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...
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Mommy claiming her tax return in Changi Airport |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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…
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| 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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