SINGAPORE

Vibrant. Fresh. Fascinating.

Singapore's tourism brand underscores: "A story to call your own."

Indeed. It is a place that gives each traveler a wide range of experiences to choose from.

Mine started at the Changi Airport.

I was more than skeptical when reviewers gushed that it's the best airport to get stranded in. But personal experience proved that they weren't kidding. In fact, I even wished I had more time to stay and explore.

  

Singapore's premier airport is hands-down-twenty-thumbs-up excellent, successfully delivering "an airport experience that is personalised, stress-free and positively surprising."

Apart from the wide variety of facilities and a blend of state-of-the-art amenities , Changi Airport totally captured my heart with its nature-themed areas, particularly, its butterfly garden.

Even with its size, traveling such a multifaceted city which has progressively evolved from being just a humble fishing village, inhabited by an indigenous settlement into a bustling cosmopolitan city of high-rise buildings, is quite a daunting prospect. But looking around, any traveler will always find his way through the well-structured and organized transportation system. Having a friend who guided me through all the unfamiliar avenues saved me precious hours, though.

The other thing that will strike you most about Singapore is its multifarious offering of food – day or night, there will always be something to whet your appetite. With a range of dining options from Peranakan to Chinese, Indian to Malay, fusion and more, you’ll be spoilt for choice. I was lucky, I had my friend, Dave, to guide me through an otherwise grueling process :) 

If you are the type to bask in the bright city lights and just be in the middle of the hustle and bustle, this place is for you. Arrays of shopping malls, museums, dining and entertainment hotspots awaits. 

"Get into the thick of the shopping action at the iconic Orchard Road stretch, or party the night away at the Clarke Quay or Boat Quay areas, both of which offer a myriad selection of nightlife activities."

Today, Singapore is a tapestry of a harmonious interweaving of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture, stitched together with various colourful aspects of both East and West, old and new.

I haven't had enough time to get to know her better. But from what little snippets I have had the opportunity to take in, I know it will be worth my while to fully explore her someday.  Or, as http://www.yoursingapore.com/ explicitly puts it:

"Beyond the history, culture, people, shopping and food, there are many more facets to Singapore’s thriving cityscape for you to discover. And these can only be experienced as you immerse yourself in the exploration of this once fishing village turned cosmopolitan city."

Date of travel:

17-18 August 2012

KUALA LUMPUR

To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia.

Let's just say that some travelers are more fortunate because with my limited 28 lay-over hours, I only got as far as a scratch of the surface of the Malaysian experience. A pity, because travel reviews exalted Malaysia as:

"... a bubbling, bustling melting-pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony. Its multiculturalism has made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise and home to hundreds of colourful festivals."

One of Malaysia's key attractions is its extreme contrasts which further add to this theme of ‘diversity’. Towering skyscrapers look down upon wooden houses built on stilts while five-star hotels sit just metres away from ancient reefs.

I've missed the flipside of the contrasts. (sigh!)

PETRONAS TOWERS

Nevertheless, I still counted myself lucky to have experienced the cultural hub of Malaysia. Traveling by KLIA Ekspres from the KL International Airport in half an hour, I arrived right at the foot of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, which, at 88 stories high, are the tallest twin buildings in the world and a vision of modern architecture.

It rained in the afternoon, which quite dampened my sightseeing plans, but my luck hasn't ran out as I was given a room upgrade by The Regency Hotel, a Lifestyle Suite facing the famous towers!

The next morning dawned clearly. I took the sunny opportunity to enjoy a stroll around the Golden Triangle, and found myself taking in the sights and sounds of a quiet KL morning in a vast scenic park that nestles the then still sleepy KLCC.

SURIA, KLCC
As expected, the relaxing stillness was short-lived as Suria started to rise into its character, being Malaysia's premier and most sophisticated shopping destination. Set in the heart of the KLCC , it offers an array of goods and services, from fashion, entertainment, arts and culture to fast food outlets and restaurants, all spread out over six levels of retail space where Isetan, Parkson, and Tanjong Golden Village are a few major tenants.

My Kuala Lumpur experience was brief to say the least, but far from disheartening, to say the most. The few people I have met were considerate and accommodating .  The culture I have glimpsed so far is quite soothingly familiar, reminding me of home.... or I'm getting close to home.

As I finally bid farewell to this hospitable country, eagerly anticipating spending Christmas with my family in the Philippines, I was still pondering about what made

"Malaysia, truly Asia".

I'm sure, given more time to explore her countryside, I'd have known the answer.

Travel Dates

20-21 December 2013

OMAN: Beauty Has An Address

The SULTANATE OF OMAN.

History. Legends. Traditions. Adventures. Natural Landscapes. They all intermingle particularly so, in this jewel of a place

"...Where the footsteps of prophets, kings and legends have left their mark on this majestic land and where you find serenity and reverence in the beauty of the mountains as they rise 3000 metres above sea." (http://tourismoman.com.au/discover/)

A few (4-5) hours drive from Dubai took us through a gradual unfolding of majestic, rugged mountains, prominently looming in contrast on either sides of the perfectly paved roads.



Muscat, the capital city of Oman , dubbed as "Arabia's jewel”, is a blend of the old and the new. It defies the stereotypical image of sandy deserts,with its roads which are adorned with well-manicured verdant lawns and trees.



Yet in spite of its ongoing development the city has steadfastly retained its old-world character. Old Muscat has a quaint charm about it with many forts, castles, mosques and towers doting the landscape. Of particular note are Jalali and Mirani forts flanking Al Alam Palace.







With a coastline of 1700 km, Oman offers some of the cleanest, most stunning beaches a visitor could hope to see. Weekend picnics and barbeques are popular on the beach.



Many coves are perfect for snorkelling and with fairly gentle shelves, are good for children. Some of the beaches in the Muscat capital area include Qurum Beach, Bandar Jissah and Marjan Beach.



The Corniche, with its promenade and souqs (markets) is one of the highlights of the city. The old souq of Muttrah is an ideal spot for tourists to buy keepsakes and treasures.

Greater Muscat is home to some world-class highways, upscale suburbs rooted in traditional Islamic architecture, elegant mosques, large green parks, archaeological sites, museums and world-class hotels.

It is no wonder that Muscat is increasingly becoming an attractive tourist destination among the world's travel going public. Clearly, one of the living testimonies that in OMAN: Beauty has an address.


Travel Dates:
April 3-6, 2013