Actually the island is partly real, and only partly reclaimed land. It houses theme parks, one of Singapore's two (lucrative) casinos, flash hotels, resorts, a Disney? park, I noticed an indoor skydiving complex and other (I think generally quite expensive!) attractions. The island's original name translated as 'death back island' but this was changed to Sentosa in 1972. Perhaps not a bad PR move! Sentosa means 'peace and tranquility' in Malay.
Today you can take a rail shuttle there from VivoCity (another mall complex). It costs around SG$3 each way and takes about five minutes. When you exit there are buses and rides which will take you to other parts of the island. And all to the muzak of steel drums... had we suddenly stepped out in 'Tropical Caribbean Paradise'? (In tropical Asia?)
Our stop at the end of the bus-line, was the 'glamorous' Tanjong Beach Club. I should probably explain the lead-up to this: my flatmate (ever the renaissance man, and a some-time regular club visitor) suggested it on a whim. Prior to boarding the train we had been tramping the entire length of Singapore's picturesque AYE expressway (and its warehouses) in the blistering afternoon sun, with my flatmate singing Whitney's "I wanna feel the heat with somebody!". (Well, we certainly got that!)
So, anyway. We rocked up at the beach club resembling a pair of sweaty grockles and stepped onto... the set of The OC. All I can say is I was very glad to be in a sweaty tee and dusty harem pants, and NOT a swimsuit... among a throng of ripped, rich, apparently 17 year old beachwear models. (And that's female and male: basically, if you're over 25 and not an athlete and/or very wealthy, be warned!) OK perhaps I'm making assumptions and they're all ripped, poor people spending the day there on one tap-water. But frankly, if I go again, I might opt for wafting around in a voluminous, floor-length kaftan.
The upsides were, however, great dance music from the DJs, a beach, and very nice (expensive) cocktails. Also the building itself is sort of Miami modernist and kinda cool. There's also a restaurant there, which is apparently not cheap, but not bad.
Apparently the government has been investing heavily in the island to establish it as one of the world's top luxury destinations. Work is scheduled to complete this year (which it probably will, given this is Singapore, not Britain.) Either way, a far cry from my childhood beach experiences of thermal fleece and wellies at Sidmouth!
(Also worth doing btw, if you haven't tried it!)
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