Trip to the Lion City, SINGAPORE (Part 3)

Hey yoww!! This is my part three and also final part of my trip to Singapore. If you miss my Part 1 and Part 2 posts, kindly click the links! :))

**MERLION STATUE SENTOSA, THE MERLION PARK, ION, MARINA BAY LANDS**

The next plan after a whole day in Universal Studio is to actually visit the largest Merlion statue in all over Singapore, it's the one located on the Sentosa Island! I thought it's going to be far from the Universal Studio but the guide there told us it's very close, so instead of spending some time in the MRT, we walked forward while enjoying the fresh cool air of Singapore. Thumbs up for Singapore for the clear air, no wonder why Singapore has been voted as the cleanest country in the world. And he was right, it's not far at all, you can actually see the statue from USS and we walked only for about 5-15 minutes. We didn't go to the Beach section of Sentosa, we have better beaches in the Philippines it seems unnecessary and were hungry LOL.

We had our late lunch at Food Republic which located once we came out from the Sentosa Express. In case you haven't heard of Food Republic, it is a food court chain and it's quite famous in Singapore. No photo was taken because 5 of us were so hungry to the max - imagine having our breakfast around 10am and having fun until 5 pm plus, then only we had our late lunch. Afterwards, we ventured around Vivo City Shopping Mall in order to kill our time. Not a bad experience actually. Might plan for another visit if I am going Singapore again.

Obviously one of the famous landmarks that shouldn't miss by every visitor when visiting Singapore would be none other than MERLION PARK located at the MARINA BAY WATERFRONT. I guess most of you who had been to Singapore must be familiar with this well-known of tourist icon that has the combination of mythical creature with the head of lion and the body of fish. Well that’s the only info I could share, check out the pictures I take hopefully it makes you see what I see, a structure that represents the countries power, SINGAPORE the LION CITY.

The Merlion Park

Next destination is Singapore’s famous MARINA BAY SANDS; it is one of the latest grand buildings which can be seen from Merlion Park. It has this three building met by seems to be a large vessel at the top; the Marina Bay Sands is remarkable to see in the actual. What I know about this building is the infinity edge swimming pool. Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort features thousands of luxury room hotel, casino, ice-skating rink, a museum, seven prominent of celebrity chef restaurants and more. How I wish I could stay here someday? *cross fingers*

Marina Bay Sands

Next, we're heading to ORCHARD ROAD via MRT. Once we came out from the high-end shopping mall by the name of ION Orchard. Many people visit Orchard Road to fulfill their satisfaction towards their shopaholic addiction. At the very end of this last day, we do the much needed shopping; I’m too busy choosing some clothes so no time to take pictures. Well if you’re curious what I bought, let me just say I’m a fashionista at heart so my luggage back home definitely includes this. P.S. if you’re shopping in Singapore, check out Bugis Street and Chinatown for bargain hunting and if you have the money for expensive stuff Orchard Road is your destination.

The busy Orchard Road

The Bugis Street where you can buy cheap goods

So that’s it, my tiring and very rewarding trip at Singapore, and I swear I was neglected to leave Singapore!  Of course, I will not forgot to buy pasalubong for my family and friends back in the Philippines. Admittedly I fell in love with the country and hope to come back there again, it's just filled with excitement, high point is that the country is really clean with superb city organization and beautiful with places you can never get tired of going and discovering. Small but totally NOT to be seen with one eye only. I read in a magazine once that you can never get lost in Singapore cause there’s always places to discover and that’s true, low point would be the prices, I don’t know but when you go to a country with a higher currency than yours, it seems everything was pricey and expensive which in Singapore it’s a definite fact.

The Gift shop located inside the Changi International Airport

I hope this post that I'm writing is strong enough to convince you to book your tickets to Singapore right this moment!

For once in your life, you need to visit Singapore. One of the best countries in the world and let yourself blended with everything that you can enjoy there, you only live once!

And now here I am back to my routine, works and errands to collect more money for another holiday trip. LOL. :))So that's all I wanna share about! THANKS and till my next TRAVEL...See you on the next post! Hope you find it useful!

I've been writing a lot lately but it's just so much fun! Thank you guys!

Trip to the Lion City, SINGAPORE (Part 2)

Hi! everyone and welcome to the part two of my trip to Singapore, now this is where the fun and mesmerizing parts are, not that the first part doesn't contain any fun, but this part is more mesmerizing in a different way because I experienced how Universal studios and Singapore is pretty amazing and I'm giving you sneak peek of this gorgeous place right here and right now. Keep reading. :) In case you're missing the first part, it's HERE!

**RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA and UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE**

To complete our amusement park weekend in Singapore, my family and I headed to Resorts World Sentosa and Universal Studios Singapore. It was a bit expensive, but for the experience, we decided to take the Sentosa Express. We got there a bit past lunch time and it was still sunny but we weren't sure if it was going to rain so we decided to get on the outdoor rides first while the weather was still cooperative.

At Resorts World Sentosa with Kuya Carlo, Ate Lyn, Daddy and Grandma

This is ME! *posing*

Lake of Dreams

To start off my Singapore trip, I enter the famous UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE…

As you probably know, Universal Studio is the ultimate playground/everyone's guilty pleasure of the world they've always been dreaming of having...say thanks to all the fantasies and the movies we watched during out childhood and the existence of Universal Studio is the representation of that. In South East Asia, it is the brand's first branch and it's always been super crowded, I went here not on the weekend, but the crowd just never dies, it's filled with people all around the world, and that's what I love about Singapore itself, it's so attractive for tourist (me also).

There are many attractions in Universal Studio Singapore which I will not list all of them here. But, most information can be found online and I won't regurgitate them here. Please visit Universal Studio Singapore's (USS) website HERE for those information. There's always Google anyway.

Here's the theme park map so that you can imagine it clearly

You will be welcome by the revolving globe where its title rings revolves around it, here people usually take pictures and mostly crowded as ever. The theme park is open all year round and it’s been said that it’s always a full house no matter what month of the year, mostly crowded on the specific holidays and the summer season. The entrance fee is quite expensive at 74S$ but it was money well spent. We shot a few photos with the signature Universal Studio globe at the entrance. Because it is weekend and it way too late, there are lots of people thus making photo taking hard. Immediately we entered and started playing each attraction.

First is the NEW YORK and HOLLYWOOD ZONE are for those who love the movies. Under the protective canopy is the Hollywood zone where you catch glimpses of classical buildings from old-time movies. I personally was like in heaven being in this place, it’s my euphoria. Walking in the streets where it happens, the magic of Hollywood or the replica of it, but who cares. Along the path there are many restaurants and stalls available to quench your thirst. Food and beverages are not cheap, you may want to bring your own drinking water although outside food and drinks are not allowed.

Another legend, this one from the other side of the world: Frankenstein!

The Churros Van, too bad I didn't try the churros but a lot of people recommended  me

Second is the SCI-FI ZONE is not intended for the weak heart, it’s a double roller coaster ride where I took the challenge and rode with my eyes close all the way, seriously I think my eyes will fell out if I open it with the rush and excitement. I started the day with mild rides, one in the form of a seated spinning ride while madly spinning on this whirling twirling attraction and the other where you ride in this large bird dinosaur soaring up and down in the air. Accelerator and I forgot the name of the second one we tried to ride on, respectively. Me and Ate Lyn decided to get on Battlestar Galactica. I was a bit more interested in the Cylon segment since it was a suspended roller coaster. You know, Battlestar Galactica is a dual roller coaster: HUMAN & CYLON, where both tracks are intertwined and run simultaneously. You know, you sit underneath the track with your legs dangling, but this one is really much…much more extreme. There are plenty of extreme twists and turn, and…ah I can’t even describe it. When the safety harness lifted up, I noticed what the side effect was. My arms and legs were literally jelly. I didn't have the strength to push the harness up or even lifted myself out of the seat. I toppled over to the pillar at the side where my flat shoes were. So that marks the ends of the most “exciting” roller coaster ride I had taken to date.

Sci-Fi City is the place where excitement begins in Universal Studios Singapore 

Starting at exactly the same time, the two tracks meet at each other at quite a few intervals.
Weirdly, I didn't notice the other track while screaming my lungs off along the blue one.

Getting tired of riding the extreme rides, we headed to the ANCIENT EGYPT ZONE is filled with stunning architecture. This is for those who love the ghost of the mummies, I love The Mummy movie so I’m kinda excited with what’s there for me. Well no surprise here as you will enter a roller coaster ride in full darkness where loud sound of ghost and flashes of light scare the hell out of you. Hell yeah! I haven’t had a chance to try this one for a long queue of people. You'll find a lot of this twin standing sphinx (I honestly don't know what to call it). This is the most amazing part of the Egyptian zone, I love this high architecture and those statues, I have always had this huge interest in great details stuffs and I always praised people who crafted them, such genius and hard worker. I generally love the outside façade of this part of the theme park, it’s like you’re in Egpyt with the statue relics.

The JURASSIC PARK ZONE, another thing is because the Jurrasic Park arena is basically RAFTING, so you can imagine how wet that's going to be.

The 4D adventure of Shrek in the FAR FAR AWAY KINGDOM, 4D experience is almost like 3D the difference is that it seems your one with what’s happening in the movie, the chairs are moving and at some point you will feel what the character does. The adventure is about saving Fiona and fighting the evil ghost of the short villain.

Apart from playing different themed-attractions, we were in fact taking brisk walk along the path and taking photos. Classic cars which date back to 1950s, old buildings are favorite spot for photo taking.

Well, technically we had quite a lot of fun in the Universal Studio even though it was intense heat! Kinda enjoy those 4D Rides, Roller Coasters and some water boat adventure thingy ! Spent like the whole day in the Universal Studio. *exhausted*

So all in all it was definitely a theme park of dreams, I enjoy and love the experience and I recommend it to anyone who will visit SINGAPORE, for the young and young at heart…

THANK YOU UNIVERSAL STUDIO FOR AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!

...and I'm very fortunate to be able to share this marvelous experience with you!!! And I’m hoping I could come back again.

Trip to the Lion City, SINGAPORE (Part 1)

Hello! I'm back from Singapore and I am missing that place already. It's nice to finally write a travelling post and believe it or not I'm just done editing all the photos from my latest Singapore trip and here I am blogging it. But all of the process was so much fun; it's honestly almost like going back to the moment and travelling through the photos. Everything besides me keeps reminding me how good and how happy I am when I was there. I am here going to blog about my Singapore trip last week. I know it's kinda late to blog this but honestly speaking, I’m so lazy. :P I spend five fun filled days in SINGAPORE and I decided to divide this long post into three parts and beside I want you to keep excited because I can't barely share everything in one post, so stay tuned. :) It was a short but very eventful vacation in Singapore that involved a lot of firsts.

I went to Singapore with my dad, grandma, cousin and ate Lyn, we spent 5 days in Singapore and it was total fun! I have days filed with joy, laughter, tiredness, hurt feet (due to the miles and miles of walking), fat bellies for tons of food we're having (but that's okay, we walk miles and miles so we kinda did exercise a lot), but let's just sum everything in one word and one word only...FUN!!!!!

**Flight, Arrival in Singapore, Hotel check in, Dinner at Paradise Group**

Woke up at 3am and headed to the airport around 5am because our flight is scheduled at 10:10am and we need to be at the airport 3hours advance. This travel vacay is a gift from my dad for my birthday and for passing my boards as well. I didn’t expect that my dad is serious and will book tickets for the Singapore trip when he asked me what gift I want. He booked the flight tickets instantly. Next thing was to book the hotel for stay which was another major thing and my cousin who work in Singapore take care of this. We stayed at Le Grove Apartments for 5 days, 4 nights. Planning your trip really is a fun thing. You will learn a lot and know more about this special country along the preparation. As we know, Singapore actually is a vibrant, multicultural, cosmopolitan and sophisticated country. Singapore is a very expensive city. Costs for transportation, accommodation, food, and admission fees are all considerably higher compared to its neighbors. It was money well spent, though. Singapore is a beautiful place to visit…not for a long-stay coz it’ll probably burn your budget pretty deep.

I love Singapore! Everything over there was just so convenient. For instance, the public transportation there was efficient. You can get to aboard bus, MRT and easily. Taxi stands also available island-wide, as well as at the shopping centre or hotels. Also, the environment is clean. This is true! To be honest, I didn't get a chance to see cats and dogs at the roadside, no rubbishes. Unlike Philippines, they won't let you cross busy streets. I wish us, as Filipinos can learn one or two good things from Singaporean. Sometimes improvement needs comparison too. LOL :)) Next, the foods were quite scrumptious but I think I love foods at my hometown more. Singapore is a safety country. I definitely can't bet you that there's no crime in their country yet since Singaporeans have respect for law and rules, you can travel with no worries or fear of being robbed.

We had arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at 7am. Super early! I was not in a fully-conscious being, super sleepy but super excited!! Our flight was at 10:10am on June 8, 2013, but there are delays so we board at around 11:15am and we reached Singapore at 3:35pm local time on schedule. There is no time difference between Philippines and Singapore. The flight journey was comfortable. Since it was my first time to ride a plane and to travel internationally I had a really nice time while boarding the flight and taking off and was enjoying looking at other airplanes and screaming with joy. Hahaha kiddo in me kicks in!! :)) Since we were moving forward in time, I can’t get enough time to sleep maybe because I was so excited about the trip that I refused to close my eyes and was glued to the window. But, my dad, grandma and ate Lyn managed to get a couple of hours of sleep and reached Changi Airport on time.

With my dear Grandma at NAIA T3

With my coolest Daddy-o at NAIA T3

Cebu Pacific uses the budget terminal of the Changi Airport, not much WOW factor during arrival but when you step out of the budget terminal and go to the other terminals, it’s a totally different story. At least now I know how a first-world international gateway should look like. I think the airport is the face of the country; well it’s the first thing you will see before you sight other places in the country so the airport is like a prelude to your spree. That’s why I feel bad to countries with worse airport, my country the Philippines included; in my country every traveler are paying airport tax and travelers tax, so I wonder where is that fund going if our airport is on the list of worse.

Arrival at Changi International Airport. With my cousin, Dad and Grandma

So much on that, well my latest travel in Singapore I was faced by CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, it was spacious and tidy like the other airports, though there’s not much chair to rest or sleep in those long waiting hours for a flight and there’s not much design or structure that tourist like to see and take pictures to. It was the biggest airport I had seen and was very luxurious. We arrived at Terminal 2 which was for budget airlines and we went to Terminal 3 and it was just superb. We freshened up at the airport and we feasted on the Singapore classic dish at Terminal 3 in Paradise Group Restaurant and explored the airport. The tram services between terminals are so efficient. Also the bus and MRT stations are right within the airport and there is just no need to get outside the airport if you want to take any type of public transport. In spite of lack of sleep and lack of a good breakfast, I was super excited to hop in and out of the trams. :) We also take time to take pictures inside the airport and the time went faster than we thought and it was time to depart for our hotel. We took a cabbie and reached our hotel, Le Grove Apartments at The Orange Road. The cab from Changi Airport to Le Grove cost us around SG$30 and took 30 minutes. I was so amazed on what type of taxis they have…Ohemgee! It’s a Mercedez-benz and Chrysler. :D

By the time we reached our hotel we were tired and wanted some sleep badly. We checked in to the hotel at 6:30pm. I did not have much expectation from the hotel but to my surprise the room was big enough with ample space left even after arranging our luggage, with kitchen and own bathrooms each rooms. The bed was so comfy, room and bathroom was very clean, AC was superb and centralize. I was really impressed with it.

As for our first day at Singapore we didn't go to anywhere since it was too late when we reached our hotel. The warm feeling you get while visiting a foreign country and meeting people you know there is so wonderful. :) I noted our plan for next day which was visiting the Universal Studios Singapore and Sentosa. We couldn't wait to start exploring the city :) So it was end for the first day.

To be continued…so stay tune for the Part 2. :)

A Quarter Life Celebration

From Thought Catalog by Sarah Mccartan

Typically in the days leading up to my birthday, I find myself retreating and getting wrapped up in my own head a bit too much. Rather than just being my usual level of pensive, I give in to my excessive tendency to think, rethink and over think each breath and every decision I have or haven’t made throughout the past year, and then proceed to beat myself up for what I consider to be my shortcomings. I know. Healthy, right?

Rather than counting my triumphs, I add up my pitfalls. I become buried in nostalgia, and lost in longing. When milestone years loom, this behavior tends to be the worst. Meaning, I had an especially hard time last year in the days leading up to turning the big 2-5.

Oh the dreaded “quarter life crisis.” Yes, that thing.

To combat the impending crisis, I decided to throw a dance party celebration, fittingly titled, “Quarter Life Crisis//A Dance Party Celebration.” You know, just to take the edge off. It had all the staples any little girl could ever dream up—kegs of PBR, gin and cranberry cocktails, a DJ, fog machine and even a koala head with laser light eyes. Oh, and unicorns.

Now that I am almost to the other side of my so-called quarter life crisis, I can look back and say that while this year was filled with intense periods of self-doubt, as well as unexpected waves of hard to stomach surprises, scares, and losses, there was and continues to be much more to celebrate, than there is to mourn.

This year I’ve become more accepting of myself for my heart’s desires. And more willing to take the necessary steps to follow after them. And far less concerned as to whether or not anyone in the rest of the entire universe understands. If there’s been one constant in my life thus far, it’s that everything that means something to me has come with a price, or a hurdle, a seemingly insurmountable barrier, a challenge, or a chase.

I know what you are thinking. It’s the age-old “thrill of the chase” syndrome. I used to wonder the same. But I’ve realized that it runs far deeper than that. Truthfully I would rather die trying for or simply caring about something or someone that means the world to me, than live abundantly for nothing at all. This goes for my personal life, as well as professionally.

Speaking of professionally, since there’s always money in the banana stand (thank you for reminding me Arrested Development), five weeks ago I took a leap of faith and quit my full-time 9 to 5 job that I had become engulfed in for the past year and a half.

“I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”

This quote that I stumbled upon in a book I am reading by Bob Goff pretty much sums it up.

Immediately after quitting, I went through the “five stages of grief” in about, oh, 48 hours. I realized I had nearly forgotten how to function not being burnt out creatively, or being bombarded with emails constantly. I was profoundly disappointed I let myself be held hostage in a world that put money over principle, politics over human interest. I was sad feeling as though I had lost some of myself. I then became hell bent on getting that self back.

I attended a high school graduation last week. Here, my little (might as well be) sister gave her salutatorian speech. Midway through she referenced an article she had recently read with a quote we’ve all heard many different renditions of throughout our lifetimes. A quote that doesn’t get fully realized enough.

“If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.”

Four weeks ago I began writing full time for the alternative weekly newspaper I had been serving as a contributing arts and entertainment writer for.

This weekend I went as media to Hangout Music Festival, just a little hop and a skip from my Florida town, over the state line into Alabama. Saturday night, after watching Tom Petty perform in clear view from the front of the VIP/media area for over two hours, and as closing fireworks lit up the night sky, I felt like time was standing still. I turned around and watched people jump and splash into the VIP pool like a bad Spring Break beach party movie.

Here, amidst thousands of people on the beach, as the sweet winds of the South blew across my face, I had a moment of silence and thanks, for the privilege to soak up these sights, sounds and sentiments that I have the honor of experiencing—that others may not ever be afforded the chance to. It’s moments like these I have to pinch myself to a) make sure I am alive b) make sure I remember what these moments feel like.

With all the pain and sudden tragedy that strikes in the world, and even the loss that I’ve witnessed, or felt in my own life, there is no reason not to celebrate every single moment of simple joy that has been given to us. In fact, it’s a shame not to. My hope is that I can better remember how to embrace these moments of excitement, gladness and awe just like I did as a child, oh so sweetly, innocently and genuinely, instead of worrying about what is or isn’t coming next.

As 26 approaches, I can’t say I’m closer to figuring “it” out, but I can say that I’ve decided that “it” doesn’t look like something that’s for me anyway. I enjoy the uncertainty, the freedom, the mystery, the grace and the difficulties that make up my life, and the bumpy off-road route I’ve chosen to navigate down. I don’t know any other way to journey.

I don’t want to know any other way to live, other than being myself, and believing that’s enough. I am okay with not having anything mapped out with a level of certainty, past doing what I feel called to do, creating work that is meaningful, seeing where that takes me, going when I feel called to go, and trying to be more honest and open with myself, my loved ones, and the world around me in the process.

This hasn’t been my quarter life crisis. It’s just life, which happens to be a kick ass lesson (and sometimes crisis) in itself.

In the days leading up to 26, I am making a valiant effort to not derail from my quest of taking more moments to stop and be still and thankful, and celebrate each experience that I may never have again. Good or bad, happy or sad.

This may not be enough for you, but I’ve realized that it is for me.

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So, here I am, by suddenly coming across with this article, or maybe this exactly what I need my life at the moment. Like the writer, I am also celebrating my birthday in like four days. Whatever the reason, I’m just like her. I am currently going through my own Quarter-Life Crisis…at the ripe old age of becoming 23 years young. Age aside, during this time when you’re about to age a year older it seems simultaneously everything is ever-changing, options seems endless, decisions become complicated and TIME is just flying by.

These are the time you adjusting to become a mature adult and everything it entails, responsibility and independence (especially financially). These are the time finding a job is tough and scary because you either find something you really love or realize that you are going to start something you’d never thought you are doing. These are the years where you learn to question everything and anything, especially yourself and your capabilities. But when you DO and find some clarity in this mad, mad world or at least some sense of direction or have even one person who can relate and will support you and help you carry the weight you receiving, who will tell you, “you can do this, I’m just here!” with a little tap in the back or just a simple hug, then it make everything more bearable and a little bit easier…Eventually, all of us are struggling this type of crisis once in a while. I believe that with a bit of patience and positivity we will find that one thing.