Ashes in the Light

If you saw my post [A Day at Gardens by the Bay: From Blossoms to Dinosaurs] last week, you’ll know I had friends visiting — and yes, I was out being touristy again! Aside from spending a day with the dinosaurs, we also spent a sunny, rain-spotted afternoon at Universal Studios Singapore.

Even as a local, the park and its rides never fail to excite me.

We arrived early in the morning. The weather was heating up quickly, and so was the crowd. A brief drizzle came and went, but it didn’t dampen our fun. Once the excitement kicked in, we forgot all about the humidity and the rain.

We were lucky enough to catch the Minion Dance Show right at the start of our day, especially since Minion Land had just opened recently.

We hopped on a few rides—Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey, Revenge of the Mummy, and Transformers: The Ride 3D (which honestly felt like a 4D ride!).

The Puss in Boots ride looked harmless from the outside, but it turned out to be a sneaky little roller coaster—deceptively thrilling. We waited about 20–30 minutes, but I’m glad we got in early because the queue snaked all the way out by the time we were done.

After that, we grabbed a quick lunch and headed to a Jurassic-themed show.

It was a fun pit stop, but nothing compared to the Jurassic World experience we had at Cloud Forest.

I didn’t manage to get any photos of the Revenge of the Mummy or Transformers rides, but the Transformers ride really stood out—especially when Optimus Prime fired a shot and we felt the heat. Definitely more than just 3D.

We also took a slow and silly ride on the Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase—a nice break between the thrill rides.

When it comes to shows, we watched Shrek 4D Adventure, which had fun bounces and water sprays that matched the action. And I personally loved the Trolls Hug Time Jubilee. It was bright, musical, and even had moments where the characters came off stage to interact with the audience!

And yes—we queued to take a photo with Optimus Prime. The interaction was short but really fun. I don’t have the photo (it’s on my husband’s phone), but I really enjoyed that little moment.

It was wonderful going from soaring roller coasters to dino roars in the garden. That sense of play and surprise is one of my favourite things about days like these, especially when shared with friends—no matter your age.

If there’s one takeaway:
USS might be touristy, but it’s perfectly charming when shared with good company. The mix of adrenaline, nostalgia (hello, Minions!), and laughter made it feel like a tiny adventure in our own city.

Next time, I’ll be a little more prepared—take note of the mystery 4D films, plan out the ride order, and make time for all the photo ops. But for now, I’m just really glad we went.

It’s days like these that remind me how fun it is to play tourist in your own city—especially with friends around. Between the shows, the rides, and all the little moments in between, Universal Studios Singapore gave us more than just thrills. It gave us laughter, memories, and a break from the usual routine.

Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, there’s always something familiar yet exciting waiting inside those gates. And who knows—maybe next time I’ll even remember the name of that mystery 4D ride!

Until then, here’s to more mini adventures, shared joy, and the magic of theme parks at any age.