My first solo international trip!
I did my research and read blogs for budget travels. I know it's a bit late to publish this article but I wanna share with you my experience. This may not be a complete saga of the best trip to Singapore but a starting point to make a better trip next time.Passing the immigration as First-time and solo traveler is 50-50 chances. All sorts of questions was asked especially I managed to book my tickets. I showed to the Officer my BPI More Fun Visa Card and the officer was confused how I managed to have it since I'm a student. It's a prepaid card so you don't need a minimum annual income to get it.
Luckily, I was an undergraduate student that I have a strong reason to go home. The last thing that the Officer asked was my trip itinerary which I didn't have on hand. I said I only have a draft on my note (which I used in taking down notes in school), so the officer asked for my note. I gave to the officer the back side of my note where I wrote the draft, then I saw the officer checking pages of my note. The officer gave it back and stamped my passport then I felt relieved.
Welcome to Changi Airport! Arrived at Terminal 2 2:45am. I decided to stay in the airport 'til morning to get an EZ Link card. I stayed in the Entertainment Deck. I sleep for almost 4hours. I won't post my day-to-day transactions but a summary of the whole trip. This is not a blog for directions because I will get there by th easiest possible way. I just want to share with you where you can go for 5days of your stay in Singapore.
Sunflower Garden. It's nice to stay outside when you feel cold already inside the airport. It's a smoking area also but I don't smoke. :) Lined up past 7 and the line is already long. Transit-link opens 8:00am - 9:00pm at the basement of Terminal 2 MRT station. EZ Link Gudetama. It's their promotional of SanRio character - Gudetama. *Update* Gudetama Cafe Singapore is now open! At Suntec City Mall #01-361. Click here for more info.
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| Entertainment Deck. Playstation can be use until 12mn only. |
SITES & ATTRACTIONS
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| Obligatory Selfie with Merlion Statue. Straight from Changi airport. I followed a couple who wanted to go here too. I heard from a local that you can get off at City hall and a 7-minute walk to get there. Kanya-kanyang diskarte na 'to. Haha |
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| National Gallery of Singapore. Just couple of minutes from Merlion Statue. You can enter free exhibits and there are also paid exhibits. Let's just go free. I didn't get the exact time when I got here because I lost my way. I tried to use Google Map and it kinda help. |
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| The staffs are friendly. I was able to talk to them where to get good photo spots in the Gallery and here's one! They're the ones who offered to take a photo of me. Thank you so much! |
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| Clay Exhibit when I got there.Travelling to Know Who I Am. Kembara Tanah Liat (Clay Travels) by Iskandar Jalil. |
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| My hostel is at Kallang and the bus stop is near from the Gallery but then I lost my way to Kallang. Lol. Let's get lost. >_< I got off from the bus and transfer to another lane. That's where I started to study the bus route. |
START OF EXPLORING
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| Marina Bay Sands. This is the view just when you got off the Marina Bay Station. |
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| Gardens by the Bay. The Supertree Grove. It feels like you're in Avatar movie. It's purple veins lit up suit with pastel sky. |
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| CLOUD Forest Observatory. It's cold inside. I prefer to enter Cloud Forest that time because of its unique landscaping. Price: S$16 |
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Haji Lane. For the love of art, I am fascinated by these wall arts. I can see that these are made with love and creativity not just for the people but for the country. Thank you Tita Alma for my portrait shots!
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| VIVO City, Harbour Front while waiting for Ate Teope friends to text their location. I wasn't able to ride the cable car because we need to go to the beach station first. I wasn't told that we're going to the beach tho. Hahah |
--ENTERING SENTOSA--
I was told by Ate Teope to top-up my ez link before we went to Sentosa because you need to have S$4 at least. So better to have enough credit beforehand.
There are four station: Beach Station, Imbiah Station, Waterfront Station and Sentosa Station.
It was crowded when we fall in line at Sentosa Station, Vivo City. I wasn't able to take a photo. We were informed that Ate Teope friends are at Tanjong Beach. So our first stop is at Beach Station and make each stop to other stations when we go back.
BEACH STATIONthere are 3beaches in Sentosa namely: Tanjong Beach, Palawan and Siloso. Learn more
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| TANJONG - PALAWAN - SILOSO |
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| Palawan Beach does not only have beach to take a look, there's Kidzania for your kids too! Took a snap of a happy family there. :D |
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| At the Beach Station while waiting for the Bus to Tanjong . Need refreshment? Gong Cha. There are vending machine also. |
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| Make most of your portraits at the Beach Station. The black & white bldg. Good Old Days is perfect for minimal shots and cute bathroom signs. |
IMBIAH STATION
WHAT TO DO: Snaps at Merlion Plaza, Ride with Singapore Cable Car and meet the stars in Madame Tussauds at Imbiah Lookout
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| Get your Madame Tussauds ticket for only S$29 from S$39 when you purchase online. Click here. Book your Singapore Cable Car ticket here. WATERFRONT STATION |
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| I didn't get into the studios because I'm on budget. I'll probably enter when I get back. |
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| Arab Street. Forever na ba ito? Hi there boy! Caught this man capturing this iconic Arab bldg. So I have an instant subject. That made the photo better or can I wander with you? |
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| Clark Quay. The Colorful MICA building. Lovelocks. I was hurt so badly... Since I'm alone, I just took a photo of it. Haha |
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| Chinatown. Pasalubong can be buy here for affordable price. Just look for sulit price. They have also wall arts here! I so love wall arts. |
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| Bugis Junction. I could have stiff neck looking at those interior design. |
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| E J H Corner House. Awarded 1star of Singapore Michelin Guide 2016. Learn more for reservation |
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Here I come Stussy! You're out of budget but I bought one. *Sigh* Lucky that I have spare money for shopping. Stussy Singapore is located at Marina Bay, Esplanade, Orchard, Somerset and Raffles.
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Landscape in a glass! When I passed by in Somerset basement to mrt.
I want to take one home then I think I'll have hard time to get a clearance for this.
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ACCOMMODATION
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| Stayed at Coziee Lodge for 4 nights. This building is next to Coziee Lodge that I pass by because the sign board is too high that's beyond my peripheral vision. I booked through Agoda 3days before my trip and got a low price. I used my prepaid visa card to book 'Pay Later' but still need to pay in cash when you get there. Pictures of the room from their site are the same when you get there. The owner is very nice. He said that he needs to pay more when paying online. Yeah, the tax. They have free sleepers to use. Free breakfast, a loaf bread and jam from 8am-10am only. Purified drinking water is also free. You can bring water with you when you go out. It's better to bring your own bottle of water to save money. The hostel is just a 3-minute walk to train station. Cleanliness of the room is okay. I just stayed for the night and out during the day. I also met new friends, Feby and Ji Yeon. |
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| I feel like I'm going to spend more than my budget seeing delicious food everywhere but you can save on this places. I Am... at Bugis recommended on tripadvisor as #128 out of 8,801 restaurants in Singapore. |
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| Rainbow Cake at Bugis. Treat from Tita Alma. Thank you! |
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| Curry Pork Chop Rice in Let's Eat at Bugis Junction with Tita Alma.Thanks again Tita! |
- Rainbow Cake at I Am Cafe costs S$8.90.
- The Central Clark Quay. You can have your meal for S$6-S$8. Sulit!
- Curry Rice at Let's Eat, Bugis Junction for S$7.
- Chinatown hawker center. You can have S$7 for a spicy curry meal.
- You can also get a curry meal at 7-Eleven for just S$6.
AIRFARE
I booked through Cebu Pacific during their Piso Fare last March 8, 2016. I was able to get a one-way one peso base fare only. The reason why I only pay for ₱151 because Terminal fee and Tax is not included for Non-Manila/Cebu airports.
I got my return ticket in a regular sale and still cheap though.
Tips: Be a follower and subscribe to airlines newsletter to get updates for cheap flights. It's my daily routine to check their facebook pages and mails for promos.
CHECK CHEAP FLIGHTS HERE!!!
I got my return ticket in a regular sale and still cheap though.
Tips: Be a follower and subscribe to airlines newsletter to get updates for cheap flights. It's my daily routine to check their facebook pages and mails for promos.
CHECK CHEAP FLIGHTS HERE!!!
GETTING AROUND SINGAPORE?
You can easily memorize the stations and getting around Singapore by its MRT/LRT but sometimes you need to look at the destination map to avoid getting lost. Also look for Exits because you may lost your way.
- By Bus - it's better to ride a bus if you need to alight in Point-to-Point location.
- By MRT / LRT - the use of EZlink is cheaper than buying a regular ticket. It is a loadable card and you can use in some stores. It is used to ride a bus also.
TOTAL EXPENSES
September 8-12, 2016
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Exchange rate: ₱35 est. = SG$1
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FARE
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ILO-SIN = ₱151
SIN-ILO = SG$109 - Php3,908.38 |
= ₱4,059.38
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STAY
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US$51.33 through Agoda *Free breakfast*
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= ₱2,542.12
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FOOD
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Budget meal SG$7 * 10 meals = SG$70
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= ₱2,450
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ATTRACTIONS ETC.
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SG$16 (Cloud Forest Conservatory)
Simcard SG$15 |
= ₱560
= ₱525 |
EZ LINK
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SG$32 ( Bought the card for SG$12.00 and Top-up for Sg$20.00)
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= ₱1,120
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OTHER FEES
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terminal fee ₱700 & int'l fee ₱1620
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= ₱2,320
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TOTAL
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= ₱13,576.50
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WHAT TO BRING ?
- Travel adapter "Type G".
- Water bottle.
- Lakas ng loob sa first time. I was told nung katabi ko sa plane na mag-ingat daw ako sa location ko. Kinabahan ako dun, char! Pero paglapag ng eroplano, mas nangibabaw yung excitement. Haha!
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| Lucky me! I saw Hyolyn of SISTAR at the airport before my departure. She performed Solo during "Ultra Singapore" 2016. |
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| Thank you so much Ate Teope & Tita Alma for the treat and accompanying me! |
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