Fun Day in Universal Studio and Sentosa

Most people come to Sentosa, an island resort in Singapore, to visit the famous theme park, Universal Studio. Universal Studio Singapore is the 4th installment of Universal theme parks alongside with Universal Studios located in Hollywood, Orlando and Japan.
How to get there:
Alight in Harbourfront mrt station and go inside Vivo City Shopping Centre. At the 3rd floor, take the Sentosa Express train to Universal Studio.
Ticket Price:
One day pass: Adult (13-59 y/o) 74sgd
Child (4-12 y/o) 54 sgd
Senior (60 and above) 36sgd
Two day Pass: Adult (13-59 y/o) 118sgd
Child (4-12 y/o) 88 sgd
Senior (60 and above) 58 sgd

Universal Studio Singapore is comprises of 7 land attractions that will keep you busy and happy throughout your stay.
Hollywood: The Hollywood will welcome you as this is located near the entrance.
We watched the Monster Rock Show where legendary monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy (among others) sang their hearts out with up-to-date and up-beat pop songs.
New York: Inspired by the architecture and street life of the so-called "City that Never Sleeps", "Empire State" and "Big Apple".

Here you can watch (just like what we did) the Lights Camera Action by Steven Spielberg where you can enter the movie scene and experience first hand the intense movie effects like earthquake, heavy rains and hurricane.
Sci-Fi City: The futuristic side of Universal Studio.
We weren't able to watch any shows here, just a picture with Optimus Prime.

Adventure seekers can ride their thrilling roller coaster, Galactica.

The Lost World.
We had our lunch here and I bought this kiddie meal just because of the free lunch box. hehe.

We watched the Waterworld show. If you have extra clothes, you may want to be seated in the bleachers located in the front row or the red zone area and expect to be upclose and personal with the performers as they will splash you with water from time to time.

Ancient Egypt.
We don't want to spend our day in Universal Studio just watching numerous shows so my sister and I decided to take our first ever ride --- Revenge of the Mummy. This is less scary compared to the roller coaster rides located in Sci-Fi City. Nevertheless, the 10-minute ride still made us scream at the top of our lungs.

Far Far Away.
The Kingdom of the most loved ogre in the world --- Shrek.

Don't miss Shrek 4D! Personally, this is the most fun show that I watched in Universal Studio.

Well, there's also the Donkey Live Show. But, sorry Donkey, I like Shrek better.

Madagascar.
Honestly, we weren't able to roam around the Madagascar because it was already late. But, at least we had a picture with them.

After visiting all the attractions, it's time to buy for souvenirs!

The best thing about theme parks is it caters to all ages and no matter who you're with, be it your family, friends or loved-one, everyone will surely have a great time.
After our Universal Studio Day tour, we headed back to Sentosa Express and alight at Beach Station.
Before watching the Songs of the Sea, we had our dinner at Mcdonalds and rode their free shuttle for a tour around the Palawan Beach and Siloso Beach.

Songs of the Sea.
Personally, I'm not that impressed. I find the musical fountain show in Manila Ocean Park better.
However, most tourists in Singapore come to Sentosa to watch it and so we wanted to give it a try.
We went back to Sentosa Express and alight at Imbiah Station. Here, we saw the Sentosa's bigger version of merlion. We took the cable car ride back to the city.

My Personal Tidbits of Travel Tips:
- It is better to visit the Universal Studio on weekdays as it can be extra crowded on weekends.
- Come early and check the schedules of shows you wanted to watch so that you can make the most out of your day pass.
- You can bring your own food and drinks inside the theme park.
- Take the Sentosa express at day and cable car ride at night to see the Singapore's skyline.

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Lego Land, Let's go!

Because of proximity, convenient transportation, a passport stamp and a swift change of scenery, a trip to Malaysia is often included in the interinaries of tourists who are visiting Singapore. Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital and largest city, is home to many different tourist destinations like Merdeka Square, National Palace, Jamek Mosque, Kuala Lumpur Tower, Batu Cave and Malaysia's iconic symbol, The Petronas Twin Tower, which is also one of the tallest twin towers in the world.

Although it would be nice to visit the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur, it would take approximately 6 hours of road travel to be able to get there. So, for travellers who will stay in Singapore for just a short period of time, you may want to consider crossing the borders of SG and Johor Bahru to visit Legoland.

Johor is the 5th largest state in Malaysia which is just approximately an hour ride away from Singapore. Legoland is situated in Nusajaya, Johor. It openned last september 2012 and it was the first built lego theme park in Southeast Asia, in addition to other Legoland theme parks such as Legoland California, Legoland Florida and Legoland Deustchland. At present, Legoland Hotel is in construction and is said to open sometime in 2014.
For our Legoland trip, we availed the package of WTS travel for 70Sgd per person. This includes a roundtrip coach transfer (Singapore Flyer - Legoland - Singapore Flyer) and Legoland entrance ticket. You can book your trip in advance and purchase it online or you can visit their office located just beside the Singapore Flyer.

This eye catching entrance signage will welcome you and give you a glimpse of lego structures that you'll discover inside.
My favorite place here is the Miniland. This attraction showcases famous landmarks that can be found in Southeast Asia. What amazed me is how precise and detailed the architectures are. Imagine how much time, effort and talent were exerted just to make these mini cities!
* Malaysia
In a blink of an eye, you'll actually believe that this Petronas Tower is actually the real one.

* Singapore
The country's central business district and Singapore flyer.

*Thailand

Wat Arun in Bangkok. I clmbed the steep stairs of this temple last 2012 and I suddenly become nostalgic about my experiences there.

* China
Forbidden City. One day, I will also climb the Great Wall.

* India
Taj Mahal. I think the reason why the Taj Mahal is so famous is not only because of its beautiful structures but also because of the story of love and sacrifice behind it. It is built by Emperor Sahah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. In my opinion, the emperor could have built his queen a palace while she was still alive but what was built was the world's richest mausoleum for her tomb. I guess the Taj Mahal should be a symbol and a living reminder that we should always show the people we love how much we love them because we'll never know when they will be taken away from us. Naks.. ansabe??me ganon???

* Cambodia
Angkor Wat. Dear Lord, I hope you'll let me visit Siem Reap this year. Sana magkaroon ulit ng promo ang Cebu Pacific at promise hindi ko na po papalampasin. Thank you.

* Indonesia
The beautiful island of Bali.

* Philippines
The fishing village in Bolinao, Pangasinan and one of the oldest Churches in the Philippines.

* Brunei
When I think of Brunei, the only thing that popped into my mind is GOOLLDDDD.

*Myanmar
Seeing this lego structures of Myanmar, I suddenly exclaimed "maganda pala sa Myanmar!"

Aside from Miniland, there are also other attractions like The Lost Kingdom and Lego Kingdom.

It is nice to bring back the child in us once in a while. Because when we were still a child, it is when our hearts is at its purest and happiest.

My Personal Tidbits of Travel Tips
- There are no forex located inside Legoland. However, when purchasing anything, you can pay using your Singapore Dollars but change will be in Malaysian Ringgit.
- There are stores beside the Legoland entrance. Chocolates and other local food is cheaper here compared in Singapore.
- Malaysia's weather is greatly similar with Philippine's so if you're visiting during summer, make sure you'll be in your most comfortable outfit. Extra clothes, umbrella and sunblock are must haves.

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Take me to The North : Byaheng Ilocos Norte.

After Vigan, the most common destination of travellers is Laoag. Being the capital city of Ilocos Norte, it is also the host of many sought-after tourist spots in the North. The famous political clan of the Marcoses reign supreme in Ilocos Norte. Their governance paved the way to make it as a promising province when it comes to economy and tourism.

Here are the suggested places to visit if you chance upon the beautiful land of Ilocos Norte.

1. Bangui Windmills - This consists of large wind turbines on a stretch of the long shore of the sea. It is said to be responsible for the 40% power requirements of Ilocos Norte and helps to reduce greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming. This wind farm became also one of the tourist destinations in Ilocos. Numerous photo shoots of magazines, commercials and movie locations were done here. Economical, environment-friendly and aesthetics rolled into one! Amazing!

2. Paoay Church - Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in 1710, endured two earthquakes that almost ruin parts of the Church but it is still standing for more than 300 years! Talk about the power of Architecture or should I say the power of God.

3. Pagudpud - Commonly called as Boracay of the North. Pagudpud is famous for its white sand beaches with crystal clear blue water combined with a relaxing scenery. But, honestly, it will take a lot of effort and improvements for it to be as beautiful or as prestigious as Boracay. Sorry to burst the bubble but I'm just saying my opinion. Nevertheless, it is still a beautiful place to visit.

4. Patapat Viaduct - The 4th longest bridge in the Philippines that connects Laoag and Cagayan Valley Region. Tourists passing by this bridge always took time to get out of their cars and took pictures. This is a good subject for photography because it is not only located beside the green mountains but it is also situated above a beautiful blue sea.

5. Malacanang of the North - The only thing I can say about this place is that it is closed on Mondays. Note to self: research research din pag may time!

The wonders of the North is endless, there are many things to do and places to discover. It only goes to show that we, Filipinos, are indeed blessed with a beautiful country. All we need to do is to cherish and appreciate it.

Special thanks and shout out to this cute baby JunJun. Because of your Christening, I had the chance to travel to Ilocos for free! (oh well, we shouldered the fare but at least free ang food and
accommodation! pwedeng pwede na!)

Disclaimer: The real name of this cute child is Carlisle. Since pahirapan ang pag pronounce, Junjun na lang.

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Vavavoom Vigan.

Vavavoom Vigan.

Beautiful beaches, historical places, cold climate and delicious delicacies ---- only few of the many reasons why the charm of the North is undeniable. Being a host to different famous tourist spots like Baguio, Ilocos, Sagada, and La Union (to name a few), it is no wonder why despite the long hours of road travel, many tourists (both local and foreigners) chose to spend their precious vacation here.

Vigan, capital city of Ilocos Sur, is one of the most visited places in Region I. This beautiful city is the home of mouth watering dishes like Bagnet, empanada, okoy, longganisa and bibingka. It is also considered as a World Heritage Site because of its Hispanic towns that stood the test of time.

In my second time to visit Vigan, we only had a day to tour the city because we had to travel to Ilocos Norte to attend a christening. Nevertheless, time constraints did not stop us from exploring.

Below are the suggested places to visit that you can include in your Interinary.

1. Vigan Heritage Village - The trademark of Vigan, walking the streets of the Heritage Village will give you a trip back to the memory lane. It is a reflection of what Philippines look like during the Spanish era.

One of the must try activities here is to ride the kalesa. Long before the Japanese came here and jeepeney was invented, kalesa was the main mode of transportation of our ancestors.

2. Syquia Mansion - The ancestral house of the former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. This mansion is well-maintained and is open for sight seeing. A tour inside the mansion will give you a glimpse of the elegant life of the Quirino Family.

3. Hidden Garden - Green. Green. And More Green. Need I say more?

Lover's corner. Lakas maka-bully!! Don't do that to me!

4. Baluarte - A zoo owned by Chavit Singson. A place where you can be up close and personal with snakes, tigers and ostrich. But since I'm such a faint hearted person, the bravest thing I did was to have a picture with a parrot. Boo me! I know right!

5. Uno Grille - I really reccommend that you try to eat in this restaurant. This is where I tasted the most delicious Pinakbet in my entire life! I swear!

Hail the North! Happy vacation everyone!

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Take me to the North: Byaheng Ilocos Norte