Sunday, October 25, 2015

A Journey to a New World: Hong Kong

I liked the ride to the airport. It was smooth-sailing, without any of the hue of jumbled jeepneys and cars trying to weave their way in streets only intended for two-way traffic just like in the Philippines. But it wasn’t even 6 in the morning and dampness trickled down my back. I could feel it. That’s how hot it was the day I left Singapore for Hong Kong. Hot enough to start making my palms and feet sweating profusely. It felt good washing up before leaving for the airport but the fact that I had no choice but to use my sneakers still reeking of yesterday’s sweat made me want to throw them out the taxi window and bravely take a walk or run in only my newly-washed worn-out socks once we get to the airport terminal. But the acrid stench of my sweating feet may just cause the taxi to veer off course and cause an accident. I wouldn’t want that to happen. Ever. It’s embarrassing enough that my feet stink when it sweats excessively. It would be even more embarrassing that it could cause a massive accident. And I didn’t want any of that to happen. I don’t really want to hurt anyone. Ever. So I thought we all survived the ride. Thank God. Although I don’t really know if Mng. Apple and the taxi driver were just holding their breaths. Hehe.
Overlooking Changi's check in counters
Singapore’s Changi Airport was as breathtaking in the day as it was at night. I liked the set-up better than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The Philippines only allows airline passengers to enter the terminal. The families and friends would have to say their goodbyes outside the terminal as no one could just get in. Security was that tight. I still roll my eyes over that fact. But in Singapore, family members sending off their relatives could enter the airport up to a certain point before the immigration section. You could even wave goodbye after checking in. I was nervous enough so it was a good thing that Mng. Apple accompanied me inside. First thing we did was to pick up my boarding passes. The airport personnel, a lady in her twenties with her hair tied up, was kind enough to inform me that all my luggage will be well taken care of until I reach my destination. So I needn’t worry about going to baggage claim during the layover at Hong Kong and Vancouver. That’s what she said. She was a bit unsure but her supervisor cleared up that uncertainty. So I had my bags tagged and checked in. And I had my boarding passes with me, all three of them – for this flight, for the flight out of Hong Kong, and lastly, one for the flight to Edmonton. I was set and rearing to go.
My flight was at 10AM but we arrived a little over 7AM. We haven’t had breakfast at home so with that much time, we went to fill our grumbling stomachs. I sat in one of the empty chairs overlooking the terminal. Mng. Apple was gone for quite a while so I took pictures of my boarding passes, my passport, the table I was sitting on, the place I was at. The great view of the entire lower floor, at least from my side of the terminal. I was taking a likeness of pretty much everything seized in a second. By the time I was about to take my own photo, Mng. was already heading my way with two full cups of steaming coffee with the distinguishable pleasant aroma of blueberry muffins catching my senses. Yum! It was a great way to start the day – with a cup of coffee, and muffins that just melt in your mouth. By the time I downed about half a cup, I started to feel a bit of a caffeine buzz. I’m nervous enough now thinking about doing the rest of my travel alone. I think I’ll get even more nervous, later in the day, with way too much coffee in my system.
The flight to Hong Kong was a bit turbulent. It seems like I could feel the air tossing about at the plane’s belly. It was like a bus ride to my hometown Sagada, a bit bumpy and zigzag-y. From the plane window, I could see the plane tip from one side to another and tilt here and there in its weak attempt to find better weather conditions.
For the first 30 minutes of the flight, I had my window up and all I could see was a sea of clouds. So this was how it was to be flying above the clouds. It felt like somehow gliding on those fluffy cotton-like puffs. I could imagine bouncing from one to the other. I knew it would be a feeling ingrained to my brain for all the years of my life. I reached out to somehow feel the cotton-candy distinctive impression of the clouds with the tip of my fingers. But it collided with the pressurized window, unfortunately. Oh, well. I tried at least that much. And then it got hazier and hazier and then I couldn’t really see what’s going on except that we were inside the clouds. Now bored of the foggy disposition of the atmosphere, I tugged the window shade shut, made sure I was belted-in tight, and looked out for something to occupy my mind to shut out the edginess I felt due to the turbulence. But it didn’t last that long. After a few seconds of shaking, a calmness ensued as the plane navigated itself to clear skies and a sunny milieu.

Everyone had the luxury to ask for drinks so I took advantage of that, stretched out my legs. It was a four-hour flight, mind you. So I thought of watching a movie. But I was a bit baffled as to how I would do just that. I started to pore over what technology it was in front of me. Remember, I was a first-time flyer. So I had difficulty maneuvering myself inside a plane. I tried my best figuring out what’s what without the passenger next to me noticing. And I think I’ve succeeded in deceiving him that I was a frequent flyer. Lol.
Anyway, without anyone getting the picture I painted myself in, I was simply looking over how the other passengers were faring on their technological know-how. I became ‘somehow’ adept at such technology just by looking at them that I browsed through its programs and breezed through the movies the airline had in store. I found Gags but I really didn’t find any of it funny. They were just silly at best. And some of them, rude. I found a great Jet Li movie though. I couldn’t recall the title but it was one about a dragon warrior or something to that tune. I think it’s never been shown in the international arena. Maybe it was just for local showing in cinemas. It was in Chinese. It was seriously an action-thriller movie but it came to a point that I held my laughter in. I was already bubbling inside. Jet Li speaking their local language had me cracking up. His voice, I mean. I was literally writhing in my seat as I was seriously trying to hold my laughter in. I had to let that movie go or I’d just embarrass myself. I’ve kept myself entertained for the rest of the flight browsing through movies and programs and before I knew it, the captain was announcing our impending descent to Hong Kong International Airport.
I couldn’t see much difference of Hong Kong in the day as it was for Singapore at night. Hong Kong was a speck of brown and green and white in the atmosphere. I couldn’t see much of it. Funny enough though, I started looking for a sign or something that would stick out and show me which way was DisneyLand. We were closing in and I couldn’t see much of anything so I gave up on that feat.
Over my musings, little did I know that the uneasiness I felt upon my last goodbye wave to Mng. Apple has started to creep back in. The fear of not knowing what to do or where to go or how to get my luggage upon leaving the plane cabin has settled in once the captain gave his final landing instructions. Now, I’m really a stranger in unfamiliar territory. Alone. With just my trusty handbag and a phone that’s not much use anymore since the battery is running low. Despite my worries, I still enjoyed the view of the airport from the heavens. They say that Hong Kong’s airport is the most beautiful airport in the world. I couldn’t see much of it in-flight but upon leaving the cabin, even the tarmac was immaculately constructed just like Changi’s. And there were airport personnel welcoming us. I’ve read before that they were called airport ambassadors. I tried asking them where I should go next. But it seemed that ‘Welcome to Hong Kong’ were the only English words they knew. My anxiety shot up a notch so I took a deep breath, thanked them, smiled, and went on my way with them still whispering among themselves and wondering what the heck I had just asked them. And that realization really hit in. From here on out, I am on my own. I started to worry even more. It felt like I was, at least for the moment, homeless. But I had to keep my mind alert since I had no one else to turn to. I followed the other passengers. And once we cleared the gates, Oh my Lord! My discomfort was eased even by just a small measure but I indulged in that feeling of comfort. I pushed all the bad stuff out of my mind.
Wow! This looked much larger than Changi’s. I looked left and right and behind if anyone was near me but all the other passengers went their own way. Once again, fear settled in. I took a lot of deep breaths. That’s all I did in Hong Kong – taking a lot of deep breaths. The air was a bit different. The fresh and clean air Singapore has dispatched in my system seems to have registered well enough for me to distinguish quite a difference with the air I inhaled in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s air was somewhat more dense and tainted.
I somehow found my own way to the hurly-burly scene of passengers frantically rushing to and fro while some passengers sit back to digest a scrumptious luncheon; airline personnel walking from end to end, effectively giving a hand to and enthusiastically responding to stumped passengers such as myself; airport security doing their rounds; and a cacophony of kids flailing about causing earsplitting noises, some of them holding on to their mothers’ legs, getting callously dragged as their mothers try to find their boarding gates or whatever destination they had in mind.

First thing I did was to seek out the boarding gate for my next flight. I took flyers from the information stand near the arrival lounge to guide me on my way to the departure area. Now, this is where schooling pays off. You’d have to know how to read the maps and signs so you know which way to go. I had a lot of flyers tucked under my arm which I had to flip through over and over to determine where I was and which way I had to go. But it was of no use if you don’t know which way was north, south, east or west. I’ve had a bit of difficulty getting through the map. I had to figure out which terminal I was in first and which concourse I was in, for that matter. And the airport personnel earlier were of no help at all. So I just worked my way through with just the overhead directional signs to the departures level for boarding gates. My first goal was to reach the departure hall.
It was a good thing the layover was for a good 5 and a half hours. I spent half an hour navigating through the terminal, and going through security checks. Another half an hour looking for the boarding gate for my flight. I thought that was the rest of the terminal but as I tried to understand the map once more, I felt like I would faint ‘coz it took me an hour to walk through just the East Hall Departure Area. I didn’t bother going to baggage claim since I was on transit. I was confident enough that my luggages were sent to the next plane just as what the airport ambassador in Singapore has said. So supposedly, all luggages are forwarded to the next airline carrier. And so I set my sights on exploring the departure hall of which my eyes was made full to bursting with all the sparkling decorations and a lot of shops do visit.
While I was walking around, with my handbag in tow and important documents in a safe place, I met a Filipino couple who came from I think it was Cambodia, they said it was. They were bound home to the Philippines. I’ve actually overheard them speaking in the local language. My heart skipped a beat. I felt a bit of pride that Filipinos are really everywhere – all over the world. So then that distinct feeling of being alone has been somewhat staved off by the presence of Kababayans. It just so proves that a Filipino, no matter how lonely he is a traveler, will never be alone. There will always be a Filipino you could meet, one way or another. I’ve overheard this couple being confused as to what time their next flight would depart and what gate they should board in and why their flight doesn’t show up on the bulletin boards. So I introduced myself and tried to unravel their dilemma. We exchanged travel stories for a while. And as the minutes ticked by, I wished the conversation would not end. But I had to find my own boarding gate. Ironically, I helped them find their way easily but I couldn’t find mine just yet. I was good at directions. Just not that adept in handling maps and such.
Anyway, I found my boarding gate at last after getting lost a few times but I still had a lot of time in my hands so I decided to make the best of the remaining hours. I would have loved to go out of the airport and see the sights and Disneyland. I’ve always wanted to go to Disneyland. Yes, even at my age. But I was a bit concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get back in time for my next flight. Knowing that I had to be at the boarding gate 45 minutes before departure, I took it to myself to explore the rest of the terminal. I found a money changing station while walking around so I tried to sell some of my pesos for Canadian Dollars (CAD), Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) and Singaporean Dollars (SGD). I still had some of our local currency with me tucked safely in a folded, worn-out newspaper. It’s lying safe right now in my handbag’s secret pocket. I had to buy an adaptor for my charger since my phone’s battery life has already given up. It cost me 299HKD. After walking around, I got thirsty and the water bottle I had when I left Singapore has been confiscated when I was clearing security so I had to go to the trouble of exchanging currency just to buy a cola which cost me 24HKD. Oh my God. I still had that receipt tucked in a piece of something, somewhere. And I wasn’t able to finish that damned cola. I had to throw it out when we landed in Vancouver as we passed through security checks. But it was a cool experience having to feel how it was to travel out of your own country, having to buy things at a whim knowing you only have just the right amount of currency to get you through your destination. It was a feeling I would welcome anytime, but to a certain extent. I had to make sure I still had enough money to get me home.
Hurray! My boarding gate! Wheee! At last!
As I soared from one shop to the other, I noticed escalators leading to passenger lounges while I was walking around and I just had to check it out. I didn’t know these were VIP lounges until I saw a sign upstairs that a card (that only eligible members of The Marco Polo Club, Cargo Clan Elite and Oneworld Emerald & Sapphire members have) was needed to pay for services rendered. For a reasonable fee (accordingly), you can relax in comfort in one of these pay-in lounges before boarding a flight or during transit. You can enjoy hot showers, all day food and beverage buffet, internet and email access as well as live CNN news feeds on TV, magazines, newspapers, massage chairs and seated massage. It’s a perfect place to freshen up after a long and tiring flight. There are shower rooms, hair blow-dry rooms and resting area. Oh my God. I was so enchanted that I still proceeded to explore the upper floors despite myself being discovered and to peek at each room that had access. I could have knocked but I was worried they might chase me away once they find out my identity. Haha. I was like a female James Bond that time or someone else. I was like the heroine in a Brad Pitt movie. This time, no Angelina Jolie. I was ‘the’ Mrs. Smith.
After a rush of adrenaline from masquerading as a well-heeled individual with wallet bursting with cards and cash in different currencies, I found that there were these escalator-thingies except for them being flat on the ground (looked more like a conveyor belt for people), which takes the passengers from one end to the other. The whole time, I didn’t ride it because I thought it would lead to someplace else. But it wasn’t only when I reached the end that I realized, it was there for that very purpose of transporting passengers so as them not having any difficulty with walking around, their luggages and all. With that said, I rolled my eyes and called myself stupid.
So the next platform, I tried getting on it. It even welcomes you once you step over it and advises you to watch your step at the end. Oh my Lord! For the rest of the ride, I just stood there enjoying the ride not knowing really how to describe my emotions at that very moment. It’s not like the feeling you get when you ride those stairs or escalators going up and down. If anything, I felt free. It was only after I stepped off it that I realized I was grinning like a kid eating ice cream on a hot day after a fun adventure at the amusement park. So I simply rode on another to get me to the other end. I think I enjoyed it too much that I kept riding it back and forth from one end of the terminal to the other without any purpose as to where and what I am after. All this while, I tried so much to hide my look of excitement and enjoyment but it was a bit hard when you’re enjoying yourself and your emotions are at the brink of breaking out. And I was alone. So yes, the people around me must have thought that I’ve lost the last of my wits.


Anyway, I kept on walking around. By the time it was time to board, I was done exploring the nook and crannies of the airport. It was finally time to go. I tried not to look back. But I’ll admit, I looked back once.
I had never checked-in in an airplane alone before. There never had been a need. But I didn’t want anyone to know that. So I just listened too attentively to what the ambassadors were saying as well as read all the signs and searched the internet. There’s free Wi-Fi and I had my phone charged in one of the phone charging stations of the terminal at no cost at all. It would have cost me Php30/hr back home.
Once on the plane, dinner was served. I was scared to order something out of my comfort zone but I wanted to taste their congee. I thought it would be the authentic one since China or Hong Kong is known for their porridges and noodles. I have to tell you, I didn’t really like it. I could have had a culinary orgasm to our very own arrozcaldo when compared to the congee they served. Yuck! I would have tossed it out the plane window, if it was even possible. And with that, I just took out the Monde muffins Mng. Apple offered me before leaving the house. It had that lip-smacking goodness despite its dryness but I would welcome anything else rather than having that bowl of goo chugged down my throat. Then I got to bed, if you could call the seat of an airplane that. It was comfortable nonetheless.

So that’s most of the excitement I had in Hong Kong. I promised myself to visit Hong Kong Disneyland one of these days. I hope Hong Kong would be willing to welcome me back.

So I had to take something else with me...

Monday, October 12, 2015

A Journey to a New World: Singapore


It’s almost a year since I’ve set foot here in the Land of the Maple Leaf but my journey to this New World still vividly comes to mind. I could still remember the weather was a bit dreary when I with my cousin and her family left for Singapore for a visit to their home. The tears came down like rain that afternoon as my mom and I said our goodbyes at the airport. It was a bittersweet ambiance. My heart ached, my chest felt stuffy. But there was a tinge of excitement and triumph. It’s a feeling that’s always been embedded in the deepest recess of my soul – an alcove not a one has ever understood. It was that kind of feeling which emitted such a powerful antidote to the already weary soul. It’s a gloomily blissful feeling – the kind that emboldens oneself to strive to live with and capitalize on the present for a better if not an opulent future. And that memory has never left me ever since that day I left.
It was a three-night-two-day stay in the Garden City of South East Asia but it felt like just an hour of great adventures. The minutes went by too fast as they became hours and then the hours turned to days. I wanted this feeling of warmth in my heart to last for a while and it did – for months until now.
A week before my flight and I was still finishing up some office work and trying to beat a deadline as well as create more deadlines and extend some others. That was the one week that stayed in my memories for months up to now. It was a week I never wanted but surprisingly these days, I miss it. All the office stuff – those one-of-a-kind Monday and Tuesday sessions jotting down deliberations on the what-nots and what-ifs for the welfare of the municipality; those demanding Wednesdays; those bland, not-so-hectic Thursdays; those Fridays when we get so high-spirited ‘coz I get to sleep in tomorrow; and, those Saturdays and sometimes Sundays that we strenuously and half-heartedly put in some extra hours. But that’s another story to tell. For now, I’d just want to share a certain part of my life in my sojourn into a foreign land.
The night before my travel to the city, I was still trying to clear out the office. Time was so constrained that saying goodbye to everything and everyone that I loved for the past few months has been such an emotional journey for me. I couldn’t even take my lawyer friend out for a decent meal, even my own family and friends for that matter.
But knowing the fact that despite unsaid farewells everything and everyone will still be there to cherish and treasure made my burden lighter. I was thankful for if it had been a pound or two more, the plane would have not flown!
The fact that knowing that everyone you left is cheering you on has made my baggage light. It was emotional turmoil when I left in such a hurry for a cliché – ‘in search of greener pastures’.
Being on an airplane for the first time has kept me up during the entire night flight. I was with family so the flight has been a terrific encounter. I was with Mng. Apple, her husband Mng. Raj, and my two delightfully charming and striking cousins, Sumer and Shankar. We left for Singapore on a three-hour flight. It was my first flight and I had an splendid experience. Now that I look back, it was a funny experience as well. The whole flight, I was deviously finding ways to take a proper picture of myself (selfie) without the other passengers noticing, more importantly, the flight attendants. It was already night time so the lights were off. I took a couple of photos but the flash came on automatically. The photos didn’t look good. They didn’t look good in the dark either. Oh, well. I might be able to take a good photo on the plane bound for Canada.
Singapore was a sight to behold at night. From the plane window, I could see the lights of the city as we approached Singapore’s Changi Airport. It was breathtaking. The closer we flew down, the lower the altitude, the more I couldn’t explain how I felt. I wanted to go back home to the Philippines but at the same time, I wanted to set foot in another land and experience what it had to offer. I knew it would be a pleasure visiting with family. And I was right. The moment we got off the plane, I had a distinct feeling that I would be coming back. When? I didn’t have the slightest idea but I have learned a long time ago to always trust my gut. The airport was a beauty in itself. The prominent watch tower was so colorful, such that an artist just swished his paint brush onto the tower and mysteriously, a hue of colors had just blended into place. It was the first thing that caught my attention in-flight. And it was the last thing I saw as we left the airport. Impressive!

I still hadn’t gotten over my first plane ride, rushing to the passenger gates, etc. when another matter slapped me right on the face. I knew Singapore follows right-hand driving but to experience it first-hand has been quite a shock. And the taxis in Singapore didn’t look like any other taxi in the Philippines. It was limousine style except for the lack of luxury food and drinks. It was my first limousine ride. Hah! Maybe I could now stop dreaming of ever riding a limousine someday ‘cause this felt like I was riding one. Ohh, it would be cool to ride a real one but this taxi could be enough to stave off that craving temporarily. Even the mere fact that I had to gaze outside its windows was a great experience. I had a clear view of Singapore’s night life – well maybe not all of it, but at least part of it. It was nearing midnight and the city was still buzzing with cars and people all about. And the neon lights! Whew! Every building was having a contested display with their aesthetic show of twinkling, dazzling lights. The kaleidoscope of colors brought me just to one thought, ‘I am definitely coming back.’ I can’t afford not to. I had not spent an hour in this marvelous country and here I was loving it as every second ticked by. I was excited for the days – and nights, I would be spending in this little Asian country I now could call home. Yes, it’s another home away from home. Wherever or whatever dwelling my family finds shelter in, I could call it my home. Mi casa, su casa. Or for that matter, ‘Su casa, mi casa.’ Ah! Family. I love them all.
I couldn’t sleep well that night. I couldn’t believe I was in Singapore. I just couldn’t believe what was unfolding before my eyes. I remember that as I was writing this in a journal I always keep with me, sleep couldn’t yet overcome me. Maybe the sleep fairies came late that night. Oh, I just can’t wait for the sun to rise. That’s a first since I always wanted the nights not to be over so I wouldn’t have to wake up early. But with a lot of excitement I had in just over 24 hours, I could say I could live with it for once. And then just as seasons were bound to change, the sun rose charmingly that morning. The rays of the sun tried at best to peek through the blinds from the window signifying a good day ahead. My eyes were open but my brain was still trying to wake from its lethargic state. Something warm beside me registered. It was something good and something I could get used to. It turned out to be Beethoven, my niece’s and nephew’s cute tuxedo cat cuddled up beside me. Sooooo cute! I stretched out careful not to wake the peacefully, sleeping cat. I sat up and something by the bedside table caught my eye. Oh. It’s Katy Purry – a cute tabby, just sitting on the tabletop glancing at me and the window as if telling me that the sun is up and I had to move my butt. Blaster, another tabby (a mackerel one, I think) was on the floor, walking circles, curious about what was in my luggage. What a way to start the day – with warmth and in high spirits. The day is delightfully unfolding into a marvelous one.
My niece and nephew were still in bed. I was so excited to find out how my day really turns out. Mng. Apple, barely up and about, was probably slaying me in her thoughts for waking up too early. We slept past midnight although dead-tired from our travel to the airport and our flight. But I had a full day ahead of me and I wanted to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t catch the sun rising. And that made me all the more excited to witness the sun dipping, commanding half the world into nightfall. I really couldn’t recall anything else about the day since I was in cloud nine the whole time. All I could recall was the kindness and hospitality my cousins and her family showed me. I was so touched I blinked back the tears of happiness and sadness. Happy, because I’ve had a great adventure with my cousins and nephews. Sad, because I already miss my mom, sisters and brother. It would have been great if we took this vacation together. But then I thought to myself, ‘Oh, well. Maybe in the near future.’

I’ve had a lot of reservations when it came to travelling out of the country but now that I gained an experience, it was a refreshing adventure. This little Asian country has astounded me in more ways than I could imagine. The people, the sights, the experience of it all. My three-night-two-day stay has been a rush of events. It felt like it was just a two-minute preview of my life unravelling before my eyes. The days were jam-packed with fun-filled activities and lolly-gagging. I’ve had the time of my life though I was a bit uncomfortable since I had to impose on the kindness of my cousin and her family.
The next day was full of excitement since I had the chance to go to the beach! And my! Was it a sight! I could see the airplanes lining up along the horizon towards Changi Airport. The docks were filling up with large cargo vessels. The sea was so serene and the air was so fresh with that musty scent the seaweeds and marine life has emitted.
The first time I’ve been to a body of water was to fish with my dad at the lake just a 30-minute walk from our residence. Well, that’s beside the fact that we had this large bath tub installed at the main bedroom's T&B where we learned to somehow breathe underwater and sometimes to take a dive to the chagrin of my dad and mom. But I loved going fishing and having a picnic by the lake, although I could not recall if we ever caught one. But I always wanted to capture that moment and take it to heart. I’ve loved the water since then.
Our visit to East Coast Beach was a bit regretful since I didn’t have with me a set of clothes to change in. I would have loved to feel the waves cascade over my body and feel those ripples massage my weary soul. I satisfied myself just by taking off my shoes and feeling the water rush over my sand-covered feet. It was so fun playing with my cousin, niece and nephew, taking time to capture those moments of happiness. It was a lovely feeling to share these moments with someone you love and not being a stranger in foreign land. We stayed till dusk and it was awesome to see the sun setting as my cousin and I sat on the sand, talked about this and that while watching the sun set. The horizon quickly changed from a hue of black and blue into a bright yellow-orange reddish color. The airplanes could now be seen more vaguely as they lined up the sky. The cargo vessels had their lights turned on as well. The sea sparkled from the rays of the sun. The park has turned on the lamps. The earth and the heavens became a stage in just a matter of minutes as the sun quickly concealed itself and a display of sparkling lights came on. I had a connection with the earth and the heavens that day.
The darkness came so fast that I regretted that it had to end. We walked along the coast towards the shower stalls to clean ourselves up. Mng. Raj was on his way from work to pick us up. We had dinner at a fancy restaurant way across town and I had a chance to savor that famous Nasi Lemak – a spicy local dish of seafood/meat, nuts and sun-dried, salted fish. This dish was very much recommended by my aunt. That was even spicier than the Korean dishes I’ve loved to eat back home. It was so spicy, I got a runny nose. It was so hot I got a bit teary-eyed. But I couldn’t stop myself from digging in. This was my next favorite dish to adobo, kimchi and bibimbap. It was a great dining experience. My first fine dining experience in foreign land.
From dawn till dusk, from morning to the dark of night, as the sun rose and set again, I got more excited that I couldn’t wait to see even a ray of sun pouring in from the window. Mng. Apple and Mng. Raj had a lot planned for the next day. I was embarrassed, a bit uncomfortable. Mng. Raj took the day off so he could drive us around the country. So, with the family, we went driving around Singapore. My cousin’s family lives in the Westside towards the Malaysian bridge and we drove around like there’s no tomorrow to the east, the north and south. Although it was just a glimpse of Singapore’s treasured attractions, I still was amazed to set my sights on Marina Bay Sands, with its majestic hotdog bun-like roof. Mng. Apple told me that hotdog bun-like thing contained the most majestic swimming pool. I was like, at the rooftop?! Cool! Got to check that out one day. Well, jot it down my second bucket list of things to do. And it’s dangerously close to overflowing again.
We passed by Sentosa, Mt. Faber, Madame Tussauds, Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Singapore, Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay, The National Library, The Singapore Flyer, the famous Orchard Road, etc. And we went to this place where it was overlooking most of the city. I would have loved to try the rides but we were burning daylight and there were still lots of things to see. We went to Lucky Plaza and wow! It was marvelous. I’ve been told it’s where Filipinos meet up during their days off and have fun. We also passed by the financial district of Singapore – the Central Business District. It looked like Makati City. With lots of high rise buildings, I would have loved to visit all the shops and the scenic sites but I chucked it down my now filled-to-the-brim bucket. Singapore’s architecture really amazes me with its ancient feel. Even the biggest buildings had a touch of Singapore’s history and culture. The old Chinese and Malay temples I just got a glimpse off the car window has given me a feeling of comfort and unexplained delight. Even the smallest corners have left me falling more and more in love with this nation. There’s something mystifying about it all. I’ve had first-hand experience with one of those smallest corners when we’ve gone to eat in Little India. Whoa! It was a lot of food for one to take part in. But I finished all of it with much gusto. Singapore’s delectable cuisine is definitely something to look forward to.
Despite the blistering heat and the rivulets of sweat trickling down my now soaked tee, I’ve had the time of my life visiting the Lion City. I am sure this marvelous city has much more mysterious places hidden in its concrete jungle as well as its lush, green forests. I have yet to visit its natural wonders. I’ve felt a bit of a sting in my heart for not being able to see everything Singapore has to offer. The pain was a bit bittersweet. I believe that this pain will never go away until I get to experience the sweet taste of Mother Nature. I love the outdoors but I was sorry to just leave it at that, for the moment. This was enough to fuel my curiosity on what’s really going on and how it would feel to take a drive to the farthest corner of Singapore and witness the grandiosity of it all.

My two-day stay at the Lion City of SE Asia has been a surreal experience. It has been nothing but a memory I would always love to visit and experience again.
At East Coast Beach

At Lucky Plaza

Central Business District