Just off the northeastern shore of mainland Singapore lies the tiny island called Pulau Ubin. It was pretty amazing how a highly urbanized country retains a rustic getaway where one can reminisce the past and enjoy the charm and simplicity of the olden times. On my third day in the Lion Country, I braved myself visiting Pulau Ubin alone which I considered the most anticipated part of my second visit to Singapore.
Yours truly, sitting on Puaka Hill, the highest point in Pulau Ubin
I had a hard time leaving Pulau Ubin, one of the last areas in Singapore that has been reserved by the government from urban development. It took me until 3:00 pm to bid goodbye to this amazing little island and set off to Gardens by the Bay. Since it was already late in the afternoon, I have to catch up on a quick visit to its famed cooled conservatories Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. Yes, I was alone and again, I was so excited!
The Cloud Mountain and the 35-meter man-made waterfall
This is my second day in Singapore but since Malaysia is an hour away from this country, I opted to visit the famous Legoland Malaysia Resort. My brother and his wife Lyn who are both working in Singapore volunteered to accompany me. But since they spent a whole day of fun five months ago in this theme park with their kids, they will visit Johor Bahru and I will explore alone. This is another fun-filled adventure and I’m super excited!
The trip from Singapore to Malaysia
Things I brought for this trip: Passport, Valid IDs, SG Dollar, Malaysian Ringgit, cellphone, and my precious SLR.
We traveled by bus coming from Boonlay MRT Station on the East-West Line. It’s the best and cheaper way in getting to Johor Bahru. The journey was so comfortable and it took us fifteen minutes only. Later we headed to the immigration booth for entry to Malaysia. Service was fast and easy. From there we took two bus rides before we reach our destination.
Off to another fun-filled getaway for the day… with Choy and Lyn
Legoland Malaysia Resort has two separate theme parks with separate entrance fees; the main Legoland Theme Park and the Legoland Water Park. Since I have no plan to get wet I chose the former. I suggest if you want to enjoy yourself fully in each theme park, buy tickets separately on two different days.
Getting inside the theme park, I passed by the Legoland Hotel, a brightly colored hotel with big Lego statues in front of it.
R2D2 outside Star Wars Miniland
Let me now tour you inside Legoland with 8 themed areas.
INSIDE THE THEME PARK
The Beginning
This area is where all excitement and fun begin. You will get here the entry tickets and annual passes, the map, the Big Shop, and the Legoland employee who will be of service to your inquiries and request.
I paid for the entry ticket for RM195 and headed to the gate. I was stamped on my wrist and was told that there is no re-entry in the resort. Unlike in Universal Studios Singapore and Hong Kong Disneyland, guests could get in and out of the theme park without paying again for another ticket.
I grabbed a map and made a quick study of how I will explore the whole theme park. I started to the left side and set off initially to Lego Technic.
Lego Technic
Rides like the Technic Twister and Aquazone Wave Racers are designed for kids, but elders may also enjoy them here. Unfortunately, the roller coaster Project X was under maintenance.
Technic Twister
For activities inside fully air-conditioned and indoor rooms, there are the Lego Mindstorms and Lego Academy for the creative workshop for building awesome figures like robots, houses, buildings, and even cars.
I’m not a fan of Star Wars but the “Star Wars” Miniland impressed me much. Before anyone can tour inside, guests are initially invited to watch the five-minute show. Later the excitement begins upon entering the rooms with seven sections, seven episodes of the epic saga with lights, sounds, and moving objects. Amazing! I was fascinated!
C3PO is another “Star Wars” figure outside Star Wars Miniland
Kids were also fascinated that they want to get close to the moving legos and touch them. Hahaha! Outside were the Lego life-size figures of R2-D2, C3P0, and Luke Skywalker.
one of the amazing sections in Star Wars Miniland
Food stalls: Cool Hut and Asian Deli
Lego Kingdoms
Cross a drawbridge and enter a magnificent castle to see knights and dragons.
The Royal Joust is for the kids to enjoy
There are two roller coasters here, the big one, the Dragon and the Dragon’s Apprentice designed for the kids. Royal Joust is for toddlers.
Food stalls: Kings’s Grill, Waffle Haus, and Castle Fried Chicken
Amenities: Shops, restaurant, comfort room, food stall, and play area.
Imagination
This area is the most colorful and most attractive for the kids.
The Observation Tower
Skip the midday sun and watch exciting 4D movies in Lego Studios that will bring you into a new dimension every thirty minutes. Experience the elements like water, smoke, wind, and the special lighting effects that will take you on an awesome journey!
Food stall: Pizza Mania
Other Attractions: Lost Kingdom Adventure, journey into an Egyptian labyrinth, and blast Lego monsters with layers.
Yummy pizza at Pizza Mania
Lego Ninjago World
Exciting challenges in this area are the Lego Ninjago The Ride, an interactive ride that is good for the whole family, Nya’s Practice, Cole’s Rock Climb, Kai’s Spinners, and Zane’s Temple Build.
There are no food stalls here only Sensei’s Shop and Photo Booth.
The Sword inside Ninjago World
Land of Adventure
For an adventure seeker like me, this area was my favorite as I journey to the unforgotten worlds of Pharaohs and dinosaurs. The Dinosaurs world had the amazing Dino Island the exciting log boat ride that resembled the Mighty Mountain Flume Adventure in LeoFoo Village Theme Park in Taiwan.
Dino World
For the Egyptian theme, there are The Lost Kingdom Adventure, Beetle Bounce, and Pharao’s Revenge.
Food stall: Burger Junction
Amenities: Adventure’s Photo, Lost Kingdom photo, body dryer, restroom, and locker rental.
Lego City
Kids between 6 to 13 years old can drive a car and will learn about road safety, traffic lights signals, parking, and may own Driver’s License. But they should watch the video first before they will drive. There is also a large playground for toddlers below 8 years old.
Aside from the car, there is also a boat riding in the Boating School and another fun activity is the Lego Rescue Academy where kids will take the fire engine to put out a fire.
Another attraction is the train made of lego that will take you to the theme park every thirty minutes.
Food stalls: Fire Rescue Bistro, Snack Corner, and Market Restaurant
Amenities: Driving School Shop, Stage Shop, Driving School Photo, Photo Booth, First aid and Restroom
Miniland
My last stop is in Miniland where my jaws almost dropped with amazement as I saw the stunning miniatures of different landmarks in Asian countries. This is located at the very heart of Legoland. Said wonderful masterpiece was built with over 30 million lego bricks and more than three years in the making.
Being the host country, Miniland features Malaysia’s famous prime attractions and buildings like the KL Tower, the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Bank Muamulat, and even the sections of Putrajaya. But of course, the highlight of them all was the Kuala Lumpur City Center with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.
Putrajaya, Malaysia’s federal administrative center, has some buildings and structures: Putra Bridge, Istana Darul Ehsan, Masjid Putra, and the Bangunan Perdana Putra. They highlighted Johor Bahru, the capital city of its host state as they showcased some of its interesting sites like the clock tower at Dataran Bandaraya, Johor Tourism Information Centre, the Catholic church in Johor Bahru, and some more buildings.
Singapore’s pride
I’ve noticed Singapore being a neighboring country of Malaysia had been given a special spot in Miniland because several iconic landmarks had been made for them like Merlion, the Skyline, Fullerton Hotel, Boat Quay, and the Singapore Flyer.
India’s Taj Mahal
Other amazing famous landmarks to see are the Taj Mahal of India, Angkor Wat of Cambodia, Patuxai of Lao, Sultan Oma Ali Saifuddin Mosque of Brunei, Karaweik Hall of Myanmar, and Bolinao of my very own Philippines.
I spent most of my time in this area admiring the feat behind the creation of these miniatures. Later I went back to The Beginning and strolled inside the Big Shop.
If you are a lego collector, this shop is for you. They offered the largest selection of Lego toy sets which includes the hard-to-find ones and the exclusive items. They also sell souvenir goodies like mugs, t-shirts, hats, and a lot more.
This is open at 10:00 am. So if you visit Legoland, be sure to have enough money to buy your desired Lego toys.
Verdict:
Most of the rides are kid-friendly so elders can also enjoy them. I had limited time to enjoy it myself since we will go back to Singapore to buy pasalubong for my loved ones at night. Anyway, a solo tour to the whole team park and be amazed by the wonderful creatures and places made out of millions and millions of Lego blocks was just fine. It’s so nice to get back with the whole family. Surely they will love it as much as I do.
Please visit their website for their rate.
Opens daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Any inquiries please email them at info@LEGOLAND.my
Other Legoland Resorts are located in United States, Denmark, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.
Notes:
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| Part 4: Hong Kong and Macau Trip: The Peak Experience | Loreland Farm Resort: Changed and Evolved | Part 8: Hong Kong and Macau Trip: My Solo Adventure in Disneyland | Singapore Family Trip-Part 4: Universal Studios Singapore | Ramen Night at Kimono Ken, Blue Bay Walk |
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I’ve been to five countries in Asia and so far, the best among them is Singapore when it comes to cleanliness, safety, efficient transport system, environment (pleasant and smoke-free) and language (English as a common language). It simply amazed me how a small country, a once hinterland and lacking natural resources had progressed rapidly. Their jaw-dropping man-made attractions, grand buildings and luxury shopping malls attracted an influx of tourists from around the world. With that, I’m so excited in getting back to the “Lion Country”.
the towering Supertrees in vivid and colorful lights at night
This is my second time traveling solo outside the country. As much as I wanted my family to travel with me, they simply can’t. My hubby was so busy with various projects in his company and my children did not want to be absent from school. Since Singapore is so safe for female solo travelers, I braved this trip and made sure that this is another record-breaking adventure like I did in Hong Kong and Macau!
I’m so excited about getting back to Lion Country with more adventures this time
Singapore is surging with great places to explore. This time, I wanted to see and visit places I had never been to. I will be staying for five days in my brother’s flat which is few distances away from the MRT Station. This saves a lot in my budget. Hotels are quite expensive in Singapore but if you are on a budget there are homestays, apartments, and rooms ranging from P1,500 to P5,000 depending upon your choice of accommodation.
Stored Value Card
Since I was solo, I’m the boss of my itinerary. I made a keen study of the transportation which I found it now easy as 123. My brother gave me a stored-value card, the NETS Flashpay card loaded with cash that I will be using in MRT, LRT, buses, and grocery stores. EZ-Link is the other card but with limited retail stores to purchase.
I will be using this NETS Flashpay card in public transportation and grocery stores
Promo Fare
Plane fare going to Singapore is quite expensive but I booked in advance a two-way fare via Jetstar Asia for only P6,000. This is another savings for me. Though it was a low-cost airline from Australia I never get scared during series of strong turbulence. Captain announced ahead of time the expected turbulence. Coming from a good experience I won’t hesitate to fly with them again in my future travels. And one good thing is, the seat width in the restroom is wider so the comfort level is better.
approaching Singapore
Changi Airport Singapore
It was so amazing to set foot again in Changi Airport which is in its 5th year as World’s Best Airport according to Skytrax World Airport Survey. The airport continues to innovate and expands its facilities for customers thus making the travel experience relaxing and memorable.
the lush green in Changi Airport
Like what I described in my first visit to Singapore, Changi Airport is by itself a wonderful universe to explore. I suggest this should be included in the itinerary to have a better view of the exciting attractions inside the airport. But since I was running out of time, I decided to explore the airport on my last day. For now, I will savor its beauty and elegance beginning from walking at the impressive carpet down to the walkway at Terminal 1.
Changi Airport has breathtaking interiors. And despite the state-of-the-art architecture, the airport has a surreal tropical setting that will bring you closer to nature.
What I enjoyed much this time is watching the moving sculpture, the Kinetic Rain which I did not pay much attention to before. The copper-plated aluminum raindrops weighing 180 grams are suspended by a thin wire where computer-controlled motors are attached.
The Kinetic Rain is one of the exciting attractions to watch in Terminal 1
I was mesmerized watching the glossy raindrops as they floated and moved slowly up and down. I felt the world had stopped from moving. It took me several minutes standing there amazed by this beautiful sight.
Another attraction I passed by at Terminal 1 was the Social Tree towering at almost nine meters tall. One can share and save their photos and videos to any of the eight touchscreen photo booths. If you want to be part of Changi Airport history, go share your photos there. You may retrieve it in your future visits.
Social Tree is an interactive technology allowing travelers to save and share their photos and retrieve them on their next visit
Internet Connection
Free WiFi service is available both in public and transit areas in the airport. For a hassle and fast service in getting the password of free WiFi service, I headed to the information counter and presented my passport. In an instant, I was given a print-out password. I now had an internet connection which is consumable for three hours. I immediately informed my brother upon my arrival because he will fetch me as he had promised.
printed password upon presenting the passport to Information Counter
Aside from the counters, some chose to obtain the password from the WiFi kiosks located across the terminals and gate-hold rooms with three-hour access to the internet. In Changi Airport it is so easy to stay connected as there are more than 400 internet stations available to enjoy the free WiFi service. This is another thing I like here.
On my way to immigration, I passed by several stores and boutiques offering luxury goods and necessities. But I was not into shopping, I just let enjoyed my eyes feasting on beautiful bags and shoes.
Then I proceeded to the immigration after filing up the embarkation form. I grabbed a map and headed to the arrival area. I was already famished so I took a seat and ate my packed lunch. My brother arrived at 4:00 pm. I was so happy seeing him again and felt so proud because he has a very good job in this country. He is a manager in a Business Consulting and IT Solutions company.
It was my brother’s off from his work today. Since this is his free time and his wife Lyn is at work, he volunteered to stroll around with me.
As per my itinerary, I will visit Flower Dome and Cloud Forest in Gardens by the Bay on my first day. But it was almost 5:00 pm and I do not want to indulge in a rush visit so I decided to move it to Sunday. Instead, I will visit temples and mosques in Telok Ayer and Chinatown.
I can’t hide my excitement as we set off to the MRT station. My mind was thinking of the authentic food, places that I should explore alone, and the thrill of visiting Pulau Ubin, Singapore’s last frontier. Can’t wait for another unforgettable trip!
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The advantage of soaking in a natural mineral spring is the absence of harmful chemical treatment or filtration. Swimmers can freely open their eyes under the water because there is no chlorine or peroxide that will cause irritation. This is the reason why we went back in a laid-back natural spring resort in Indang, Cavite to celebrate my daughter’s 11th birthday. We chose Villa Filomena Natural Spring Resort as suggested by my son who had a wonderful experience there with his classmates.
One of the favorites and famous hiking destinations near Metro Manila is Mt. Maculot situated at the heart of Cuenca in Batangas. It has three focal destinations: the Grotto (510 MASL), the Rockies (706 MASL), and the Summit (930 MASL). For the venturesome trekkers, they choose the traverse trail which will start at the Rockies to Summit and ends at Grotto (4/9 difficulty). Some choose the Rockies only (3/9 difficulty).
Standing near Buwis-buhay spot of The Rockies
Considering the distance and its charm, we chose Laiya Coco Grove Resort in Laiya, Batangas for the Finance Team outing this year. A lovely sunny day and glistening waters are what we need after a busy month of filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs). It’s time now to rejuvenate our bodies and freshen up our minds from tons of paper works. And so, off we go for another fulfilling summer getaway!
the creamy white sand of Laiya Coco Grove
Visiting my humble home town Albay this summer of 2017 is not all about exploring new places but we will indulge in fine cuisine. For our fourth night, we want to satisfy our cravings for ramen. After visiting Sumlang Lake and Lignon Hills, we set off to Ishi Aya’s Garden Bistro in Tabaco City, a Japanese-Filipino-infused restaurant owned by former sexy actress turned entrepreneur Aya Medel. It serves Japanese food and local favorites.
With Aya Medel, now a check and hands-on Manager of Ishi Aya’s Garden Bistro
Standing at 156-meter high, the Ligñon Hill offers a 360-degree view of the entire city, the Albay Gulf to the east and the majestic Mayon Volcano to the northwest. Aside from the view, the spectacular sunrise, the sunset, and various activities will give fun and excitement to all the members of the family. Coming from a refreshing visit from Sumlang Lake in Camalig, we now set out to Ligñon Hill Nature Park in Legazpi City, another top tourist destination in my hometown in Albay.
The best time to visit Lignon Hill is early morning to stay away from the scorching heat of the sun and in the afternoon where it is cold and with the spectacular sunset
Sumlang Lake is one of the newest attractions in Camalig, Albay that promises a lovely feel of serenity and tranquility. I was glad this is part of our visit to my home town this summer of 2017 with Lignon Hills in Legazpi City as our final leg.
