Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

August 2, 2013

Moving On

Heyy yow my dear blog readers! Thanks for stopping by. I've moved to WordPress. 

If you want to read more of my updates (movie&book reviews, food reviews, travel, rants and ramblings) and have a glimpse of my new blog. You can check out the link below:



June 17, 2013

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. :)

August 31, 2012

Date a Boy who Travels

Since this week is almost over! As the result of an overwhelming week, I urged each of you do something that you love! You may have read, "Date a Girl who Reads" by Rosemarie Urquico, so I thought I'd share you this article with same, same, but different in some level. Article is not mine! Just see this article while browsing the net, too interesting not to share. If you ever find yourself on this space, do know that this piece is just wonderful. Enjoy!!

DATE A BOY WHO TRAVELS 

Date a boy who travels. Date a boy who treasures experiences over toys, a hand-woven bracelet over a Rolex. Date the boy who scoffs when he hears the words, "vacation", "all-inclusive", or "resort". Date a boy who travels because he's not blinded by a single goal but enlivened by many.

You might find him in an airport or at a bookstore browsing the travel guides -- although he "only uses them for reference."

You'll know it's him because when you peek at his computer screen, his background will be a scenic splendor of rolling hills, mountains, or prayer flags. His Facebook friend count will be over-the-roof, and his wall will be plastered with broken English "miss you" of friends he met along the way. When he travels, he makes lifelong friends in an hour. And although contact with these friends is sporadic and may be far-between, his bonds are unmessable and if he wanted, he could couch surf the world.....again.

Buy him a beer, maybe the same brand that he wears on the singlet under his plaid shirt, unable to truly let go. Once a traveler gets home, people rarely listen to their stories. So listen to him. Allow him to paint a picture that brings you into his world. He might talk fast and miss small details because he's too excited to be heard. Bask in his enthusiasm. Want it for yourself.

He'll squeak like an excited toddler when his latest issue of National Geographic arrives in the mail. Then he'll grow quiet, engrossed, until he finishes his analysis of every photo, every adventure. In his mind, he'll insert himself in these pictures. He'll pass the issue on to you and grill you about your dreams and competitively ask about the craziest things you've ever done. Tell him. And know that he'll probably win. And if by chance you win, know that his next lot in life will be to out do you. But then he'll say, "Maybe we can do it together."

Date the boy who talks of distant places and whose hands have explored the stone relics of ancient civilizations and whose mind has imagined those hands carving, chiseling, painting the wonders of the world. And when he talks, it's as if he's reliving it with you. You can almost hear his heart racing. You can almost feel the adrenaline ramped up by the moment. You feel it passing through his synapsis, a feast to his eyes entering through those tiny oracles of experiences that we call pupils, digesting rapidly through his veins, manifesting into his nervous system, transforming and altering his worldview like a reverse trauma and finally passing, but forever changing the colors of his sight. You will want this too.

Date a boy who's lived out of a backpack he lives happily with less. A boy who's travelled has seen poverty and dined with those who live in small shanty's with no running water, and yet welcome strangers with greater hospitality than the rich. And because he's seen this, he's seen how a life without luxury can mean a life fueled by relationships and family, rather than a life that fuels fancy cars and ego. He's experienced different ways of being, respects alternative religions and he looks at the world with the eyes of a five-year-old, curious and hungry. Your dad will be happy too because he's good with money and knows how to budget.

This boy relishes home; the comfort of duvet, the safety stirred in a mom-cooked meal, the easy conversation of childhood friends, and the immaculate glory of the flush-toilet. Although fiercely independent, he has had time to reflect on himself and his relationships. Despite his wanderlust, he knows and appreciates his ties to home. He has had a chance to miss and be missed. Because of this, he also knows a thing or two about goodbyes. He knows the overwhelming uncertainty of leaving the comforts of home, the indefinite see-you-laters at the departure gates, and yet he fearlessly goes into the unknown because he knows the feeling of return. And that the I've-missed-you-hug is the best type of hug in the whole world. He also knows that goodbyes are just prolonged see-you-laters and that 'hello' is only as far away as the nearest internet cafe.

Don't hold onto this boy. Let this boy go and go with him. If you haven't travelled, he will open your eyes to a world beyond the news and popular deception. He will open your dreams to possibility and reality. He will calm your nerves when you're about to miss a flight or when your rental blows a flat, because he knows the journey is the adventure. He will make light of the unsavory noises you make when you - and you will - get food poisoning. He will make you laugh through the discomfort all while dabbing your forehead with a cold cloth and nursing you with a bottled water. He will make you feel like you're home.

When you see something beautiful, he will hold your hand in silence ,in the history of where his feet stand, and the fact that you're with him.

He will live in every moment with you, because this is how he lives his life. He understands that happiness is no more than a string of moments that displaces neutrality, and he is determined to tie as many of the strings together as he can. He also understands your need to live for yourself and that you have a bucket list of your own. Understand his. Understand that your goals may at some points differs, but that independence is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship when it's mutually respected. You may lose him for a bit, but he will always come home bearing a new story and a souvenir he picked up because it reminded him of you, like it was made for you and because he missed you. You might be compelled to do the same. Make sure that independence is on your bucket list, and make sure it's checked. Independence will keep your relationship fresh and exciting, and when you're together again it will forge a bond of unbreakable trust. 

He'll propose when you've breached your comfort-zone, whether it be a fear like skydiving or swimming with sharks, or sitting next to the smelly person on an overcrowded bus. It won't be with a diamond ring, but with a token from a native culture or inspired by nature, like the penguin and the pebble.

You will get married somewhere unassumed, surrounded by a select few, in a moment constructed to celebrate venturing into the unknown together again. Marry the boy who's travelled and together you will make the whole world your home. Your honeymoon will not be forgotten to a buffet dinner and all-you-can -drink beach bars, but will be remembered in the triumphant photographs at the top of Kilimanjaro and memorialized in the rewarding ache of muscles at the end of a long days hike.

When you're ready, you will have children that have the same names of the characters you met on your journeys, the foreign names of people who dug a special place in your heart if only for a few days. Perhaps you will live in another country, and your children will learn of language and customs that open their minds from the very start, leaving no room for prejudice. He will introduced them to the life of Hemingway, the journey of Santiago, and empower them to live even bigger than both of you.

Marry a boy who travels and he'll teach your children the beauty of a single stone, the history of the Incas and he will instill in them the bravery of possibility. He will explain to them that masking opportunity, there is fear. He will teach them to concur it. 

And when you're old, you'll sit with your grandchildren pouring over your photo albums and chest of worldly treasures, while they too insert themselves into your photographs, sparked by the beauty of the world and inspired by your life in it. 

Find a boy who travels because you deserve a life of adventure and possibility. You deserve to live light and embrace simplicity. You deserve to look at life through the eyes of youth and with your arms wide open. Because this is where you will find joy. And better, you will find joy together. And if you can't find him, travel. Go. Embrace it. Explore the world for yourself because dreams are the stuff reality is made from.

Source: Originally published here: wherearemyheels.com
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Date a boy who travels? But, really? You might not be impressed by casual clothes and backpack he always carry along. He might not have fancy, flashy cars bring you around, but behind the earnest, glowing smile and twinkling eyes, lies a curious mind that will want you to know. And if you find a GIRL or GUY who travels...I think she'll/he'll turn your world right side up. Holler if you've found your boy or girl! Lucky you! :) This is such a wonderful, beautiful written post. By reading this article it made people realize how lucky it is to travel the world. We travel because we love. We love this world. We love or friends. And we love ourselves enough to keep moving and experiencing all this planet has to offer. Sooo, looking forward to bumping into you one day, somewhere on a summery place of the globe! (or vice versa)