Inside Singapore

CHASING GROUND

What is extravagance? Are 7 day stay in the most expensive city would be enough? Or landing to the ground of the best airport in the world is considered as one. How about doin’ that so in the middle of Christmas season? If yes, well I guess we just had an extravagant vacation happened weeks ago!!

Singapore Airlines #flySQ

The kapag-sineswerte-ka-nga-naman moment when your future family invites you to spend holidays with them in the very beautiful country of Singapore, plus all the feels of flying first class on Singapore airlines was also extravagant!

CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

First stop, of course, awarded as world’s best airport- The Changi International Airport. What a very huge, nicely designed welcoming door for outlanders (like us). Can’t believe I had set foot on the top two best airports in the world: Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s.

Pabebe couple at Changi. 

We stayed in Marine Drive, just within the city, few steps away from Bus stop and less than an hour drive from Changi.

Marine Drive/Parade. 

Now, how to spend week-long vacay in the busy city of Singapore? Here are some of popular places that you must see when visiting SG.

GARDENS BY THE BAY

GBTB with MBS

You can see how people of Singapore value natures; how they emphasize its importance and use to humanity. In the hussle and bustle of city life, they are addressing the problem of global warming by providing very effective solutions to prevent climate change not just by maintaning the forestland but also by building conservatories and it is really something you least expected to see in the middle of huge skyscrapers.

The man-made falls

Limestones

Cloud walk

This place called “Gardens by the bay” located at Marina which will let you see different kinds of plants, limestones as well as the man-made falls and the very strange experience of cloud walk at the Cloud Forest; A small vill consists of Christmas trees and flowers that’ll make you feel the spirit of Christmas; and those huge avatars called “Super trees”.

Supertrees. 

Breathing fresh instead of polluted air, potable water are everywhere for free and to built such grand space to take care of plants, I am nothing but deeply impressed. That’s why I’m leaving everyone a quote to live by that I have learned from this surreal experience:

Man shouldn't destroy what it cannot create -Unknown

FOUNTAIN OF WEALTH

Photo grabbed from Kuya Emman

Just within the city is where to find the Fountain Of Wealth. A fountain with a ring on its top surrounded by five buildings which symbolyzes a hand, its five fingers and the luck is in the palm which is the fountain. You have to do the tradition by touching the water while walking around the fountain three times and then make a wish afterwards.

MERLION PARK

Hello, Merly!!

At the Singapore River is where Merlion is situated with the lovely view of Marina Bay Sands. Well, I must admit that this would be the highlight of SG trip, the place I’m most excited about!!! Merlion!! It’s just that..to have a photo with Merly is one of my bucketlist, as simple as that. Lol. And of course, you must not leave Singapore without visiting this attraction.

Marina Bay Sands 

Marina Bay Sands is lovelier at night. All the bright lights that these buildings are creating. How it beautifully reflects on the river, making it more lively, more fabulous! Plus the fountain show that tells a story about this country, with its soft music, dancing lights and the tone of amusement that the crowds are making in chorus while watching it.

What a night full of surprises, I could tell.

SINGAPORE ZOO

This zoo promotes the natural way of living of each animals by providing them what they can call “home”. Like, for example, monkeys which has the nature of climbing, they provide them trees and branches everywhere (yes! As in everywhere!) so that they can swing freely around the zoo. How cool is that!? You can see tamed animals on the road, trees, branches etc. but of course wild animals are inside their cages.

Sleeping bear. 

Up close with elephants! 

It was my first time to see these animals, too! Polar bear, enormous tortoises, Komodo dragon and to feed an elephant!! And also, Do not missed the shows such as Polar bear feeding and elephant show. They’re pretty amazing!

CABLE CAR RIDE TO SENTOSA

Cable Car Ride

Top View. 

Be sure to try riding in a cable car going to Sentosa to see the beautiful landscapes, architectures and ring the bell at the Mount Faber Park’s bell of happiness.

Our bell. 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE
Just 5-10min walk from the alighting area to Universal Studios Singapore. The very electrifying theme park in this country for the young and young-at-hearts. Lol.

Miss Universe...sal Studio 2017! 

There goes the instagrammable USS moving globe that welcomed us at the entrance. Another “very Christmasy” not just the decors but the loud danceable Christmas songs playing upon entering the park.

Miniooooon. 

Oh, yeah! I just love every details: The stunning Castle, funny Madagascar ride, frightening but exciting Jurassic Park ride, favourite Transformers characters, water show, Sesame street theatre show and many many more! Those are like dreams, or let’s just use the term “very dreamy” to me, like, who wouldn’t want this kind of adventure and this kind of theme park?! Walking on it is like playing with your favourite characters in your favourite movie shows.

Jurassic feels! 

Shrek and Fiona's Castle. 

EAST COAST PARK

After all these busy days of adventures, wouldn’t it be nice to pamper yourself in an outdoor leisure?! With freshest of air breeze, peacefully calm surroundings and most especially...to be in the beach. A fine morning like this isn’t just good, it’s perfect!

Audrielove! Photo By: Margaret Marcos

At the East Coast Park, aside from barbecuing, cycling, jogging, roller blading (which are listed in the signages) you can also do picnic! By mentioning picnic I really meant: eating, sleeping, doing-nothing-but-to-stare-at-the-trees, watching people passes by, enjoy the moment and seize the day.

EAT LIKE A LOCAL

Singapore Version

Here are some of restaurants that serves good foods, well without a doubt, travelling with the bunch who has great judgment when it comes foods is something you really must consider. (Glad I was able to travel with them)

NAKHON KITCHEN

Photo by: Imee Marcos

A restaurant located at Marine Parade that serves Thai foods, despite having an irrational fear and hatred of spicy foods, I still manage not just to eat but to love this kind of foods (well, not all of it actually). especially the Oatmeal Prawn and milk tea.

MARCHE

Located at the Suntec City, this restaurant serves great foods, we had Roasted Chicken, Paella, Pizza, baked/mashed potatoes and heavily refreshing sparkling fruit drinks.

MAKASUNTRA GLUTTONS BAY

Photo by: Imee Marcos

Finally, a food park with lots and lots of options of foods to choose. Located at the Marina Bay Sands, in front of Singapore River and steps away from Merlion Park. The very spicy Crab was the star of our table. Perfect spot to have your dinner while waiting for the Fountain Show at seven.

SHABU SAI

Hungry Pogi, 

Located at the Changi City Point, a buffet of Shabu Shabu is served. Very ideal for your hungry tummy. With the choices of two soup flavours and unlimited meat, veggies, noodles, meat balls, eggs, mushrooms etc will make you unzip your pants. Lol.

KEISUKE RAMEN

Sipping a hot ramen for dinner? Can! At the Parkway Parade, you can have an authentic ramen in this restaurant. It offers lots of choices of ramen OR you can also make your own by putting a check on the menu. Well, being a boring kind of person when it comes food, I chose to have my ramen plain and simple. Not too salty and definitely not too spicy! But the unlimited eggs offer for the diners is what I enjoyed the most especially the brown eggs that were perfectly cooked the way I want boiled eggs to be. Yummm!

FOOD REPUBLIC, VIVO CITY.

If you wish to try more different kind of cuisines, Food republic is the place you should look for. From Chinese foods to Malay, Indian and many more!

Their Salted egg Chicken rice is a really must-try!!

ASTON’S.

Just in front of I12 Katong is where to find Aston’s Restaurant. A great place to have great steak for reasonable price. Not just the steak itself but its side dishes are too good! What a perfect meal for an early dinner.

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

Best. Dark. Chocolate. Ice Cream. Ever. 

Now what’s for dessert? If chocolate sounds good to you, well this place got you covered! Nine thirty by Awfully Chocolate is very popular for its chocolate ice creams; for its beer and brownies which are heavenly good.

MARCOSES

Photo by: Emmanuel Guballa

Our trip became a lot easier with the help of Ate Mimi (JV’s sister) who made an effort for our itinerary to be smooth, purchased our tickets ahead of time and for bringing us to places with the best views and best foods. Of course, to JV’s parents who made it possible for all of us to fly from PH to SG, and to the rest of Marcoses who made every single day enjoyable and amusing.
CHRISTMAS 2017

Here’s to the amazing people/family I spent Christmas holidays with (who made it extravagant). Spending Christmas day overseas is surely heartbreaking, being away from family, but it didn’t leave me blue because I was with a group of people I can call family, a second home.

Noche Buena. 

I also got the chance to meet my two girlfriends, Alyssa and Jeanilyn, who made time just to catch up with me. Although we only had limited time, we had a great bonding and chatting over coffee for the first time in two years which is also one of the reason for my Christmas to be extravagant.

EXPLORING SINGAPORE

City Vibes. 

Our seven day stay here in Singapore was all worth it. Every single cents wasn’t put to waste. The hassle-free way of commuting through Bus, metro and taxis; walking from place to place; and mall/groceries that are accessible to everyone. Such a very ideal country because of its rules, organised system and control over its people. In this country, there is still more to see, experience and discover. Used to be my dream place to work at, and now it’s one of the country I have left my footprints on.

Truly, this is the right time for us, Singapore.

Extravagance doesn’t only defined by fancy things, lavish events or plenty of money. It is actually indefinable, because extravagance is how we look at the things, places, people or happenings. We don’t really need to have those materials to be an extravagant person because being surrounded with good people with positive attitude; to do good and be a good influence to others; and to appreciate every little good things that is coming your way. Those are the things that can make us more than extravagant.

Money is never the basis of being wealthy, happiness is.
Just like Christmas is never an occasion but a feeling.