Year End Trip Report. Planning and Day 1: December 25, 2012 Clark & Singapore

It's summer already. I wasn't able to blog about my year end trip last December because of my busy schedule.  It's only now that I found some time to write my thoughts.  I actually have no plans of leaving the country once again before the end of 2012 because of the number of times i've been out of the country that year.  2012 is indeed the peak of my traveling.  Last 2012, I've been to Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and China.  I spent most of the year outside my home country.  Thanks to my 6 months internship in Singapore from January to June.  Despite my 6 months stay in Singapore, I still visited the country in July and December.

Planning of the Trip

It all started when my friend who is studying in the University of Sydney invited me to visit her in Sydney.  Another friend of mine who loves traveling decided to come as well.  I was actually not serious about going to Australia and spend the first day of 2013 there because of the higher cost of travelling.  January is considered a peak month in Australia.  A round trip ticket from Manila to Sydney will cost around 1500 USD.  That's really expensive for someone like me who uses budget airline most of the time. Anyway, thanks to my skills I was able to find way cheaper alternative than a direct flight from Manila to Sydney.  If you want to know how cheap it was, well let's just say my flights from Clark to Singapore to Sydney to Canberra to Sydney to Melbourne to Sydney to Gold Coast to Singapore to Manila were cheaper than a Manila to Sydney direct flight.  In addition, I would like to thank all my host Viroya Family (Singapore), my Friend Poppy (Sydney), Tita Aida Miranda (Melbourne), and my gradeschool classmate Valerie (Gold Coast).

The original plan was to visit Singapore, Malaysia, Sydney, Canberra, and Gold Coast.  Melbourne was a last minute addition.

Day 1: Clark, Philippines & Singapore
Day 2: Singapore - Orchard, Bosch, City Hall, Sembawang and Woodlands
Day 3: Johor Bahru, Malaysia - Legoland Malaysia & City Square Mall
Day 4: Singapore - Lunch with my Boss Kevin (Holland Village), Sentosa, Chinatown, Merlion Park, Gardens by the Bay
Day 5: Singapore - Meet Up with my blockmate (Marina Bay Cruise Centre), Somerset, Scape Flea Market, Meet Up with our Google Facilitator (Lau Pa Sat), Funan Digital Life Mall
Day 6:  Singapore - Bugis, La Salle College of Art, Little India, Vivo City, Orchard Road, Changi Airport
Day 7: Sydney, Australia - Circular Quay, New Year's Celebration
Day 8: Sydney, Australia - Opera House, Darling Harbour, St. Mary's Cathedral
Day 9: Sydney, Australia - Cogee Beach, Bondi Beach, and Les Miserables Movie
Day 10: Sydney, Australia - University of Sydney, Madamme Tussauds, SEA Wild Life Zoo
Day 11: Sydney, Australia - Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney Aquatic Centre, and Sydney Eye Tower
Day 12: Canberra, Australia - Australian Capital Tour, AIS
Day 13: Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver, Lygon St. St. Kilda Beach,  Flinder St.  Queen Victoria Market,  Roxburgh Park.
Day 14: Melbourne, Australia - Werribee Zoo, Werribee Mansion, Lygon St., Crown Casino
Day 15: Blue Mountains, Australia- Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba, Three Sisters, and Blacktown
Day 16: Brisbane, Australia - Brisbane City Centre, South Bank, Kangaroo Point
Day 17: Gold Coast, Australia - MovieWorld, Surfer's Paradise
Day 18: New South Wales & Queensland - Byron Bay, Glow Worms Cave, Point Danger
Day 19: Gold Coast, Australia - Wet N Wild, SEA World Gold Coast, Kenzo's Birthday Party
Day 20:  Gold Coast, Australia - Dreamworld, Surfer's Paradise, Despedida
Day 21: Singapore - Junction8, Robert Bosch SEA Pte Ltd., and Two Chef Eating house
Day 22: I'm back to Manila!

Day 1 Dec. 25

My Dad dropped me in Megamall because the bus going to Clark Airport stops there.  I arrived in DMIA 3hrs before my flight to Singapore.  Clark Airport is not bad.  The second floor exceeded my expectation.  It's really awesome and new.  Everything's new.

Air Philippines on the otherhand is way better than Cebu Pacific and Air Asia in my opinion.  The leg room was more than enough.  They also give free drinks and snacks.

The flight arrived on time around 11pm.  I rushed to the immigration and got my luggage.  I immediately ran to the bus stop in Changi because I cannot afford to take a cab to Woodlands which is way up in Singapore.  A bus will only cost me 1.5 SGD while a cap will cost 30x the bus cost.  I'm very familiar with Singapore so I don't have a problem navigating.  I know where to alight and what to do.

I arrived around 12:30 am in Woodlands.  I'm glad my former landlady is still awake to open the door for me.  I settled down and slept immediately getting ready for my 2nd day.