Leaderboard

After last year's unexpected trip to Kuala Lumpur, I was once again surprised when I found out I would be working in Singapore. Over the course of my two weeks there, I managed to use my time in between work efforts to see what the city had to offer. A first for me this time when traveling to this side of the world, was flying through Doha, Qatar. My hotel was attached to one of the city's many large shopping complexes. After over 24 hours in transit from Orlando and a quick need to adjust to the current timezone to start work the next day, I ran down to the food court to get a bite before passing out. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Michelin-Starred venue (a counter-service one in a food court, at that). I didn't need much but I wasn't going to pass up the chance to have authentic roast duck and BBQ pork. The next morning I was pleased to find a Toast Box in the same attached mall. I had eaten at the same company's former location during my Shanghai Disneyland honeymoon in 2017, and this curry laksa became a comfort meal throughout my trip. When driving through the Raffles City and Marina Bay Sands area of Singapore I saw lots of F1-related structures as the event was only a few weeks away from taking place during my visit. Marina Bay Sands is the most iconic (and photographed) part of Singapore, and my hosts brought me here early into my trip to enjoy the sights. And yes, I did have a Singapore Sling or two along the way... Merlion Park is another key stop while touring Marina Bay Sands. I had a chance to see Sentosa from high above, getting an early sneak peek at Universal Studios Singapore, which I would visit both as a day guest and later for Halloween Horror Nights... But more on that later! One evening between working sessions, I used my downtime to go to Gardens by the Bay... The complex is absolutely huge and could easily fill a full day. I didn't have that much time, so I prioritized the things that interested me most and that would be open during my brief window of time available. Cloud Forest was first on my list, including the recently-opened Jurassic World: The Experience produced by Neon. The complex is incredibly impressive and the Jurassic World overlay fits really well into the normal year-round elements of the space. As one of two Neon-produced offerings I experienced while in Singapore, I was very impressed with the quality of what I saw here. The waterfall in Cloud Forest is kind of a signature element. The dinosaurs from Jurassic World are carefully integrated into the walk-through environment in ways that feel organic and immersive. The absolute show-stopper of the experience was this large-scale T-Rex animatronic with fully articulated movement in its head, neck and tail. If I wasn't so pressed for time, I could have watched it perform for a half hour or more. There were several other clever animatronic dinosaurs in the experience. The awe of the Jurassic franchise comes to life here and is only amplified by John Williams' and Michael Giacchino's scores playing majestically in the background. If you're a fan of the IP, it's hard not to get swept up by it all and to feel at least a little emotional by how "real" it feels. I'm a huge fan of Dale Chihuly's work and so I was greatly pleased to find a work of his in Cloud Forest. A sneak peak at Supertree Grove from inside of Cloud Forest. While Universal has shown us Jurassic incubators before, it was super cool (and cute) to see animatronic baby dinos warming in their own incubator next to the more traditional egg incubators. Mr. D.N.A.! Some of the year-round elements of Cloud Forest remain unaltered for the Jurassic World exhibition. I've seen dinosaurs like these at Universal before, but they were equally fun to see here. There's an immersive projection space inside of Cloud Forest tucked within the mountain structure. Yes, they did have the iconic park gates represented... No, they weren't the most impressive element of the experience. Being able to see this dino from the ground and from the elevated walking paths was neat. A look down on the T. Rex from above. Cloud Forest is such a unique environment! Didn't think you'd escape Isla Nublar without running into a few of these, did you? Pro lighting setup here. No, I wasn't queuing for Velocicoaster when this photo was taken. The experience's finale is a live showing where guests can see Blue the velociraptor up close. She did the pose! Admission to the Flower Dome is included with your Cloud Forest ticket... It is a large, indoor botanical garden that, if you're into greenery, can be very impressive. In addition to natural wonders, there are some pieces of art made with natural materials embedded in the habitats. There was a Switzerland-themed event going on during my visit... Oh, and they have rides here too. Fun for all ages! Supertree Grove is incredibly impressive in person. For those looking for an observation deck-style experience, Supertree Grove has both the OCBC Skyway (pictured here) as well as The Supertree Observatory (the center tree in the previous photo). Each of them has their own admission ticket required, so I chose the more unique of the two. The view is fantastic! I felt like I was in the Eloi village from The Time Machine (2002). On the grounds nearby is the United Buddy Bears exhibition with 145 unique, artistic bears representing different countries and territories around the world. After the sun sets, Supertree Grove takes on a different life with a bioluminescent glow. Otherworldly and beautiful. A special version of the twice-nightly light show was running during my visit, featuring "Worlds of Fantasy" music from Disney, Universal and Warner Brothers including Super Mario Bros, Harry Potter, The Little Mermaid and Star Wars. I might've had an out-of-body experience when the show started dancing to Star Wars' "Duel of the Fates." The Singapore Flyer can be seen from many vantage points throughout the city. This is one attraction I didn't get to experience firsthand during my trip. Gardens by the Bay is a short walk from the Marina Bay Sands mall and casino, so I stopped in to visit the famous mall. I was pleased to find multiple TeamLab experiences on the grounds. This very unique, three story fountain drains water in a pool found in the open air above this portion of the mall, draining into the mall's indoor lagoon. It is equally mesmerizing to watch from outside. One of the most unique Apple Store locations I've ever been to. And there's a downstairs floor that connects directly with the indoor mall! And there's a Bellagio/World of Color-style fountain show outside of the mall that I managed to see end right as I got to the railing... So this is the best and only photo I took to prove its existence. My time exploring Marina Bay Sands was a highlight of the trip. While there was a lot more work to do, I felt recharged after my time here. But there was still more adventure ahead...

Bobbejaanland has announced that the children's area of the park will be revamped to feature three new attractions in a new land themed to Nickelodeon properties. This new land is scheduled to open at the park in 2027. https://nnieuws.be/artikel/2027-zet-bobbejaanland-3-nieuwe-attracties-neer-met-nickelodeon-grootste-investering-ooit A few weeks ago, Bobbejaanland confirmed that 2027 would be a significant year for investment. The children's area at the park entrance is getting a complete makeover with three new attractions, in collaboration with Nickelodeon. The Nickelodeon characters have been a fixture at Bobbejaanland for several years, with a successful dance show and meet & greet. Starting in 2027, Nickelodeon will also have its own zone with three family attractions, a souvenir shop, a food and beverage station, and much more. In addition to SpongeBob SquarePants and the friends from Bikini Bottom, Garfield will also be there this time. Biggest investment ever "Next year, Bobbejaanland will have been a true family park for exactly 65 years. With the announced investment, we confirm that we want to remain that way. There's always something for the whole family to enjoy," says Yves Peeters, the park's General Manager. "We have the ambition to continue growing, and we're convinced we can, especially with a partner like Paramount combined with one of the largest investments ever." 3 new attractions: spectacular water ride, a wild swing and a free-fall tower Bobbejaanland will begin major renovations in the fall of 2026. The Flying Orca—which has been happily spinning with the youngest visitors since 2002—will be removed from the park. The carousel will make way for something much more impressive: a "Wild Swing" by ART Engineering, which will propel 18 guests simultaneously through the air up to a height of 12 meters. This attraction is tailor-made for Plankton. He's still striving for world domination. To this end, he's invented a gigantic machine powered by the electrical charge of a tank full of jellyfish. Plankton hopes the machine will create a superpower that will allow him to first destroy Bikini Bottom and then conquer the world! Take part in Plankton's experiment and swing through the air in "Plankton Power." A little further on, the Kettingmolen (Chain Mill) currently stands, but it will be relocated to another beautiful spot in the park. The nostalgic swing carousel will be replaced by a 21-meter-high "Big Wavez" from manufacturer Zamperla. The latter is a unique water attraction – unique in Europe – in which 20 guests sit side by side and are lifted into the air, only to plunge back down. This creates a 10-meter-high tidal wave, making even bystanders part of the spectacle. It sounds just like SpongeBob SquarePants. He's organizing a diving competition at Mussel Beach. Larry Lobster competes against a handful of volunteers, while Patrick watches from his comfy lifeguard chair. Or is he asleep? Who will create the biggest wave with a high dive? Take a seat in "Splash Down" and give it a try. Bobbejaanland is adding another experience to its lineup of new attractions. It's a 15-meter-high free-fall tower for the whole family, from the same builder as "Big Wavez." Garfield is the one who's making this attraction his own. From now on, he'll be celebrating his birthday every day at Bobbejaanland. His friends Odie and Jon have organized a surprise party for Garfield and hidden a giant cake at the top of the free-fall tower. Children are invited to retrieve the cake along with Garfield's friends. Only then can the party really begin. Welcome to "Garfield's Birthday Surprise." New zone will be a cozy and active place to spend time for the whole family “In addition to the new attractions, there will be much more to experience in the new zone,” says Peggy Verelst, commercial and creative director. On the way to "Garfield's Birthday Surprise," guests will encounter fun photo opportunities, and on the way to "Plankton Power," they'll have to navigate dangerous jellyfish. Next to "Splash Down," Sandy Cheeks has built a "hydro lab" where you can shoot water pistols at targets. The new family zone at Bobbejaanland will be a complete experience. Opening is expected in spring 2027.