Splice Studios Singapore
Elvis Tames the Merlion
This is the Singapore Merlion. It's a fictional creation from the Singapore Tourism Board, part merman, part lion, a blend of the origins of its name from the Malay word "Singapura" (Lion City) and the fortunes built through its port trading activities. So... lion.. port... oceans... fish... mermaid... merman... Boom! Merlion!
It's the must-see for all visitors to Singapore, but from what I've heard, Japanese tourists seeing it for the first time are a little taken aback by it's size. Specifically, it's lack of size. It's slightly over 8m, so when you're from the land where local legend Godzilla is as big as a skyscraper, the Merlion can be a bit of a letdown.
Don't worry: on Sentosa Island, connected to the main island by a bridge, you'll find a much, much larger Merlion. This one is 37m tall, you can walk up the internal stairs to the head and look out the Mouth Viewing Deck, and at night, it has lasers shooting out of its eyes. Yeah, you read that right - frickin' lasers, people!
Elvis Tames the Merlion
This is the Singapore Merlion. It's a fictional creation from the Singapore Tourism Board, part merman, part lion, a blend of the origins of its name from the Malay word "Singapura" (Lion City) and the fortunes built through its port trading activities. So... lion.. port... oceans... fish... mermaid... merman... Boom! Merlion!
It's the must-see for all visitors to Singapore, but from what I've heard, Japanese tourists seeing it for the first time are a little taken aback by it's size. Specifically, it's lack of size. It's slightly over 8m, so when you're from the land where local legend Godzilla is as big as a skyscraper, the Merlion can be a bit of a letdown.
Don't worry: on Sentosa Island, connected to the main island by a bridge, you'll find a much, much larger Merlion. This one is 37m tall, you can walk up the internal stairs to the head and look out the Mouth Viewing Deck, and at night, it has lasers shooting out of its eyes. Yeah, you read that right - frickin' lasers, people!