Singapore Part 1


Hello, November! The family vacationed in Singapore for 5 days with the DasmaKids (friends from Dasma, Cavite when we all used to work for Intel).  This vacation with the kids has been an idea for some time and we finally made it happen.  We chose the end of October because of the holidays which would minimize VLs, and it also happened to be Neil's break from school.

Our itinerary was really planned to consider the kids.  We were 2 families from the Manila with 4 adults and 3 kids joining our Singapore-based friends with 4 adults and 3 kids as well. (One more family had to cancel because of a last-minute emergency. We missed them.)

Our itinerary:
Day 1: Sentosa
Day 2: Singapore Zoo
Day 3: Gardens by the Bay
Day 4: Legoland
Day 5: DUKW Tour

We were supposed to do the DUKW Tour on Day 3 but we did not make it in time so we moved it to Day 5. It's good to have buffer in the schedule for events like this.=)

I will be doing multiple posts about the trip because there are many pictures! This first set is just a hodgepodge of photos outside the main events of the day.

Manila contingent. We had dinner at Shakey's NAIA 3 before the flight.

Our home for the first three nights was the Holiday Inn Express Orchard Road. (20 Bideford Road), which I booked using my IHG Rewards Club points.  Our total expense for the stay was SGD3.80 for local phone calls.=) For the last 2 nights, we stayed at our friends' in Punggol.


This is a new hotel and it's really nice.  The free breakfast saved us the trouble of having to fend for ourselves in the morning.  It's also conveniently located, just one building behind Orchard Road.  MRT station is within walking distance.

Orchard Road

We went to Kinokuniya three times on this trip! This bookstore has a very extensive collection.  Rich bought a PMP book which was not available in the Manila bookstores.  Our third visit wasn't fun because we went there to report our missing camera.  Good thing it was just misplaced and we found it on the floor of our friends' house.  Otherwise I would have lost the Sentosa and zoo pictures.  Hay, super thankful!

The morning of Day 3 was pretty open and we arranged to meet Cess at Ikea!  This is my first time to go to Ikea and I was really excited, having heard/read so many things about it.  We had lunch there, got the famous Swedish meatballs, chatted with Cess for a bit and ogled the many beautiful things for the home. Our baggage allowance was only 15kg so we had to restrain ourselves from buying anything bulky.

One thing I have always appreciated about Singapore is the public transportation. It's easy to navigate the MRT and bus system.  They don't get too crowded and the reliable wrt time.  That's my dream for the Philippines.

Time to leave! Thank you, friends for making this a fun vacation for the family.  Thank you, God, for protection, provision and all the blessings.

Look who we found at the airport! Rich's cousin who was also in SG that weekend.

Till next time!

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