MANILA, Philippines - By now, you probably have your Easter weekend planned. That’s the thing about Filipinos: we love our holidays. And more often than not, we want to spend it with our families. Whether it’s a quick getaway to the beach or an egg hunt at the nearest mall, we want to make sure that whatever we have planned is enjoyable for the whole family. This Easter, why not fly out of the Manila nest and try an Easter egg hunt of gigantic proportions?
The Sentosa HarbourFront Business Association brings another installment of The Great Egg-venture Hunt. Now in its second year, the egg hunt features 100 giant eggs that have been painted by over 300 artists and celebrities. If you want to take home an Easter egg yourself, 50 miniature eggs painted by celebrated Singaporean artists and a few Asian artists are up for auction. The proceeds will go to Very Special Arts Singapore, a charity supporting people with disability to access the arts for rehabilitation and social integration.
While the 50 miniature eggs are available for viewing at ResortWorld Singapore, the 100 giant Easter eggs are scattered throughout key areas of the Sentosa HarbourFront precinct like Universal Studios, Mount Faber and Vivo City, among others.
But this is not an ordinary egg hunt. With the help of the Great Egg-venture app, both Android and Apple users can keep track of the eggs through taking selfies. Just make sure the eggs are seen because these selfies are important to qualify for the prizes.
The Great Egg-venture Hunt only runs until April 5, so with 100 eggs waiting, you need to get cracking. So go forth, bust out that selfie stick and devise a battle plan. With many attractions waiting at Sentosa, you might need it.
Under the S.E.A. and far, far away
ResortsWorld Singapore offers a variety of attractions and entertainment options like the must-visit S.E.A. Aquarium. While S.E.A. Aquarium is known for their beautiful display of marine animals, they also have the Maritime Experiential Museum, an interactive and innovative look at the Maritime Silk Route. The highlight of the museum is “Jewel of Muscat,” a full-sized replica of a 9th century ship. A gift from the Omani government, the “Jewel” sailed from Oman to Singapore for over five months.
If you’re heading down to the main aquarium, you better do it the right way. At the end of the museum is the Typhoon Theater, a 360-degree multimedia theater that will take you on a voyage in a 9th century ship not unlike the “Jewel of the Muscat.” No need to bring your umbrellas and raincoats; there won’t be actual waves splashing inside the theater. As you exit the show, watch out for a shipwreck replica and an Easter egg in one of the tanks. Stick around for a while and you might catch the Easter bunny swimming inside.
The S.E.A. Aquarium has a total of 10 zones, each representing a region of the world, a certain specimen or a major sea. But the highlight of the aquarium is the Ocean Gallery, a 36-meter-wide, 8.3-meter-tall aquarium that contains over 50,000 marine animals and one of the 100 Easter eggs.
If you want to go on a fantastical adventure above and beyond the sea, visit Universal Studios Singapore (USS) and meet your favorite TV and movie characters. From the cute, yellow Minions from Despicable Me to the sultry Marilyn Monroe, USS definitely has something for everyone.
Sci-Fi City, one of the seven zones in USS, houses the first Transformers-themed ride where you can battle the evil Decepticons alongside Optimus Prime and the rest of the Transformers. Two of the 100 giant eggs are located in this zone.
For the thrill-seekers and scavenger hunters at heart, check out “Revenge of the Mummy” at Lost Egypt and go on a high-speed roller coaster adventure in total darkness. If you want to take a journey further down history, head to the “Jurassic Park Rapids” at The Lost World zone. Quick tip: Buy waterproof ponchos before queuing; you might get soaking wet during the ride.
While most attractions are open for the rest of the year, the Easter eggs-travaganza in USS will only last until April 5. Walk through the streets of the New York zone and see the Eggingham Palace for yourself. With three shows a day, you can join the Egg Lord and the rest of the Easter royalty in their royal banquet. It’s a show where you can groove to the latest top 40 hits complete with egg puns that will get any kid (and even adults) cracking.
Take a thrill pill
If you fancy an adventure in the comfort of a theater seat, check out the Sentosa 4D Adventureland at Imbiah lookout. Immerse yourself into another world in Journey of the Center of Earth or take aim and fire at Desperados, an interactive shootout game. But if you prefer to go on an adventure up the mountains, ride the cable car to Mt. Faber and get a bird’s eye view tour of the Sentosa HarbourFront precinct. Take the Skyline Luge, a part-toboggan, part-go-cart ride, if you don’t feel like walking back down. Just keep your eyes peeled; one of the 100 Easter eggs is located here.
For more thrills, check out iFly Singapore, an indoor diving facility located just outside the Waterfront station of the Sentosa Express. Dubbed as the world’s largest themed wind tunnel, this indoor skydiving facility is a must-see for everyone. But if you want to try it for yourself, basic tutorial, equipment rental and two skydives goes for S$99. If the certificate you get after the session isn’t enough proof that you did it, you can even get a video copy of yourself flying.
Chill deals and Easter meals
Just like the main attractions in Sentosa, the restaurants in the precinct also have special Easter menus. Known for their big and delicious helpings of ribs, steaks and burgers, the Hard Rock Café offers a special Easter burger this season. With fried egg and strips of bacon, this satisfying burger may just be what you need to reenergize after a day of egg hunting. The Easter salad is also available for those looking for a lighter option.
The Easter holiday is also a great way to wind down and relax. Hotels like the Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa have special activities for the Easter season. Not only are their rooms perfect for the family, the overall hotel environment is family-friendly. The Cool Zone, a kids-only recreation room, offers fun and educational activities for kids and toddlers. While the children are having their fun, the parents can drop by the Chi Spa. They offer massages and spa treatments perfect after a day of finding Easter eggs.
If retail therapy is the relaxation of your choice, drop by Vivo City. It has over 300 shops ranging from high-end retail to local indie brands. It’s the perfect stopover before heading back to the country to get some last minute pasalubong shopping done. Vivo City has train stations connecting Sentosa to the main Singapore MRT line so you won’t have to worry about missing your flight back to the Manila nest.
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Special thanks to the Sentosa HarbourFront Business Association. For more information on the Great Egg-venture at Sentosa, visit the SHBA website: http://www.shba.org.sg/ Text and photos by Maine Manalansan