New Hobby

Lately, I've been spending my rest days by trying out my son's fave food. I realized we could have more fun doing this together rather than spend our weekend at the mall. Plus it doesn't need to be expensive which solves our chronic budget issues. lol.

Peanut Butter chocolate chip Cookie

Buko Pandan Lychee

Choco Milkshake

Pichi-Pichi

4D-3N Singapore: 1st Day

Arrived Singapore at around 530 pm. We were 30minutes late from schedule as we took off late due to the air traffic congestion in Manila airport.  At the SG airport, we took the free Singapore maps at the left side area prior to the immigration checkpoint. 

The immigration officer told us to fill the city of embarkation and city of destination and asked us to fall in line again. My other friend and his company were not even asked to..so I guess that depends on the immigration officer. 

My friend rented a pocket wifi at the airport so we can have communication with our SG friend who will be accompanying us to some of our adventures. It was like $30 SGD for 3 days and you can get $10 SGD refund when you return the pocket wifi. Since I had booked in another hotel, we parted ways at the airport. My son and I went to the train station while they took a cab going to their rented room in Serangoon. 

Dana, my ex-colleague who met me in the airport and will be my guide for the 1st day asked me to load the EZ link cards I had with me. Good thing, a friend of mine went to SG a week before us and was able to lend me 2 EZlink cards. This is your all-to-go card in SG, you can use this as payment for all your transpo needs - cab, train and bus. I loaded $10 SGD each.

We then went to our hotel in Fragrance Emerald located in red district of Singapore- Geylang. From the airport, we took the train going to Tanah Merah and switched train going to Joo Koon and alighted at Kallang Station. From the station, we walked for about 10mins or so going to the hotel. Dana warned me about the place as it`s a place for the hookers but I never saw one in our 4-day stay in the hotel or even in the vicinity.

Then we head to Makansutra where we are going to take our dinner and meet some of our friends who are already working in SG.

We then walked all the way to the Merlion Park. Be prepared for the sights, you must have a good camera with you. One that capture photos in low-light settings.

Taken from the bridge going to Merlion Park

Here's what you need in your travel to Singapore:

2 valid IDs

Travel Tax - PHP 1600,  child- 1010(Pay first before checking in your baggages at your airline. Payment is located at the left side of Terminal 3.)

Passport

Hotel voucher -(incase needed)

Filled out Immigration Card 

2nd Day: Universal studios Singapore

The next morning we head to Universal Studios Singapore. Luckily our friend bought discounted tickets. Online price is around $74 SGD and we got ours at $48 SGD. But before we get to Outram Park, we dropped at Bugis station so we can claim the free transpo card for my son. We just presented his passport as proof. It is valid for one year and he can use it in the train and bus. Kids below 7 years old can avail of this card.

From Bugis, we alighted at Outram Park and then switched to Harbourfront Train and exited at E to Vivo City. The ticketing booth for USS and Sentosa are at the 3rd level, but since we already have our tickets, we headed to 2nd floor for the Cable Car. Went to another building and went up all the way to the top.We alighted at the Imbiah Lookout and took a bus going to USS.

 The Cable car was a thrilling ride though we did not expect it to be hot. The car was not air-conditioned and given how humid the weather is in Singapore, just imagine how it was inside it.

In the Universal Studios, we rented a locker so we can put our "heavy stuff" in there, like extra clothes. I think it was $20 for the whole day. We then refilled our water bottles in the water station so we can save extra dollars as the water in Singapore is really expensive when you convert it to peso. The 500ml mineral water costs around 1.90.

We headed for the required "Universal Studio" picture just at the entrance but taking photos is such a challenge. People are scampering for a spot just so they can take a perfect photo. So, goodluck on this!

Madagascar

Waterworld

DinoSoar Ride @ Lost world

 

Ancient Egypt

Optimus Prime @ Sci-Fi City

Here's the USS Map you can check:

http://www.travelandbeyond.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/USS-Map.jpg

3rd Day: Jurong Bird Park (Part 1)

Again to save us time in commuting and waiting, my friends and I met up at the Boon Lay train station around 930am. There, I also met Ate Beth, a family friend, who's going to joins us and who happens to have 3 free tickets for us.  From the station, we went inside the mall and headed to the terminal.We were so busy conversing when one of the guys at the terminal asked us if we are going to the Bird Park. Then he told us we are actually in the wrong line. Uh-oh! We know we should be riding Bus 194 but we failed to see that the lines have numbers written on the floor. We were laughing after that and even asked ourselves if we really look like we are headed for the Bird Park.  We waited for about 10mins for the bus and roughly 5mins or so going to the bird park.

First stop, Penguin Coast. My friends were so delighted to see the penguins. You can even see them swim and they are just so adorable. I did not know they are actually swimming at their sides. My son and I have experienced feeding one of them in Manila Ocean Park. Xander was braver than me as I was panicking while I was holding the fish that is going to be fed to the Penguin.

Anyway, we then headed to the Hawk Walk for the King of the Skies Show (10AM). The show lasted for about 30mins.

After the show, we just walked a little going to the Breeding and Research Center. In here, you can see how these little birds are being taken cared off (From breeding, hatching , etc).

Next, we walked to the Flamingo Pool, where those sexy-legged birds are chilling out in the hot summer sun. Just outside the fence was what we call "bayawak" lurking..It was big that your eyes would not miss.

Here are the other animals at the Bird Park:

The best part of the bird park is yet to come. At Lory Loft, we had the chance to feed the birds all for $3. We just paid for one and passed the cup to whoever wants to experience it.

Then we head back to the Amphitheater for the Birds N Buddies show. One thing, I loved about the show is when the parrot was singing Happy Birthday. It was so cute...

The bird park is huge that there is a tram going around the place if you prefer a guided tour.

See charges below:

Per Adult	Per Child (3 - 12 years old)
$5.00  (Per round trip)	$3.00 (Per round trip)

3rd Day: Sentosa (Part 2)

Headed to Vivo City to meet our friend Jess. Since we already experienced the cable car yesterday, we opted to go to Sentosa via train. It was already 230pm when we arrived at the Sentosa Train Express. Fare is $4 back and forth . Here, you can use your EZlink card as payment.

First stop: SEA Aquarium

2nd Stop: Merlion Park



3rd stop: Sky Luge and Sky Ride

Sky Luge was exciting and fun ride. Xander opted to ride with me as he is not confident to ride on his own.

Getting Ready--

TIP: When you get to the part where you can see the camera, distance yourself from the person ahead of you so that will give you your own space in the picture. 

The getting there was fun but not the getting back. I think my friends got so nervous,  I ended up feeling the same way. Here's the part where they managed to smile for the photo and then froze after that. And so, I don't have a picture in here.. Sigh! It felt like forever, i think we finished Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet Song. Chickens should not be allowed to ride here...lol

We were so scared that we did not even notice the Camera at the top and the sign that reads, look here.

4th Stop: Sentosa Beach

Don't expect their beach to be that good. Philippine beach is far better than what they have in Sentosa..but of course, to see the sunset in a different perspective or place is a different thing.

Last stop: Wings of Time

4th Day- Marina Bay Sands, Gardens By the Bay and Chinatown

I was told by the receptionist yesterday that we can check-out early and leave our baggages at the luggage room so we can have time to still explore Singapore while waiting for our 630PM flight.  We checked out around 730am and went to Bayfront Station from Kallang using the Blue line.

The plan is to get to Gardens by the Bay at 830AM. Xander and I arrived early and so we just decided to take some photos while waiting for our companions.

View of Marina Bay Sands from the dragon fly bridge of Gardens by the Bay

We did not purchase any tickets for this as we will just take pictures from the outside. Here's some photos taken at the "free area".

Next stop, was the Sky Park at the Marina Bay Sands. Nothing to do there but marvel at the architecture of the structures around it. From the top, you can see the Esplanade, Merlion Park, the Arts and Science Building, Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay.

The winds up here are strong so be careful to put your camera outside these wires

The view from the top cost $20 SGD each. Then, we head to Orchard Avenue to buy some chocolates at the ChocSpot. Chocolate Prices are really low so you can buy more at almost half the price. Then we walked all the way to Sommerset and took our lunch at Marche. The walk was long and tireless but worth it in the end. Food was great and the place is nice. Add to that, we had our lunch for free as it was a treat from our ex-Manager. Must try- Crispy Pata.

After lunch, we headed to Chinatown for more shopping for pasalubong. You should not buy at the stalls near the exit/entrance of the station, you need to walk a little more if you want to get the lowest price. Shirts are available at $10 for 4 pieces. You can buy shirts that are of good quality at around $13 SGD each. But the ones I bought are nice too. My mom loved it. SG T-shirts are also available in the airport at $10SGD. Nailcutters, Keychains are also available at really low price. I bought mine for 36 pieces for $10SGD. These stuff are also available in Sentosa or other establishments but expect them to be really expensive, something like $1 or $2 SGD each.

Even if I wanted to buy more pasalubong, our baggage allowance is only 15kgs and granted I have a kid with me, I could not buy more that I can carry. So, we head back to our hotel and took our things from the luggage room. Since the train station from the hotel is a 10-min walk and with the extra stuff we had with us, I could no longer walk a mile. It was already 3pm so we just took a cab to the airport. Fare is around $10+ SGD.