Third Time at the Singapore Flyer

September 7, 2011 by 1 Comment
singapore flyer view

The wake-up call came at 6am and my roommate and I were up in no time. After doing the morning rituals, we grabbed a quick breakfast at Fragrance Hotel's cafeteria, went back to our room to get our bags and by 8am, we were already on our way to the Singapore Flyer. I had tried the Singapore Flyer twice before so I wasn't really that excited but you know what they say: Third time's a charm. I was hoping it would hold true. When we arrived, we were greeted by a sea of juvenile bliss. There was an educational tour going on and the young pupils were gathered at the entrance to the Flyer, being briefed by their teachers. Suddenly, I was reminded of my own childhood and how thrilled I was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Other Landmarks, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Little India By Night – Singapore

September 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
mustafa centre singapore

When my mom learned I would be going to Singapore for the third time, she handed me a list of things I should buy for her. When I looked at the list I knew exactly where to get them --- Mustafa Centre. It was not difficult at all to squeeze this quick shopping stint into my itinerary because Mustafa is open 24 hours anyway. Ten o'clock has already passed when we arrived at Fragrance Hotel Selegie from the airport. After getting my key card, I immediately proceeded to my room, dropped my bags and went out again. It was the perfect opportunity to head over to Mustafa Centre and buy what my mom asked me to get for her, mostly perfumes. Just within the block, I passed by a 7-Eleven store and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Religious Sites, Shops, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Review: Fragrance Hotel Selegie – Singapore

September 4, 2011 by 1 Comment
fragrance hotel

Whenever I ask any of my friends who are or have been to Singapore about accommodations, I always see Fragrance Hotel in their list of recommendations. I also receive emails from readers of this blog, asking for my review of Fragrance Hotel but I could not give an opinion because I was yet to try it. The popularity of this hotel chain may be brought about by their cheap rates. In a country where space is limited, it is very difficult to find affordable accommodations in a good location. That's the edge of the many Fragrance Hotel branches all over Singapore. I had been dying to stay in and write about any Fragrance Hotel and it finally happened on this trip. You may be asking, I thought … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, International Trips, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Restaurant Review: Pasta de Waraku – Changi Airport, Singapore

September 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment
pasta de waraky ribeye steak

I don't usually dine at the airport. I have always had this notion that airport food is ridiculously overpriced. I usually eat first at home or at a cheap restaurant near the hotel before going to the airport to save money. But since this was a sponsored trip, I was not complaining! The group crossed over to the Departure Check-in Hall and headed to a restaurant on the third floor. When I saw the restaurant, I was kind of disappointed coz I was hoping for a Southeast Asian dinner --- not Japanese, not Western --- and the faux pasta bowls on the walls were not a good sign. But the dinner would prove to be more than satisfying! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, International Trips, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leaving Manila, Arriving in Singapore

September 4, 2011 by 2 Comments
bloggers at changi terminal 2

I was the first to arrive at our meeting place. My fellow travel bloggers and I agreed to assemble at the Airphil Express area at the NAIA Terminal 3 and I was the first one there. That's how excited I was for this trip. The first thing I did was get several copies of the Departure Cards to save my travel buddies the trouble. I filled up the form and waited for them. At around 2:30 pm, we were complete. Since our flight was scheduled at 4:50pm, we had ample time to eat, walk around the airport and exchange travel stories! At 4pm, we were already at the pre-departure area waiting for our flight. Flying to Singapore? Check out this detailed guide on what to do at the airport before the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Airports, International Trips, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Airphil Express’ Fly and Sail AdvenTour Package (Rates and Itinerary) | Singapore – Kuala Lumpur Cruise

September 4, 2011 by 5 Comments
airphil express fly and sail singapore malaysia cruise

I had never been on a cruise before. I had traveled by ship many times --- to General Santos City, to Puerto Princesa, to Calapan, Mindoro. Although I enjoyed these journeys very much, I had never experienced being on board a cruise ship, with many luxurious amenities. That's why I was thrilled when I received an invitation from Airphil Express to try their newest travel package --- Fly and Sail! The Philippines' fastest growing airline, Airphil Express partners with another travel giant --- Star Cruises. Together, they created a package that made the "cruise experience" a lot more affordable, thus closer to many people. FLY AND SAIL offers a double adventure! You fly to Singapore via … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Posts, International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Misadventures! Last Day at Anawangin Cove – Zambales, Philippines

September 2, 2011 by 5 Comments
camwhore friends

Our first day at Anawangin Cove was totally lovely. But the meat of our trip really was the "leaving the cove" part! Murphy seemed to have hopped onto the boat with us. Murphy's Law was just at work that day, proving just how poor a traveler I was! On the way to check out nearby Capones and Camara Islands, our boat's engine just stopped. "That's nasty," I thought. But since I was with three of my bubbly friends, we were probably the coolest, most relaxed people ever to get stranded in the middle of the sea. We were laughing, making fun of the fact that sun is turning us into charcoals, and dismissing the probability of the boat toppling. It wasn't really scary. First, we had a life … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Zambales Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Overnight Camping at Anawangin Cove – Zambales, Philippines

September 2, 2011 by 28 Comments
anawangin beach

Let me talk about my college friend Mimay. To be honest, it's weird that I call her a "college friend." Although we shared the same batch, same college org and even same classes, we weren't really close in college, looking back. She was busy doing theater while I was busy being emo. It was after graduation that we really became friends. While I was busy avoiding going home --- I hated my apartment that time --- she was busy stalking a barista at a cafe just around the block. That was when we started hanging out together and got close. A year later, she moved to California for good. Goodbye, cafe buddy. But last summer, Mimay decided to come home, to the Philippines, with her American … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Zambales Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Budget Travel Guide to Anawangin Cove, Zambales – Philippines

September 2, 2011 by 52 Comments
anawangin cove tent area

Anawangin Cove is a perfect proof of many cliches we've heard before --- the rainbow after the storm, the light at the end of the tunnel, the Phoenix reborn and rising from the ashes quite literally. Cliche but true. Who would have thought that the beautiful Anawangin Cove was made by a disaster a couple of decades ago? They say that Anawangin used to be rocky but Mt. Pinatubo dumped a good amount of volcanic ashes that the place was absolutely unrecognizable. Years later, agoho trees started to grow, creating an evergreen forest of what seems like pine trees. How did they get there? Good question. But it seems like the ash fall somehow carried with it some Agoho seeds. It's like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Budget and Expenses, Planning a Trip, Sample Itineraries, Travel Guide, Zambales Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Budget Travel Guide to Singapore: Planning, Itinerary, Budget

August 27, 2011 by 23 Comments
singapore-river tour

Singapore has a special place in my heart. It was the first city outside of the Philippines that I set foot on. My first time was almost two years ago and it was on that trip that I met some of friends. That's why when I was thinking of a trip for me and my mom, it was easy for me to decide to head back to Singapore and share with my mother what it has to offer. Note that we didn't hire a travel agency for any of our activities on this trip. Everything was done Do-It-Yourself-style. Booking Flights to Singapore All major local airlines including Cebu Pacific and PAL Express fly to Singapore from Manila. Some even fly from Cebu, Davao, and Clark. Seair/Tiger Airways Philippines and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget and Expenses, International Trips, Sample Itineraries, Singapore, Travel Guide Tagged With: , , , , , ,

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“Hey, look at this!” There she was, my friend Tonet, standing motionless before a gravestone; her eyes glued to the engraving. “It’s weird.” “What is?” I walked towards her. “Look.” Her finger led my eyes to two words in particular. Last seen. Usually, a gravestone has two lines written below the name of the departed [...]

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View of Macadlaw (left) and Puhunan (right) from Bel-at

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We never intended to tour around Malaysia that month. Our original destination was Siem Reap, Cambodia but an unfortunate event forced us to drop the idea. Our connecting flights were in Kuala Lumpur so we figured, Why not explore Malaysia instead? So just a couple of days before the trip, we found ourselves rummaging through the Internet for travel [...]

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If the winter blues have got you feeling a little bit down, you might be dreaming of the trips you could take in the upcoming year. There’s only one thing standing in your way: your finances. With a bit of effort, you can make your travel plans a reality by following these simple money-making tips. [...]

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