Singapore Sojourn

Singapore Sojourn

It was a hot, really hot, mid-morning of April 2010 at Clark DMIA when we’re told to board the plane. 

 

Six hundred bucks and no ramps? Expensive airport, indeed!  I’ve seen better deals---Dubai-free, Manama-free, NAIA-ok, P650 but there’s a tarmac and a lot more space to wander and kill time before boarding. Plastic chairs, probably hundreds of them, are the only thing we can laze around with while patiently waiting for our bird.

Tiger Airways Flight TR2795 is on an Airbus A320. The plane looks beaten up outside but inside, it looks nice and new. A few minutes later, we’re taxiing. In no time at all, we’re airborne. But wait, I’m sitting at Seat 08-C. I’m supposed to be a Seat 03F coz I paid for it. WTF?

Anyway, my sis-in-law got my replacement seat at 08-A. I’ll let her enjoy the view on the window seat. It’s her first time anyway.

Three hours and little over 15 minutes, we’re touching down. As smooth as we left DMIA, the pilot landed the plane just as well. There was one instance though where the pilot did a joke on us at DMIA. He turned the plane on a 180° turn and everybody, specifically my son and my sis-in-law, their first flight ever, felt the G’s and thought they wouldn’t last the plane’s turn. Afterwards, we all broke into a hearty laugh. Welcome to the age of flight!

It was a wet afternoon in Singapore. And from where we landed in that part of a huge runaway, we taxied for about another kilometer to reach our terminal. The plane even crossed a busy highway atop an elevated pathway.

After we cleared immigration, our host was already there. She toured us right away in what could be the biggest and most modern airport I’ve been to. Alright, Dubai will have something to say about it. I’d say it’s a close shave, whichever is bigger, better.

But Changi is a marvel. Clean, beautiful, organized, the airport is like a computer mainframe you can actually set foot on-everything works-marvelous! There are even works of art abound, free to look at. It’s like an airport and a museum and a mall all rolled into one. I can live here---there’s a mall! And I thought that was already surprising. But wait, there’s still more!

Then there’s the tram-for free. Nice to look on and hold but the wonder of this is---look pal, no driver! Ride all you want, all the time. Ride till your sense of balance tilts over but never pay a cent. I would learned later that almost all, if not all already, trains, trams, light rails and monorails have no pilot/driver. Too bad for our MRT and LRT pilots here, you got no future in Singapore.

We then proceeded to our accommodation which is our host’s house in Sengkang area, a spanking and relatively new residential complex about 25kms away from the airport. But you’d never notice the distance. The trip was seamlessly taken. No traffic, no stupid driver-ours in the bus or anybody outside, no overtaking moron to contend with. Everybody here follows the rule. I’ll repeat-Everybody here follows the rule. As we cruise along, I wonder-can we do this at home?

Dinner was had right away. After the usual catching ups, we retired early-there’s a lot to cover tomorrow. We need every ounce of energy we can gain on this lengthy sleep. Tomorrow then.

Being in a foreign land, in a foreign room and most especially, in a foreign bed, I woke up early. And this is when I felt the real Singapore weather.  4am and it already feels like 2pm, Manila weather. Humidity must have been invented in Singapore—the Philippines got envy and copied it. Wow, I have never broken a sweat just standing alone at 4am in any place I’ve ever been to. We could be in an oven by noon.

First stop was a ride from Sengkang Terminal, in what they call North East/Purple Line. We took a bus from Rivervale Avenue to the terminal, a very short ride, just a little over five minutes.

North East Line, and so are the other 2 lines, is again a thing of beauty and modernization. Took 5 years to built, it is worth every second of wait. Running smooth and seamlessly, you wonder why not all train rides be this good. And very cool too, even the terminals. I guess what makes this train ride very good is also the people. Everybody knows what to do, when to go inside and when to board off. No rushing off or rushing in. Everybody waits for their proper turn. Manila, read this well!

Twenty minutes or so later, we took off at Dhoby Gaut Terminal, on our way to city proper. First we saw was the St. Andrew Church, next up was the old Supreme Court. Turn a corner and then you’ll see the real city, skyscrapers everywhere, modern urban area.

A few steps and we’re into the site where Sir Raffles first landed. Didn’t passed the chance to take pictures—I’d even copied his pose!  Next up was the Cavanaugh Bridge where the old style but actually modern water vessels are for hire. Of course we didn’t try. We only have budget for a walk not for a ferry!

A few more steps later and we went down to the side of Cavanaugh Bridge. Feeling the heat of the day, my feet are weary already. It didn’t help that I wore just a pair of slippers. I thought it would help dissipated the heat right away. Bad choice---my feet felt the weather all the more.

I saw a small lagoon where an opportunity to waddle my feet for a cool break might be had. Fearing I’d be fined for washing my feet on it, I asked first an Indian expat who works as a gardener if I can dip my feet on it. Being mistaken as an Indian myself everywhere I’ve been to, he easily allowed me to dip my hot and weary feet on an oasis for hot and weary feet. Ahhhhh! Wonderful!

I jokingly revealed to him that I am not an Indian. I may have Indian blood, hence a bit of them in my facial features, but still I am very much Pinoy. Then the walk continues.

Coming up from the other side of the bridge is the place no tourists worth their salt would deliberately miss. This is where you’d get reimbursement, satisfaction and gratification for all the money spent, tiring walks and sweaty shirt all combined. This is the mecca---the Merlion. Definitely the most photographed entity or place in the whole of Singapore.

Next in the itinerary is the Marina Square, a modest but still looks new and modern, mall. Mall---this word you’ll be reading all article long. Why? Because there is mall everywhere! This is probably the country with the world’s most number of malls per capita.  There’s just a mall every corner. They can’t seem to get tired of having a new mall erected. They just got to have another one.

After touring most of Marina Square, we ended, via a glass tube, in yet another mall, Suntec City. I can’t take this anymore! We gotta stop malling. Ok, let’s eat first. Let’s resume our malling afterwards.

The choices at Suntec City Food Hawkers Stall are enormous. I have always wanted to try the street food in Singapore. What they did was invite all those food hawkers inside in orderly and neatly arranged stalls where you can have your choice of food. Clean and cool while you eat---neat!

At first I was aghast with the cost of food---S$ 4 for hot Tau Foo soup? There’s gotta be something deep in there to cost that much. Actually, there’s none. When I was handed the bowl, again I’m shocked. It’s the size why it costs $4. I’d need a buddy to finish the soup, otherwise I’ll get bloated. And tasty, too!

Next stop was the FOUNTAIN OF WEALTH. We were told that anybody who got wet being beside the fountain will get wealthy. Hey, I am swimming now!

Minutes later, we were walking towards the area called Bugis. It is where you will find the old Singapore; back when it ain’t a super-rich country yet. Here you can buy souvenirs, form shirts, magnets, lighters, everything at Divisoria-like price. 4 shirts for $10, roughly Php 85.00 each. Not bad, not bad all.

But it’s not the bargain priced products that really caught my eye here. There was a store with this  name . I guess the picture says it all.

The food and the shopping spree drained our energy and allowance, for the day, so off we go home.

9am and we’re on our way to Sengkang Bus & Purple Line Station. First, a short walk to LRT Loop onto the subway.  We embarked at Dhoby Gaut station. Going up turned out to be Lucky Plaza Mall. I told you, there’s hundreds of mall here.  At the exit is Orchard Road where the Istana, the presidential palace is located. After that are rows and rows of stores selling electronic gadgets-you name it, they have it-and again, malls.

When buying electronic products, say camera or phone, make sure to have a strong stand when bargaining for the right price. They’ll shock you first with their price but if you know how to bargain, you’ll do well here. I was supposed to buy a Canon DSLR 1000D. Found out that the resolution is not quite up to my liking so I was offered, at the same price of S$1,000, a Sony 230 instead. Unbeknownst to the salesman, I have already made the rounds and got, so far, the best price of S$550 for the Canon 1000D, so I made my first offer of $500. He was floored! He countered $850, but unfazed, I made an offer of $600. To cut a long story short, as this haggling took 2 hours, believe it or not, we met halfway at S$650. I later found out that the same camera sells at S$649 at Challenger Store which you can find at almost all major malls, principally at VIVO CITY.

We were supposed to proceed at Chinatown afterwards but I spent too much time haggling with the salesman, it got late. Again, on our way to Sengkang and call it a day.

But not after attending a childhood friend’s birthday, whose brother Mario is also an old friend way back in the 80’s. It was good he was there too. We haven’t seen each other for almost a decade. Then we called it a day, finally!

It’s a Saturday so no work. Our host’s hubby, MIKE went with us this time. He had grand plans for us for the day. First up is a long subway ride to Vivo City.

Next is a short tramway ride to Sentosa Island.

Here is where Universal Studio Theme Park is located. Hardly opened to the public, it is bursting in the seams with people wanting to go inside. At S$70 a pop, I’d rather have my picture taken at the gate for free. I got better things to do for that amount than just enter a park...

...like wallow my feet in the fountain--free.  

Now walk again to another destination---the new MERLION

Though it looks more majestic than the original one, it still lacks the charm of the old. Give it some time, it will be at par.

Then walk again, to Sentosa Beach.  

The signpost says it all though it is disputed by some quarters. I couldn’t care less. I am just a visitor.

 

Time to go back to Vivo City via a ride through this wonderful machine.

It was a long day. I was tired and hungry. I thought I could eat a whole cow. But Big Mike will lead us to yet another Singapore landmark.  Food would be later.

Now off to Mt Farber Park. Big Mike wanted to have some coffee atop the peak. But the cost was quite prohibitive, so off to lesser-priced pleasures.

It is the highest point in the whole Singapore. From here, you can almost see the whole city, well almost. Not really a big fan of heights anymore now-I get itchy feet-this really made me very hungry.

Hey lady, bring us down fast, please!

And so off again to yet another Singapore landmark, Serangoon Chomp-Chomp.

From this station, our gastronomic trip will start. We got out from this cavernous terminal, clean and modern.

Final destination for the night. They better have good food here coz I lost a lot of pounds walking.

The minute our food was served, we gobbled it all up. Walking all day can really zap you. Food is the best thing to replenish lost poundage, and we had lots of it.

Now time to sleep and recharge for tomorrow.

       

Lights out, please…

Sunday morning, our penultimate day in Singapore. Tomorrow morning, and early at that, would be our flight back home. Last chance to make the most of time left in this city-state. Atop a double-decker bus, we went off to Tampines Mall, a community mall built for the residents of the area. Most communities have their own, part of the community master plan.

Then off to IKEA Store via a free shuttle bus ride, but only during Sundays. I’ve been to another one of this, specifically in Abu Dhabi. Once inside, it feels like you’re in the same store. Same floor lay-out. We did a little window shopping, hoping we can buy something cheap but useful. We ended up having hotdogs and sodas, instead.

A few more minutes later and we hit it home.

Rise and shine at 5am. Flight is at 8.25am so we couldn’t be late. Though traffic would be the last thing we should worry, it’s better to be early than late.

At the airport, last chance to snap up some memories while still there.

Taking photos is the only thing we can do now. Got money no more for other stuff, blew them all away.

Much thanks to our gracious host. Hope we didn’t damage much of your budget for accommodating us.

Simple but still looking elegant, they actually call this Changi Budget Terminal Airport. If only our airports are like this…

I wouldn’t mind paying Php1,620 travel tax and Php 650 airport fee!

And so ends our Singapore sojourn. Short, meaningful, hot and humid, technologically marvelous, wonderful and enlightening. I’ve been asked a number of times why do I like traveling a lot. Some do it for photo ops and bragging rights. For me it’s an education, a learning curve. You learn more by visiting the place and knowing the people, places and culture first hand than by reading hundreds of books about it. Add up the cost of that and you’ll probably spend the same amount if you did actually go there, and at twice the fun. It just makes sense, doesn’t it?

So where’s our next stop?

Summer Is Near-Pack A Bag & Travel Light

I have always wanted to travel. The wanderlust in me is so great, Marco Polo will have tired feet following me.

My patron saint is IAN WRIGHT, yup, that guy from Lonely Planet, Globe Trekker, that travel bug who’s been around the world for so many times, he lost track of countries he visited. And he travels on a shoestring budget, much as I am.

He presents places he visited as witty, honest, frank and funny as possible. No sugar-coating, no sanitizing of facts.

Travel to me is a learning curve, a library I can actually visit, not just read books with. I get to learn more by visiting places than reading books about them or watching travel documentaries, though the latter is very much helpful.

And so from time to time, I’ll post some of my trips, local or otherwise. I hope that you get to learn something as much I learned a lot from my sojourns.

Free At Last, Charlie Serrano, Free At Last.

A few weeks back, specifically December 19, 2010, I posted something about my HS Reunion and a batchmate I had an unfortunate incident with back in 3rd year.

To quote myself, "The next person who got my attention, probably the most that did, was Charlie Serrano. Back in 3^rd year, he had a spat with one of my friend, Benjun’s brother (forgot his name already) and told me about it. I went looking for him to talk about it but instead, word got out that I will confront him. So he was battle-ready when we met up at 3^rd floor chemistry area. Armed with a walis tambo, I called him out. But he came charging in and hit me with the walis tambo handle. I fended it off with my left arm and amazingly, the handle broke into two upon hitting my left forearm. With so much rage, next thing I know, my fist in his forehead and he was sliding on his butt on the shiny floor.

That afternoon, he went to my classroom, with a band of classmates and friends, fearing he’d want revenge, i made myself ready for any eventuality. Turns out he wants to make peace, the other boys are there to make sure he’d straighten out. Never saw him again after graduation. Though we shook hands, I know deep in his mind, he’d like to crack me up one day.

Then came the Charlie Serrano of today. Reed thin, frail looking, walking like a broken stick, head held up high like with a stiffed neck. He’s a shadow of the Charlie we all know before---the CO of the ROTC. He was built like a rock back then. That’s why it is a wonder how on earth I have beaten him on a fist fight. It was an anomaly. I was barely 85 lbs then. Nobody should beat him, hand to hand or otherwise.

It is so sad to see people, friends or foes, in such state like Charlie. I asked him what happened to him. He said he has problems with his kidneys, probably of neglect or abuse. Depleted financially, he can’t afford any medication. I fear he might be at his last thread, I hope I am very wrong. I asked him if he still remember me. He said he’ll never forget. Whether he meant that positively or not, I let it pass. I told him to let bygones be bygones. I hold no grudge and I hope neither does he. He said it was a long time ago. I am glad he sees it that way too. I was thinking of hugging the guy but at his frail state and my bulk now, I might accidentally crush him. I settled for a well-meaning handshake."

On New Year's Eve, I got an email from from Sen Lopez, all the way from Chicago, to tell me that Charlie has passed away. It has to take half a globe away for me to learn the news that I should have heard from here. I am glad Sen told me. Otherwise, I'd be in the dark before I'll know it.

We were at Pampanga when I learned the sad news. Immediately, I ask other friends if they already know and if they have plans to visit the wake. I made so many arrangements and a lot of batchmates and classmates confirmed and did went to his wake. Turns out I'll be the one left out and would missed it. 

I promised Ronnie Santos, I'll definitely pass by on Monday or attend the internment. Again, I missed it. Some things got in the way and just couldn't find the time to be there.

"Sorry, Charlie. Even on the last possible chance I could make total and full amends to you, sumablay ako." I am sure he'd understand. We've smoked the pipes of peace na rin naman during THS Grand Reunion, though paying my last respect would have been the best thing I could have done.

So now resting in peace, he's free at last. Warm some seats for us pal. We'd be there soon, though not for now. And when I do, I promise, we'll just play checkers. No more boxing or any rough sports.

Goodbye for now....