Singapore Day 1: S.E.A. Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore

Universal Studio, Singapore Photo Op

It was quite sunny and a perfect day to visit a park; it felt less humid so I did not sweat as much. It’s a shame that I forgot to bring a pair of sunglasses and my sunblock lotion. Never mind, air-conditioning in Vivo City Mall and Sky Park took my weary away. The cool weather helped set the mood for a fun day ahead.

Mr. DQ and I visited the Marine Life Park as our first stop in Singapore. The Marine Life Park includes 3 attractions: Maritime Experiential Museum, S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark. We purchased the 38 HKD package that included S.E.A. Aquarium and passes for the Maritime Experiential Museum. We did not avail passes to Adventure Cove Waterpark and chose to go to Singapore's Night Safari later that day.

Maritime Experiential Museum Singapore Review:

Entrance to Maritime Experiential Museum showcased each country of destination that displayed trading goods like porcelain from China, Coconuts and Cinnamon from Sri Lanka, spices from India, carpets from Oman, etc. I was starting to get skeptic of the “museum park” that showed giant dioramas of the silk route era. The end of the route led us to the upper deck of a junk, an ancient term for ship Chinese vessels. 

I felt like a pirate and a kid who is anxious to see the puppets from a seemingly Chinese puppet theater. While finding my way from the back towards the stage among groups of families, I was trying to spot a good location to cross my legs and sit on the wooden floor, but failed to do so because everyone was standing up. The show started and realized that I was mistaken; it was not Chinese puppet show, it was a show about an old Singaporean junk and Admiral Zheng He's treasure ship voyage. I was thinking why it did not have benches for viewing, that was probably because the show was just an introduction and to the treasure ship's story. The deck was where the entrance to the Typhoon Theater starts. Do not be alarmed by the name of the attraction, I assure you that it is safe and there is no need for rain coat or boots, only open mind and eyes.

I was seated at the 2^nd row of typhoon theater benches, relatively front of the Chinese junk deck. Not that it made a big difference if an audience seated at the back area because I heard the reactions of the audience from all sides from where I sat. The man-made deck was enclosed in a cleverly used space, wherein people could feel the splashes of water, wind gusts, heat from fire, and the deck also vibrated as the story of the treasure ship unfold. I was taken aback by the creativity of the typhoon theater and I'll tell you why (Spoiler alert). The story ends in an unfortunate ending that shipwrecked the junk after being destroyed by a violent typhoon. For a moment, my senses were questioning whether the “Jewel of the Muscat” floated upwards while it was supposedly dropping to the bottom of the ocean as per history, or the whole deck was being submerged to the bottom of the ocean with the “Jewel of the Muscat”. The concept is so simple, but I've never seen anything like its execution, I did not expect and feel the drop of the deck to the “bottom of the ocean”.

Maritime Experiential Museum, Marine Life Park, Singapore: Admiral Zeng He's ship wrecked under the sea

After the shipwreck, the exit from the typhoon theater leads to a viewing panel of a ship wrecked under water. It reaffirmed me to project that I was at the bottom of the sea and made me ask: What's next? There is an added feature to the Maritime Experiential Museum that is viewable from the pathway from shipwreck towards the entrance of S.E.A. Aquarium. Imagine a giant fish head; cut in half, exposing the insides. Only this time, I was seeing the compartments of a typical junk and its precious cargo. Animals on-board reminded me of Noah's Ark. Well, my mindset was already at the bottom of the sea, I chose to go and see the aquariums ahead.

Maritime Experiential Museum, Marine Life Park, Singapore

Maritime Experiential Museum, Marine Life Park, Singapore

S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore Review:

Again, the ocean slowly unfolds before the audience. The entrance leads to a long glass tube walk path that was over 2 meters in width. I was indeed under the ocean, almost swimming with the stingrays, sharks, and other colorful and fishes of different sizes. The walkalator was working, but I wanted to stay longer so I stepped out of it. Check out the divers! Not sure if they were preparing to feed the sharks, but they showcased their swimming stunts and said hello to the children. See how divers enthused the local kids.

S.E.A. Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore

Some fishes required using focus lenses to view them. One example was the shark eggs that were hanging from some sort of coral. The eggs were being gently swept to one direction due to water current. Kids and parents went crazy for this one; lucky to have taken this shot before they approached. Apologies for the blurry cellphone picture, I minimized the use of flash in the S.E A. Aquarium to avoid harming the animals.

S.E.A. Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore: Baby sharks

They have dolphins! I learned that dolphins also like to swim on their backs. They have a wide swimming area in S.E.A. Aquarium and they did not shy away from people.

S.E.A. Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore: Dolphin swimming on its back

I was mesmerized by this cylinder aquarium, a circular sitting bench surrounded the structure. It was a great resting place for grandparents and tired guardians. Nearby was a similar structure with bigger fish in it. I got dizzy with schools of big fishes swimming vigorously around and around. (Camera shutter speed was too slow to catch a clearer picture of these fishes, swimming at the lower part of the aquarium). These were stern looking fishes, I sensed pity because they were swimming in circles with nowhere to go to. They need to relocate these fishes.

S.E.A. Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore

I wonder if these jelly fishes were upset because they were all at the bottom of the tank. I forgot what they were called, they looked cute though.

S.E.A. Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore:  sunken jelly fishes

I enjoyed the different presentation of aquariums; giant seals and dugongs were such wonderful things to see up-close. One particular interesting part was the electric eel viewing hole in the wall. I tried to get in the hole below the wall that opened to a small cave, but I had to retreat to give way to children who were first in, I decided to move along. A peep in the hole was good enough for me, it’s the same eel anyway. I thought that this feature to the aquarium stirs the audience's curiosity: sneaking up on some electric eels hahaha.

S.E.A. Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore:  Ocean Dome

Just when I thought I've seen so much sea creatures, the Ocean Dome charmed me with its grandeur. Ocean Dome is the world's largest aquarium and the world's largest acrylic viewing panel – as certified by the Guinness World Record. Levels of carpeted observation areas were quite inviting, metal hand railings were placed in front of each level. I enjoyed just sitting down on the carpet with Mr DQ, very romantic and peaceful. The railings were not a nuisance since there was ample space to look up and just get lost with the underwater life. There is a food stall/restaurant nearby before proceeding to the panel viewing area. I might bring a picnic basket next time, and join those families who picnicked and had a peaceful time. I was awed and slightly creeped out with the giant sting rays with long tails and giant sharks, gliding gracefully through the aquarium.

I look back to the memory of the Ocean Dome sometimes when I feel like the world is too much to handle, it makes me think that some things are just bigger than life. But when I tried zooming out just a bit from the simultaneous happenings, the whole aquarium becomes a giant blue canvass with its rhythmic scheme of things. I don't know if it's just me or the blue canvass has been triggering a relaxing and nostalgic feeling. Such change of perspective goes a long way.

Price:
38 SGD

Likes:

Dramatical presentation of aquariums and sea creatures

Ocean Dome/Picnic area

Divers saying hello to viewers

Cool weather inside, not too hot nor cold

No weird pungent animal smell inside

Taking of pictures allowed

Dislikes:
Experiential Museum needs more life

Pricey souvenir items


Link to Singapore Day 1

Keywords: S.E.A. Aquarium, sea aquarium, Marine Life Park, Singapore