1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,453 Speaker 1: from News Talks. 3 00:00:11,453 --> 00:00:16,013 Speaker 2: A'd be Mike Godly is our travel corresponding Good morning. 4 00:00:16,733 --> 00:00:20,773 Speaker 3: Good morning Jack. I have extreme pomegranate envy. I'm with 5 00:00:20,893 --> 00:00:24,293 Speaker 3: that last texture from christ Church. I actually had this 6 00:00:24,333 --> 00:00:27,453 Speaker 3: little pomegranate tree which was doing really well in the 7 00:00:27,533 --> 00:00:30,933 Speaker 3: tub outside my kitchen door. Then I put it up 8 00:00:30,933 --> 00:00:34,733 Speaker 3: in the garden last year. And it's probably because of 9 00:00:34,773 --> 00:00:36,933 Speaker 3: the crappy summer, to be honest, but when it was 10 00:00:36,973 --> 00:00:37,933 Speaker 3: getting full sun. 11 00:00:37,973 --> 00:00:39,453 Speaker 4: But it just hasn't fruited. 12 00:00:40,853 --> 00:00:43,013 Speaker 2: But it's still going. How many how many years old 13 00:00:43,013 --> 00:00:43,453 Speaker 2: would it be? 14 00:00:44,813 --> 00:00:47,733 Speaker 3: It would be three years now. Yeah, But I actually 15 00:00:47,813 --> 00:00:51,173 Speaker 3: wonder if what Rude said, citrus fertilizer, maybe I should 16 00:00:51,213 --> 00:00:53,293 Speaker 3: give it a shot of that. 17 00:00:53,373 --> 00:00:55,533 Speaker 2: And I reckon, don't get up on it, don't hack 18 00:00:55,573 --> 00:00:57,653 Speaker 2: it down just yet. I reckon give it at least 19 00:00:57,653 --> 00:01:01,493 Speaker 2: another year. I reckon another two at the very lest. 20 00:01:01,533 --> 00:01:02,773 Speaker 2: I mean, christ just gets hot. 21 00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:05,973 Speaker 3: So yeah, well yeah, where it is in the garden, 22 00:01:05,973 --> 00:01:08,853 Speaker 3: it's like my co climate. It gets really hot, like 23 00:01:09,293 --> 00:01:11,213 Speaker 3: Bugan villiards right behind it. 24 00:01:12,133 --> 00:01:14,333 Speaker 4: So yeah, oh that would be perfect. 25 00:01:14,413 --> 00:01:16,333 Speaker 2: My gosh, you're very you're really going for a sort 26 00:01:16,373 --> 00:01:22,933 Speaker 2: of kind of a yeah, yeah, great, yeah, I mean 27 00:01:22,973 --> 00:01:26,213 Speaker 2: the bugan villas are a beautiful I when I moved 28 00:01:26,213 --> 00:01:28,493 Speaker 2: my pomegranate, I moved it. I only moved at a 29 00:01:28,493 --> 00:01:32,253 Speaker 2: couple of meters, but I moved to like the single 30 00:01:32,333 --> 00:01:37,093 Speaker 2: most northern part of our property, like north facing property, 31 00:01:37,133 --> 00:01:40,213 Speaker 2: so it probably gets the most un of any single 32 00:01:40,653 --> 00:01:43,733 Speaker 2: you know, square meter in the in the in our 33 00:01:43,773 --> 00:01:46,133 Speaker 2: in our section, which I'm sure makes a bit of 34 00:01:46,173 --> 00:01:50,373 Speaker 2: a difference. But yes, anyway, Hey, we're focusing on Sentosa 35 00:01:50,453 --> 00:01:52,373 Speaker 2: Island and Singapore this morning. So I don't know if 36 00:01:52,373 --> 00:01:55,213 Speaker 2: I've told you this, but when I was six years old, 37 00:01:55,893 --> 00:01:58,453 Speaker 2: and I know I was six years old because it 38 00:01:58,533 --> 00:02:00,973 Speaker 2: was the ninety two snow in christ You just remember 39 00:02:00,973 --> 00:02:06,053 Speaker 2: that in Oh, yes, I went on I must have 40 00:02:06,093 --> 00:02:10,053 Speaker 2: been fine. Actually, I went on holiday to Singapore because 41 00:02:10,053 --> 00:02:13,053 Speaker 2: my grandparents were living in Singapore and working in Singapore 42 00:02:13,093 --> 00:02:15,493 Speaker 2: for a few years. And it was one of those 43 00:02:15,573 --> 00:02:18,213 Speaker 2: kind of defining travel experiences of my life. And it 44 00:02:18,253 --> 00:02:21,613 Speaker 2: was the first time I'd experienced real heat and humidity. 45 00:02:21,693 --> 00:02:24,173 Speaker 2: It was the first time i'd seen people eating luxA, 46 00:02:24,253 --> 00:02:26,853 Speaker 2: it was the first time i'd ever tried staff roots 47 00:02:26,933 --> 00:02:29,333 Speaker 2: or anything like that, And we went on a trip 48 00:02:29,373 --> 00:02:32,733 Speaker 2: to Sentosa Island and it's one of those still like 49 00:02:32,853 --> 00:02:35,253 Speaker 2: sticks in my mind how exciting it was to go 50 00:02:35,293 --> 00:02:37,173 Speaker 2: to Sentosa Islands in Singapore. 51 00:02:37,213 --> 00:02:37,653 Speaker 4: But it's a. 52 00:02:37,613 --> 00:02:42,173 Speaker 2: Great little a stopover option for people who just want 53 00:02:42,213 --> 00:02:44,133 Speaker 2: to break up the long haul flights and kind of 54 00:02:44,133 --> 00:02:45,573 Speaker 2: increasingly popular with kiwis. 55 00:02:45,613 --> 00:02:47,613 Speaker 4: Right, that's right, Jack. 56 00:02:48,333 --> 00:02:50,573 Speaker 3: We were talking last week about travel trends, and it's 57 00:02:50,613 --> 00:02:54,293 Speaker 3: interesting that the industry data is showing that the Kiwi's 58 00:02:54,293 --> 00:02:57,813 Speaker 3: doing long haul trips, say to Europe, rather than just 59 00:02:57,973 --> 00:03:02,413 Speaker 3: transiting at a major airport hub like Changi and swapping planes. 60 00:03:02,573 --> 00:03:07,213 Speaker 3: More and more kiwis now are actually deciding to minimize 61 00:03:07,213 --> 00:03:10,013 Speaker 3: the jet lag and the brain fog and actually carve 62 00:03:10,133 --> 00:03:13,133 Speaker 3: up those long haul journeys with like a holiday within 63 00:03:13,133 --> 00:03:17,613 Speaker 3: a holiday. And I actually think, particularly for families, traveling 64 00:03:17,613 --> 00:03:21,053 Speaker 3: with young kids at thirty hours on the go is 65 00:03:21,213 --> 00:03:23,413 Speaker 3: just a recipe for hell. So you do want to 66 00:03:23,453 --> 00:03:26,093 Speaker 3: break up those trips, and if you're going through Singapore, 67 00:03:26,653 --> 00:03:29,093 Speaker 3: Sentosa Island is such an awesome option. 68 00:03:29,733 --> 00:03:32,733 Speaker 4: Particularly is a little escape for families. 69 00:03:32,853 --> 00:03:33,053 Speaker 1: Yeah. 70 00:03:33,133 --> 00:03:35,173 Speaker 2: Nice, So how easy is it to get to Sentosa 71 00:03:35,213 --> 00:03:36,093 Speaker 2: from Changi Airport? 72 00:03:37,133 --> 00:03:40,853 Speaker 3: I actually think this is really curious because I'm sure 73 00:03:40,853 --> 00:03:43,973 Speaker 3: anyone who's been to Singapore in recent years would agree 74 00:03:44,013 --> 00:03:48,773 Speaker 3: that the metro train system is excellent, you know, the MRT, 75 00:03:49,333 --> 00:03:55,053 Speaker 3: particularly between Chingy and Singapore itself. But weirdly it doesn't 76 00:03:55,133 --> 00:03:58,933 Speaker 3: offer a direct service from Chingi to Sentosas so you 77 00:03:59,013 --> 00:04:01,773 Speaker 3: can actually change trains and there's a lot of faff, 78 00:04:02,133 --> 00:04:05,253 Speaker 3: but it blows out the travel time to ninety minutes 79 00:04:05,693 --> 00:04:06,613 Speaker 3: from Chingi. 80 00:04:06,413 --> 00:04:08,573 Speaker 4: Airport to Sentosa Island. 81 00:04:09,493 --> 00:04:12,813 Speaker 3: So honestly, the easiest thing to do from the airport 82 00:04:12,893 --> 00:04:15,573 Speaker 3: is just grab a cab and you will be enjoying 83 00:04:15,613 --> 00:04:19,413 Speaker 3: Ireland time in thirty minutes. So it's a very easy transit. 84 00:04:19,493 --> 00:04:21,813 Speaker 2: Ye. Yeah, it's pretty good. So how diverse is the 85 00:04:22,373 --> 00:04:24,133 Speaker 2: platter of attractions on the island. 86 00:04:25,013 --> 00:04:27,653 Speaker 3: Well, it's funny, Jack, because back in the early nineties 87 00:04:27,693 --> 00:04:31,493 Speaker 3: when you went there, it was a pretty sedate place. 88 00:04:31,853 --> 00:04:37,253 Speaker 3: It has been transformed. You know how people talk about 89 00:04:37,613 --> 00:04:42,453 Speaker 3: Las Vegas is like Disneyland for adults. Yeah, I reckon 90 00:04:42,533 --> 00:04:47,013 Speaker 3: Sentosa is Las Vegas for families because it has just 91 00:04:47,053 --> 00:04:52,013 Speaker 3: become this mega entertainment playground. There have been so many 92 00:04:52,053 --> 00:04:55,813 Speaker 3: developments in the last decade, taking route on Sentosa, it's 93 00:04:55,893 --> 00:04:58,893 Speaker 3: quite overwhelming. A local said to me last year when 94 00:04:58,933 --> 00:05:02,013 Speaker 3: I was there that to do justice to every paid 95 00:05:02,053 --> 00:05:05,213 Speaker 3: attraction on Sentosa, you would actually need to stay on 96 00:05:05,253 --> 00:05:07,733 Speaker 3: the island for two weeks. Oh wow, that's how much 97 00:05:07,773 --> 00:05:13,093 Speaker 3: they've got In terms of titillations. It is unashamedly touristy. 98 00:05:13,253 --> 00:05:15,813 Speaker 3: But no matter what mood you're in, no matter how 99 00:05:15,853 --> 00:05:17,973 Speaker 3: your role, whether you're an active relax at a thrill 100 00:05:18,053 --> 00:05:21,173 Speaker 3: junkie of fly and flop, cocktail, swilling, day, sparring, snoozer, 101 00:05:21,693 --> 00:05:24,093 Speaker 3: it just ticks every single box. 102 00:05:24,893 --> 00:05:29,213 Speaker 2: Is Universal Studios the kind of absolute star of all 103 00:05:29,253 --> 00:05:29,933 Speaker 2: of those. 104 00:05:29,733 --> 00:05:33,773 Speaker 3: Attractions, I'd say so yeah, And actually I had the 105 00:05:33,853 --> 00:05:36,573 Speaker 3: youngest members of my family went there just a couple 106 00:05:36,653 --> 00:05:41,173 Speaker 3: of weeks ago, and they enjoyed Universal Studio Singapore more 107 00:05:41,213 --> 00:05:45,773 Speaker 3: than the Disney parks they've been to. So you've got 108 00:05:45,813 --> 00:05:48,853 Speaker 3: a huge swag of themed zones as you would expect, 109 00:05:49,013 --> 00:05:54,053 Speaker 3: and just so many awesome experiences like the Jurassic Park Adventure, 110 00:05:54,413 --> 00:05:58,613 Speaker 3: Battlestar Galactica, Minion Land, which is just you know, crazy 111 00:05:58,693 --> 00:06:04,413 Speaker 3: popular Transformers, The Revenge of the Mummy Ride, by the way, 112 00:06:05,133 --> 00:06:08,733 Speaker 3: is the perennial crowd favorite at Universal Studio theme parks, 113 00:06:10,013 --> 00:06:13,333 Speaker 3: and it's all easily doable in a day in Singapore 114 00:06:13,373 --> 00:06:17,013 Speaker 3: at Sentosa. And the other thing you'll notice is the 115 00:06:17,173 --> 00:06:22,373 Speaker 3: queues are far less voluminous than what you would encounter 116 00:06:22,493 --> 00:06:25,813 Speaker 3: at a Mickey park around the world, so you won't 117 00:06:25,933 --> 00:06:29,933 Speaker 3: leave feeling rung out and exhausted at Universal Studios in Santosa. 118 00:06:30,573 --> 00:06:32,973 Speaker 2: What's Kidzania all about, mate? 119 00:06:34,733 --> 00:06:37,133 Speaker 3: Yeah, Well, if you want to break from the usual 120 00:06:37,373 --> 00:06:42,013 Speaker 3: entertainment suspects like going to Madame Two Swords or Harry 121 00:06:42,053 --> 00:06:47,813 Speaker 3: Potter World, which are also at Sentosa, Kidzania is really distinctive. 122 00:06:48,013 --> 00:06:52,253 Speaker 3: It's an only in Singapore experience. So what they did 123 00:06:52,333 --> 00:06:55,173 Speaker 3: at Kidzania is they built this what they call a 124 00:06:55,293 --> 00:07:01,973 Speaker 3: hyper real kid sized indoor city and it offers exciting 125 00:07:02,173 --> 00:07:07,293 Speaker 3: career roleplay experience experiences. So it's all it's sparking their 126 00:07:07,293 --> 00:07:14,253 Speaker 3: imagination and they've done some brilliantly designed interactive experiences. So like, 127 00:07:14,293 --> 00:07:16,893 Speaker 3: for example, you if you're going with your kids, they 128 00:07:17,093 --> 00:07:20,293 Speaker 3: can explore what it's like to be a pilot and 129 00:07:20,573 --> 00:07:22,573 Speaker 3: sitting in a cockpit, and they've got all of that. 130 00:07:22,493 --> 00:07:27,013 Speaker 4: Sort of augmented reality around them. 131 00:07:27,373 --> 00:07:30,133 Speaker 3: You can explore what it's like to be a shaf 132 00:07:30,213 --> 00:07:32,933 Speaker 3: for a vet or even a mountaineer. So yeah, your 133 00:07:33,013 --> 00:07:35,573 Speaker 3: munchkins will love it at Kidzania Nice. 134 00:07:35,853 --> 00:07:37,653 Speaker 2: Where else would you recommend for families? 135 00:07:38,853 --> 00:07:41,533 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, for all the radical changes Sentosa has seen, 136 00:07:41,613 --> 00:07:44,013 Speaker 3: I'm sure you will record from nineteen ninety two Jack 137 00:07:44,053 --> 00:07:48,453 Speaker 3: the Singapore Cable Car. So this connects Sentosa with the 138 00:07:48,493 --> 00:07:52,133 Speaker 3: mainland out at Mount Faber. It's the old faithful And 139 00:07:52,173 --> 00:07:54,453 Speaker 3: the thing about that cable car which I love is 140 00:07:54,773 --> 00:07:59,373 Speaker 3: the aerial perspective. You realize just how much of Sentosa 141 00:07:59,453 --> 00:08:02,893 Speaker 3: Island is still covered in all of that lush, jungle 142 00:08:03,053 --> 00:08:05,653 Speaker 3: like rainforest. And the other cool thing they've done in 143 00:08:05,693 --> 00:08:09,533 Speaker 3: recent years is caper card network now actually connects all 144 00:08:09,573 --> 00:08:11,933 Speaker 3: around the items, so you can sort of hop scotch 145 00:08:12,253 --> 00:08:16,253 Speaker 3: from one pocket of Sentosa to another. The water parks 146 00:08:16,333 --> 00:08:20,853 Speaker 3: on Sentosa, oh my goodness, Adventure Cove is unbeatable. I'm 147 00:08:20,893 --> 00:08:23,173 Speaker 3: a bit of a roller coaster nerd, and they have 148 00:08:23,333 --> 00:08:29,853 Speaker 3: got at Adventure Cove Southeast Asia's first hydromagnetic coaster. So's 149 00:08:29,973 --> 00:08:34,093 Speaker 3: the name suggests. This is actually a water roller coaster 150 00:08:34,733 --> 00:08:37,133 Speaker 3: which has electromagnetic technology as well. 151 00:08:37,373 --> 00:08:37,813 Speaker 4: Very cool. 152 00:08:37,973 --> 00:08:40,893 Speaker 3: Yeah, and the other very quick thing to mention Singapore 153 00:08:40,933 --> 00:08:44,133 Speaker 3: Ocean Aream. It's been given a massive upgrade just recently. 154 00:08:44,493 --> 00:08:48,813 Speaker 3: It is now the world's third biggest aquarium. It's super impressive, 155 00:08:49,173 --> 00:08:53,133 Speaker 3: very cutting edge. The ocean exhibit. They call it the 156 00:08:53,173 --> 00:08:56,493 Speaker 3: Open Ocean. It is exactly that. It is so trippy 157 00:08:56,573 --> 00:08:59,573 Speaker 3: you feel like you've just stepped into the deep blue. 158 00:08:59,613 --> 00:09:00,813 Speaker 3: So that's a do not miss. 159 00:09:01,013 --> 00:09:02,293 Speaker 2: What are the beaches like? 160 00:09:04,173 --> 00:09:08,413 Speaker 3: Good question, because the man made so They've got three 161 00:09:08,493 --> 00:09:13,973 Speaker 3: great beaches on the southwest coast of Sentosa for families. 162 00:09:14,133 --> 00:09:16,853 Speaker 3: My pick would be Soloso Beach because it's got a 163 00:09:16,893 --> 00:09:19,693 Speaker 3: really good max of activities. They've even got an aj 164 00:09:19,853 --> 00:09:22,093 Speaker 3: heck at Bunge at Soloso if you want a taste 165 00:09:22,093 --> 00:09:26,453 Speaker 3: of home. But it's a gorgeous palm French beach, the 166 00:09:26,573 --> 00:09:30,413 Speaker 3: water Emerald Green Water. It is just so beautiful, really 167 00:09:30,413 --> 00:09:32,133 Speaker 3: good if you want to give your kids a bit 168 00:09:32,173 --> 00:09:34,613 Speaker 3: of snorkel time. And the other thing I like about 169 00:09:34,653 --> 00:09:38,733 Speaker 3: Soloso the history. Take a wander around Fort Soloso. They've 170 00:09:38,773 --> 00:09:42,373 Speaker 3: turned that into the most amazing war museum which just 171 00:09:42,533 --> 00:09:45,253 Speaker 3: takes you through the whole story of the Battle for Singapore, 172 00:09:45,653 --> 00:09:47,933 Speaker 3: which ultimately secured Singapore. 173 00:09:48,013 --> 00:09:48,973 Speaker 4: Their independence. 174 00:09:49,093 --> 00:09:52,013 Speaker 2: Ah yeah, nice. Okay. The thing that I remember most 175 00:09:52,013 --> 00:09:53,893 Speaker 2: from Centosa, this probably tells you a lot about me 176 00:09:54,133 --> 00:09:55,453 Speaker 2: as a five year old, was that they've got a 177 00:09:55,493 --> 00:09:58,373 Speaker 2: military museum, you know, like a World War two museum. 178 00:09:58,413 --> 00:10:00,973 Speaker 2: I think I was fascinated by that as a little 179 00:10:01,053 --> 00:10:03,733 Speaker 2: war you know. Yes, yeah, it sounds great. It sounds 180 00:10:03,733 --> 00:10:05,013 Speaker 2: like a really good little family option. 181 00:10:06,373 --> 00:10:08,533 Speaker 4: Interesting you mentioned that, Jack, because that's it. That's it. 182 00:10:08,733 --> 00:10:09,853 Speaker 4: Ford Soloso. 183 00:10:09,973 --> 00:10:14,533 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, amazing. Good. Hey, thank you so much, Mike. 184 00:10:14,693 --> 00:10:17,613 Speaker 2: That sounds it sounds like a really good little sopover 185 00:10:17,653 --> 00:10:20,413 Speaker 2: option for families who want to break up a big journey. 186 00:10:20,693 --> 00:10:22,973 Speaker 2: We'll make sure that all of Mike's tips for family 187 00:10:23,013 --> 00:10:26,093 Speaker 2: tripping to Sentosa are up on the news Talks. He'd 188 00:10:26,093 --> 00:10:27,893 Speaker 2: be website you know what to do for everything from 189 00:10:27,933 --> 00:10:30,853 Speaker 2: our show news Talks. He'db dot co dot mz Ford 190 00:10:30,893 --> 00:10:32,013 Speaker 2: slash Jack. 191 00:10:32,373 --> 00:10:35,493 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame. Listen live 192 00:10:35,573 --> 00:10:38,373 Speaker 1: to news Talks. He'd be from nine am Saturday, or 193 00:10:38,453 --> 00:10:40,373 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.