SINGAPORE DAY 5 (Singapore Zoo)

Warning:  This place is huge.  It is so expansive, a day is not enough to get the most out of Singapore Zoo.

Note: If zoos are in your itinerary, I suggest getting park hopper tickets online via the Singapore Zoo website for purchase discounts. We saved the confirmation vouchers on our phone, which we used to enter the zoo.  The ticket came with unlimited tram ride.

• 8am -We left the hotel early via taxi (SGD25) for the 9am Breakfast with the Orangutans at Ah Meng Restaurant (Note: If you intend to avail of the Breakfast with the Orangutan, please reserve online. Payments are made direct at the restaurant prior to seating). 
• 9am - Arrived at the Singapore Zoo and hurried to Ah Meng.  (Note: It is still about 2-3 minutes walk from the main entrance, so please come early to avoid rushing).

We skipped lunch and instead had ice cream at Ben and Jerry's.

• 4pm - Left the zoo and went back to base to rest our tired feet.
• 6pm - Pizza Hut, Lucky Plaza for Christmas Dinner. Lucky Plaza is short 5-8 minutes walk from our hotel. 
• 7pm - The boys retired early and left me at Lucky Plaza for last minute "pasalubong" shopping at Lucky Plaza.  Our Day 6 to 8 will be at Sentosa and I doubt I would be able to get my shopping done from there.

Good buys at Lucky Plaza:

• nail cutter key chains - 6 pcs for SGD10
• t-shirt - from SGD12 per piece (very good material)
• paper fan - 3pcs for SGD10
• assorted pens - 3 sets (5 per set) for SGD10
• chocolates (Chocolates are surprisingly cheap here at Lucky Plaza. No they are not fake.). 

For Giordano items, the deals were best at the airport.  They have buy 1, take 1 promo, while we were there.

Missed due to traffic and difficulty of getting transfers:

• China Town was part of the original itinerary, but I had to drop due to difficulty in getting a taxi. We would have taken a bus or the MRT, but we did not bought EZlink / pass as we didn't consider MRT or public bus transportation (Maxwell Hawker Center, Buddah Tooth Relic, Sri Mariammam Temple, China Town Heritage Center). 

Promise to self:  

China Town will be part of my next visit to Singapore!

 

Day 5 - From Singapore Zoo to Orchard Urban Jungle!


Check out the rest of our Singapore-Malaysia journey here:

Day 1 - Singapore City
Day 2 and 3 - LEGOLAND Malaysia
Day 4 - Jurong Bird Park and Science Center
Day 5 - Singapore Zoo (with breakfast with the Orangutans)
Day 6 - Sentosa Island
Day 7 - Universal Studio Singapore 
Day 8 - SEA Aquarium and Vivo City

  

Ilog ni Maria Honey Bee Farm (road less travelled)!

I have read such good reviews of Ilog ni Maria from the internet. So, on our way home from our last Tagaytay trip, me and my boys decided to give this much reviewed stop over a visit.

 

It took us a while to find the place.  We had to stop for a couple a times and ask locals for directions (who similarly doesn't have a clue about what we are looking for).

 

 

When we finally saw the signage, we were led to an unpaved narrow (one-way) road.  It took us another 3-5 minutes to reach Ilog ni Maria.

 

 

We finally saw the farm entrance and a small shop, displaying the farm produce. 

 

I hurriedly took a small native shopping basket and began prowling the place for "pasalubong" and possible giftable items.  I got healing massage oils and propolis throat spray. 

 

My boys love night massages and Ilog Maria's massage oil were just perfect. 

 

Products and price, I think are comparable to other organic/eco-shops we have in Manila. I was expecting something extra (I think, this is a long way from home, after all.).

 

We were running a bit late and rain clouds seem readying a heavy downpour and had to cut our visit short.

Alas, we were  unable to tour the rest of the farm... that could have made the extra mile travel to Ilog ni Maria more worthwhile. 

Maybe next time!

For details on how to get to Ilog ni Maria, please follow this link.

Rowilda's Abel Iloco

 

Abels are Ilocos regions's traditional wooven textile made from yards of cotton. 

 

Abel textiles are produced into blankets, bedsheets, pillow cases, washcloths table napkins, bags and purses, table runners... the list goes on!

 

You can get your abel from the Vigan public market or Calle Crisologo. 

 

Since I wanted to see first hand how abels are made,  I just have to get mine from one of the local weavers Rowilda's at barangay Camanggaan.

 

Prices are just about the same in Calle Crisologo, unless you are buying in bulk. 

 

I bought table napkins, wash clothes and blankets for pasalubong, however, when we reached Manila, I can't seem to part with abel buys.  I decided to keep them all (hahaha).  The blankets are well made and very soft ~ I regret not buying more! 

Vigan's Tongson Original Royal Bibingka

 

 

We just had to try for ourselves Vigan's famous Royal Bibingka.

 

 

 

 

Quite tasty indeed, but a box is all I need. 

 

Would have made good pasalubong, but I am not sure if it could withstand the long trip back to Manila.

 

 Still a recommended must try when in Vigan.

 

Tongson's is located at Plaza Burgos near Calle Crisologo.

Yummy Buko Pie

When in Laguna,  must try is the D'Vinia's Buko Pie.

I must say it is the best Buko Pie I have tasted by far!

And don;t just settle for their original buko pie, go a bit adventurous and try their other Pie variants.  I strongly recommend Ube-Macapuno just heavenly.  I swear, if I were pregnant, I would use it as an excurse to make my husband go back to LDB and buy more.

D'Vinia's has 3 branches in Laguna,  visit one and taste for yourself.

Must BUY and Must TAKE HOME :)

Pansol, Calamba City
Tel No: (049) 545-5015
Mobile No: 0919-672-2942 · 0921-214-5090
Bucal, Calamba Laguna
Tel No: (049) 834-2416
Mobile No: 0919-672-2942 · 0916-683-8365
Enchanted Kingdom
Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Contact Person: Siegfrid
Mobile No: 0908-334-3763 · 0919-672-2942 · 0921-214-5090

Pasalubong Shopping in Bohol

If you are looking for a one-stop shop in Bohol, where you can do all your pasalubong shopping,  I suggest you head for APRONIANA  SOUVENIR SHOP.  It is located in Taguihon, Baclayon, Bohol and is about 15 minutes away from Baclayon Church.

They have a wide selection of pasalubong merchandise:  all things tarsier, Bohol shirts, caps, shorts, delicacies, ornaments, native hats, purse, bags... I could go on and on!

Standing in front of the souvenir shop.

My son checking the merchandise. 

Kuya without a care  - busy with his PSP!

Got to sit down, all the shopping making us tired!!!