A Travel Blog filled with travel stories & a huge collection of travel photos taken from around the world, TravelerFolio is an award winning travelblog made in Singapore on April '08
November 16, 2008

Merlion = Fish + Lion (Sentosa Part 2/4)



Sentosa / Singapore

When you visit Sentosa, you will see this gigantic fierce-looking creature with a lion head and a fish body. You need not run, ‘cos it’s just a 12-storey high statue but is the tallest in Singapore. This imaginary creature is famously known as the Merlion, the emblem of Singapore Tourism Board. Visitors can take the lift up to the 12th floor of the Merlion statue to view the city.

The Merlion statue at the Merlion Park in Singapore mainland has a “softer” look than the fierce-looking one in Sentosa. =P Many do hope that what comes out of the Merlion’s mouth is free flow of beer. You know, when the locals say, someone “merlion”, it could mean someone vomits or his saliva got onto your face. XD

The lion head of this creature represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, which means “lion city” in Malay. The fish body recalls the ancient name of Temasek, which means “sea town” in Javanese. Back to Sentosa…. At the Merlion souvenir shop, these cute little Merlion plush toys have at least made an effort to soften the image of the fierce-looking Merlion statue. This is the first time I see Merlion has tongue! LOL!! One for S$16.90. (US$1 = S$1.51)

Cute toys. I don’t recall seeing this kind of plush toys selling in the mainland. Hmm, now their face look like a bear and their body resembles that of a sea lion to me. LOL!!!

Baby Merlions with thick and messy manes. Suddenly, they look like little white mice. XD

Now these are young, handsome and sporty lions. One even has a Nemo on its lap.  chie

This mannequin is wearing the uniform of chief stewardess from Singapore Airline.

We didn’t go up to the Merlion statue observation deck but one of our bloggers did. This Malaysian blogger – Borneo Falcon – also visited Sentosa recently! Do check out his aerial photos of Singapore from the Merlion statue.

It has been raining almost everyday in Singapore. We were really lucky to get a sunny day on our day of visit.

The mosaic walkway lined with water jets is the Merlion Walk, which is located behind the Merlion statue. Pardon me, she was just too thirsty after a long walk under the hot sun. XD

Staffs from an organisation going through team building exercise. All had to squeeze and step onto a small sheet of canvas.

Another attraction – Images of Singapore. We didn’t enter as we didn’t bring money that day. XD Just kidding. Images of Singapore is a journey to the very soul of Singapore, a place of cultural diversity.

Read posts on Sentosa (Part 1/4) | Sentosa Beaches (Part 3/4) | Songs of the Sea (Part 4/4)

Also, explore the tropical oceanarium, the Underwater World on Sentosa.

29 Comments Leave your comment

  • Borneo Falcon said on November 16, 2008 8:36 pm

    I always enjoy strolling down the Merlion Walk. Hope they don’t demolish it for something else like what happened to the Musical Fountain

  • Zara said on November 16, 2008 8:42 pm

    Must bring me here too ya?

    I’m going next sem!!

    Hoyeah!!

  • eunice said on November 16, 2008 10:30 pm

    @Borneo Falcon: Oh ya, frankily speaking, I prefer the musical fountain to the current “Song of the Sea” which I will be publishing that soon.

    @Zara: haha =P

  • alex said on November 17, 2008 11:31 am

    wow it’s nice to see you’re having a singapore post!

    always want to travel there

    i hope next year i can make it and buy those cute lion toys!

  • eunice said on November 17, 2008 1:23 pm

    @Alex: Hope you visit SG next yr! =D

  • Borneo Falcon said on November 17, 2008 6:02 pm

    Thanks for putting my link here. I still going to post about the Merlion Walk, Underwater World, Dolphin Lagoon, Palawan Beach, Songs of the Sea and Fort Siloso this week. The post will be put up every day. For Songs of the sea, I will be putting video clips, pretty much from the start to the end.

  • Sanket said on November 17, 2008 7:02 pm

    Thanks fro nice post, when i visit your blog I always feel i visited to a new tourist place.. once again thanks a lot for putting such good travel related blog

  • eunice said on November 17, 2008 9:39 pm

    @BorneoFalcon: Wow! So you covered all Sentosa attractions? Cool, I look forward to that!

    @Sanket: =D welcome!

  • Bridge said on November 18, 2008 1:09 am

    Hi Eunice… Very nice photos again. By the way, I just noticed, the lady on a blue spaghetti tank (sleeveless top) seemed to be the very same lady on your first Sentosa Post. Are you with her? Haha! Interesting to see her.

  • eunice said on November 18, 2008 1:45 am

    @Bridge: Of cos! If not how could she be posing for my photos kekeke I was teasing her, asking her to pose as if she was drinking water from the water jet! XD

  • Tianhong said on November 18, 2008 9:22 am

    another month before i’m back. will sure go to sentosa to get a nice body tan!

  • Tianhong said on November 18, 2008 9:24 am

    the lady in the pool is spitting out water just like merlion. is that you :p

  • eunice said on November 18, 2008 9:33 am

    @Tianhong: Welcome back! Hmm, now it’s rainy season.. hope the weather is sunny when you go Sentosa! We were really lucky to meet a good weather without any drizzle on our visit!

    Huh? You don’t know how I look like? That lady is drinking from the water jet. =P

  • Jayce said on November 18, 2008 5:10 pm

    Those lions are cute. ;)

  • Asian Traveler said on November 19, 2008 2:03 pm

    Those are cuties! I love the baby merlions key chains and the sporty lions. What store is this?

  • eunice said on November 19, 2008 5:07 pm

    @Asian Traveler: You can get them at the gift shop on the ground level of the Merlion statue in Sentosa. =D

  • Footyman said on November 19, 2008 11:13 pm

    Wish I had read this earlier…was bringing a colleague from China around and realized I have totally forgotten the story about the Merlion! What a shame on me ;(

  • eunice said on November 20, 2008 2:33 am

    @Footyman: Er.. hahaha! Singapore is already very small wor you could forget Merlion hahaha! Nevermind, you must have shown your colleague another side of Singapore!

  • aash said on November 21, 2008 12:59 pm

    Great writeup on Singapore. I love the place too, especially its local food. Though it can be abit too spicy at times. Thats singapore tourism for you. =)

  • rehans said on September 5, 2009 10:48 pm

    excellent beautiful pictures

  • eunice said on September 7, 2009 2:10 am

    @rehans: Thx for ur visit!

  • salmoncat said on September 19, 2009 11:18 am

    hello, thanks for posting this. it’s very helpful for visitors to singapore like me. i like your page because it’s informative but not wordy. you take great pics too. keep up the good work.

  • rehans said on September 20, 2009 7:25 pm

    actually I had a project & these photos help me a lot

  • eunice said on September 20, 2009 7:38 pm

    er.. pls seek permission first before you use my photos from this site. :P

  • eunice said on September 20, 2009 7:39 pm

    Thank you.. :)

  • rehans said on September 20, 2009 7:59 pm

    don’t worry I did not post them anywhere.It’s just on my computer.

  • nisa iskandar said on December 24, 2009 12:06 pm

    nice to go there..

  • cherish said on February 16, 2010 11:22 pm

    hi,,i just wanna know if where can i find those cute merlion stuff toys.. :D
    thanks!

  • eunice said on February 18, 2010 2:42 am

    Hi, you can get those Merlion stuff toys at the gift shop next to Delifrance located at the ground floor of the huge Merlion statue in Sentosa island.

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