It's been ages since I wrote nonsense here. I've mostly been throwing down my thoughts in my instagram account but I dunno, I can't dump every single photo there that I find interesting just because.
SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. Let me list those down:
I QUIT MY JOB! All caps for emphasis. December 18 was my last day at work which was spent doing last minute transition stuff and exchanging gifts with 3/4 of my team. Sad that I was leaving but excited for what's ahead. ;)
I spent New Year's Eve in a hotel pub somewhere in Southend-On-Sea. For those of you who are too lazy to google where that is, it's in Essex, UK. Yes, I finally made it in UK!
In case I forget where I was
I saw the Stonehenge!!! Unbelievable how many people were there. Apparently people are not deterred one bit of the winter weather. It was so damn cold. And windy which made it worse!
Had a proper English Christmas meal with the family of my host. It was so nice to have experienced how they celebrate special occasions this part of the world. I especially loved the crackers (that thing on the plate)! It's a cardboard tube usually wrapped in colourful paper. We crossed our arms to form a circle, each person holding one end of a cracker, then pull the cracker to reveal a gift, paper crown, and a joke inside. So cool! I got a nail clippers by the way.
Sherlock special! I need not wait for hours to download it in torrent haha.
London Underground! Although I stayed 2 hours drive away from London, my friend and I made a few day trips here to see the usual sights.
As mentioned earlier, on New Year's Eve we went to 2 pubs. The first was a local favourite called The Last Post.
The second was at The Railway Hotel where we rang in the New Year along with 100 (perhaps more) other souls. Absolutely no fireworks, just loads of beers chugged, hugs exchanged, and British songs sung (my favourite was Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now after Auld Lang Syne!).
Visited London icons.
Visited museums. They have the best, FREE museums!
Science Museum London
Natural History Museum
The star of Natural History Museum - Dippy, a the Diplodocus - is on display at the central vaulted hall near the dinosaur gallery.
Hunted this TARDIS.
Got drenched in typical London style.
English private schoolboys on a field trip + Tate Modern = dedmahin nyo na plz OOTD ko.
Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre. Rachel Anne Go = Pinoy pride!
A walk on the Millennium Bridge bcos Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London was fullybooked for like the next 2 weeks :(
Nando's!
These lads.
And I swear, too many things in between. I am so thankful for the things I saw, food I got to try, the new and oftentimes funny experiences I had, roadtrips (traffic-free roads damn!), a few shenanigans here and there, the family that adopted me for 11 days and most of all, the opportunity to travel. I hope I could come back again. Til next time, UK!
So I recently came back from a 13-day trip in Japan. Like every other person I know who've also been there, I fell in love with the place. It might be a stretch, but landing back in Manila, counting in my head how many hours it would take me to get home (about 2 hours FYI)), was a little too dispiriting.
Manila's crappy public transportation is NOTHING compared to Japan. We are SO crushed in that category. Anyway, no sense in stating the obvious.
Japan is amazing, crazy, neat, rich, and too often, unbelievable. They've thought of everything. I mean EVERYTHING. There are days my friends and I can't get over how awesome and technologically advanced this country is.
Home to all the matcha you've been dreaming about (I mean, me), delicious Japanese cuisines, ultra-polite people, unnecessary but CUTE things one does not need in their life. A friendly reminder: leave your credit card in your hotel if you don't want to incur heavy debt! Seriously, Japan will screw you with all things kawaii.
Above all, it is a commuter's paradise. Well, once you get past the initial shock of 8-track trains serving aboveground train system and subway system with many levels deep underground, 200 exits in one station (Shinjuku stn). Such a complex network of mass and high-speed transportation system it's impossible not to get lost!
And don't get me started with their bike and pedestrian lanes! Japan is an absolute dream place for cyclists and avid walkers. Me.
The food, divine. But I'm biased with Japanese food so don't take my word on it.
For reasons not unknown, I wished Philippines was somehow at par with whatever Japan has. That we are reaping the same benefits or nurturing the same beliefs towards progress.
Japan was a nice break, a much needed break, from the terrible Manila traffic (and pollution that entails it), crimes, corruption, work. Even if it put a huge dent on my savings, it was worth it and I'm super glad I did.
There are plenty of parks, temples, and museums in the 4 cities I went. I respect countries that put premium on open spaces, culture, and education.
I promise to be back in Japan preferably during autumn. It would be sweet and really lovely to be surrounded with orange hues (the Cheese and I's favourite colour).
There was not a day that I didn't go home without tired and aching feet. If my legs and feet could talk I'm sure they'd tell me I'm a maniac walker and that they hate me. Whereas I wouldn't apologise for it because that's how you get to know a place. A tired feet to me meant I covered a considerable amount of distance therefore I had a really good day.
I'll write a more coherent post when I get another free time, which is (almost) never.
Note: This is part of the Malaysia and Singapore Series posts I'm doing. You can find the first part here.
We arrived in Woodlands station at 6.30 in the morning, safely and without any mishap (thank goodness). Stepping into the immigration office, I was so conscious with my movements due mainly to numerous security cameras present in the building. You can't miss them. It's kinda scary.
I've heard of many stories about how Singapore has very strict rules in almost everything and somehow, it was very effective because I was so scared for my own life I have no intention of committing whatever it is deemed illegal to do there. I'll be your obedient little third world tourist if that's what they're aiming for.
When we passed the immigration section, I can't say that I was not relieved because I really really was relieved. We're over the first hurdle!
We had a bit of problem though. The Cheese and I weren't able to exchange SG $$ in KL and we need to take the bus (and MRT too) but first we need to have $$. We were so happy to find a money changer just across Woodlands station that was already open! I'm sure the rate was pretty bad but we didn't have a choice. Besides, we only needed a small amount just to get us to our next destination.
The Cheese also bought Bee Hoon supposedly as his breakfast but when we arrived at my friend Raymond's house, he and his wife ordered breakfast from McDonald's for everyone.
We got on a bus that took us to MRT station. We were really amazed with how organized everything was thinking, so this is how it is in first world country! We were to alight at Yio Chu Kang station then take another (short) bus ride to Yishun. Our host, a college friend who now lives and work there with his wife, resides in Bulion Park.
I'm so happy we didn't get lost hahaha. When we got to their place, we catched up for a while, had breakfast, and showered (finally!) before taking off again. Day 2 was Universal Studios Singapore day.
On our way back to the MRT station, we can't help but admire all the green things we were seeing, how clean the neighborhood was and the absence of kids loitering in the streets (they're all probably in school which is only right).
We alighted at Harbourfront station, the last station in Circle Line. From Yio Chu Kang station, which is part of the North-South Line (red line), we switched to the yellow line after getting off Bishan station. No frills train-switching as it was pretty straightforward. I love Singapore's MRT lines I almost memorized it by heart when I came back the second time.
There are many ways to get to Sentosa Island (where USS is located): by cable car (which is more expensive), by train (Sentosa Express which we took), by public buses or by foot (which I did with friends when I went back).
The Sentosa Express ticket costs $4 per person and is located at the 3rd level of VivoCity, you can't miss it.
We didn't have to line up to avail of entrance tickets because I already bought our tickets online back in Manila. Medyo pinilit ko ang USS on a weekday because tickets during weekdays are cheaper than if I buy tickets for weekends. #budgettip
Our first USS ride was Madagascar :)) Pambata pala sya, nevertheless, I still had fun! Cute naman yung effects eh. Then we came by Shrek's place but had to go back at a later time to catch the show. We watched Waterworld show first before hopping on the Revenge of the Mummy ride.
I had no idea whatsoever what to look forward to USS in terms of rides, I thought it was something in the league of HK Disneyland wherein Space Mountain is considered the most insane ride, but man, I did not see this one coming. We enjoyed the Mummy ride so much that if the line getting in wasn't that long we would've definitely have gone for seconds. Or thirds.
After the fiery (literally) Mummy ride we came across Battlestar Galactica roller coaster which, in my observation, generated majority of the screams inside the theme park. KAYA NAMAN KASI PALA!! Since there's no queue, the Cheese and I shook our heads and muttered what the heck let's see what the fuzz is all about. The attendant strictly told us to leave our stuff first in the locker area before letting us in again. As in empty-your-pockets galore.
Okay naman sya, parang nahihiwalay lang yung kaluluwa mo sa katawan mo. As in every other adult rides I've been in, this is definitely not for the fainthearted. When it was over, we got our stuff back from the locker then watched a bit of the action and took videos of it. It was when we realized there were actually two lines for Battlestar Galactica: human and cylon. We saw dangling feet which wasn't what we had a few minutes ago. As it turns out, Cylon is the more badass of the two. So what we did is put our stuff back again in the locker and line up again but this time in Cylon.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE COBRA ROLL AND VERTICAL LOOPS! I could take this ride forever kaso kawawa naman si JC, kakailanganin nya ng maraming bonamine hahaha.
We were lucky because Transformers ride was already open for public when we came. This one's great as well although the line is really looong. I think it took us 45 minutes to get inside, strapped ourselves with belts and be chased by decepticons. But it was worth the wait naman. This was such a trippy ride, felt almost real too.
After the Transformers ride, we watched some street dancers in front of the Palace showing their hip hop moves before noticing that most of them were actually fellow Pinoys! They do invite people to participate dancing and can really gather a crowd. Good job to those boys!
These are collage of personalities we met inside the park. Although I was absolutely delighted to see and pose with Po, Frankenstein holds a special place in my heart after he smothered me in embrace with his huge hands hahaha.
We had a really, really late lunch in one of the restaurants inside. Naghati na lang kami ni JC kasi mahalia fuentes! When we thought we've had enough, we finally exited USS.
Outside USS, the place is sprinkled with various chocolates and sweet stores, anything that your kidult heart desires are there. I wanted to buy and take home the entire Reese's store buti na lang di ko afford.
We left Sentosa Island at around 7 and walked for a bit around VivoCity Boardwalk area, again, admiring how the Singaporeans turned those spaces into a thing of beauty.
We rode the MRT to Dhoby Ghaut without really a particular place in mind to go to. All we know is we wanted to end up with the Merlion in sight.
So we walked.
Passed by Singapore Art Museum and this melting Superman installation in front
And walked.
We passed by Raffles, crossed to Marina Square before ending up here! Perfect because we were already starving by that time.
After our dinner, we walked once again. We strolled along Esplanade Park, passed by jazz performers, saw the Singapore river and the wonderful view of Marina Bay Sands across
Upon reaching the end of the bridge, bought icecream sandwich from this manong. It was on my second visit to Singapore I've realized that the icecream sandwiches being sold near the Merlion are more expensive than anywhere else. Napaka-turista lang ng presyo! Unfortunately, we fell for it. Di bale, hindi ko naman na inulit.
Is this the famous Merlion of Singapore? Eh bakit ang liit yata?!
Joke lang. Medyo baba ka pa girl, andun ang totoong merlion na lumuluwa ng tubig pabalik sa ilog ng Singapore.
We took so many "trick" shots but they were all too too funny so I'd rather not put them in here. As a closing photo, ito na lang. The Cheese trying to keep his eyes open kasi sleeping time nya na. We made sure to be at the MRT station at 11pm so we'll be home by midnight.
That concludes our first day in Singapore, the second day of our KL - SG trip.
For a preview of our 2nd day in Singapore, there's this post - My Suka Stories from Our Recent Trip Abroad - I wrote right after our KL - SG trip. It was a very memorable moment in all of my traveling years and I think the title tells it all. Enjoy reading on my misery!
