Destination Diary: Singapore

I look at Singapore as a model city-state, because of its consciousness in preserving its land and resources, integrating nature as a garden-city against its highly urban setting. Safety, fairness and convenience are the themes that regulations bring to all of its people. One needs to know the city very well to determine the balance between save and splurge, luxury versus being content with the common choices there are. Plus, it may be a bit pricey to do everything at once in SG, but we keep talking about going back and doing what we missed.

For someone who has a long weekend and can endure a four-hour midnight flight to SG, here’s what you can do in metropolitan Singapura:

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a popular complex for both young and old to explore and learn about various species of plants. My favorite spots are easily the cacti and succulents. Obviously, my mother’s favorites are the orchid displays. The waterfalls inside the Cloud Forest is refreshing too. The complex is divided into two: The Cloud Forest features a waterfall with many jungle plants, rainforest species and a stalagtite display. The Flower Dome is also a very beautiful place to experience different flower species cleverly arranged inside the largest indoor garden. For this particular Sunday, there were so many visitors, must also be because of the long weekend. 

The waterfalls inside Cloud Forest and display of Lego structures by the pond

Venus Flytraps growing in a terrarium

The terrarium collection in the Cloud Forest

Marina Bay Sands from the Cloud Forest canopy walk 

The stalactite display in the Cloud Forest 

Inside the Flower Dome with succulent displays 

Collection of  colorful tin canisters in the Flower Dome

Garden display in the Flower Dome

 Marina Bay Sands Roof Deck 56^th Floor

Yes, that’s the 56th Floor of the most luxurious hotel and mall in SG. For an entrance fee, we were able to go to the highest viewing deck and café and see the city from a tall vantage point. I also got to see a glimpse of the seaport that has interested me. Here in the deck, I realized that although we share the same time zone with SG, the sun at 5:00 PM is like 3:00 PM heat, and that it sets late in the evening and rises late in the morning. Unlike in the Philippines, by the time 8:00 AM rolls in, the sun is up already.

View from Marina Bay Sands 56th Floor Deck and Cafe and Seaport

Sentosa Island + Universal Studios

No visit to Singapore is complete without going to Sentosa and Universal Studios. Sentosa is an island destination filled with amusement parks and resorts, it’s really a family getaway. We took the cable car from Faber Peak just across Vivo City to Sentosa and from the Merlion Station in Sentosa, took the short tram ride to Universal Studios.

Universal Studios features a lot of studio sets, from Jurassic World, to Waterworld, Transformers, Far Far Away and Madagascar. My personal favorite is The Mummy and the studio set where we visited offered a really cool experience of seeing how it all works behind the cameras. Steven Spielberg’s walk-in Lights, Camera, Action is a must-visit. There are a lot of shows to enjoy, but queuing up for the rides can take a up a lot of time, not to mention that some faster rides don’t allow people with high cholesterol and heart disease to ride them, so it’s better to turn around while it’s still early. I regret not getting the express pass for all rides and shows to beat the queues. Lesson learned for another day then. 

The round trip cable car to Sentosa Island from Faber Peak

Universal Studios Gate, Sentosa Island

The Mummy set in Universal Studios

Far Far Away, Universal Studios, Sentosa Island

Waterworld Show, Universal Studios, Sentosa Island

The Popcorn Truck, Universal Studios 

Palawan Beach, Sentosa Island

Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park was my idea, so it took us a couple of bus rides from the condo where we were staying to take the buses to Jurong District.

Lorry Loft, Jurong Bird Park

It’s a good attraction for both young and old, and the one-way tram ride is enough to let you encircle the whole park. Different stops also mean different shows. Lorry Loft allows you to feed lorries so that you can get up close and personal with them while you feed them. Waterfall Aviary lets you experience different birds that dwell near bodies of waters, from waterfalls to ponds. There’s also the Pelican Show nearby. The High Flyers show is in the amphitheater and it’s all about colorful macaws, with various talents. Of course, the show isn’t complete with games and a show of dancing flamingoes because …. Piiiiiiiiink…

Pelican Cove, Jurong Bird Park

Flamingo Pool, Jurong Bird Park

Lastly, there’s a show of predator birds, from hawks, eagles and (gulp) vultures. Even one white vulture named Kevin has a story of his own, flying from the Himalayas in search of food, he arrived in downtown Singapore so exhausted. Staff from the Bird Park took him in and helped to rehabilitate him back to health. 

Botanical Gardens, Singapore

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are for you if you love growing orchids and enjoy Old English gardens, and if you have the energy to walk around. Admission is cheap, at only SG$5 per person, but during our visit, it poured so we scurried to the top of the hill. It’s really a relaxing place to walk around in, plus it’s therapeutic with various landscaping all over the place, there are a lot of zen gardens you can find in the sprawling area. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site and great for weekend walks and just recharging with the help of nature. 

The Botanical Gardens Clock Tower 

It said photo spot so......

Chinatown

As anybody knows, Chinatown is the place for food and pasalubong so here’s where one is allowed to splurge. And because mooncake season is up, anybody who’s exposed to Chinese culture know that they can just keep showing up before Autumn Festival in all shapes and sizes, for example we found the piggy shaped and merlion mooncake.

Getting off the crossing to Chinatown, (you know you're in Chinatown because of the lanterns)

I'm curious as to how long these structures have been here and how many generations have passed through

Merlion mooncake

Piggy shaped mooncake

There are endless shops in Chinatown, so many shops, not enough SG$ lol

Chinatown square

Looking back at our quick escape, a week is not enough in Singapore. There are still so many things to do and see. We did agree to ourselves that we can always come back one way or another. In the meantime, here’s an interesting mural to conclude our Singapura trip. Ciao! 

Mural in Chinatown

My Quick Guide to Singapore

You Know You're in Singapore When....

You Know You’re In Singapore When

Here’s a post highlighting the experiences I’ve enjoyed in Singapura, I hope that we can adopt these in our hometown and beloved country someday, though we’re off to a good start with Cebu Mactan’s T2. Read on to find out what it is I love about Singapore. 

Imagine that you've fallen asleep and found yourself in the middle of a city. How would you know where you are? To answer that question, you know you're in Singapore when... 

It's easy to take the public bus and train in SG

Public transportation is on time, clean and very efficient

Buses are always on time, every corner is spotless and all you need is an EZ link card to get around. It’s one way of ensuring that the best way to get from Point A to B is to tap on the card reader and you’re good to go. Each ride is as low as SG $.60.

  

Satay stalls by the Bay

Hawker food stalls are as sanitary as food court malls and restaurants

Here, street food stalls are more of a definition episode of “I Dare You” but in Singapore, even street-side hawker food stalls are a mainstay because of affordability, sanitation and definitely taste. Food is taken seriously in the city-state, all the more if it has a reputation to uphold. Some of the best -tasting food that locals bring us to are right by the street, if not those that are family-run for generations. 

Mommy claiming her tax return in Changi Airport

 You receive a tourist tax return when you spend a minimum of $100 on goods

In order to win back tourists after having spent a good amount shopping in SG, those who have spent over $100 on goods can actually enjoy a little tax return at the airport. To add to this bonus, it’s easy to have one’s passport scanned at the kiosk, then line up after the immigration check in the tax returns counter. You will be then asked if you’d want it in cash or cheque. Tadah, there’s a good sum to enjoy a quick snack in the lounge before boarding. Sweet, huh? 

You can leave your stuff at a corner table and come back to them later, no more worrying about thieves

It’s only in SG that we felt confident leaving our stuff behind in search of food, without having to worry about strangers picking them up. Theft is a very serious crime that’s punishable and qualified for investigation. The locals know this by heart and here is an example of leaving our belongings in a public area while we buy what we wanted for lunch, only to come back to a table that’s not just cleaned after but still with our belongings safe and sound. Oh how I long for this day to be a reality in Mi Ciudad. 

Photo taken from Straits Times Singapore

Your exit (checkout) at immigration is automated

Talk about hassle-free immigration, the management keeps electronic records and allows all registered travelers automated exit. One simply has to go through passport scanning, facial and fingerprint capture and you’re good to go. It didn’t get to me as I was looking forward to an exit stamp on my passport, but I already have an arrival stamp upon entering, so that’s that. Stress-free boarding, that’s Changi Airport for you. 

My father enjoying his giant meat bun

Food servings are bigger than your face

No more words needed, that’s my father delighted with his giant meat bun from Vivo City, devoured in Sentosa Island, that’s as big as his face. So imagine how I had to split up the other meat bun into quarters. The same goes for the rest of the food that we bought all over the city, affordable, huge, delish… 

All over Changi Airport (Why do I keep taking photos of these three's backs?)

Not only is the airport fully carpeted, even the toilets are comparable to hotels

The arrival lounge and immigration look like a hotel lobby, plus the conveyor belt section for luggage pickup is like a garden. Facilities are modern and complete, I don’t mind staying here for a delayed flight because Changi can just do no wrong. No wonder it’s one of the Asian airports that continue to astound travelers globally. 

I long for the day when these can happen in the Philippines. For a start, Cebu’s Mactan T2 (Terminal 2) airport is comparable to world-class airports, so at least that’s something to be proud of.

What are your experiences in Singapore? If you're planning to visit Singapore, you might want to check out My Quick Guide to Singapore and for added tips here's a list of Things To Do in Destinaation Diary: Singapore

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My Quick Guide to Singapore

Got a long weekend and some leave credits to spare? Head on over to Singapura! I've gathered a handful of tips for you to enjoy a long weekend in the Garden City of Singapore. Allow me to experience some mishaps so that you don't have to lol. 

Here’s a quick guide to the incredible city-state of Singapura: 

1. Exchange Currencies at the Airport for Competitive Rates 

Traveling via Mactan International Airport Terminal 2 in Cebu, we stuck with our standard practice of changing our Philippine Pesos to American Dollars, then changing the US$ to Singaporean Dollars. It turns out that at the exit of Changi Airport, there are competitive money changers that accept Philippine Pesos as well. It’s quite a relief that we added cushion to our traveling allowance, as well as discovered that one does not need to panic if there’s no forex in sight if you’re carrying pesos.

2. Get a SingTel SIM Card for Communication and Data Needs (SGD $38)

 This can last you a week as the SIM Card is widely used in Singapore and Malaysia, plus it has free 3GB data that can be tethered and shared among family and friends if you’re staying a week or less. With the free calls to all SingTel numbers, you can keep in touch with friends and family who are also in SG and  it automatically turns on roaming when you leave SG, which is perfect if you have planned itineraries to Malaysia or if you’re back in the Philippines. You can purchase your SIM cards right at the airport upon arrival. 

3. Top Up Your EZLink Card and Take Advantage of Cheap and Efficient Public Transportation for both Bus and Tram

You know you’re in Singapore when the bus is on time, it’s clean and efficient. We were handed EZLink cards for access to bus and tram and learned how to take the right bus from one destination to another. In SG, bus rides cost only 60 cents, and if you have an established routine, a top up of SG$10 can last for a week or more. Topping up EZLink Cards can be done in 7/11 outlets all over the city-state.

4. Don't Be Afraid of Food Hawker Stalls! 

Food hawker stalls are all the rage in SG because they serve good local dishes, are affordable and highly sanitized. A meal in a restaurant can range anywhere from SG$15-20 with or without drinks. But hawker stalls can offer SG$4-7. I’ve enjoyed tons of dishes in these places and tasted the local flavor to boot. It’s also good for sharing with travel buddies.

5. Express Passes in Amusement Parks Will Actually Do You Good!

Being in SG for the long weekend also made me realize that we were not the only ones trying to explore Sentosa Island and Universal Studios. There are still a handful of families with children who have thought of bonding over the sights in Sentosa. In other words, expect a crowd in a huge attraction such as this. Thus, the waiting time for rides and shows can be very long. The regular pass will only fall short compared to the express pass when it comes to top choice rides and attractions especially in Universal Studios in Sentosa. Get the express pass, it will make you wait only 15 minutes for rides compared to the 90 minutes for the regular pass.

6. My Handy Dandy Travel Essentials 

"Don’t forget your good walking shoes, water bottle, cap, umbrella, foldable wind breaker, powerbank and stuff them all in a lightweight bag."

Now this has got to be my mantra if you will. I’ve learned that the weather in SG is not the same as it was the day before, so extra caution is still to be taken. It rained when I purposefully left my windbreaker at my aunt’s apartment, and we were forced to purchase expensive drinking water from a convenience store because we thought bringing water with us was just heavy. Some lessons still can’t be learned huh?

But despite all these experiences, I’m really impressed with the city and who knows when I will get the chance to go back. My time there is nothing short of incredible. Well at least with the quick guides that I churn out for these destinations, perhaps you can learn a thing or two which could come in handy when it’s your turn to visit these sites someday. Watch out for my next posts! Ciao!

You Know You're in Singapore When

Destination Diary: Singapore and Things To Do

Destination Diary: Shanghai, China

To complete our cultural experience in China, we headed on to the last part of our tour: Shanghai.

Arriving in the evening, Shanghai is the more metropolitan, modern version of the cities we visited. Shanghai is also a popular tourist destination because of the attractions that blend with both heritage sites and modern ones. 

Bullet Train from Beijing to Shanghai

Bullet Train to Shanghai

The weather in China is behind all the “normal” flight cancellations, but we had a schedule to keep. So our host arranged for us to leave for Shanghai no matter what. We were told the bad news that our flights were cancelled, but the good news was that we were to take the bullet train.

Speeding at 300 km/h, we got to see the countryside, train route and and wind-powered energy farms in wide view windows of the train, and just how wide the land is in this country. It took us six hours from Beijing to Shanghai, that’s how big China is, considering the speed the train travels in. The train stops for only a minute in each station, that’s just enough time to get in and out. Tickets are more expensive than airline fares, but train rides are rarely cancelled; whether it’s rain or shine, it’s a sure way of getting to one’s destination.

Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai, China

Yu Yuan Garden

We passed by a small alley that led to Yu Yuan Garden. It is a historic temple in Shanghai that is now surrounded with many artisan shops and is a popular shopping site among tourists. It’s really a temple inside with many artisans selling their wares all over the place, from a tea shop, to jewelry, souvenirs, metal goods, even food and department stores can be found in this tourist destination. 

Choose your wild, an assortment of tea in Yu Yuan Garden

Tea to hoard in Tins 

Tea of the day in Yu Yuan Garden Tea Shop

Shadow Theatre in Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai

Nanjing Road

This is for the person who cannot live without shopping and an unlimited amount of credit. Nanjing Road is a whole shopping strip consisting of a 5-KM stretch of shopping malls left and right. If you have a whole day for exploring the whole place, there’s so much to see. There’s an interesting vintage photo booth complete with props that can take your photo and process it Vintage Shanghai-style. There are also so many food stalls and souvenir stalls all over. There are so many brands and shops, hello 5-KM stretch.

Corner Entrance to Nanjing Road, Shanghai

Nanjing Road Alleys, Shanghai

A corner building in an intersection road in Nanjing, Shanghai

Sights and sounds, Nanjing Road, Shanghai

Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower and World Financial Center

Here’s a quick trivia, one building is privately called The Bottle Opener. By looking at the Shanghai skyline, one can guess which one. We went to the Bund Riverside Walkway at night to get a better view of the Pudong New Area and to get up close with the Shanghai skyline. One could see the mix of architecture from modern, to the renaissance style divided by the Bund Riverside separating the Pudong New Area and the Old District.

This was one of our last stops before heading on back to Tianjin for our closing ceremonies with TEDA and the Ministry of Commerce.

Oriental Pearl Tower

World Financial Tower and Jin Mao Tower

View from the Bund Riverside, Shanghai

In the Bund Riverside with our translator Grey

It has all been an amazing experience and we were all able to make friends and immerse in new cultural experiences in a different country. I’ll be keeping the official site visits private, but in the meantime, there will be more travel posts soon for the year.

China 2018 Series:

Tianjin

Beijing

Shanghai

Planning for a trip to China soon? Here are some things you may need beforehand. 

Disclaimer: All inputs are based on my experience while in China. A schedule was planned for our group beforehand given the limited amount of time.

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