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: , , , , , ,

How to Claim GST Refund – Singapore

August 10, 2011 by 5 Comments
gst refund singapore

Here's something I learned in my recent trip to Singapore. Tourists in Singapore can actually claim refund on GST (Goods and Services Tax) paid for items purchased from establishments that are participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme. Introduced in May 2011, the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) allows tourists to get back the GST they paid on your purchases when shopping in Singapore, supposing you meet their criteria. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Practical Tips, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Full Circle Aboard the Singapore Flyer

August 8, 2011 by 1 Comment
singapore flyer

One of the most easily recognizable landmarks in Singapore is the Singapore Flyer. This enormous ferris wheel gives passengers a great 360-degree view of the city. Standing 541 feet tall, this is the world's biggest observation wheel and the tallest in the world, taller than the famous London Eye in Europe. While onboard one of the capsules of the Flyer, you can see the many significant Singapore landmarks including the F1 Singapore Grand Prix venue, the Merlion Park, the Marina Bay Sands, and even Sentosa. If you're lucky, you can also see Malaysian and Indonesian islands on a clear day. … [Read more...]

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

MINT Museum of Toys – Singapore

August 7, 2011 by 5 Comments
mint museum of toys singapore ultraman astroboy

Said to be the "world's first purpose-built museum for toys," Mint Museum of Toys is a wonderland for all toy-lovers out there. It houses over 50,000 pieces of vintage toys from more than 40 countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Bulgaria! And they're not just old toys. Many of them are incredibly rare while some pieces are unique (which means, you won't find them anywhere else in the world)! The toys here are actually a private and lifetime collection of Chang Yang Fa, a Singaporean toy enthusiast. Pretty enormous (and extensive) for a private collection, huh? Well, that's what passion does to people --- make them do big things. And this museum is … [Read more...]

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

Window Shopping at Orchard Road – Singapore

August 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
orchard road

I wasn't expecting to score good deals in Orchard Road since most brands here are high-end. Actually, the night before this we already went to Mustafa Mall in Little India to buy pasalubong and we were more than delighted that there were so many good buys in the area. But I still wanted my mom to see the famed street. After almost 2 hours in Chinatown, the Poor Traveler and his mom decided to proceed to Orchard Road to see the many shopping centers there and possibly buy pasalubong if we see something affordable. … [Read more...]

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

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