3D2N Singapore Trip - Simple yet Fulfilling DIY Itinerary

My friend and I booked our very first out of the country travel - SINGAPORE!

Why Singapore? Because of Cebu Pacific Seat-Sale!!! Hehehe. No extra-special reason. :p

This was way back November 2014. I am here to share with you my experience and tips from beginning to end.

Since I mentioned this was our very-first-out-of-country travel, we got too excited when we booked our plane ticket. For the two of us, the total cost was Php 6453.48. So that was like Php 3226.74 per head roundtrip. Now that I am writing this after almost 2 years, I now find it expensive. Hehehehe. Don't get me wrong, since I have evolved from this world of seat-sale shenanigans, I know I should have done better. :p

Anyway, I am the type of a person who does her itinerary by herself. It's not that I don't trust travel agencies. It is more of I want to manage my own time and also I strongly believe I would save more money. Which is very true I am telling you.

Ok. So here how it went.

OMG. Let me just share our first mishap. We bought french fries as our breakfast before entering the airport. And so we went in and put all our belongings in the scanning machine along with our french fries breakfast. Apparently, my friend did not secure the fries plastic container and so to cut the story short, the french fries spilled over the rotating belt. Ayun. nagkalat pa kami sa airport. Sorry na po. First Timer lang. So for Tip Number 1 - Do not buy food outside the airport. Buy inside. There are lots of food stalls and restaurants.

Our 2nd mishap, it was during the immigration. OMG talaga. Since as mentioned, we were first timers, immigration was much more strict. Oh boy, to again cut the story short, we were still being interviewed 15 minutes before the departure time. When we got finished, we were like participants in the Amazing Raze. We made it, obviously. It was fun (of course only when you were able to make it) but I do not want it to happen ever again. So, Tip Number 2 - Be early at the airport to have leeway for times like this.

Singapore is 3 hours and 25 minutes away from Manila. We arrived at Changi Airport at around 9AM.

This book kept me busy during the 3hrs&25mins flight

Yes! Sunny Day!

 Welcome to Singapore!

Transportaion

Tip Number 3 - if you have the patience and energy, I strongly suggest you take public transportation. If you are a pinoy like me, aside from all the site seeings and activities, what you will forever remember with your trip was the commuting experience. Ay grabe, ibang iba sa atin especially the train commuting experience.

Since I am writing this blog 2 years after my SG trip, I can now say that in all fairness, the train and bus paying scheme in SG is slowly being adopted in Taguig. I am talking about the universal tap card. In SG it is called EZ Link card. In Philippines, it is called beep card (coz it makes the sound "beep" when being tapped. Oha oha)

We bought a card with 100 SGD worth of load. This was more than enough for the itinerary I made. Just like here in PH, you will buy the card and you get to keep it. Card costs SGD 12. We bought it inside the train terminal.

Funny Story (or is it only me who find this funny? anyway) - So we were buying ez link card. The cashier asked how many cards I would buy. Absentmindedly, I answered "Dalawa po". My friend was shocked coz I spoke tagalog. But as it turned out, the cashier was a Filipina. The accent was very familiar to me that it made me speak my native language without thinking it. Ang galing diba?


Hotel Details

I am an avid customer of agoda.com. Coz I get to compare all hotel prices. I've been reserving hotels in this site for all my escapades. So for SG escapade, I have booked Fragrance Hotel Pearl. Reason being, this is the cheapest that time which was very near to a train station. Tip Number 4 - In line with Tip No. 3, choose a hotel which is very near to train or bus station. This will make your trip easier. No need to explain this further.

Room is very spacious and clean. Thumbs up!

We have booked this room for PHP 5031.80 for 3D2N. Not bad huh?

Activities

Ok. Below was our itinerary. I made this myself. Essentially, I just wanted to visit all the top tourist spots. Main goal was Merlion Park and Universal Studios. Others were just itinerary fillers. Hehehe. (Pero ang totoo nagtitipid kasi :p)

Universal Studios - Basically, the famous theme park in SG. My favourite rides was Revenge of the Mummy and Transformers!!!

Merlion Park - Guys, it's Singapore. The selfie with the Merlion Statue is Mandatory, Required, Forced, Must-do (Grab your Thesaurus).

Budget

Tip Number 5 - Before your actual flight, secure all the tickets for all your activities here in Manila. By this way, you only need to worry for the Transpo and Food expenses when you arrive in SG (or in any place of destination). Like for us, I booked the Universal Studio tickets here for Php 2341.30.

For the food, we did not buy anything greater than SGD 50 (exemption inside the Universal Studios because we spent almost SGD 100 plus for this meal in the picture. No choice. Huhubels)

Personally, I spent more or less than Php 10-11k all in all including the airfare and airport fees.
If you are a thoughtful person and the kind who always buys pasalubong, then allot a budget of Php 15-20k.

Even though I spent less, I can still say I enjoyed my first ever out of county trip. :)

Itinerary

The itinerary includes the transportation instruction. :)

Day 1:

09:00 AM - ETA  Changi Airport

09:00 - 11:00 AM - Explore Changi Airport (Rest, Money exchange, buy EZ  link Card, Light meryenda, Photo Ops etc. )

11:00 - 11:30 AM - MRT going to Orchard Road

1.       Find way to SkyTrain to T2 (Terminal 2)

2.       Watch out for the escalator going to MRT. Landmark: Killiney Kopitiam then before Changi Airport Group Corporate Entrance)

3.       Find way to Train to City

4.       MRT from Changi (CG2) to City Hall (EW13/NS25) via EW Line

5.       Transfer to NS to get to Orchard Station (NS22)

11:30 AM ETA Orchard Station

11:30 - 12:00 NN - Photo Ops and Walk to Lucky Plaza

12:00 - 01:00 PM - Lunch at Jollibee Singapore (Aba syemps!)

01:00 PM - ETD Lucky Plaza. Off to Suntec Center

1.       Orchard Station (NS22) to Douby Ghaut (NS24/CC1/NE6)

2.       Douby Ghaut (NS24/CC1/NE6) to Promenade (CC4)

01:30 PM - ETA Suntec Center

1.       Photo Ops in Fountain of Wealth

02:30 PM - ETD Suntec Center.  Off to Hotel

1.       Promenade (CC4) to Aljunied Station

03:15 PM - ETA Hotel. Check in. Rest. (Details below)

05:00 PM - ETD Hotel. Off to Merlion Park

1.       Aljunied Station to Raffles Place Station via EW Line

05:30 PM -  ETA Merlion Park. Photo Ops.

06:00 PM - ETD Merlion Park. Off to Gardens by the bay and Marina Bay Sand. Walking distance. ;)

06:15 PM -  ETA Gardens by the bay and Marina Bay Sand

1.       Lights and Sound Show at the Marina Bay Sands

2.       Photo Ops at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Skyline, Esplanade Mall, Helix Bridge

3.       Walk to Marina Bay Sands Shoppes and watch Lights and Sounds Show @ 8PM.

08:30 PM Late Dinner.

09:30 PM - ETD Gardens by the bay and Marina Bay Sand. Back to Hotel

10:00 PM - ETA Hotel. End of Day 1.

Day 2:

06:00 AM - Wakeup call

07:00 AM - ETD Hotel

07:00 - 08:00 AM - Breakfast

08:00 - 08:30 AM - Off to Sentosa

1.       MRT to Alijunied Station to Outram Park Station via EW Line

2.       Outram Park Station to HarbourFront Station via North East (NE) Line

8:30 AM ETA HarbourFront Center/ VivoCity

Option 1: Buy tickets at HarbourFront Tower 2 for Singapore Cable Car. Proceed to Exit B towards HarbourFront Centre. Cross the link bridge (beside KFC) to get to the cable car station.

Option 2: Sentosa Boardwalk

Either way, we explore, eat and Photo Ops until 10:00 AM. (We chose Option 2 here coz no need to pay for anything. Hehehe. Tipid tipid din)

10:00 - 05:00 PM - Universal Studio Singapore.

05:00 - 05:30 PM - Back to HarbourFront via Sentosa Express

05:30 - 06:30 PM - Off to Bugis Street for souvenir shopping

06:30 - 08:30 PM - Shopping

08:30 - 09:30 PM - Dinner

09:30 - 10:00 PM - Back to Hotel

1.       Bugis station to Alijunied Station

10:00 PM - ETA Hotel. End of Day 2.

Day 3:

06:00 AM - Wakeup call

07:00 AM - ETD Hotel. Check out.

07:00 - 07:30 AM - Off to Changi Airport

07:30 AM - ETA Changi Station

07:30 - 08:30 AM - Breakfast

08:30 AM - Wait for our flight to Manila. 

4D3N Hong Kong - Macau Trip - DIY Itinerary

My Mom's first ever out-of-the-country trip! Achieved!

Of course, this was a piso-fare time of the year (Aba syemps. Matik yan). And since I wanted to let my mother experience riding a plane, I brought her with me to celebrate my birthday in Hong Kong and Macau.

Again, if you have read my other travel blogs, I always make my own itinerary. Reason being, I can manage my own time, it is more fulfilling and of course, the ultimate reason - it is way much cheaper than paying a travel agency. The only downside is that you must do a lot of research before your trip. Fortunately, I have a patience for that. :)

So lets start.

Since basically, I will shoulder all the expenses (pero syempre bes hiningian ko yung mga kapatid ko ng share kahit pano), I really aimed for the cheapest expense possible. During the time I booked our airfare, Clark>Hong Kong was cheaper compared to Manila>Hong Kong.

Clark International Airport Departure Area

Welcome to Hong Kong International Airport :)

Then, since I plan to also go to Macau after Hong Kong, I booked our return flight as Macau>Manila.

For the hotel accommodation, as usual, I booked via agoda.com. Of course, my tip as always, choose a hotel which is very near to a transportation station (like train or bus) or near the tourist spot itself. I don't need to elaborate this. Tipid tips 101.

I booked our hotel in Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui coz it is near to Tsim Sha Tsui Train Station. 

For the Hong Kong tourist spots entrance fees, I availed Peak Tram Combo - Peak Tram Sky Pass Package via Klook.com. For Madame Tussauds, I bought the ticket at the ticket booth itself. For Disneyland, I bought it online via hotelinhongkong.net.

HK Day 1 pics:

HK Day 2 pics:

From Hong Kong, we travelled to Macau via Turbojet ferry. As far as I could remember, the trip lasted for about 2 hours.

For Macau, my brother was the one who booked us the hotel. It is kind of far from any transportation station (hehehe) but it is walking distance near to Ruins of St. Paul. The name of the hotel is Holiday Hotel. 

Then after Ruins of St. Paul, we went to the City of Dreams - Pasay (charaught!!!). Macau of course.

Our Itinerary:

Day 1

04:00 AM 04:00 AM - 07:00 AM	ETA Clark International Airport Pay Fees, Immigration, Boarding Area
07:05 AM	ETD Clark international Airport
08:55 AM	ETA Hong Kong International Airport
09:00 AM - 11:00 PM	Immigration, Buy Octopus Card, Photo Ops
11:00 AM	ETD Hong Kong International Airport
12:30 PM	ETA Tsim Tsa Tsui Station
12:30 PM - 01:30 PM	Search Hotel First. Check if Early Check in is possible. If not, Lunch @ Café de Coral
01:30 PM - 01:45 PM	ETA Hotel (United Co-operate Hotel @ Chung King Mansion). Check In.
01:45 PM - 02:00 PM	Travel to Central Terminal MTR Station. Meet Escort.
02:30 PM	ETA Peak Tram Lower Terminus
03:00 PM	ETA The Peak
03:00 PM - 05:00 PM	Madame Tussauds Photo Ops
05:00 PM - 05:30 PM	Meal Break
05:30 PM - 06:00 PM	Sky Terrace Photo Ops
06:00 PM - 06:30 PM	Travel back to Central Station MTR
07:00 PM - 07:30 PM	ETA  Hotel. Rest.
08:00 PM	Avenue of Stars - Symphony of Lights
08:30 PM - 09:30 PM	Dinner @
09:30 PM - 11:00 PM	Night Market
11:30 PM	Back to Hotel. Lights Off.

Day 2

07:00 AM	Wake Up Call
08:00 AM	ETD Hotel
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM	BreakFast @
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Travel to DisneyLand
10:30 AM - 09:00 PM	1-Day Pass to Disney Land
09:00 PM - 10:00 PM	Travel back to Hotel
10:00 PM -	Rest. Lights Off

Day 3

07:00 AM	Wake Up Call
08:00 AM	Check Out
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM	Breakfast
09:00 AM to 09:30 AM	Travel to China Ferry Terminal
09:30 AM - 10:00 AM	Buy Ticket. Immigration.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM	Ferry Ride to Macau
11:00AM - 12:00 PM	Travel to Hotel (Holiday Hotel). Check In.
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM	Lunch
01:00 Pm - 02:00 PM	Rest
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM	Travel and Photo Ops in Ruins of St. Paul
03:00 PM - 04:00 PM	Travel and Photo Ops in Senado Square
04:00 PM - 05:00 PM	Meal Break
05-00 PM - 06:30 PM	ETA Venetian Hotel/Walk to City of Dreams/Photo Ops
06:30 PM - 07:30 PM	Dinner
07:30 PM - 08:30 PM	Head back to Hotel
08:30 PM - 10:00 PM	Stroll in Macau Street
10:00PM	Rest. Lights Off.

Day 4

06:00 AM	Wake Up Call
07:00 AM	Check Out
07:00 AM - 08:30 AM	Travel to Airport
08:30 AM - 09:00 AM	Breakfast
09:00 AM to 11:25 AM	Check in, Boarding Area, Photo ops, Travel to MLA
01:40 PM	ETA MLA

Expenses

Bus to Clark  200x2=	400
Airport Taxes 2500x2=	5000
Octopus Card 900x2	1800
Other Transpo	300
Macau Transfer  1200x2	2400
Food	600
Hotel in HK (2N)	4000
Hotel in Macau (1N)	3000
Madame Tussauds 900x2=	1800
The Peak/Sky Terrace 550x2=	1100

Total expenses: Php 23,400 (walang pasalubong :p)

Where to get a Cedula in Taguig City

Cedula or Community Tax Certificate. What is it for?

Well, this piece of paper is actually one form of identification. From the words itself, it certifies that you paid the community or residence tax.  It is usually issued at your Local City Halls. According to my research (why does this sounds better than according to google.. :D) it originated from Spaniards where they make "Indios" (that would be our Filipino ancestors) pay residence tax.

 Since I currently live in Taguig City, more specifically at Mckinley Hill, here is how to get Cedula in this municipality.

The place to go is in SM Aura Tower.

You need to log at the reception area first.

Look how cozy it is inside. There is a living room showcase minus a TV. :)

The SM Aura Tower is just behind the SM Aura Mall. Near the mall's parking area.

SM Aura Tower also houses other Government Satellite Offices like SSS, Pagibig and Philhealth.

The building is not fully occupied yet. This is because this building is just new.

What you can do here:

1. Get Cedula (Taguig City Hall Satellite Office)

2. Get ID (SSS, Philhealth, Pagibig)

3. Apply for Loan (SSS, Pagibig, Philhealth)

4. Notary, Planning, Assessor (Taguig City Hall Satellite Office)

Since I needed a cedula, I went to 9th floor - Taguig City Satellite Office.

Naks manong... you're timing of looking behind you was just so perfect. This pic looked like you are the main subject tuloy... :p

Just go to the reception area. As for the cedula, all you need to do is fill out a small piece of paper with your Name, Address, Birthday, Gender and Salary.

After filling out, the receptionist will direct you to the cashier window for Cedula.

For students/non-worker - Php25

For workers - Php27*

*This is based on an employee with 30k basic salary. I just don't know the cost for lower and higher salary.

For other concerns, the process is that you will get a number thru this electronic panel:

-BPLO

-Treasury

-RPT

-Assessor

-LBO

-Barangay

-Notary

-Insurance

-Planning

 And then wait for your number to be flashed on screen:

How to get here:

By Jeepney - Sign boards Market Market/Tulay (if you are from Gate 3) or Gate 3/Market Market (if you are from Guadalupe/Ayala)

By Taxi - the most convenient way. :) But always be alert especially nowadays.

Manaoag-Baguio-Benguet 2-Day Getaway

Did you know that Dagupan Bus Liner has no Ticket booth? When I arrived at their bus terminal in Cubao, I did not see any cubicle where I can buy tickets or make any reservation. I asked the lady in front of the public toilet (the one whom you pay for the 3-pesos pee/wiwi fee) and she told me that there is really no ticket booth. Yeah, you will pay directly to the bus conductor during your trip. I just learned this last week when my friends and I went to Manaoag Church in Pangasinan and rode a Dagupan Bus Liner to get there.

Or is it? Maybe that was just a one time scenario on that particular day. Or just in Cubao Terminal? Hmm, I am not sure. Please correct me if I am wrong. Haha!

Anyways, I will be posting only the important information about our Manaoag-Baguio-Benguet trip. Less pictures (only one or two), and more texts. This is more of how-did-we-get-there and how-much-did-we-spent blog. Just take lots of pictures when you have this trip by yourself. :)

I read a lot of blogs before this trip. Of course I needed to know which is the best Bus Liner that we should ride. And the winner - obviously since it was my introductory line in this blog - the Dagupan Bus Liner. It stops very near the church. I wouldn't say directly in front of Manaoag church but just near it. Very very near if I may say.

Trip Schedule - See Dagupan Bus facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dagupan-bus-co-inc/updated-schedule-of-trips-fare-guide-1/711852412216939

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dagupan-bus-co-inc/updated-schedule-of-trips-fare-guide-2/708810645854449

In Cubao terminal, the queue of people going to Manaoag is much shorter compared to other destinations. Make sure you are falling in line with the correct destination ok? It wouldn't hurt to ask.

We were able to rode the bus at around 12mn and the bus departed at around 12:20AM.

Cubao to Manoaog bus fare costs Php315. It is almost a 4 - 4.5 hours bus ride. Bus stops are in Dau Pampanga and Siesta Tarlac. At around 4AM, we were already in Manaoag Church.

Since the first mass starts at 5AM (when we arrived, I could hear people praying the Rosary from inside the church), we ate breakfast first at the food stalls in front of the church. We ate "Lugaw with egg" (Lugaw in english is porridge or rice congee) for 15 pesos.

Hello Raf! :)

After eating, we went to buy some Manaoag Souvenirs - Our Lady of Manaoag items. Do not be shy to haggle for the prices. I was able to save 100 pesos because of my haggling-skill.

There was no choir during the first mass so it ended in like 30 minutes. The Priest blessed all the religious items after the mass. After that we went at the back of the church. Apparently, you are allowed to touch Our Lady of Manaoag Veil. Yes. This is one religious tradition that you can do in Manaoag. We catholics are fond of these traditions. Just like how Black Nazarene devotee want to touch His image during His feast.

Good thing there were few people that time. We just waited for 10-15 minutes for our turn. After that, we headed to light a candle in the church's Candle Lighting Station.

That's not us. It was the people before us. Funny I forgot to take a picture of us during our turn. I was busy praying I guess.

By 6:30 AM, we were falling in line at the Van Terminal bound to Baguio City. You will easily see this outside the church, near the food stalls. It isn't a big terminal. It is just like a vacant lot with vans that have Baguio or Dagupan signs. Plus, there are barkers so you will definitely locate this terminal easily.

By 7 AM, we were already on our way to Baguio. Yey!

The Van took the Kennon Road route. Actually, you can also ride a Victory Liner bus from Manaoag to Baguio but it will take the La Union route.

Van Fare is Php 90. I was sleeping the whole 1 hour and 30 minutes travel time. Drop off point is at the front gate of Burnham Park.

I booked our hotel in agoda.com, just like what I did in my Singapore trip. We should have chosen a transient house but my friend wanted to stay in a hotel. She is one of those people who has a philosophy of "it's not everyday that we get to go to Baguio (or anywhere else), so why not spend a little more for the accommodation". Same thing when we went to Singapore. She said that the accommodation should look good in pictures. Well, fair enough. Our booking has a free breakfast included.

Since we were early for our check-in, we just left our baggage at the hotel's front desk. Then we went off to explore Baguio City proper.

Disclaimer!!!!

I know we had a lame iterinary. This is because the three of us lacked the energy during our trip. We were sleepy after eating lunch. Hahaha!!! Well, this did not let me down. I used to live in Baguio so it was ok with me if we weren't able to see all the tourist spots. Plus this was only a 2-day trip. :D

Day 1 Iterinaries:

1. Session Road - We just walked to get here. One of the tips I can give is to choose a hotel at the City Proper.

2. Baguio Cathedral

3. SM Baguio

4. Lunch at Gerry's Grill - the sleepy part comes right here.

5. Mines View - taxi flag down rate in Baguio is Php35. Cheaper compared here in Manila which is Php40.

6. Good Shepherd - my friend was literally sleeping in the corner while waiting for us to pay at the counter.

7. Hotel Check in - we arrived at around 4PM and then we slept till 9PM. How was that? Hahaha! Lame!

8. Dinner Luisa's Cafe in Session Road - I ordered Lechon Kawali with rice and Chopsuey for Php90.

I initially brought my friends in Good Taste Restaurant in Carino St., (Near Burnham Park) but we had the worst experience ever. This made me sad. I knew this place. I used to eat here when I was still living in Baguio. I was like boasting it to my friends. "We should try there, Everyone who goes to Baguio should eat there…" Oh well. We were like waiting for our food for almost an hour but it turned out our order was not placed. The waitress who took the order went off shift and maybe, just maybe, she failed to place our order. We wasted 1 hour there. Because we were pissed off, we left the place. I wonder if I will ever go back there again. Maybe in the other branch in Rajah Matanda St. For old time sake.

9. Night Market at Harrison Road

Day 2 Iterinaries:

1. Forevermore shooting venue - Sitio La Presa - We rented a taxi for this trip. Initially, the agreement was Php700, but it became Php850 when we asked the cab driver to bring us at the Strawberry farm after La Presa. 

2. Café by the Sky - You will definitely pass by here going to and from La Preza Venue. Before heading to Strawberry farm, we dropped by here to check the place. We did not eat here. Just photo Ops. :p

3. Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad Benguet - We did the strawberry picking activity. At first I was not very excited about it, but it was actually fun. 1 kilo for Php400. Yes, Php400 already. This is the most updated price. Started just January 9, 2015 according to the lady farmer we were talking to. There was a price hike since the holidays are over and Good Shepherd Store is already open. Apparently, they supply the fresh strawberries in Good Shepherd store, so meaning the demand went up. So they are increasing the price also. Economics 101 - Law of Demand and Supply. :p

Fruit of my Labor. How Ironic.

We rode a public jeepney back to Baguio City. The sign board was "Magsaysay". The jeepney's drop off point is at the front of Baguio City Hall, which is very near to our hotel.

4. Lunch at Caridad's Café and Bar - Good thing I knew this place. Since it was really lunch time for most people, long queues could be seen in counters and even outside the restaurants. But not here in Café Caridad. We were the only customers. Not that the food was not delicious - they have few customers because personally speaking, the place is not along the main road. It is like hidden. It is located along an alley in front of the Giligan's in Legarda St. I ordered Lechon Kawali with rice again for Php120.

5. Hotel Check Out

 

We rode a Dagupan Bus Liner again to Manila. The terminal is at the Governor's Pack Rd near SM Baguio. We left at around 4PM and was already in Manila at around 10PM. Bus Fare - Php445.

Expenses:

Accomodation:

Hotel Booking plus fee for extra person in the room - Php825 (Php2475 divided by 3)

Transportation:

Bus Fare from Cubao to Manaoag - Php315

Van Fare from Manaoag to Baguio - Php90

Taxi Fare from SM Baguio to Mines View - Php20 (Php60 divided by 3)

Jeepney Fare from Mines View to SM Baguio - Php10

Taxi Fare to La Preza and Strawberry Farm - Php284 (Php850 divided by 3)

Jeepney Fare from Strawberry farm to Baguio Proper - Php11

Taxi Fare from Hotel to Bus terminal - Php25 (Php75 divided by 3)

Bus Fare from Baguio to Manila - Php445

Food:

Lugaw @ Manaoag - Php15

Lunch @ Gerry's Grill SM Baguio - Php300

Dinner @ Luisa's Café - Php90

Lunch @ Café Caridad - Php120

Pasalubong:

Good Shepherd 2 pcs 12oz Ube Jam and 2 pcs 230g Lengua de gato - Php750

Strawberry - Php134 (Php400 divided by 3)

Total expenses: Php3434