It was Jurong Bird Park day for me. Instead of taking the MRT straight through, I decided to ride through all the stops of the red line to see "what's out there." Apparently, not much: just high-rise apartments at each stop. But seeing the greenery and nice roads really made me like Singapore. What a stark contrast from Manila!
At the Jurong East MRT stop, I took the bus to Jurong Bird Park. I was pretty proud of myself for knowing where to go, and not having to backtrack. After paying the entrance fee, the first thing I saw was the photo place where you can get your picture taken with the birds. Price tag? SGD17. I thought that was way too expensive and decided to forget it. I went around the park and sweated every step of the way. Grabe, super init eventhough I got there at 10AM. I tried to stay away from the SGD3 bottled water, but when I found the SGD2 bottled water at the back of the park, I decided that I better cough up the money before heatstroke caught up with me.
While going around, loneliness was what caught up with me. All my shots were of birds and none of me! Blasphemy. So what did I do? Yes, I paid the SGD17 for the picture of me with the birds and I looked like a dork because all the birds were on me. Even the photographer had to ask, "Just you?" Dammit!
After four hours (didn't think it would take me that long), I headed back to the MRT station to go "downtown." I was again starving by this time because I wouldn't eat at the only restaurant at the park because I knew the prices would be inflated. So what happened? I got lost again. I took the Raffles MRT stop instead of the City Hall MRT stop. When I got off Raffles, I went around and around, trying to find the Raffles Mall. Of course, I couldn't find it because I was at the wrong stop...and I can't read maps (This was THE revelation of the trip. Eventhough I love referring to maps, I don't know how to read them! If they're not pointing the right way, I don't know where to go! Tsk!). I finally went back down to the MRT station and took the train to the City Hall MRT.
I ate lunch at Raffles, checked out St. Andrew's Cathedral, and went down to the CityLink Mall to go to the Esplanade. Another thing to love about Singapore: there are directions everywhere! You'll never get lost (once you're inside somewhere).
Once at the Esplanade, I went to the rooftop to see the awesome bird eye's view (ang init!), then to the Esplanade Park to make muni-muni. Grabe, I loved the view of the Merlion, the marina, and the skyscrapers! I sat there for about forty-five minutes...while listening to two Filipinos behind me speaking in Tagalog. The guy goes, "Ano kaya yang babae na yan? Hindi naman Chinese kasi hindi naman brown yung buhok. Tiyaka kung Filipino yan, kinausap na tayo." God, I love it when I can understand people talking about me without them knowing! I eventually left them when a Chinese girl (who did have brown hair) sat down to the left of me and started smoking. Totally took me out of my muni-muni-ing!
I pulled out my Singapore Walking map and followed it to get to the Merlion with my uber memorable episode of jaywalking in front of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Yup, I jaywalked in Singapore! Only to see the Raffles statue. I wonder how that excuse would have held up at the police station (I also jaywalked on Orchard Road, by the way. I'm cool, I know)! I saw the Boat Quay (pronounced "key") from afar, crossed the Cavanaugh Bridge, walked around Fullerton Hotel, then finally stopped in front of the Merlion. Asus, I thought it would be all grand, eh nilulumot na yung bibig ng Merlion, no! Regardless, I think I took pictures of the Merlion from all possible angles. It was the only thing I could do since there was no one to take a picture of me (tear!). Then I sat down and made muni-muni again...now from the other side of the marina! HeHe. Again, Filipinos were talking about me: "Pare, ako ang kukunan mo ng picture hindi yang babae!"
I headed back to Esplanade, thinking to myself that it does look like a durian. I took the CityLink again to go to Suntec for the Fountain of Wealth, the largest fountain in the world. You know for such a small place, Singapore has the most "largest" of somethings! I didn't touch the middle of the fountain (Supposedly, after going around three times while touching the water, your wish will come true), but found myself making muni-muni again.
Refusing to spend too much money on food, I just rode the MRT back to Orchard and bought myself some pastries at the Paragon grocery store. Price of bottled water? SGD.40! If you want it cold, just add SGD.15. Darn those over-priced goods at Jurong!
Once I got back to the hotel, I ate, showered, and ended up sleeping instantly. Grabe ang pagod! Loved the exercise, though!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Friday, February 9, 2007
Travel Motto #2: Shopping is an all day affair; You'll eventually find what you're looking for
I decided to take it easy on my first full-day and just go around Orchard Road. Pucha! Ang dami ngang malls! And seriously, it's a whole day event to go to every single one along Orchard!
My first stop was The Heeren for the largest music store in SE Asia: HMV. They have everything! Korean, Japanese, Chinese music and movies on three floors! Aliw! I spent at least an hour there just browsing. Okay, it took me that long because I was trying to be cool and didn't ask for what I was really looking for. After two floors, I finally proclaimed my teenybopper side and asked, "Miss, do you have Rain's first concert DVD?"
She sent me to the third floor. When I finally saw the DVD, the price tag made my heart break into teeny tiny pieces: SGD80! The heck?
I got out of there with no bags in tow. I went around the mall and found my way into the Nike store where I found a cropped jacket that says "I love dance" on the back. Price tag? SGD100+. It was then that I realized that I was not in a third-world country anymore. Tsk!
I'll spare you the drama: I found the Rain DVD at Gramophone at Centrepoint for SGD17 which I eventually bought (only to find out the next day that there was a store selling it for SGD12!) and the Rain's World CD for SGD10. When did I become a fan of the boy?!
For the rest of the day, I just went in and out of every single DVD/music store to check out their goods (I was so thankful that I was going around alone, otherwise, whoever was with me would not have been too happy). Anyway, Korean DVDs galore! I was salivating non-stop, making sure to hold on to my wallet. (I did give in eventually, though. I bought Kim Rae Won's "Which Star Are You From?" from Sembawang). Pocket money? Gone!
Thoughts for the day? The Philippines is oppressing its own citizens by those darn baggage checks before entering the mall. It was so nice going in and out of the malls in Singapore without opening your bag, or having someone touch your waist area (which I sooooo hate here in Manila!). That is total freedom! I heart Singapore!
My first stop was The Heeren for the largest music store in SE Asia: HMV. They have everything! Korean, Japanese, Chinese music and movies on three floors! Aliw! I spent at least an hour there just browsing. Okay, it took me that long because I was trying to be cool and didn't ask for what I was really looking for. After two floors, I finally proclaimed my teenybopper side and asked, "Miss, do you have Rain's first concert DVD?"
She sent me to the third floor. When I finally saw the DVD, the price tag made my heart break into teeny tiny pieces: SGD80! The heck?
I got out of there with no bags in tow. I went around the mall and found my way into the Nike store where I found a cropped jacket that says "I love dance" on the back. Price tag? SGD100+. It was then that I realized that I was not in a third-world country anymore. Tsk!
I'll spare you the drama: I found the Rain DVD at Gramophone at Centrepoint for SGD17 which I eventually bought (only to find out the next day that there was a store selling it for SGD12!) and the Rain's World CD for SGD10. When did I become a fan of the boy?!
For the rest of the day, I just went in and out of every single DVD/music store to check out their goods (I was so thankful that I was going around alone, otherwise, whoever was with me would not have been too happy). Anyway, Korean DVDs galore! I was salivating non-stop, making sure to hold on to my wallet. (I did give in eventually, though. I bought Kim Rae Won's "Which Star Are You From?" from Sembawang). Pocket money? Gone!
Thoughts for the day? The Philippines is oppressing its own citizens by those darn baggage checks before entering the mall. It was so nice going in and out of the malls in Singapore without opening your bag, or having someone touch your waist area (which I sooooo hate here in Manila!). That is total freedom! I heart Singapore!
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Travel Motto #1: Taxis/shuttles are for wimps
Since the day I set foot in this country in mid-2005, I have seen those Tiger Airways ads on newspapers advertising really cheap fares to the Lion City. The catch? One would have to fly out of Clark. Being the Curious George that I am (awakened only in 2005), I decided to ditch my Cebu Pacific suki, and go for Tiger Airways to find out what it was like to fly out of Clark.
Getting to Clark was not a problem. I just called Philtranco weeks before and reserved a seat. At 11AM, I got on the shuttle bus behind Megamall A for P300. After an hour and a half, I was in Clark, checking in my baggage. No sweat, I tell you.
Tiger Airways is very much like Cebu Pacific: you get on the tarmac to get on the plane. And yes, it's true: they really don't serve you anything onboard. You want to eat? You buy. I suggest buying food prior to leaving Megamall because there's not much to eat at the Clark Airport either. Oh, and it's also true that there are no assigned seatings, but since the flight wasn't full coming out of Clark, I got a window seat without having to shove anyone out of my way. HeHe.
After three hours of non-stop iPod playing, I arrived in Singapore. Irene e-mailed me the day before to tell me to take an airport shuttle to get to Orchard Road, but I had it in my head that I was taking the MRT (thanks to my Lonely Planet: SE Asia on a Shoestring book). Taxis/shuttles and anything that drops you off right where you need to go are for wimps!
With my duffle bag on wheels, I climbed on board the free T1/T2 airport shuttle bus to take me to the Terminal 2 of Changi Airport (Tiger Airways is located in the Budget Terminal). From the bus window, I got to see Singapore and it was love at first sight! Oh the clean streets! Oh the landscaped grounds of Changi! Oh my! It was like I landed in the U.S.! *SIGH.
After being dropped off at Terminal 2, I headed over to the MRT Station where I bought an EZ-link card so I can tap-tap my way around town. Naks, so high-tech! I love this city!
After three painless transfers, I got to Somerset station and got out on the Orchard Road side. Okay, where do I go: left or right? I should have known better than to trust my instincts when I'm hungry: I went to the right: the wrong way. After sweating it out and looking like an idiot with my bag on wheels, I finally asked someone where the Paragon Mall was. Reply? "Oh, it's the other way." $&*#!
I backtracked and ended up in front of the Singapore Visitors Center. I thought I passed by the Paragon without knowing it. With my bag on wheels, I went inside to ask one of the attendants (she looked at me funny with my darn bag). She turned the map of the hotel that I printed out from the internet upside down and told me to walk two more blocks. While there, I grabbed a good stash of maps for the next three full days.
When I finally found the Paragon and went up the hill, I ended up in a crossroads again: do I go to the left or the right? Again, I went to the right. Wrong. Good thing, I ran into an expat who told me to get on the other side of the road. I could smell the apartment hotel already, but I passed it on my way to the top of the hill. Again, I had to ask another man who was walking with his family for directions. He told me that I passed by it and sure enough I did.
Sweaty and way too hungry, I finally saw Irene and co-workers after a total of 12 hours of traveling (from the time I left Mandaluyong!). First day of Singapore: done!
Getting to Clark was not a problem. I just called Philtranco weeks before and reserved a seat. At 11AM, I got on the shuttle bus behind Megamall A for P300. After an hour and a half, I was in Clark, checking in my baggage. No sweat, I tell you.
Tiger Airways is very much like Cebu Pacific: you get on the tarmac to get on the plane. And yes, it's true: they really don't serve you anything onboard. You want to eat? You buy. I suggest buying food prior to leaving Megamall because there's not much to eat at the Clark Airport either. Oh, and it's also true that there are no assigned seatings, but since the flight wasn't full coming out of Clark, I got a window seat without having to shove anyone out of my way. HeHe.
After three hours of non-stop iPod playing, I arrived in Singapore. Irene e-mailed me the day before to tell me to take an airport shuttle to get to Orchard Road, but I had it in my head that I was taking the MRT (thanks to my Lonely Planet: SE Asia on a Shoestring book). Taxis/shuttles and anything that drops you off right where you need to go are for wimps!
With my duffle bag on wheels, I climbed on board the free T1/T2 airport shuttle bus to take me to the Terminal 2 of Changi Airport (Tiger Airways is located in the Budget Terminal). From the bus window, I got to see Singapore and it was love at first sight! Oh the clean streets! Oh the landscaped grounds of Changi! Oh my! It was like I landed in the U.S.! *SIGH.
After being dropped off at Terminal 2, I headed over to the MRT Station where I bought an EZ-link card so I can tap-tap my way around town. Naks, so high-tech! I love this city!
After three painless transfers, I got to Somerset station and got out on the Orchard Road side. Okay, where do I go: left or right? I should have known better than to trust my instincts when I'm hungry: I went to the right: the wrong way. After sweating it out and looking like an idiot with my bag on wheels, I finally asked someone where the Paragon Mall was. Reply? "Oh, it's the other way." $&*#!
I backtracked and ended up in front of the Singapore Visitors Center. I thought I passed by the Paragon without knowing it. With my bag on wheels, I went inside to ask one of the attendants (she looked at me funny with my darn bag). She turned the map of the hotel that I printed out from the internet upside down and told me to walk two more blocks. While there, I grabbed a good stash of maps for the next three full days.
When I finally found the Paragon and went up the hill, I ended up in a crossroads again: do I go to the left or the right? Again, I went to the right. Wrong. Good thing, I ran into an expat who told me to get on the other side of the road. I could smell the apartment hotel already, but I passed it on my way to the top of the hill. Again, I had to ask another man who was walking with his family for directions. He told me that I passed by it and sure enough I did.
Sweaty and way too hungry, I finally saw Irene and co-workers after a total of 12 hours of traveling (from the time I left Mandaluyong!). First day of Singapore: done!
Magasin
In 1992, my name was included in The Seattle Times as one of the students who was competing in the Regional Washington State Spelling Bee. (Geek!)
In 1999, there was a write-up about me in the local newspaper for being the Senior of the Month of my high school. (Still a geek!)
In 2007, I'm in a glossy financial magazine! (Geek next to tarsiers!)
Although, my dream is really to be a covergirl, I mean, to see my name in the byline...which I hope to be a reality soon. *Ahem to Mr. Editor-in-Chief!
Buy the latest issue of MoneySense magazine today and see me in my glossy magazine debut (then show the copy to your single, pogi male friends...because that's why I was included in the magazine in the first place! HaHa!)
In 1999, there was a write-up about me in the local newspaper for being the Senior of the Month of my high school. (Still a geek!)
In 2007, I'm in a glossy financial magazine! (Geek next to tarsiers!)
Although, my dream is really to be a covergirl, I mean, to see my name in the byline...which I hope to be a reality soon. *Ahem to Mr. Editor-in-Chief!
Buy the latest issue of MoneySense magazine today and see me in my glossy magazine debut (then show the copy to your single, pogi male friends...because that's why I was included in the magazine in the first place! HaHa!)
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Around the World
Besides seeing the world's wonders, I want to finish my SE Asia travels for one other reason: to acquire as many Starbucks City Mugs as possible.
Yes, as a recovering Sanrio/Hello Kitty/Little Twin Stars addict, I have now chosen to waste my hard-earned money on making Corporate America richer. Oh heavens!
So far, I have these:
- Manila (in Seattle)
- Cebu
- Hong Kong (in Seattle)
- Bangkok
- Kuala Lumpur
- Singapore
- Cyprus (hey, that's not SE Asia!)
- UAE (hey, that's not SE Asia either!)
- Beijing (it's not from the City Mug collection, but Lilian thought it would make me happy for Christmas)
I only acquired three of those personally; the rest are gifts from traveling co-workers here in Manila.
Mugs that I need because I've been to the places, but never got the chance to get the mugs: Guangzhou, Dalian, and Shanghai. If anyone is traveling to those places, please let me know. Pity the fool, please, pity the fool.
And for those people who live in countries with Starbucks, will you be my friend? HeHe.
Yes, as a recovering Sanrio/Hello Kitty/Little Twin Stars addict, I have now chosen to waste my hard-earned money on making Corporate America richer. Oh heavens!
So far, I have these:
- Manila (in Seattle)
- Cebu
- Hong Kong (in Seattle)
- Bangkok
- Kuala Lumpur
- Singapore
- Cyprus (hey, that's not SE Asia!)
- UAE (hey, that's not SE Asia either!)
- Beijing (it's not from the City Mug collection, but Lilian thought it would make me happy for Christmas)
I only acquired three of those personally; the rest are gifts from traveling co-workers here in Manila.
Mugs that I need because I've been to the places, but never got the chance to get the mugs: Guangzhou, Dalian, and Shanghai. If anyone is traveling to those places, please let me know. Pity the fool, please, pity the fool.
And for those people who live in countries with Starbucks, will you be my friend? HeHe.
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