BPK001: Singapore

Hi there! It’s been a while, and at last! I got spare time from work to start-up my Back-Packer’s Kit series. Our first stop, Singapore!!

It is my first, so far, my only out of the country trip. I was just barely 2 years in the company when they chose me to attend a seminar in Singapore (maybe I just got my lucky fairy dust sprinkled all over of working table, wink!). I have already written something about Singapore but it’s more on my sylvanian adventures but you can still check it here.

GETTING THERE: From Manila, we took a 3 ½ hour plane trip going to Changi Airport. From there you can ride a cab or ask a friend who’s working there to pick you up. I took a cab and a free mini-bus going to Sentosa, but if you’re an early bird on adventures, you may take the cable car going to Sentosa right away!

http://www.changiairport.com/

MUST-SEE SITES:

Sentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay, is a popular island resort in Singapore. We stayed at Rasa Sentosa (Shangri-La) Hotel for the duration of the seminar. I had a blast with the everymorning buffet breakfast and dinner at seaside.  You may ride a tram or just walk to see a lot of exciting places in this Resort. I have'nt got a dip from any of their beaches coz they didn't level-up with the beaches we have in the Philippines. Maybe because most of them are made-made, so waves and water are very different from ours.

www.sentosa.com.sg

Underwater World is an oceanarium located on the offshore Singaporean island of Sentosa. This underground oceanarium houses more than 2,500 marine animals of 250 species from different regions of the world. The ticket also includes admission to Dolphin Lagoon at Palawan Beach. It was an amazing experience specially for a marine-life lover like me!

www.underwaterworld.com.sg

Dolphin Lagoon at Palawan Beach is home to several Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, also known as the "pink dolphins". They are so playful! Guests are invited to jump into the waist-deep pool for a close-up encounter. Unfortunately, I wasn't dressed for a once in a life time swim with the dolphins :(.

www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/.../dolphin_lagoon.html

www.underwaterworld.com.sg/abtus_dolphin.htm

Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal zoo and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore. As you can see below, I don't have any picture of the animals there except for that friendly stone-allie. Camera shoots are allowed as long as there's no flash cause the animals might go gaga and worse be blinded with those heavy camera flashes. I suggest that you bring a video cam instead with night-mode or infra-red feature to capture your enchanting night with the animals. You may take the tram if you're too afraid to walk the trail while exploring animals (by surprise).

http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/

The Esplanade is a waterfront location just north of the mouth of the Singapore River in downtown Singapore. Don't miss-out the park with the great Merlion overlooking the Durian-like theater while chomping a sandwich ice-cream! Yum! Yum! There's a lot of food stalls there (try their chili-crab) if you get hungry after watching some mini-concert along the bay.

http://www.esplanade.com/

STRICTLY FOR TOY SHOPPERS:Singapore is my favorite place because of their huge toy stores scattered all over the country. Some of them are just few steps away from each other while others are very accessible via the color-coded MRTs. No worries! I traveled and shopped alone during my stay there and manage to visit a bunch of toy store! You may check the links below for the maps and bus services available.

Toys R Us Branches

1. Vivo City Harbourfront Walk

http://www.vivocity.com.sg/aboutvivo.html

2. Forum The Shopping Mall

http://www.forumtheshoppingmall.com.sg/profile.asp#map

3. Suntec Mall

http://www.suntecreit.com/sunteccitymall/gettinghere.htm

4. Paragon

http://www.paragon.com.sg/directions

5. Tampines Mall

http://www.tampinesmall.com.sg/find.htm

6. United Square

http://www.unitedsquare.com.sg/services.html

Takashimaya – Orchard Road

http://www.takashimaya-sin.com/directory.html

Seiyu Department Store – Bugis Junction

http://sg.pagenation.com/sin/Bugis%20Junction_103.8551_1.2994.map

Hope you've enjoyed travelling with me in Singapore! We're planning to go back there next year, in time for the Asia's Best Cosplay and the opening of Transformers Ride in Universal Studio Theme Park! :D.