The Sentosa Merlion

Singapore adopted the mythical Merlion as it's symbol in the 60's.

The largest Merlion is found on Sentosa. Being the first to point it out is a huge part of our cable car ride. At 37 metres high it's stands tall against the horizon of water. With a lion head and fish tail it's considered the guardian of Singapore's prosperity.

One of MsC's Singapore goals to go up the Merlion. We were waiting for a special occasion, and that day has come because in the name of progress our Sentosa Merlion is going away.

Sentosa is demolishing the Merlion to connect Sentosa to a neighbouring island and will also redo the walkway where the Merlion currently sits. When we told MsC of it's planned demise, she sat down and had a good cry about it. She thinks there should be a Save the Merlion Protest. Seeing as we are not Singapore Citizens, we will not be participating in any protests. Apparently there is an online petition, but I can't imagine it going far.

We make sure to take MsC up the Merlion before the tours stopped. The last day to go up is October 20, 2019. There was only about a month's notice given about it's end. Jonathan, MsE and MsC went up together. I was happy to stay on the ground with the toddler. They said there was a video shown about the history of Singapore before you entered the lion's mouth t0 see the view. The girls liked that they got a "gold" coin with the merlion on it as a souvenir.

MsC says that when the Merlion comes down she will not take the cable cars anymore because she will be too sad. I told her it may be quite a while from when tours end till the Merlion comes down. I'm curious about how they will take down the 37 metre stone statue, and I'm wondering how close I can get to it while it's happening. Like will the cable car line beside it still be running. MsC says she is not curious and does not want to see it coming down.

Now that I think of it I imagine this means that Merlion Walk will be going away too. That makes me even more sad than the end of the Giant Merlion. Merlion Walk leads from the statue and beside the colourful mosaic fountains down to the beach.

Thankfully Singapore has 6 more Merlions - though none so tall as Sentosa's! When "our" merlion disappears we'll be organizing a scavenger hunt to find the remaining 6.