singapore trip
Saturday, May 28, 2005
It all started with a simple text. "...do u want to go to Singapore?". It was from Ona.I replied yes. However, with the irregular schedule I have in my work, I told Ona that I'd still have to wait and see. Good thing my manager easily approved my request for a 2 shift leave (5 days converted to regular working days).
Saturday, May 21.
Nanay dropped me at the Centennial Airport at 1PM since our flight is at 2:50PM. Ona was already there when I came. I told her I'd like to be seated beside the window. Unfortunately, no window seat was available when we checked-in. We were seated at the middle part. The plane took off in time. It was drizzling when we landed. The agent from the travel agency (we were on a package tour) drove us all the way to the hotel. We were booked at the Copthorne Orchid Hotel. It was a 40-minute drive from the airport to our hotel.
Our room had twin beds. However, Ona and I slept on the same bed. She couldn't sleep without someone on her side. Sunday, May 22.
Woke up at 7AM. Had breakfast at 8AM and took off at 9AM for the half-day city tour. We went first to the travel agency's office. The coordinator approached us and said that she purposely set us aside from the bus that we were supposed to be in since Indian nationals occupied it all. Because of that, the shuttle driver will have to be the tour guide as well.
Our first stop was at the Merlion Park. On our way there, we passed through the Raffles Hotel, the most expensive hotel in the country. Next, we passed through the Fountain of Wealth, the world's largest fountain according the Guinness book of records, at the Suntec City. Later, we reached the Merlion Park. There were several pinoy tourists strolling around when we got there. Our tour guide entrusted us to the other tour guide since he needed to get our shuttle near the entrance of the park. We strolled through the park, took pictures, bought bottled water for $2 and took of for our next stop.
The next stop was at the oldest Chinese temple. I didn't really see anything distinctive with the temple. I could see also this kind in one of the Chinese temples in Binondo, I thought. Anyway, it was part of the tour, better make the most out of it....to be continued...
