Chinese Garden, Singapore

If you just want to sit around, have picnic with your friends, date with your special someone, view relaxing sceneries, and take some nice pictures then this is the right place for you.  Plus, you do not have to spend too much because in just S$10 (Php350) you can buy some snacks and drinks and share it with 2-3 friends!

The Chinese Garden

July 3, 2011, I never thought that I would enjoy this place.  At first, I did not want to come because I was expecting to see lots of people wandering there.   But since I don’t want to be called ‘KJ’ (Kill Joy) then I decided to go with them.

I was partially right! There were many people BUT the garden is too wide that all of you can have your own territory to stay with.  It was not crowded and you wouldn’t get irritated. 

Our Territory

Staying there was very relaxing.  We had a picnic and some chats while having a nice view of the place.  We sat behind a big rock where we placed our stuffs on it and we were in front of the river.   Very nice!

After that, we walked around and took pictures with the nature.  It’s a good place for ‘pictorial’ – model shots, environmental shots, and pre-nup shots!  There were nice bridges, gazebo, zodiac animal statues, and pagoda where you can go up by spiral stairs and view the place from the top.

Model Over The Bridge

AKA Pre-nup Shot

Stairway to Heaven

 If you’re planning to go there to have picnic, I would suggest bringing a mat if you are too prissy.  But, it’s more fun sitting on the grass and feeling you’re one with the nature. :)

The Traveler's Feet

Universal Studios - Sentosa, Singapore

Though I was already in Singapore since September 2010, I haven't been in Universal Studios ‘till March 2011.  My girlfriend’s sister with her family went here for a 4D-3N vacation.  It was a package tour to Universal Studios.  My girlfriend and I decided that we will accompany them especially that it will be our first time too in Universal Studios.  We booked online and the ticket costs S$72 (Php2448) since it was Sunday, March 20, 2011.  If you go there on weekdays, the ticket will only cost S$66 (Php2244).  If you’re planning to go to Universal Studios, it’s convenient to book online than queuing in front of the ticket counter.

I would say that Universal Studios is really awesome!  The way it was constructed and designed makes you feel that you’re in a fancy world.  Lots of Universal Studios characters are just roaming around and you can have the opportunity to take pictures with them.  Some of the characters that we had pictures are Shrek, Fiona, Betty Boop, Marilyn Monroe, Frankenstein, and Madagascar characters.  The one that I really liked here is the unique-style of rides and attractions.  I will share to you my top 5 favorite rides/attractions.

Jump Higher!

My Gf's Niece With Marilyn Monroe

5.  Shrek 4D Adventure

-  Watching a Shrek movie clip in Shrek’s big castle where you can feel the effects of the movie.  Everytime Donkey sneezes, some water will spray in front of your face. Kinda eewww but funny!  Some scenes like being attacked of small spiders that you feel it’s like crawling at the back of your neck and under your feet. 

4.  Lights! Camera! Action!

-   You will witness lively how special effects are being done in a movie.  You will be in a big room (port) where you will see a city over the window being hit by a super tornado, signage being flown away, circuit faults that cause fire on the water inside the port, and a ship hitting your port in front of your eyes.  It’s really amazing.

3.  Jurassic Parks Rapids Adventure

-  You will ride on a raft where you can see different species of dinosaurs while being bumped side by side on the water.  Eventually you will enter scientists’ headquarters which is having some technical problems (part of the storyline of the ride) and inside there is really dark trying to frighten you.  There’s a sudden fall and slide of the raft causing a big splash that might get you wet.  Though you can buy some plastic (rain) coats before you take the ride but I suggest you don’t buy and get wet.  It’s happier and more exciting.

2.  Revenge of the Mummy

-   You will feel some sinister atmosphere while walking inside of this station.  This is a roller coaster ride where you can’t see anything most of the time because it’s very dark.  The speed is very fast and you will experience a sudden pull of the roller coaster and ride backwards.

1-2-3-Mummy!

1.      Battlestar Galactica: Cylon

-    For me, this is a MUST ride in Universal Studios.  It looks frightening but if you want some thrilling action then try this.  It’s somewhat a roller coaster ride but you will be sitting on a hanging chair like a swing, suspended in air.  You will experience very high speed and feel like being thrown into the air.  It made my jaw and cheeks constricted.  You will encounter vertical and horizontal loops in the ride. Isn’t it electrifying?

After Riding Battlestar Galactica Cylon

 

After a heartbreaking ride, it’s a good idea to eat.  We had our lunch in Hollywood China Bistro. Our food was great.  It costs S$125 (Php4250) for the five of us.  There was an entertainment show while we were having our lunch.  There was a guy who did some bartending skills using a ‘kettle with long mouth’ pouring some tea in different ways.  We had some snacks in Loui’s NY Pizza Parlor and you can buy there a big slice of pizza for about S$8 (Php272).  The pizza was fine and it's good for two persons.

Yummy Food in Hollywood China Bistro

 

I really enjoyed my day in Universal Studios.  In my opinion, it is one of the best attractions in Singapore.  Ok lah?

The Traveler's Feet

Punta de Fabian Resort - Baras, Rizal, Philippines

This is my first time to write a blog.  I'm planning that starting 2011, I will blog all my travel experiences.  Well, just be considerate as I'm not really a good writer.  Ok, stop the disclaimer and let the blog begins.

Last April 16, 2011, I went home to Philippines to spend my summer vacation.  I requested my family to plan a summer getaway and we decided to go to Punta de Fabian.  Punta de Fabian is just about 90 minutes drive from Pasig City (Manila).The resort is built on a mountaintop which is really cool.  You can have a spectacular view of the town from there especially at night.  It's a good opportunity to take some pics and make it your profile picture in Facebook.



Nice View - Ladies and Landscape!

We stayed there for 3 days (April 17-19, 2011).  My brother and I stayed in a superior room which costs Php3500 (about S$103) per night and has complimentary breakfast for two.  There were 2 single comfy beds and a lampshade in between. Of course, the room was air conditioned and good thing that the aircon gave real cooling temperature.  The room has a cable TV so you could watch good movies if you want to stay in the room during noon and don't want to be cooked under the sun.  The nice thing in occupying a superior room is that it has a terrace where you can sit, eat, and relax with your family and friends while having a good view of the place.  Also, our room is just in front of the infinity pool.

1-2-3-Go!

Infinity Pool

The resort has two swimming pools.  One of the pools is an infinity pool.  It's not really the infinity pool which is connected to a body of water like an ocean or river.  It's infinity in a sense that when you look at the horizon, it seems endless.  It's almost at the end of the mountaintop so you can have a nice view while swimming and you will feel relaxed.  To add more some relaxing mood, you can go at the side of the infinity pool and enjoy the Jacuzzi though the water is not really warm.  Sit there and feel the bubbles massaging your body.

My Niece Enjoying the Jacuzzi

Aside from swimming, you can do other activities in the resort like basketball and some stuffs that are related to team building.    It’s my first time to see a resort that has a maze.  Yes, a maze inside the resort!  I think it's designed for team building activities since Punta de Fabian also accommodates seminars and conferences.  That time, the maze was still under construction but we still tried this maze.  The maze has 2 entrances and 2 exits of course.  I believe there will be two competing teams and the goal is to finish the maze first.

Winners of the Maze Challenge

The restaurant in the resort has a good ambience.  It was very clean.  The food was fine and the taste was just right.  I think one dish is just enough for two to three persons but it depends on how big your appetite is.  We had our dinner there twice and ordered some common dishes like beef steak, sinigang na baboy, fried chicken, pork liempo, and chopsuey.  Our dinner costs around Php2500-Php3000 (S$58-S$88) which is just ok serving 10 persons.  For our breakfast, we ordered tapa, bangus, and tocino all with fried egg.  They serve it with juice and fruits like pineapple and watermelon for dessert.  It’s really a good complimentary breakfast.  By the way, staffs here are very accommodating.  You have the option to eat beside the infinity pool just like what we did one time in our breakfast.   They are willing to serve you there.

While Waiting For Food

I had a good summer vacation there.  There were only few people that time and there was even a day when there were no other guests besides us so we felt like we’re in a private resort.  It was really a peaceful and quiet vacation.

The Traveler's Feet