Travel Kwento: Singapore & Legoland Malaysia

Last Dec 1-5, we had our trip to Singapore & Legoland Malaysia to celebrate the birthday of Chris. Chris and I have been to Singapore and Malaysia many times before but this was the first time for Johan and the first time as a family. We visited old and new places. For 5 days, we had fun especially Johan who immensely enjoyed it. 

We visited Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Shoppes. We went to Singapore Flyer, Universal, Sentosa, SEA World and Trick Eye Museum. We went to Legoland Malaysia for a whole day of fun. Then we watched The Little Big Club's Barney & Friends at the newly opened OneKM mall. We stayed in one of the newly opened hotels in the Joo Chiat area. It was tiring but rewarding. Johan was all aglow and that was the most important thing for this trip. It was a challenge to bring a 3 yr-old child miles away from home but the experiences and our bonding as a family made it all worth it and priceless. 

We left Manila at around 9pm via Cebu Pacific NAIA Terminal 3 (late as we were supposed to depart at 830PM) and arrived at Changi airport Terminal 2 1220am. Johan slept during the flight and woke up when we arrived at the airport. As it was too late to take the MRT and to ride the bus, we just hailed a cab and gave the driver the direction to our hotel. As with our past trips to Singapore, they have the most efficient, safest transport system and the drivers are well mannered, respectful, accurate. They never fail to amaze me as even up to the last centavo, they will give your change and you can use your credit card to pay for the fare.

Champion Hotel (formerly Gateway Hotel)

They say that our hotel was once the Gateway Hotel but it was renovated so the result is just like a brand new hotel now named Champion Hotel. It is located at the Joo Chiat Road area, close to the Joo Chiat Complex and the within the vicinity of the Malay village. You can feel the old world charm of Singapore yet the hotel is a modern artsy rendition, very simple and fuss-free in the civic district of the city.

I booked it online and availed of the Trip Advisor's promo on their website. The transaction was fast and hassle-free. We got the Superior Twin room for 2 adults and 1 kid. It was spacious. Although it doesn't have windows, the cleanliness and big space make up for that. If you are claustrophobic or if you want a view, you may want to request or get a room with windows. Most of the time we were out so it didn't matter to us. It was also favourable that we have no windows because we were able to really sleep without the outside noise. The check in/out was very fast and easy. And the receptionist was very accommodating and helpful both checking in/out. There was this one time when we need a cab and it's raining hard and the receptionist offered to call one even without asking her. That was good customer service. They also clean our room every day.

Facilities inside the room include twin bed, working aircon, phone, safe, bedside button for all the lights so you won't have to stand up to turn it on/off, LED TV, coffee and tea pot, mini-ref, hair dryer. They also provide 2 complimentary bottles of water which they replenished every day. They also provide coffee and tea and toiletries which they also replenished everyday. They have a 24-hour front desk reception and customer service. They were also fast when it comes to responding to your needs. I reported a defective tea pot and they promptly replied and replaced it. They have free WIFI which was really strong during our stay there. And we didn't have any problems. It was consistent throughout our stay there.

The area is 20-30 minutes away from Changi, around 20 minutes away from the city. We have specific itinerary so we know where we want to go so the location is not a problem for us despite being a little far from the city. And Singapore is one of the world's most child friendly cities so despite having a kid in tow and despite being a little far from the city, it was never a problem. The nearest MRT is Paya Lebar of the East West Line (Green Line). To tell you honestly, it was not so near meaning it's around 10-15 minutes of real walk. But it was manageable and not a problem. There was a construction in front of the building while we were there. I think it was for another hotel but we didn't hear a single noise from that. Perhaps we are not facing that road. The lobby is so cute. The design very contemporary and youthful, clean and minimalist. All in all, it was a great stay and given the chance, we will stay here again.



DAY 2
We had breakfast at OneKM mall, a newly opened mall near our hotel. We tried the local restaurant -- Toast Box.

Toast Box
Let's toast to the good times! We always try local goodness whenever we visit a place. Although we have Toast Box in the Philippines, it's different when you try it in their country of origin. Toast Box is a recreation of the coffee shops in Singapore from the 60s and 70s, where the common practice for breakfast was a cup of Nanyang Coffee and freshly toasted bread. It started as a food stall unit in the Food Republic Wisma Atria in Singapore but now has expanded in different countries. It's hard to miss this place as they have 66 outlets all over Singapore. We tried their Kaya Toast, Chicken Curry, Mee Siam with Meat Loaf, Barley Drink, Brewed Cold Tea. It was all delicious. The Chicken Curry was just too spicy for my husband's taste.

We went to the Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest and Flower Dome

The Flower Dome
The Flower Dome is simply spectacular. The Flower Dome replicates the cool-dry climate of Mediterranean regions like South Africa, California and parts of Spain and Italy. Home to a collection of plants from deserts all over the world, it shows the adaptations of plants to barren environments. 
The changing theme at the Flower Field reflects different seasons and festivities. When we were there,it's winter wonderland. For someone who grew up in a tropical country, it was a sight to see their recreated gardens with snow.
We saw some baobabs and bottle trees, drunken trees and ghost tress, succulent garden, the 1000-yr old Olive tree from Spain and other amazing plants and flower from around the world. Not to miss when going there. The temperature inside is well below what we used to so if you get easily cold, bring a jacket with you.

The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay.
As you enter, you'll be amazed by the world's tallest indoor waterfall and a 35-metre tall mountain covered in abundant vegetation. It shows plant life from tropical highlands up to 2,000-metres above sea level.
There are different levels where you can appreciate the unique biodiversity and geology of cloud forests. 
From top to bottom, you have the following attractions: Secret Garden - if you start from the top, you will end your journey here at the foot of the mountain. It is a chasm that will bring you closer to plants that were once abundant on earth, but are increasingly rare today. 
+5 Degrees - This is where they show you a mini AVP about the effects of temperature increase in the planet. This virtual experience allows you to see the world from a different perspective.
Earth Check - This is a place of facts, figures and statistics of the state of the earth today and the threats that we will have to face due to climate change.
Tree Top Walk - the walk that will take you closer to the forest
Crystal Mountain - this part we just walk over and left not because it's not interesting but because the Philippines has a lot of this amazing caves in Sagada, Cagayan, Palawan and Bohol and I have seen the real stalactites and stalagmites up close so I'm kinda bias. But there's a lot to learn here about geology, continents formation, earth's age, and the importance of fossils in understanding our planet’s past.
Waterfall View - This is where you see the grand waterfall. Steep and a little slippery because of the water droppings so be careful. If you're like me who is slightly afraid of the heights then a minute would suffice.
The Cavern - Another walkway where you can learn life forms of cloud forests around the world.
Cloud Walk - Up close view of the other side of the mountain.
Lost World - This is the highest point of cloud forest. They say it replicates the cloud forest vegetation at around 2,000m above sea level. This is where you can also enjoy fantastic views of the Marina Bay waterfront. 

We enjoyed this a lot. I am slightly afraid of heights but it helped that the walkway bridge and suspension looked very safe and strong. I hope so. The cool-moist conservatory helped us enjoy the place more.

After that, we went to Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Shoppes where we had our late lunch at the famous Din Tai Fung.

Din Tai Fung
Michelin star awarded and ranked as one of the world’s Top Ten Best Restaurants by The New York Times, Din Tai Fung started in Taiwan 40 years ago. I heard about it thru word-of-mouth from friends who have tasted its famous signature xiao long baos or steamed pork dumplings. So we checked it out at the Marina Bay Sands and ordered their famous xiao long baos or steamed pork dumplings traditionally contain minced pork wrapped in a delicate dough skin, which is then pleated, twisted at the top and steamed. Din Tai Fung’s signature rendition consists of juicy meat filling wrapped in a melt-in-your-mouth skin with a minimum of 18 exquisite folds according to their site. True to their word, it is fresh and simply steamed, it's not too rich or heavy. 
We also ordered their noodle soup, pork buns and chili crab and pork buns which I enjoyed more than the xiao long baos. I guess it really is a matter of taste. Btw, they also have an open kitchen where you can see how your dumplings are made.

Then we walked around Marina Bay Sands and went out to check out the bridge outside. We had dinner at Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen at Singapore Flyer. We went there because we were supposed to buy ticket from WTS Travel for Legoland but we were too late as it was closed already.

DAY 3

We went to Singapore Flyer again so we can buy the tickets to Legoland Malaysia for Dec 4. I found the information about WTS Travel on the net. We were early because we were afraid they might run out of slots for the next day. WTS Travel is located at the Singapore Flyer main entrance. They have tour packages for different trips. We got the Legoland Package . The package includes roundtrip transfers (Singapore Flyer-Legoland Malaysia-Singapore Flyer) and Legoland tickets for 2 adults and 1 kid. Total cost: SGD 194. They accept cash and credit card. Their office is right at the Singapore Flyer so you won't get lost. I had a really nice time transacting with them. It was very fast and efficient. We used the MRT going there with a kid in tow.
Here is the direction going there:
Take the Promenade Station (Circle Line, CC4).
Take Exit A and look out for blue pedestrian signs to Singapore Flyer.
Or you can take a taxi for a fuss-free, walk-free trip.

After that, we had our lunch at Vivo City's Food Republic. Then off to Sentosa's Universal (picture-taking), The Maritime Experiential Museum, SEA Aquarium and Trick-Eye Museum.

The Maritime Experiential Museum

The only museum in Singapore where visitors can experience Asia’s rich maritime and cultural heritage and discover Singapore’s past as a trading port. This is an interactive museum showing the ancient Maritime Silk Route, with recreated sights, sounds and scents of the bustling bazaars, fascinating trove of precious artifacts from the Maritime Archaeology Gallery, life-sized ship replicas of Asian sailing vessels from the docks at the Historic Ship Harbour. 

SEA Aquarium

S.E.A. Aquarium™, home to more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species, across 49 different habitats. Johan had the best of time here. He was exploring, asking questions, and really enjoying every single aquarium. At first, we thought he'll just sleep throughout the tour but surprisingly he was active and enthusiastic. Even with the not-so-pretty species, he did not get scared. He was dancing in front of the big aquarium and was even running after the school of fish.

We were supposed to go Universal, Imbiah and Beach stations of Sentosa but Johan fell asleep so we decided to call it a day. We had dinner at the Saizeriya Ristorante inside the mall near our hotel.

DAY 4

Legoland Malaysia

Woke up early to catch the bus going to Legoland Malaysia. We got our package from WTS Travel which includes roundtrip transfers and tickets. The package is hassle-free and worry-free. We were asked to be at the Singapore Flyer at 9am for the assembly time and left at 915 am. They were very strict with the schedule and we don't mind. The trip was a breeze and the instructions very simple. Johor Bahru Malaysia where Legoland was located is just an hour away from Singapore sans the traffic and the lines in the immigration. Fortunately for us, there was no traffic and no long lines at the immigration.

It was raining then and we had to drop off some passengers at the Puteri hotel and Legoland hotel that's why there were some delays. We arrived at Legoland at around 11am.

We took the 630pm trip back to Singapore so we were told to be at the pick up area which is just across where we were drop off at 6pm.

Legoland Malaysia Resort is a combination of Legoland Park, Water Park and Hotel in one themed location. Legoland Park has 7 themed areas of attractions namely The Beginning, Lego-Technic, Lego Kingdoms, Imagination, Lego City, Land of Adventure and Miniland where Asian landmarks have been recreated using
more than 30 million lego bricks.

Legoland Water Park has more than 20 slides and water-based attractions and 70 lego models while the Legoland Hotel, a lego-themed hotel for those lego fans out there.

For this trip, we got the Legoland Park ticket because our son is such a fan of lego. And truly when he stepped into Legoland, his reaction was priceless. He enjoyed every minute of it all.

We had lunch at the Asian Deli and dinner at Pizza Mania. Personally, I find the food prices very affordable but the souvenir items expensive. Although their lego sets are still way cheaper than Manila. We had to buy lego-themed raincoat for RM 12 each as it was raining then and because it was cute.

Some of the activities we did are:

Legoland Miniland
The centrepiece of every LEGOLAND® Park. This took three years and more than 30 million LEGO® bricks to recreate some of Asia’s famous landmarks in miniature. They have 17 Asian countries, including the Petronas Twin Towers, the Merlion Statue and the Taj Mahal. 

It also includes the beautiful temple built on a rock formation on the coast of Bali, Indonesia - Purah Tanah Lot, Indonesia, the beautiful royal mosque and the largest dome covered in pure gold of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, the largest religious building in the world -- Angkor Wat of Cambodia, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China, Johor Bahru, the largest airport in Malaysia -- KLIA, the federal and most populous city in Malaysia -- Kuala Lumpur, the monument to victory --Patuxai of Vientiane, Laos, the gigantic barge on the shore of Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon Myanmar -- Karaweik Hall, the thriving fishing town on the Coast of Luzon in the Philippines, the Church of St. James the Greatand the colorful fishing boats of Bolinao, the fictional cluster based loosely on the Pirates of the straits of Malacca, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, the planned city of Putrajaya where the seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya due to the overcrowding and congestion in the Kuala Lumpur areas, Singapore city, the Buddhist temple on Chao Phraya River Bangkok -- Wat Arun and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vietnam -- Hoi An. 

It was mesmerizing and elaborate. Not to be missed when you visit Legoland.

The Beginning
We bought souvenirs from this store. There are a lot of stores around the park but this one is closer to the entrance.

Imagination
Observation Tower
Where you can see the aerial view of the whole of Legoland as well as the history of it.

Lego Technic
Legoland Academy
Lego all you can/want. It was fun and educational. We had all the lego bricks we want. Johan enjoyed getting the bricks and hoarding it. While we had fun doing our pieces. Because it was still raining, we started with the indoor activities like the Lego Academy where you can play and build all you can.
They have sample creations and simple instructions so you can build your own masterpiece. I particularly like this because it's fully air-conditioned, the staff was very accommodating. We had fun doing our own lego creations. After 48 years, we finally finished our masterpiece. It's a dog for Chris and a snowman for me. They even displayed our creations on the table beside the entrance. Johan had the most fun getting unli bricks, playing around, and hoarding the lego sets. It was fun.

Lego Darth Vader came in and greeted everyone. Johan doesn't have any idea who he is but he gamely posed for a picture. Chris had fun with his fave toy.

Lego Kingdoms

Castle Stage
They have a show here about a princess, prince, clown, dragon and a Lego vampire. It was entertaining for both kids and adults. The songs were catchy and singable.
They also allow you to have your pictures taken with the crew after the show. There was a lot of interaction among audience and kids are invited to join the song and dance routine.

Merlin's Challenge
Johan enjoyed this very much. He requested for a round 2. After the ride, Johan was happy while daddy was dizzy.

Lego City
Rescue Academy
This was so much fun! It was a race among the riders to put out the fire and stop the robbers. And being competitive, we won the race! No prize though.

Junior Driving School
This is a Nissan sponsored ride where toddlers are allowed to drive a single pedal car for the driving school experience. Johan as usual had fun. He did this twice.

Legoland Express
They have this also at Disneyland. It's a tour around the park aboard a life-sized Lego train.

Those are the activities we tried inside the park. Some we were not allowed because of the age and height restrictions for Johan and some requires getting wet so we opted not to ride those as Johan developed colds and cough during our stay there.

We weren't able to try the Legoland Hotel also as we have only one whole day to see the park. Perhaps in the future we can stay there and enjoy the park for more days.

The shuttle back to Singapore was on time. We were required to be at the pick up point at exactly 630pm for the 645 trip back to Singapore. The process was the same. Board the bus, get off at the Malaysian border to exit and then board the bus again and get off at the Singapore immigration to enter. We were supposed to be drop off at the Singapore Flyer but they had to drop off someone at Suntec City so we decided to get off there also which is more convenient as the MRT is just around the bend.

DAY 5
We woke up late so that Johan can also rest because we had a full day yesterday. We checked out at 12nn and left our luggage in the hotel at no cost. Then we went to the nearest mall and had our lunch at Old Town White Coffee. We also watched The Little Big Club's Barney and Friends show at OneKM mall and had some last minute shopping.

From the mall, we hailed a cab and asked the driver if we can just pass by our hotel which is very near the mall to pick up our luggage and then to bring us to Changi Terminal 2 airport. The driver was very accommodating and he didn't even ask us of additional fee. We had our early check in for for 630pm flight back to Manila via Cebu Pacific.

The flight was delayed as usual. There were some air pockets and turbulence on our way back because there was a coming storm. But all in all, it was an ok flight. We arrived a little past 12am. We parked at Park 'n Fly so there was a shuttle waiting for us to bring us to their garage. We came home at a


Some tips when traveling with a toddler:

1. Strollers made life easier for us while going around Singapore as the city is one of the most child friendly cities in the world. Thank God for that! This is specifically for Singapore and Legoland Malaysia only. The stroller served as a place for him to rest and sleep and sometimes we put our shopping bags so we won't carry it anymore. I suggest you bring the umbrella type, the smaller, lighter and durable ones.


2. This is very important. Bring your child's prescriptions and all his medicines and provisions if he gets sick like colds, cough, flu, fever. Make sure that it is enough for the whole duration of your trip. We had Johan's medicines and vitamins with us except the cough medicines which he did get on our first day. On the first day, he had cough then on the 2nd day, the cough had phlegm already. We didn't anticipate that so we don't have antibiotics. Singapore is very strict when it comes to medicines. You won't be able to buy medicines over the counter. You have to see a doctor and the doctor will give you the medicine you need. So you have to be ready with any eventualities or sickness your son might get or prone to develop and please get a prescription from his doctor just in case the immigration checks it. Or you can bring his baby book or medical records just in case he gets really sick and needs to be hospitalized.

Worst case scenario when in Singapore and you don't have medicines and your child got really sick. You can go to Raffles Hospital at Bugis MRT station. Consultation and medicines usually cost minimum of 30 SGD. Of course that is depending on the diagnosis or sickness.

3. Do not experiment with food for your kid. If he is not into spicy foods, don't attempt to let him eat it there. This is just a precaution. You'll never know what he might experience or he might get sick because spicy in Singapore is really spicy. When eating out, we also consider sanitation and hygiene. We eat at places we feel are up to at least an international standard. If you can't find one, just observe and check the place and people dining in.

4. Singapore's tap water is considered potable so you can drink it. But when in another country, we always drink bottled water especially my son to be on the safe side.

5. Keep your tickets and IDs where you can get them easily and I suggest buy the transparent ones so it's easier to see where you put your documents. This will save you time and extra effort when going in and out of the immigration/airport.

6. Bring plastic bag for barfing. We can never be sure when our kid will feel like he wants to puke or be in discomfort so I always carry this whenever we go out on tours. Include wipes and tissue, alcohol and sanitizer.

7. When taking off/landing, we always give our kid his milk to reduce the pressure on his ears. We always make sure he doesn't drink milk before boarding.

8. We are very wary of street foods even back at home because we don't know how clean it is so it is just common sense that we don't let our kid eat street foods when traveling no matter where.

9. There are places in Singapore where the temperature is being managed in a certain way so I always bring extra jackets for my kid.

10. Bring your own milk just enough for the trip especially if your child has specific milk formula or brand. Don't expect that the country you are going has it all even if it's an international brand. The formulation might be different and your kid might end up getting sick. They have diaper there but if you want to make sure that your kid will not develop any rashes or will have no allergic reactions to it, please bring your own just enough for the trip.

11. Be very flexible. For this trip, prepare an itinerary and make sure it's just right. Plan for a slower pace and pick up from there. We take into consideration the schedule of our kid. Our going out/home will depend on our son. We didn't pack our day with different activities to give time for my son's resting and sleeping. We also made sure that he has plenty of rest because we don't want him to get sick due to a very tight itinerary. We also choose what activities he will participate in, we wanted it to be well rounded but not too much.

12. Do not take unnecessary risks. We are not single anymore and we have to consider the welfare first of our child. When we're traveling with our kid, we always go with the safest route/transport system, eat at a clean restaurant and make sure we choose to stay in a safe hotel/area. We also go home earlier than usual and we avoid the areas where we feel that it's not suitable for kids.

13. Prepare to get tired. When I was traveling with my friends, we really maximize the day and then we get really tired at the end of the day. Moreso with a kid in tow, you're not just thinking about yourself anymore but also the safety of your kid. But lighten up and enjoy the trip.

14. You both need lots of patience and plenty of sense of humour. If your son becomes fussy and you're tired already, take a rest and replenish. You can take turns taking care of your son so you'll have at least time to breath and enjoy the scenery. Good luck!

15. You all need a lot of prayers for your safety and the safety of the place you have chosen.

Our Ramen Nagi Experience

As I have said, I am not an expert on Japanese ramen so I just based what I say on what my taste tastes. So finally after the much hyped launch of Ramen Nagi Manila, we tasted what some considered as the ohmygosh the best ramen on the planet.

We went at Robinsons Magnolia on a rainy Tuesday night perfect for a piping hot ramen.
As you have guessed, there are a few customers at that time but still the place is half full.
Hubby ordered the classic Butao Ramen (P390), the pork king of Ramen Nagi and I ordered the Black King (P410).

They gave us a sheet where we can customize our ramen. From the richness of taste, special sauce, garlic, pork (either shoulder or belly), vegetable to their special fire sauce, firmness of noodles. You can also add extra tamago, pork, seaweed, noodles, green onion, cabbage, kikurage for a fee of course.

Since it's our first time, we wanted to just taste the classic ramen without the garnishes.
We both liked the taste. My husband liked everything except the noodles. He likes the flat Kanzhu type so this kind of noodle is just not for him.

I like the Black King, but it has the 'umay' factor. Although I finished the noodles, I wasn't able to finish the soup. The squid ink ramen is so rich and flavourful for me. It has a strong umami flavor that I had to drink a lot of free cold tea every sip.

Overall, we had a good experience. The ambiance is I would say very Japanese. The staff are very attentive and accommodating.

I would definitely try it again. They say the Green King is also good. I might try it next time.

Ryu Ramen and Curry

Our default ramen house whenever we feel the urge to eat Japanese ramen. This place is where we get our ramen-fix. First, because it's near my office although parking there is really terrible and second, it's one of the best tasting, at least for us. We love their Tantanmen, a yummy spicy miso-based soup with ground pork, soft-boiled egg, nori (dried seaweed), garlic oil and tender chashu pork and Ryu Curry Ramen, freshly-made curry with a steaming hot bowl of noodles. We also love their Karaage. Servings are big, noodle al-dente (sorry I can't think of any word to describe a noodle that is cooked just right), soup is thick and flavourful. Their Karaage chicken is crunchy and the sauce is a perfect match to the chicken. You can opt to see the cook in action as the kitchen is enclosed in a glass panel. The service is good. The staff and cook are attentive. The place is clean as well as the bathroom if you care to do the deed. The design is minimalist. As I have said, this is our go-to place whenever we want ramen so it goes to say that we will always go back to this place.

Ramen X

Not an expert on Japanese ramen. And I don't pretend to know it all. But I have tasted quite a number of ramen from different restaurants all claiming to have authentic Japanese ramen so I would like to believe that I would know if it tasted good or not. At least for my taste. Oh well, enough of that.

We tried Ramen X at Eton Centris along EDSA- Quezon Avenue. Spacious place. High ceiling. Minimalist. First time to order at the cashier. Usually Japanese restaurants here take your order at the table. This one, you order and pay at the cashier.

We ordered Oishi Ramen (P149), soy and miso based soup with roast pork, chopped onions, fish cake, half soft-boiled egg, crunchy cabbage and chilli paste. My hubby ordered Yoshi Ramen (P189), soy-based soup with marinated pork belly, half soft-boiled egg and seaweed. Both served in enormous bowls, definitely fulfilling. Taste-wise, surprisingly good, tasty, flavourful, and rich. The noodle is good enough and plenty, cooked just right for me. The pork is tender and tasty. And on top of it all, it's super affordable for the huge portions.

We also ordered Taro Milk Tea (P60) and Blueberry fruit juice (P60), cheap and good too!

All in all, it was a good meal and we will definitely coming back =)

Mad For Pizza

Tried Mad for Pizza. Same with the concept of Project Pie. Create your own pizza (P285). I basically ordered almost the same toppings as I would at Project Pie. And Chris too. Verdict: We'll stick with Project Pie. It's not naman too bad but it was too bland for us. Perhaps the dough. I don't know. Limited choices of cheese. Some toppings on their board list are not available. And the toppings don't quite blend. But that's just for us. I will prolly go back to try their pasta and appetizers next time but not the pizza.

Proud Daughter Alert

Let me tell you about my Mommy Dameng.

When she was young, they don't have a lot in terms of material things but despite that, her oldest brother made sure that they all finish school. Thank you Tito Fabian who is now in heaven for taking care of my mom's education. She finished Business Administration but never got to practice it because after she got married, she devoted her time raising us her 4 children, all girls who ‪#‎prouddaughteralert‬ all finished college without any drama. She taught me how to count and how to read and most of all, she taught me to be honest even if others are not, to be hardworking because it really pays off in the end, to be patient because you don't know the struggles of the persons you meet and to be humble no matter where you are in life. She showed us that generosity comes from giving without expecting anything in return even if you're part of the manito-manita thingy where as expected you should receive a gift.

She always thinks about us/others, never about herself and she never ever asks us anything material. When we ask her what she wants, she always says that she doesn't need anything. Mag-ipon kayo. Huwag kayong bili ng bili. Ipunin nyo ang pera nyo. She always tells us to go to church and be thankful for everything, to count our blessings and to always call on to Him even when we don't have problems. Every Tuesday, she goes to church to offer a prayer for us. Walang paltos. She always understands us even if it's difficult, even if it's unusual, even if it's dangerous (just one time).

I know no amount of money or no elaborate presents will come close to what you have done for us.
The sacrifices you have and the amount of time you have dedicated to us. Now that I am a mom myself, I am closer to how you feel but not yet there. Marami pa akong bigas na iluluto at kakainin to be half the woman you are.

So to my giving and forgiving mom, here's to 63 years of being the lovable you. Thank you and we love you so much!

Bulletproof

"When we were young, we were fearless and bulletproof and always right. We think that tomorrow is just another day and there is always time to do the things we want. When we were young, we don't think about insurance, savings, investments and security knowing that we can start anytime, anywhere. The game changed when he came into our lives. From the moment he first saw light, we were never the same again. That first cry modified everything. Everything seemed in reverse, we were fearful, exposed and everything we thought we knew well, we have to unlearn. Time is always too short or too fast to do the things with him. Now, all we can think about are insurance, savings, investments and security. He just turned 3 and we feel everything is passing by so quickly and we're afraid we might not be able to catch up".

One Proud Mama

"He just started Kumon this year. I thought he wouldn't enjoy it because he was too young then (less than 3 years old but he passed the evaluation so he was admitted) and school is always boring when we're young. But surprisingly, he enjoys every minute of it. He even asks his yaya to let him do the modules even if there is no schedule (I schedule his study time). He finishes 3-4 modules per sitting, sometimes more. Sometimes I watch him do it. It just makes me so so so happy to see him enjoying it and it makes my heart swell knowing that he loves studying. My son is growing up fast."

Very Late Post For My Sister's Birthday

When we were younger, me and my sister Nonet fought like cats and dogs. Petty things that are usually resolved by some candies. We were young and wild and free and never wrong. But as the years went by, the hostility disappeared and we became close. We were less than a year apart and we grew up thinking that we might be the only children my parents will ever have because it took them 8 years to have another one and another 8 years to have our bunso. Talk about family planning huh!

We grew up donning the same hairdo, the same dress and shoes, and the same set of toys. We went to the same school from kinder to college. We almost have the same set of friends outside school. We both have simple dreams, we both believe in hard work and we both have that capacity to love like crazy and cool. But despite the fact that we've had almost the same childhood, we have grown into different people with different career paths. One with more numbers, the other with more words.

She is serious and kind, I am comedy all the way but kind nonetheless. She has a stronger faith than I can muster but faith I will never lack of. She's the genius in the family, I am the next one after genius (If there is such a thing). She is a stickler for perfection, I am not, I admit. She seldom makes mistakes, I seldom do too. (I got you there!) But no matter how we have become different in ways and attitudes, we have always been the best of friends, that no matter how far we've gone figuratively and literally, we will always be there for each other. That no matter where we are, we know that we are not alone.

My sister now lives in Canada, thousand miles apart or 7,410 miles away from Manila to be exact. She travelled halfway across the world to start a new life in a foreign country while I still travel to experience the world. Distant in miles but nearer in thoughts.

As you celebrate your birthday in a foreign country, I just hope that despite being alone on this special day, please always remember how much we love you and how we always pray for your health, safety and success. We may not be there but you are always in our thoughts so much that we always have a special place for you whenever we celebrate special occasions in the family. It takes a lot of courage to be where you are and to pursue that dream of yours and we are always here to support you no matter what. Take care always and continue to bring your own sunshine wherever you go. Stay positive and enjoy this day that the Lord has made for you. Happy happy birthday Nonet! We miss you! We love you so much!

How Marriage Broke And Made Me Real

Three generations of love; My lolo and lola on the father side, my mom and dad and Mister & Misus Santiago

"They say a successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." Those words coming from a wise person always intrigued me when I was younger. I don't understand why you will marry someone you're not in love with in the first place and I don't get the idea of falling in love again and again when you are already in love with him to begin with. That would be tantamount to being crazy and it would be tiring to do it again and again. For a young mind that was already brimming with so much things to do, falling in love many times over is already exhausting just thinking about it. I felt the old adage is faulty and just plain wrong.

I remember my mom telling me how she met my dad. They've been together for 38 years. The story was funny but almost always she becomes emotional at the end of it all. Being young, I felt confused that she can be both happy and sad while talking about a funny love story with of course a happy ending.

Until I fell in love myself. Oh no, this was not the puppy kind of love or the teenage crush or the you-and-me-against-the-world drama. My love adventure doesn't start with once upon a time or a long time ago, it was a product of a very long waiting and even longer praying time to finally meet the one.

Present day saga. After more than four years of being married and six years of being together, I now know the feeling. Not exactly what my mom feels but I do get her. I am finally closer to feeling what she must have felt. Not yet truly there but getting there. I now know where she was coming from. That’s because in a way, marriage breaks you but then it makes you.
But it goes in waves. First, it makes you giddy. The romance is alive and kicking and everything is rosy and perky. The magic is there, the romance is so strong. Nothing and no one can dampen your spirits. You are both untouchables and on top of world. And then the realization that the world is, well, not always that ideal. That he is not that perfect and that you too are not that perfect. You leave your clothes wherever you change, he never follows your instructions the first time you ask him. You will always have excuses and he will always be late. You are human. You forget things, he likes different things. And you are not always in perfect sync. You each have your own interests. Then it becomes a little complicated as your kid arrives.

That same thing that makes you giddy now makes you snap. That thing that makes you strong now makes you weak. The thing that made you fall in love with him now takes a different direction and meaning. And it takes a new form. It transforms into something that you can't quite explain. The love is bigger and deeper. It does not only depend on the perfume he is wearing or the kind of swagger he is making. It's like a wine that aged well; it's the same wine but with a more exquisite, deeper taste and aroma. And it's better. It's better in time.

Yes, marriage kinda breaks you but it also makes you better. Better at putting the effort of making it work, better at loving someone with all his idiosyncrasies, better at kissing and making up and forgiving, better at remembering why you marry him in the first place. There will be tough times but there will be more amazing moments, awesome feelings and deeper love to assure you that it's worth the journey and worth every effort that you put into.

While marriage breaks you, it also gives you an infinite more reasons to make you into a beautiful thing. And that's not a bad thing.

Happy 4 Years, Boracay And Beyond

They say happily ever after is not a fairy tale.
It's a choice.
And it's our choice to be together.
So here's to us!
Here's to love!
Here's to all the times that we messed up!
Here's to the times that have gone too fast!
Here's to never giving up!
Here's to never breaking up!
Here's to the kisses and the hugs!
Here's to our dreams!
Here's to hope!
Here's to trials and challenges that I know will never last!
Here's to our blunders that made us stronger!
Here's to making up!
Here's to whatever's come our way!
Here's to staying this far together!
Here's to growing old together!
Here's to you and me!
Here's to forever!
Happy 4 years my love!

Happy and blessed! It was a great anniversary trip. Good weather, happy people, nice resort, good food, amazing boracay! We cannot ask for more. Thank you Papa J for keeping us safe during our trip and for making everything as beautiful as it can be! You alone can make everything perfect for us.

We celebrated our 4th anniversary at Boracay. Stayed in the same hotel but flew in a different airline. This time we booked Philippine Airlines via Caticlan because we had a very bad experience last year with Air Asia Zest. Different story but if you are interested, you can backtracked and searched it here on my blog. Anyway, we had a marvelous time this time. Sunny sunny weather, really pool-like beach, less crowd, great food. Everything went well. We enjoyed it a lot but more than that, our little yogi bear enjoyed it so much. We are just so thankful for everything!

Short review of White House Beach Resort Boracay

This is our second time to stay here at the White House Beach Resort Station 1 Boracay.
Same month this time to celebrate our anniversary but this time, we have our kid with us.
One thing I like about White House is that it's in station 1 and the beach is just a few steps away.
I love the place and the view and the courteous staff. They are always polite and happy and they greet you every time they see you.
What a welcoming staff. They have this way of making you feel safe and at ease.
And since we are returning guests, we are given 10% discount for the accommodation with breakfast.
The room is big and clean. I also like that their veranda has a rack where you can dry your clothes after soaking up in the beach.
Sweet gestures such us cookies on our 4th and last day of stay and complimentary bottled water every day.
Powerful wifi also everywhere even in front of the hotel right on the beach.
They also have a new electric multicab free for guests to ride to D'mall or any other parts of Boracay (please just ask them)
We just had a problem with the shower, it doesn't get hot but they changed it as soon as we reported it.
The food is yummy. I particularly like their tocino for breakfast. We had it twice during our stay there.
They also changed their lounge in front of the hotel and made it all white.
All in all, we had a great stay and fun in Boracay and we will definitely stay here again.
Here is their site: http://www.whitehouseboracay.com/whrates.html

Southwest Tours Boracay
I just had to commend Southwest Tours Boracay. Before, I used to book our transfer via the hotel where we will stay but this time I booked ours thru Southwest via online. I discovered it last year and found out that it's cheaper by a thousand pesos. If we booked thru the hotel, we have to pay P1,400 per pax via Caticlan. But when I booked directly with Southwest online using card, I paid only P1,890 for 3 pax, all fees included (terminal except Caticlan, environmental etc). And the transfers were smooth and hassle-free. You just need to fill out the form online and include all the pertinent information they need. Someone will pick you up at the airport with your name on it and bring you to your hotel. You have options to choose. I chose the complete one -- door to door with fees. And you don't have to worry anymore. Even going back home, they will pick you up in your hotel and bring you to your airport. We didn't have any problems and I would definitely get their service again. Here is their site for more information: http://southwesttoursboracay.com/boracay-transfer

Boracay Budget 2014

Boracay budget circa 2014. Snapshot of our boracay trip budget. I just need to share this information because I feel that Boracay has become so expensive now compared to years ago, even compared to a year ago when we went there. Of course, the beach, the view are all perfect but the price you have to pay is heftier now. You can see it below:

We were lucky we got the super sale airfare from PAL which we booked a year ago.
But other than that everything is pricier.

PAL Express via Caticlan (3 pax roundtrip) - P4,327
Discounted accommodation (for returning guests, 3 pax, 4 nights with bf) - P16,128
Southwest door-to-door transfers with fees - P1,890
Terminal fee (Caticlan 200 per pax, 3 pax) - P600
Meals on average except breakfast (P800 x 4 days, 2x a day, 2 pax) - P6,400
(Ole,Jonah's, Chicken Bacolod Inasal, Plato d' Boracay, Le Soleil Buffet
Halowich, Army Navy, De Paris Restaurant, Thai Basil)

Total - P29,345

But life is good and God is great and the most important thing on this trip is that we bonded as a family. We were stronger and better. We made good friends and we explored and discovered new places together. Here's to 4 years and beyond!

My Hair Story

I have never been fond of growing my hair long. One because for obvious reason, it's too hot in the country. I also don't have the patience to style, comb and brush it. Another thing is hair maintenance is such an expensive industry nowadays plus I just don't have the discipline to do it except my occasional hair color to hide my white hair. Oh well, I also feel that it's just not 'very me' to sport a very long mane. If I remember it right, the longest I had it was during my high school days. And believe me, it's not even that long. But I guess there's always a first time for everyone. I started my project early last year. At first I just wanted to experiment and changed my look. But then in the middle part of last year, I came across this organization of people who want to help cancer patients to somehow feel good about themselves because artificial wigs tend to be hot and at the same time look good despite struggling with the Big C and all the pain associated with it, by donating hair to be made as high quality medical wigs for women and kids with cancer who cannot afford them. And the opportunity of contributing to this worthy cause has given me the drive to maintain my long hair until the time it reached its recommended length. What started as simply aesthetics became something more meaningful. That's why after more than a year of growing it long and healthy, it's about time for me to let it go. Yes, it really feels good or or as they say, it feeds your soul to do something like this but this is also about doing right and helping someone one day at a time.
If I inspire you with my simple story, you can inspire others too by sharing what you can to them or even donating your own crowning glory. Please visit their site here http://donateyourhair.org/. Thank you and may God bless! #cutsagainstcancer #donateyourhairorg

Happy 3 at Linden Suites

The Linden Suites, San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center
http://www.lindensuites.com/


It was my son's 3rd birthday last June 6, 2014. This time, we decided to book a hotel and celebrate his birthday there.
I heard about the good reviews of The Linden Suites from Trip Advisor so I booked a 1-bedroom suite for 2 nights/3 days.
Location wise, it is very good, accessible and convenient. It's centrally located along San Miguel Avenue near SM Megamall.
There is a 24/7 convenience store (Family Mart) at the ground floor and taxis are available 24/7.

This is my second time here. The first time I was with my friends.
The hotel lobby is ample, not too small, not too big either.
Check in was just ok. There was a line at that time so I had to wait for a little while.
The receptionists are just fine, not too bad but I suggest they smile a little more, be friendlier, with more energy perhaps.

Our room is at the 22nd floor.
It was a one bedroom suite and it was spacious and clean.
There was a reception area, a dining area and a kitchen.
The room, the bed and the bathroom are also huge.
You can cook here because they have all the kitchen amenities for cooking.
They have a small microwave oven, a standard ref, a convection cooker, a kettle and a coffee maker.
They have pans, pots, plates, chopping board, knife etc.
The reception 'sala' area has an ipod dock, home entertainment system.
The room has another home entertainment system, iron and ironing board.

The staff, guards, concierge are courteous and friendly.
Special mention to Anna of Housekeeping for being extra helpful.
We had the party during the day and the housekeeping was supposed to clean the room at 3pm.
But since I put the room on private, they weren't able to clean it so they left a note to call them if it's ok to clean the room.
I called them but there was just too many in line for cleaning so Anna went to ask if we need anything sorted out as it might take some time for the cleaning staff to arrive.
I told her that I just needed the kitchen area and the bathroom cleaned, towels changed. She obliged and cleaned it.

They have one of the few in the city I believe which has an indoor heated pool.
My son and hubby enjoyed it so much that we stayed a little longer.
They also have a fully functioning gym (health club) with instructor.

They have parking privileges for those who will check in at the basement.
We didn't try the restaurant as I had the food catered and delivered.
All in all, it was a great staycation and celebration.
I would definitely stay here again.

Happy 3rd Birthday Johan!

Dear Johan Christoph,

Today you turn 3. Still our baby but learning to assert yourself and becoming a little independent. Hooray for surviving the terrible 2's stage and hooray for the magical year of turning 3. We know we still have a very long but beautiful and sometimes terrible days to come. Just please remember our unconditional love for you and the inexhaustible love of Papa Jesus.

There are no words to express how much we love you. For us, you are perfect from head to toe. You are our answered prayer from the day you were born, from the day we saw your perfectly cute, reddish, small face, a true blessing from up above. You brought meaning to our lives and we will never be the same again.

We know that as much we want to protect you from disappointments and heartbreaks, as much as we want to shield you from hurts and pains, as much as we want to cushion you from troubles and worries, we cannot. The world is full of them, people will pull you down, people will fail you. But remember that as long as we live, we have hope and as long as we have hope, we can move on. Have faith that God will never let you down.

I vividly remember when I first saw you, you made me cry. You made daddy cry also. Your daddy who is not really the crying type. The tears of a happy heart, our hearts overflowed with so much joy and we cannot even imagine that we can still love like we love you. You have been one of the greatest gifts to us and we're just so grateful and blessed every single day.

What would we do without your laughter? The hearty kind, the noisy kind, the one that pulls us out of our problems and relieves us of our stress. We cannot even fathom how we have survived a day before you. You've got that spell that always cures our misery and even makes us move on to another day.

It will only be a matter of time before we release you to the world and you fulfill your little heart's desire. We just hope and pray that you stay close with God. He is the only source of everything that's good in this world. We want you to grow up to be God-fearing, always leaning to His ways and understanding His words. Please make it a habit to talk to him and trust His plans for you.

We pray that you value character more than anything else. Brilliance is nothing if your character is lacking. Always be humble, a humble heart is always pleasing to God. May God watch you, bless you and guide you wherever life takes you.

We hope and pray that you never lose your childlike enthusiasm as you pursue your dreams. No matter how big or small, grand or simple your dreams are, always pursue it with passion. And you will never lose.

We hope and pray that you are healthy and safe whatever you do, wherever you are. Health, cliché as it may be, will always be wealth. Don't be too crazy to trade off your health for wealth.

We will try our hardest to be the very best parents for you. God entrusted you to our care and we will try to never let him down. Even if you feel that we fail sometimes, always remember that God will always fill that gap and you will always be in good hands.

We want you to know that you are loved. Whether we are together or apart, please always remember that you will always have a piece of mommy and daddy's heart.

Always remember that our love has no expiration date, it's unfailing and unceasing. We will always have open arms when you needed a hug. We will always have open hearts when you needed understanding. We will always have gentle hands when you needed a lesson. We will always have open minds when you needed pieces of advice.

All of me loves all of you. And that is all that you need to know now and forever.

You are only 3 years old baby; the best is yet to come.

PS.
We hope we can still kiss and hug and hold you tight until you have outgrown your love for Spiderman.

We wish we could still be around to walk you down the aisle when you find that perfect partner in life.

We wish we could still see you build your own family and have your own child if you choose to have one.

We wish we could still care for you when you’re too sick or too old. Or we wish you would never be alone in the world so we never have to take care of you when you’re too sick or too old. Life is too precious and short not to share it with someone else.

We love you so so so much! Bigger than the universe, wider than this planet.

Happy happy happy birthday Johan Christoph!

Love, Mommy and Daddy