This was indeed an impulsive trip. I got to be luckily invited by my friend, Tin over dinner around mid June. It was just a casual conversation of her mentioning that her company might send her to SG for a business trip and it might be a good idea to drop by one weekend to enjoy SG. It was really a great plan because I was planning to have an out of the country trip this year, so fortunately we made that happen. A week before July 5, I booked my plane ticket.
I left Manila at around 22:15 of July 5. I Arrived at Changi Airport around a quarter before 2 of the 6th of July. Tin's staying at Park Avenue Changi Hotel, just around 5km from the airport. The taxi driver was really nice for stopping the meter because we had been going around Changi Business Park and cannot find the hotel right away. Eventually we found our way. I met with Tin but she gave me the saddest news that she won't have her weekend off because she still has to work. Truly heartbreaking, because I planned doing the activities with her. (Tin and I had been good friends since the 3rd grade). Since I was already there, the show must still go on. She ensured me that a friend of hers would accompany me for my Universal Studio Experience.
Our cozy room at Park avenue Changi
I woke up at 5:30 AM to prepare to start off my day at the Botanical Garden. The place was full with kids and joggers. It's a very ideal place to reflect and read a good book.
From there I had met with Tin's friend (eventually became my friend too). We lost our way out of the garden so we have to travel around the perimeters to eventually access the MRT. We had brunch at Vivo City first before heading to Sentosa.
I cannot hide my excitement any longer because I had been dreaming to go to USS ever since. We rode the monorail for an overview of Sentosa.
Upon seeing the iconic symbol of USS which is the globe, we spent quite a while to have pictures taken with it. Eventually we were able to enter USS. I was able to feel the vibes that I was really in Hollywood. The following pictures might narrate how I felt during the visit. For the attractions that we tried, I might say that the Revenge of the Mummy and Transformers 3D were the highlights of this experience. I chickened out for trying the Battlestar Galactica because I had never been a fan of roller coasters. We waited for the Parade in the afternoon before heading to the S.E.A. aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world.
After the parade, we visited the SEA aquarium. We were time bounded because we wanted to catch the firework display back again at USS. We passed by the Maritime Museum first, where displays of SEA countries' richness could be seen.
The SEA Aquarium experience was just alright because I kept comparing it to the one I visited in HK ocean park and of course our very own Manila ocean park. My favorite part? I was able to see up close those cute dolphins!
After witnessing the firework display at USS, we killed time to have coffee before meeting with Tin at Chinatown for late dinner and some night shopping. We planned to go to Clark quay but we were all drained out of energy.
Our view while having coffee and killing time
The following day, I had breakfast with Tin at Changi Mall. It was a delicious meal, and we were able to have small talks before she head out to work again.
Our yummy breakfast
I had reached out to a long time friend, Ellaine who I also met in the third grade and until now considered to be one of my good friends. She treated me to lunch together with her hubby and my soon to be god-daughter.
After our lunch at Marina bay sands, we headed to the Gardens by the bay, but we weren't able to enter the observatories anymore because of time constraint.
I Find the Marina Bay Sands truly spectacular. I hope when I return to SG I could see its beauty at night.
Since I was also saving my energy for tomorrow's work (flight back to Manila is just hours away from this moment), I decided just to zoom in my camera to take pictures of some famous figures: The Merlion and the Singapore Flyer.
Below is just some of the yummy foods that I was able to try. Singapore's cuisine is already an Asian fusion of Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian and Indian.
This amazing trip wouldn't that be awesome if not for these two great friends. Thank you so much tin and ellaine for this superb experience. Also thank you Paolo (he's too shy to have his picture taken) for the unforgettable USS moment.
I will surely be back Singapore, I was not able to explore you that much yet, but I promise on my next visit, I will include Malaysia on my itinerary.
