Part 1: Singapura, the universal synonym of fun...

Flying abroad for a vacation was one of the things me and labsy look forward to... Last year was Hongkong and Macau, this year, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand... Four countries with BIG fun and great love...

But hey, I won't drown you with all four stories at once. Let me tell you the first stop-over, Singapore, the "fine" city... :D

The tickets for the trip were purchased last year through the Cebu Pacific Airlines website (http://www.cebupacificair.com). They had a very low fare promo last October 2009. We bought Davao-Manila-Davao tickets, Manila-Singapore and Bangkok-Manila for a total of more or less Php 3,500.00 for two. Imagine how low? It was I think  piso or zero fare promo if I recall it right...

Since we went to Batangas last Aug. 14, side tripped to Puerto-Galera, Mindoro on Aug. 15 (see http://donandji.blogspot.com/2010/09/batangas-puerto-galera-beach-breakaway.html for details), then we headed early from Batangas to Manila through a bus and went straight to the airport for our Manila-Singapore flight at 1:20 PM of Aug. 16, 2010. Full sched aye?

We arrived at 4:55 PM same day in Singapore budget terminal airport. After getting our bags and trolley, we took some map guides from their tourism counter (it was located near their rest room-fyi) and headed to Money Exchange counter to change USD to SGD (counter was near the exit door-fyi), then off we went out to smell the Singapore air... lol... :))

It was our first time in Singapore, so we were a bit nervous how to get to our hotel/hostel, which was located in the main city, a place they call Chinatown. Thanks to my friend and former college classmate, Anthony, who actually offered to let us stay with them during our Singapore trip, which we eventually did not take due to some geographical and time reasons, I made his airport to home directions as a partial guide going to our hotel.

So, from the budget airport, we took the free bus ride going to the Changi International Airport, went to it's MRT station and bought ourselves an ezlink card for the MRT fare fees. From Changi Station, we alighted at the Tana Merah Station and changed to the East West/green line going to Joo Koon and alighted at Outram Station. Then we changed to the North East/Purple Line going to Punggol and alighted at the Chinatown Station and walked our way to our Inn in Mosque Street.

With all the hassle and bustle and a few wrong turns, we arrived at almost 7:00 PM at the Backpackers Inn Chinatown, 30A Mosque Street, with contact details, phone +65-62211239 and email rich33@singnet.com.sg. But we booked via hostelworld.com just in case you're interested. You may also check out hostelscentral.com (for our Malaysia and Thailand hotel) and hostelbookers.com (for our last year's Hongkong hostel). So after freshen up a bit, we then went out, bound to the Merlion Park to meet with my cousin An and her husband Jack. They waited for us in the Park for about an hour and then gave us some ideas on the how tos and where tos. Then they led us to a famous Makansutra food place to quench our thirst and enjoy Singapore Chinese spicy food like no other! While having dinner, Singapore welcomed us with fireworks all over the Marina Bay, and it was beautiful... After dinner, we walked through some streets, went passed esplanade and off to MRT station to go back to the Inn and retired for the night.

First night was relieving, nice to know we found our hotel and had a good night sleep. Then our first Singapore morning came.... Second day was scheduled for a side trip in Indonesia, so I won't discuss it here but instead on the part II of this amazing race getaway, watch out for it...

While Aug. 17 was scheduled for Indonesia, the night wasn't. We went back to Singapore on the same day, freshen up a bit in the Inn and went back out to dine and spent the twilight at the Marina Sands Sky Park.

It was a night of strolling and searching for that park in the sky. We strolled, feast with all the lights and nice view as we walk towards the Marina Sands Mall. Went in and amazed by the not yet finish super huge Mall/Hotel/Casino/Sky Park Building. The Sky Park is on the 56th floor, but before we got there, we went to around 4 counters and asked 4 attendants before reaching the ticket counter and headed to the park.

The park hosted an infinity pool on one side, park on the other, restaurant on one end and viewing deck on the other. We were also provided with an audio device as a tour guide as we visit the viewing deck. The city lights were awesome at night specially when you're watching over them from the 56th floor.

It was a tiring day, but me and my love enjoyed every step, on every street and on every floor we let our slippers visit and kissed on.  ;)

The third day, Aug. 18 came with a bad news from the Phil. My friend's 10-year-old son, Gelo, died. We were saddened with it, and had this heavy and blank feeling of lost. Gelo was dear to us too. My friend, his dad, is one of my close friends from the office. Labsy and I spent a few minutes of silence and prayed for Gelo and his family before starting our day.



Aug. 18 morning also was the day of Yeye's arrival in Singapore and our Sentosa Day expose... We prep for the day and then headed to Vivocity and then off to Sentosa for an exciting and fun filled day....

We paid for the available packages, the choice of fun and choice of thrill for SGD 36.90 and SGD 46.90 respectively, plus an additional SGD 3 for the day pass at the Vivocity counter and then waited for the monorail to start our Asia's Favorite Playground adventure. For more info and details, please visit http://www.sentosa.com.sg.

To mention some of our favorite Sentosa attractions, they were the 4D movie, the cineblast, the sky tiger, the segway and of course, the amazing songs of the sea show... But wait! It was not a show nor a ride but it was the B-E-S-T, the Sarpino's Pizza. Whew! I'm supper missing it now, just thinking about it makes me want to go back to Singapore just for it. And that was our dear superb lunch. The group went back to the hotel after a relaxing, fun day at Sentosa theme park, but went to have dinner in Mc Donalds first.

Aug. 19 came and it was time to meet the animals... The initial itinerary we made was Jorong Bird in the morning, Singapore Zoo in the afternoon and Night Safari in the evening and meet with two more friends, Jom and Gigi at the same time. But then we changed it, since we somehow want to visit SIM LIM building to get a change to check out some gadgets, we canceled the Jorong schedule and went to Sim Lim instead, and that's where Yeye swiped his CC for his cam grip which made his SLR cam for overweight per say, mine weighs like a toy after holding his.. ;(

We took our lunch a few meters away from Sim Lim Bldg. with a delish chicken curry and a some kinda rice. After lunch off we went by bus to the Singapore Zoo where we had the chance to see so many animals in one cool place. From the counter of the Zoo, we paid for the discounted package for the entrance fees of the Zoo, Night Safari and a Day ride for the Singapore's Eye, the Giant Flyer, which we took the next day. The Zoo was a huge place to cover, went from one location to the another, we walked, jogged and even ran I guess. We went from one show to another and they were all full of fun. Some of our favorites were the elephant shoe, the sleeping rhino, the loud lion, the lazy polar bear and don't forget the long giraffe...!

Then we walk through the pavement and waiting sheds to the Night Safari entrance where we were greeted with their tribal dance and it was on fireeeeee, literally that is... lolz. The adventure was fun, we headed to the animal show then off to the trails, and then joined the tramp ride where we kept quite so we wouldn't disturb the animals and attack us somehow (that's scary).. And by the way, flash photography is a no-no, fyi. The animals were amazing, most of them we saw for the first time and we were so awed.

Then we went home by bus, then by MRT where it went for its last trip before we reached home, thus we took a cab from the station to the nearest 24-hour Mc Donalds (www.mcdonalds.com.sg) from our hotel. We took a huge meal and we took them hard, lol, we where so tired and hungry, then went back to the hotel to rest like a log. That is after a few arrangements and chitchat with Jom and Gigi who met us in the hotel instead of joining us in the Night Safari adventure.

Aug. 20-the super high day! It was our last but not the least day in Singapura. We first went to the Giant Flyer, Jom, Gigi and Yeye, don't have plans of joining the ride so we told them that they may go ahead to the Universal Studios and we'll meet them there. So me and labsy enjoyed our Singapore's Giant Flyer high ride. It was raining, but not that hard, so we still managed to take some pictures and enjoy the view from up there.

After the Giant Flyer ride, we went straight to Vivocity where we had lunch then went to the counter for the Jewel Box to pay for the cable ride and the Universal Studios entrance fee. It was a Sunday so the fee was a bit higher than the weekdays. We paid SGD 92 each plus SGD 29 for the to and fro cable car ride. Then off to the tower to keep the high feeling at the cable car while transporting over land and seas of Singapore to the Sentosa themed park. From the Sentosa themed park we were escorted with their friendly guide to the bus going to the Unniversal Studios.

Jom, Gigi and Yeye, decided to cancel Universal Studios day told us that they will just reschedule it since it was a bit raining and some rides might not be available. Well, according to the guide, rains like that isn't enough to close a ride, it should be stronger, so we weren't disappointed at all when we arrived. All rides were available, except for some which aren't really operational yet, shows were on schedule and the fun never stopped until we went back to the hotel.

We have lots of favorite places and shows there, the waterworld, the indoor roller-coaster,  New York's light-camera-action, and much much more.. Haayyy... I'm going back there! Hopefully with the rest of my family next time.

Well, after dinner at Mel's Diner, we went back to our hotel, took our luggage with us and off to the terminal for our 11:30 PM trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which I will tell on the Part II of IV stories.

It was a fun-filled Singapore getaway. Full of adventure and super high fun and love! No matter how high and impossible things may be, we wouldn't know if we can make it until we try... And let us not forget how to enjoy with our love ones, the few or little happiness we may have along the way...

Let's keep the adventure and happiness in our hearts and there will be more to life than just a cup of coffee in the morning...