only Singapore is imposing a VEP charge on Malaysian vehicles and not the other countries," said Abdul Aziz.

Johor Chief Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin had said the Johor government suggested a VEP charge of RM20 (S$7.80), with RM5 going to the state government for road maintenance, for Singapore vehicles entering Malaysia through the Causeway and the Second Link.

Singapore had earlier announced an increased VEP charge of S$35, from S$20, on foreign vehicles entering the republic effective Aug 1.

In response, Malaysia’s UMNO Youth also proposed on Tuesday imposing a fee on Singaporean cars entering Malaysia.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Resorts World Sentosa welcomes 20th million visitor

Resorts World Sentosa welcomes 20th million visitor

Four years after opening, Resorts World Sentosa's attractions -- Universal Studios, Adventure Cover Water Park and S.E.A Aquarium -- welcomed their 20th million visitor on Thursday (July 17).

Singaporean Isaac Leong and his family got an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the world's largest aquarium in addition to a gift hamper and annual passes to the S.E.A Aquarium.

The aquarium aims to promote shark conservation next month, with special programmes planned like a shark adventure trail for children.

"We loved going on field trips, so this is one of the things that we can study about the animals and my children love animals…They will be happy to learn and memorise the names of animals and their features," said Mr Leong.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

5 things about the Sisters' Islands, Singapore's first marine park

5 things about the Sisters' Islands, Singapore's first marine park


Singapore's southern Sisters' Islands, together with its surrounding waters, has been designated as the first ever marine park in the nation's history. -- PHOTO: SISTERS' ISLAND MARINE PARK

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee announced this on Saturday morning at the annual Festival of Biodiversity, a nature-education fair held at the VivoCity mall.

Here are some things you might be curious to know about the island:

1. The Legend

A very long time ago, there were two sisters named Minah and Lina, who were inseparable.

One day, a pirate came along and sought younger sister Lina's hand in marriage, but she rejected him as she did not want to be away from Minah. The pirate then kidnapped Lina and brought her onto his boat.

In a desperate attempt to save her younger sister, Minah jumped into the water and swam after the boat, but soon started drowning. Upon seeing this, Lina freed herself from the pirate and jumped into the water to save her sister. But a large wave engulfed them and everyone died.

When the storm subsided, the sisters were gone, but two islands emerged at the spot they had perished.

Big Sister's Island, also known as Pulau Subar Laut (3.9ha), and Little Sister's Island, otherwise known as Pulau Subar Darat (1.7ha), are now collectively called the Sisters' Islands.

It is said that every year on the day the islands were formed, there would be heavy rain and thunderstorms.

2. The marine park

The 40ha park, the size of about 50 football fields, will include the western reefs and seashore areas of nearby Pulau Tekukor, a former ammunition dump, and St John’s Island, currently home to research and recreational facilities.

The intertidal area at the marine park is most suitable for visitors during low tides of 0.4 metres and below. That is when you will be able to see all the marine life which are otherwise underwater and out of sight.

Guided walks are conducted free of charge. Each session had been capped at a maximum of 15 people, but raised to 45 upon high demand.

The first two guided trips in August are already full. The National Parks Board on Tuesday released dates for six more walks between September and December. These trips will be opened for public registration in phases at a later date at www.nparks.gov.sg/sistersislandsmarinepark. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park will protect Singapore’s coral reefs, which support an ecosystem consisting of rare species of seahorses, clams and other marine life.

Notably, over 250 species of hard corals can be found in Singapore’s waters, 32 per cent of the global total.

NParks will conduct studies to work out how many people currently visit the islands, how many the area can handle, and which areas are safest to walk in. It will also install stepping-stones or boardwalks to give public access while protecting delicate areas.

3. Getting there

For those who signed up with the NParks tours, transport to and from the islands will be provided.

For others, Singapore Island Cruise provides a private charter service from Marina South Pier to the Sisters' Islands.

A two-way trip would cost $400 for a boat that can sit up to 12 people, for one day. An average boat ride to the island takes 40 minutes.

Once there, you can swim and snorkel around the lagoons and reefs.

Camping is also possible, but do remember to apply for a permit.

While having a picnic at the Sisters’ Islands, do not share your food with the local long-tailed macaques. These monkeys can be aggressive. Do not leave food unattended, and clear all rubbish properly into the monkey-proof bins provided.

4. A safe haven

Located close to one of the world’s busiest ports, the marine park will provide a refuge for the vast marine wildlife around the Sisters' Islands and its surrounding waters.

One of the research projects planned at the new park is the reintroduction of giant clams, which are endangered in Singapore.

On Tuesday, Dr Neo Mei Lin, 28, a research fellow at the Tropical Marine Science Institute, planted a lab-grown giant clam underwater off Big Sister's Island.

The area has all along been rich in marine life.

In 2011, for instance, the Neptune’s Cup sponge, long thought to be extinct, was rediscovered off St John’s Island.

5. Success of the Blue Plan

In 2009, civil society groups had presented a Blue Plan. It was the most comprehensive proposal yet to save Singapore’s coral reefs, and called for the Government to formally designate high-biodiversity areas. Among them were Sisters' Islands and the southern islands.

The marine conservation Blue Plan, over a year in the making, was compiled by a team of academics, environmental organisations and civil society groups.

Calls to save Singapore’s reefs date back to the 1980s and 1990s, and the Blue Plan was one in a long line of proposals.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Universal Studios Singapore 'Asia's top amusement park'

Universal Studios Singapore 'Asia's top amusement park'



Universal Studios Singapore has been ranked Asia's No. 1 amusement park by TripAdvisor, beating Hong Kong's Ocean Park, Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan to the accolade.

When it came to the world, the online travel site put the Sentosa attraction in the eighth spot in its latest Travellers' Choice awards.

In first place was Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida.

The 242 winners across the globe, announced yesterday, were based on the quality and quantity of millions of travellers' reviews over a year.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~