I thought I was old enough to be subjected to these adrenaline-pumping rides. But I was wrong! The Universal Studios Singapore was the perfect place to be a kid again. The moment we entered the theme park, I knew in my heart we were in for a treat. We arrived at 10am and the park was bustling with people, everyone with smiles on their faces and were having group pictures.
In all honesty, I came here without any expectations at all. I grew up not even craving for theme parks and amusement rides. Not because I didn’t want to but these places were deemed an unwanted luxury at that time. So doing these rides at my age now (am not that old, lol!), somehow made me look back and wished to have had done it before. True enough, nothing is too late in life and it was simply the best time for such a long, long while.
Confused and excited, we were not sure where to start. We weren’t even looking at the map. Our eyes were just betraying our feet until we heard a lady shouting for Lights, Camera and Action! The line was long when we were ushered inside. Steven Spielberg commanded the screen lecturing us about special effects. It was so nice to hear him speak and sharing his thoughts about film making. Then off we went to the next room for the actual show-creating the perfect storm.
Lights, Camera, Action! was the perfect introduction to a day packed with heart-stopping special effects. Even to the most scrutinizing mind, the storm felt so real. The creation of waves, thunderstorms, fires and sinking of ship were perfectly executed. I felt the fire, the rushing waves and screamed too like rest. I was holding on the railing as if my life depended on it. We left the theater with big smiles on our faces and ready for another heart- stopping adventure.
To my dismay, our next challenge was the jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping, death-defying twin roller coasters. I tried my best to suppress my fear but my hands became sweaty and wobbling knees betrayed my feigned demeanor. But if my friends could do it, then I need to step up and be a man. The thing is, I am afraid of heights. And looking at those red and blue interlocking roller coasters were enough to send shivers into my spine. With closed eyes and a promise of tomorrow, I followed my friends and silently embraced the brewing fear. I need to do this, I kept telling myself as we ascend to the longest flight of stairs I’ve seen in my life!
Standing on our assigned platform and waiting for the roller coaster was definitely not the best idea. I kept on looking where we came from thinking I could probably back out. But my ego and perhaps the superego dissuaded me from doing the unthinkable- running back to the door like a scared dog. Then I heard the coasters coming and small voices turned into loud screams and noises. It was such a revelry of yeah-I-did-it shout out and survival proclamation. The waiting area became so loud that I couldn’t even hear myself speak. I closed my eyes, filtered the sounds and there I stood, in silence, just me and the impending ride of my life.
The moment of truth finally came. The lady pushed down the lever and locked my seat. Everybody was screaming. Seating beside me were Shawn from the US, Natalia from Dominica and my good friend Adrianna. We looked at each other, smiled and joined the fun. We raised our arms, made a sign of love, checked our seats and waited for the signal. Then the alarm came and slowly we moved into the light and moments later, I was screaming and screaming on the top of my lungs.
The Blue Cylon was the definitely the best! It has the most scary twists and stomach-churning thrusts! The one thing that stayed in my memory was the initial dive, leaving everyone quiet then the sudden acceleration making everyone screamed. I screamed, shouted, raised my hands and totally went crazy. I was having a blast beyond my wildest imagination. The Cylon and me became one and together. I tried the Red roller coaster called Human but the Cylon really captured my thought. Though, Human was much faster but lacks the adrenaline-spiking thrusts, twists and excitement of the Cyclon. Hence, I rode the Cyclon 6 freaking times! Gone was the fear of heights and death and everything was replaced with laughter and tons of it!
If the Battlestar Galactica was unforgettable, I would say the Transformers Ride was the most memorable. Not because it has the longest queue but because of its amazing 4D, involving everyone in the fight between the evil Decepticons and the heroic Autobots. My friend Natalia was cheering for Bumblebee like a true fan. It was truly a ride to remember. No wonder everyone is queuing up just to feel the excitement.
I could go on and on writing about our day in Universal Studios Singapore. The Mummy Ride was probably the third best, followed by the Jurassic Park Rapids. I didn’t try the other rides and they are perfect for families and kids. We waited for the Rock Concert and the show was amazing. In the end, we lost our voices and danced on the street. We lined up for lunch at the Malaysian street and enjoyed browsing on all the souvenir stores.
The Universal Studios Singapore, no matter how pricey the admission was, was all worth the hype. You don’t even have to buy the Express Card as lining up could be so much fun. All you need are extra clothing, some money for food and drinks, a good camera and the most important thing, an adventurous spirit. I thought again I was old enough to be subjected to these heart-stopping rides. But after a long tiring day, it dawned on me that age has nothing to do with Universal Studios Singapore. There will always be a child in all of us and this is the place to bring that out again, to have fun and laugh endlessly, even for one single day!
Stirring Constantly 