Sentosa - Singapore

They said that no Singapore vacation would be complete if you were not to visit Sentosa... That doesnt work for me!!! I could have spent all my time in Chinatown or Orchard or just walking around the numerous parks, or maybe just ride the train to its last stop and then go back.

I never liked Sentosa! But for the millions of readers I have (char!) Here are my thoughts on the overrated Sentosa Island.

I am not sure why, but maybe because it was too hot during that day and the thought of roaming a very huge island, waiting for the bus blah blah blah or is it because of my not so user friendly slippers?...

We left the apartment at 11AM took the very long train ride which I enjoyed then took off at Vivo City. This is the gateway to the Island. I love Vivo! Its a huge shoping mall with all the good brands. But its not the time to shop... We bought our food at Vivo because they said that food is really expensive at Sentosa. But who cares even if we buy food outside its too early, and we still have to have lunch.

Vivo City

I find the rates for the cable cars really expensive, inhumane! (exxag) but we took it anyways. There were only a few people taking the cable car, because I think there are other ways to get to the island. I couldnt care less.

Waiting for the glass type cable car

So off we went screaming our lungs out!!! but halfway the ride, theres really nothing awesome about the view. Its just the rush of what you feel because if anything goes wrong you fall into a body of water way way down.

A view from the top with my foot

Theres so much construction going on. This goes with the many development plans for Sentosa Island. I might go there, well after 10 years when its all done.

View from the top

We took off from the cable car and then we were greeted by the staff. Here you start thinking of what you can do inside. A lot of packages to choose from. But because I was such a bitch that day we decided to just go inside and see and then if we wanted to do this and to do that then we just pay from there.

See, talking about Sentosa just bores me makes me want to finish this post ASAP.

The Second Merlion

Expensive Entrance Fee, did not enjoy!

Sorry, but I really didnt like it there! We watched the very cheap dolphin show. I enjoyed eating my oversized fries than watching the poor dolphins. To my surprise there were lots of audience most of them tourists like me. When the show ended I just told myself One more activity in this island and Ill be mental!!! So we decided to go home. Yes I was so selfish that day.

Here are some other things inside Sentosa:

Merlion Walk

Tiger Sky Tower

Luge and Skyride

Flying Trapeze

4d Magix

Songs of The Sea which was overrated!

Some museums

And a lot of walking

All in all I should have checked in in one of the hotels and indulged...

I am sorry to sound really frustrated but, up until now, I dont want to remember Sentosa. And when I think of the money I spent... Aaaaaaargh!

Haaay...

Haaayy...

Here I am just came from Batha to buy some groceries so I can fill the boxes to be sent to the Philippines. While segregating, I switched the TV on, and then there was Wowowee!.

Today they are featuring people who are collecting garbage for a living. Listening to their stories while I was opening my meal for breakfast, suddenly I cant eat...

Tear drops...

I am blessed! Thank you Lord...

Singapore's China town

I think it is just like the typical China town everywhere in the world, except that I enjoyed it better because I literally walked through every alley of it. As mentioned before, I loved the MRT because it takes anywhere you want to go. It wasnt to hard for us to go to Chinatown because it was an MRT station.

When you go out of the train, you use the stairs and when you reach the top its a whole new wolrd of shopping and dining experience (char!). You instantly smell the incense burning, everything just turns red.

I personally wanted to finish buying the small souvenirs so I can explore the good finds with more time. Almost everyone is selling souvenir items at 7 pcs for 1 SGD or 4 pcs for 1 SGD it all depends on the items, so I bought some nail clippers and some keychains plus of course the fridge magnets. And then I said enough its time for me hehe!.

Theres just so much treasure in china town, just like Binondo in Manila. You just walk and walk and walk shop and shop and shop. We needed a money changer to load our guns, All in all, I think china town in Singapore is the best place to buy your pasalubong (aside from Mustafa 24 hour mall) souvenirs, little this little that. This is where I bought the nice incense holder and the porcelain chop sticks.

China Town - Singapore

Once you get tired of the shopping and of course haggling, the Food Street is nearby and yes, when they say food street it is a food street (nyar!!!) There will be little space for you to walk when this place is full. Im glad we were there early. Guess what I had... Noodles!!! I just cant get enough of the noodles in Singapore.

Goofing around some shops

Oh yeah, that guy beside me is trying to haggle...

I enjoyed China town in Singapore. Its more interesting than the little India they have. I wish all countries have china towns!!!

Transportation in Singapore

Let me now share and enlighten you guys about the means of transport in Singapore. being the small city, it is not that complicated to go around SG. The government has planned the transport system strategically and systematically. Any one who steps in SG for the first time will be confused but thats just about the feeling of being there the first time and ofcourse you dont want to be missing your destination.

The MRT is the best way to go around, its cheap clean and fast. Im not going to explain how the color schemes work. Let me tell you my experience. Most of the time we took the MRT because if its convenience. There is no drinking, eating and smoking inside and outside the train stations. I think every two minutes theres a train coming so you really dont have to wait for so long.

Its different than what we have in Manila because although it gets really crowded and full during peak hours it still feels and smells fresh. I have no time scanning the train for hot human beings , but I guess theres always a few. People are free to do the things they want to do in terms of affection. One time we there were two passengers (a couple) eating each others tongues, and no one cares...

First train ride with Daniel

Waiting for the bus. See how clean the roads are?

The bus is another means of transport in SG although I think we only used it twice. It has a similar system as the public buses in Dubai, only it is more clean in Singapore. Dubai buses are also clean compared to what we have here in Riyadh.

Singapore also has taxis, but I guess they are too expensive to use. We only used it twice, first, upon arrival from the airport to Jaks house, then second on the day of our departure. I dont think they have the time to mess with the meters because they are so scared of the law.

My first time to try the ticket machine

In SG you can choose to buy the tickets the way you like it. I personally wanted to buy the 3 day tickets for tourists but my friend said we will be spending more. So we bought the ticket everytime we used the MRT. You have to have small denominations all the time. You just press the button of your destination and then the machine will show you the amount, you then pay through the machine with your cash, and it will then spit the card out!!! One interesting thing about the MRT payment scheme. Everytime you travel and pay for a card it always has an extra 1 SG dollar which you can refund after your trip.

Me and daniel waiting for the train

I just wanted to share that the photo above was taken when we were on our way to Sentosa Island. I was wearing a black slippers from ZARA which I bought the night before. After the trip I was cursing Zara and Spain where it came from because my feet looked like it just came out of the oven. And I was in paiin. Zara doesnt manufacture such comfy footwear, and this is not my first bad experience. maybe the nth time.. Will post about that next time.

Priority seat inside the train

What I like most about the train ride is that you see the priority set being used by those who are meant to. The elderly, the pregnant and the handicapped you always see it happening. I just feel that its so humane...

Marco said that Singaporeans follow the law not because they want to generally they follow it because they are scared of the fines, the reason why SG is called the "FINE" city.

People who have cars should really be earning a lot because they are able to pay for the maintenance and the ever inflating gasoline price.

I have not seen heavy traffic and or any road accidents during my stay, not that it doesnt happen there, its but normal, but maybe because of the disciplined drivers and the respect for traffic rules it just doesnt happen as much as...

Generally I feel comfortable and safe traveling in Singapore. But I wont be back in the near future hehe!

Food in Singapore

Okay here I am sharing some photos of what kind of food I stuffed my belly when I was in Singapore. I am not sure why, but before I left for SG I psyched myself that I will have as many noodle meals as I can. But theres more to Singapore than just noodles.


As much as I would like to while away from the fast food chains, of course I have to try Mcdonalds, KFC and BUrger King, they seem to have nice meals that only they have. KFC has their chilli sauce we dont have that anywhere at least that taste.


The food courts, the food alleys the coffee shops and the posh restos, We had to try it all, we also tried to stay with our budget (NOT).

Fighting with the crab

Marco treated us and made us feast on the Singapore Chili crab lets not talk about the price... It was delectable!

This was a nice combi of pork chicken liver boiled eggs duck with a sauce thats heavenly! It goes well with chicken rice.

The very first photo taken in Singapore an ad at a food court in admiralty.

The very first noodle bowl I had in Singapore

Noodle lunch served scrambled eggs shrimps bean sprouts partnered with the best lemon juice.

This was the noodle bowl I had in Chinatown, it was really spicy but I ate it all with another serving and siopao and siomai.

The last noodle bowl in Singapore with fish balls. Mind you the fish balls are not the typical. they are more tasty.

Of course there more photos but Im just too lazy as usual to post them all. All in all Singapore offers a really good challenge to your taste buds, theres just sooo much to eat so little time. All I can say is that I had the best of it.

Singapore First Time

It was 2AM and I was fighting with my phone as I set the alarm to wake me up. I was still tired from the walking we did the night before at BluWave where we had dinner. So what to do ,I have to wake up, take a shower and check out from our hotel so we can catch our Cebu Pacific flight to Singapore at around 6AM.

I have booked the plane tickets when I was still in Riyadh because I didnt want to take the risk. So I phoned the cab driver we met the night before whom we spoke to and said if he could take us to the airport blah blah blah. Off we went. I think we were too early, but nevertheless, it was okay to be early than late.

Being the Miss friendship bitch that I was, as we walked inside looking for vacant seats so we can at least take a nap (NOT) all of the benches were filled with people sleeping and maybe they thought that the benches are also beds!!! My gosh I cant help it so I just thought aloud and said in a very loud voice "Guys those are not beds share them!!!" so they can hear, but being the insensitive people that they are DEADMA!

At the very end of the terminal we found some vacant seats and so we waited there. I was looking at the different kinds of people who are there and then it dawned upon me that not all of these people are tourists. There were couples with their kids, Moms visiting their daughters working as nurses in SG, Cute guys, Hot women, Group of girls whom I know will work there and try to extend their visas as much as they could, Permanent residents gay guys louder than me. Gay guys who are trying to act straight, students, so on and so forth.

It was an okay flight. The cabin supervisor with her tangerine fake nails (matching the crew uniform) and her fake eye lashes were the talk of the town... Hahaha! She was nice though and provided us with an okay service. I didnt know that their uniforms were provided by Bench hmmm. well cheap airline will have to have cheap uniforms for their crew (dont get me wrong theres nothing wrong with it its just the truth am I right?)

"Kalalapag po lamang nating sa paliparang international ng Changgi Budget Terminal" Ay bongga!!! Talagang dapat nilang ipaalam na hoy mga dukha dito lang kayo sa Budget Terminal wahahhaa!

Oh my gosh! the sole of my shoe just gave up on me and decided to leave its body hehe! What I did I just took it all off and the kept it on the front pocket of my bag.

This immigration line is the longest on earth! I wonder why.... Yeah its time for the girls to be questioned. and believe me the immigration officers were pulling them one by one.

I met a girl in the plane her name is Althea she asked me for a favor and I gladly said yes. She asked if we can buy wine for her using our passports. They have a law in SG that you can only buy one bottle of wine per passport, so there we gave her our passports and pretended to be with her when she was done she gave our passports back and said goodbye.

Jak (my friend,our host) was waving outside. Hugs kisses and kamustahan to the nth level. She asked me if we wanted to take the bus or the cab? Jak is one of the sweetest darlings she was ready to offer her house so we can cut on our hotel spendings.

We took the cab. Her place was near the Admiralty station of the MRT which was kinda far from the airport.

We unpacked and then we started exploring Singapore...

The block number

A view from the top of our apartment

As explained by Jak's partner the government has provided this type of housing to all nationals I forgot what it was called. Well his partner (Marco) owns a three bedroom apartment on the 12th floor.

Night Safari

We ate lunch at a nearby coffee shop. Singaporeans dont like to cook so there is a nearby coffee shop everywhere, believe me their coffee shops are not the typical, its like a food court. Then we went to Admiralty mall if Im not mistaken.

When I left Riyadh i did not bring any underwear hee! So I wash and wear hahaha! I bought myself some good ones and started spending cold cash on my first day in SG. The money in Singapore looks like its made of 50% plastic. Believe me I didnt have a souvenir I just spent it all there.

We went home to unload and then Marco dropped us to the night safari. Its a first ,and my first as well. It was a nice place where dancers perform annoying tourists while they are shopping or eating.

It was drizzling, so we decided to take the tram to see the zoo. The line was longer than that of the immigration which now makes it the longest on earth hahaahha! Its okay there were lots and lots of hotness human beings around!!! I find it really romantic rather than interesting hehe! Here you will see animals and their life during the evenings contrary to what we see during the day in a normal zoo...

Fish Spa

We tried the Fish Spa, and it was tiring rather than relaxing. I was shouting all the time which made me look like an actor on stage because this was done in public. So there!!

The Singapore Zoo is just beside the night Safari and we thought that it was redundant so we decided to just go home. Marco picked us up and then he was really nice to take us around as it was too early for us to retire on our first night.

He took us to the highest part of Singapore, Mount Faber (spelling?) It was high yeah. and there were lots of naughty things going on. My camera went dead so I didnt have a photo with me to post. But nothing much special here just to see the first Merlion during my visit.

Newton Food Centre

We left the mountain and then we headed to the city where Marco showed us all the nice hotels, Raffles, Ritz Carlton, Regent, Fullerton and so on then we went to Newton Food Centre it was kinda late but there were still lots of people inside, most of them expats. I find the food more expensive than what we have in the coffee shop near our apartment, this part of Singapore runs for the tourists. Its my first time to drink sugar cane juice.

Im so tired of typing now. This is the longest post I have ever made so will park first and continue tomorrow or someday hehe.

Singapore

While the south-east city of Singapore is most associated with cleanliness and efficiency, its one constant, really, has been change.

I spent 5 days in this very small "FINE" and expensive city when I went on vacation last July. Yeah its been months, but I never shared it here hehe!

Much has already been written about Singapore's rapid evolution from its humble beginnings: within a couple of generations, village huts gave way to spanking high rise housing, a thriving entrepot became the world's busiest port, and Singapore moved from bein a developing to a developed (and thriving) nation.

I am so glad and thankful that I had good hosts, a good friend Jak is living with her partner (a local) in Singapore they surely made my stay pleasant and really memorable.

Indeed, since its independence in 1965, this tiny city state, smaller in land area than New York City, has grown at whiplash speed to become one of the greatest economic success stories.

This remarkable transformation continues today, at an even greater pace. Fuelled by its success as a business and tourism hub, the country's private as well as public sectors have recently embarked on a raft of exciting projects to develop the city into a premium lifestyle destination.

No longer is Singapore merely a place to do business in, it is also fast becoming a leisure destination like no other. From world clas sporting events, arts festivals and culinary excursions, to luxury hotels, exquisite fine dining restaurants and trendy night spots, Singapore is becoming, increasingly, the perfect city to work, live and play in and a magnet for discerning travellers.

I am challenging myself to remember every good and bad thing that happebed during my vacation. In the next few days, I will be posting my escape to this expensive city...