We’d discussed the night before what we were gonna do, the general consensus, between Col and I, was Universal studios, not sure of how the ticketing, times etc worked, I got up at 7.30am, did some research and got Col up at 8.15. After deliberating, fact finding and what not, we hopped the bus at 9.30am, got monorail to Universal, and got 20% off our tickets from using our Mastercard as well as a $10 retail voucher.
The place was pretty empty (thank you Trip Advisor reviews for suggesting we go in early to avoid the crowds!), queues for the rides were less than five minutes long – most of them, we just walked straight in and on the ride – we even had a row to our selves on every one of them!
Our Universal experience started out with the ‘Light’s, Camera, Action’ show, a Steven Spielberg production, showing people how the bells and whistles of Hollywood work. It was pretty good, short, but entertaining. It’s set in a boat shed during a category 5 hurricane in NY – there’s wind, fire and you come out a bit wet, but it was fun.
Next up, we decided to do the rides, get in before the crowds arrived, so it was on to the Battlestar Galactica section of the park. We started with the Cylon ride (there are two rollercoasters, side by side, one red (human), one blue (cylon).
Here’s the thing about me and rollercoasters, I love them – when I’ve finished the ride and want to go again. The standing in the queue waiting, watching other people do it, and the sitting strapping myself in and waiting for the ride to start? Hell no, I stand and say how much I hate it, how much I’m gonna die…Col finds it funny, but my stomach is in knots the whole time! LOL!
We both came out of the rides deciding we were Cylons. The ride was infinitely better than the human ride, but neither was particularly OMG FAB – y’know?
The Mummy ride was up next, I LOVE this one in the Florida Universal studios, but in Singapore, they’ve truncated the ride, cut most of it out and it’s short as heck. I was disappointed by it, and wished it went on longer lol!
We had a disgusting lunch in Marty’s casa del wild restaurant in the Madagascar area. It was $30 for both of us, Col’s rice was way too spicy for him, my ‘best seller’ chicken, was dry and tough and it was all just luke warm. UGH. Can’t warn ya enough not to eat here!
Next up, we did the Madagascar boat ride – we normally love water rides, flumes and little boats, but this one? It was so boring, that even the little kids on it were bored out of their minds!
I did get off it with a soaking wet arse though – serves me right for bitching about it I guess!
When we were done there, we saw overhead, a huge, dark black cloud heading our way, we decided to take shelter in the Shrek 4D ride in the Kingdom of Far Far Away.
Well now, something about this ride, rang an alarm bell in my head. I’d been on it before in Florida and for some reason, a warning light went off for me.
I figured it was just cause we didn’t like it very much – I was wrong.
Turns out it was cause it puts my back out. It’s like a frigging bucking bronco!!! OW. I hurt after and was therefore grumpy.
Next up for us, was the Donkey Live show – which, I am surprised to be admitting, was pretty good actually! Donkey is ‘live’ onstage (a computerised donkey) but, the voice is of a real person, so he’s interactive. Picking on people in the crowd, telling jokes – sounding just like Eddie Murphy – it’s great!
The Lost World (Jurassic park section) wasn’t great, the main ride is closed for maintenance until December time, the water world show was showing only twice in almost four hours and the ride we DID go on, was a let-down.
The Canopy flyer, everyone got on it with their cameras out, ready for a leisurely glide around the top of the park.
Ha! As if!! It was the fastest ride we were on in the whole park! It ZOOMED around and must have lasted no more than 20 seconds (not to mention it didn’t feel in the LEAST secure!!!)
The less we say about the Accelorator and the Monster Rock Show, the better. The Accelorator turned out to be a really shit version of the Waltzer from the Newry funfair and the Monster Rock show gave me nightmares – nightmares that I’ll have for the rest of my life. It was AWFUL, I wanted to kill myself during the show (and you know me, I love a good stage show!)
By the way – since when did Britney become Rock’n’Roll??!?
The Universal shop wasn’t bad, Col and I both came away with new mugs (and a nice $10 discount!), we finished around 3pm and headed back in to Singapore and over to Raffles City mall for a sneaky curry chip!
I picked some stud earrings in Accessorize (and had the entire staff ooh-ing and aaaah-ing over my credit card, apparently they’d never seen anything like it before!) before we headed to Starbucks where we’d planned to meet my old penpal, the lovely Serene aka ‘Missy Skid’.
It was GREAT to finally meet her, I’ve known her for YEARRRRRRRRRRS!!!! She arrived bearing a bag choc-filled with local sweets and treats (she was always great at putting together care packages and this one didn’t disappoint!) and she treated me to my lovely hot chocolate (I felt all spoilt!!)
We chatted for over an hour (and of course took a picture or two) before she had to go to class and we ended up in Giant for Farleys Rusks for Michael and Dettol wipes for me, before we hit-up Burger King for dinner – I know, I know, “Burger King?” you say, but we were tired, the Stevensons weren’t up for going out for dinner and we wanted something fast, cheap and tasty – and, believe it or not, BK in Singapore is actually pertty tasty!!
Back at the house for around 9pm (the Sentosa-Singapore busses rock!) and I was in bed shortly after 10, totally cream crackered, all the sunshine and walking in Universal really took it out of me!
