I am impressed with Singapore. I am not a fan of working abroad but my experience there makes me wanna work there. I love how orderly and systematized everything is. You know what time the bus or the train will arrive at an exact area. Being a late person that I am, this discipline is a happy welcome in my life. =)
It is generally safe, and clean, and very modern. People live in condo-type houses (like the one in Serendra), and I can imagine myself having a quick early morning run around my condo-community, just before I go to my work. Weeee! What an organized life =) (well, if I get to work there someday...hehehehehe)
Being in Singapore, I felt like I'm in Greenbelt/Eastwood/ManilaBay/The Fort/Alabang Town Center made as one big country :p It seems to me as one nation filled with popular urban gimmick spots for the yuppies. And yes, the native Singaporeans (especially the yuppie ones) have got great fashion sense =)
I arrived in Singapore in the morning, ALONE, for my first trip abroad :p My friends had a different flight schedule (blame it to the availability of seat sale :p). It was nerve racking, but I made it anyways.
At the Changi Airport, everything went on smoothly. The immigration officer did not interrogate me as much, and only asked how long I'd be staying in SG. =) Got my check in baggage and used the phones at the airport with free local calls to inform my friend in singapore that I've already arrived =)
At the Changi Airport
I was still nervous because I did not know where to go. No one was going to pick me up at the airport. I just went with the flow, observing where people go and reading intently all the signage. My feet and intuition led me to the taxi area (which was just several steps away from the airport exit). I was so amazed that the taxi has a GPS, and it just instructs where to go. This was a first time for me :p because I am used to the driver pulling over to ask from bystanders for directions :p
weeee!!! the GPS! =)
After several minutes, I finally arrived at the place of a friend where we will stay. The condo buildings have big numbers on it, you'd never get lost. All in all, my touchdown, was hassle free (thank god!)
My friends arrived after several hours. No time to waste, we headed to our 1st day itinerary. But before we get the day going, we ate our lunch. Here is my first meal in SG.
The food in SG generally matched my tastebuds (or matakaw lang ako talaga. hahaha). SG food are spicy and filled with herbs. There are vegetables and a soup on the side as well. The price of food is comparable to prices of fast food chains/ and food courts here in our country (1SGD-3SGD). So, it is relatively affordable. I also love SG juices/drinks which are made of fresh fruits (kiwi, lemon, orange etc.).
For our first day, we went to the SG flyer, the Merlion and the Marina Bay.
I fell in love with Marina Bay. I just find it so romantic. I am reminded by our very own Manila Bay =) The view of the Marina Bay Hotel drove me nuts because the moon was just behind it while there was a lightshow playing =)
The SG Flyer
A view from the SG Flyer. This is mostly advertised as a venue for marriage proposal
The mighty Merlion
Notice the moon behind the marina bay hotel =) So cool!
We met up with some friends in the evening and they treated us for a dinner =) It was in Glutton Bay which was some sort of a banchetto. And yes, Filipinos can be found at every corner of Singapore!
yamyamyam! Spicy foods are the bomb =)
Before heading home, we had a river cruise. And we commuted going home via train and bus! =)
A view from the cruise. Hope I could get to stay at this hotel one day! ')
At the bus terminal. Buses look the same, only differs in size, and it has a number. Each number corresponds to the bus's destination.
We woke up early morning for our second day adventure. We went to the Singapore Zoo, Sentosa and Chinatown. We also rode the cable car.
First things first. Breakfast at the BK!
Singapore Zoo. Big! Super!
Cute kids having a field trip. SG is a multi-cultural country
This one cracked me up ;)
The very big zooooo!!!!
Centralized transport system in SG. This was the card we used for the train, and the bus =)
Kikay SG bus. Yellow and violet =)
Waiting for the train. The platform has a cover like that, perhaps to avoid accidents. Incoming passengers stand by the side and outgoing passengers alight at the middle. Train commute was no chaos. I wish MRT has a simple system like that ;).
I've noticed that escalators in SG just run so fast! There are designated areas too. You go to the left side if you're in a hurry and stay at the right if not.
Lunch time at the food court (of some mall i forgot :p) I noticed that the food servers and crews are senior citizens.
The Cable Car
A breath taking view from the cable car (because I was both scared and in awe)
Sentosa reminded me of Serendra
The Sentosa Beach
The Songs of the Sea in the Evening. I like better the Manila Ocean Park version though. hehehe
We went to Arab Street, Orchard Road and Chinatown for our last Day.
Almusal muna!!! Wala sila Jabee ;)
Delicious Milk Tea
Arab St. From the name itself, this strip consists of the Arab culture, like carpets
Like Arab Clothing...
and Arab food!
Spicy!!!
The mosque
At the temple in Chinatown. Red stuff are not allowed inside. And you have to go there barefooted
At the orchard road. reminds me of Makati and Ortigas ;)
I can't recall how is this one called, but it is SG's version of sinigang, only it is spicy
The popular Chicken Rice
My flight was at 12 MN back to Manila. So after our 3rd day adventure, I went home and prepared immediately for my trip back to my motherland. I was surprised with the long queue of people (mostly Pinoys) going back to Manila. I like fell in line for almost 2 hours!
Super long line for check in!
Fellow kababayans waiting for boarding =)
Went to SG alone, and went back to Manila alone too. Imma proud viajera. And yes, the SG vacation was a blast.
And I shall return =)
Oh by the way, local telecom providers work in SG but through roaming service. And the charge is way too high! You get charged even if you only accept an incoming call. One can spend less by buying a local sim card =)
