Grand Time at Hyatt

Dad had a 3-day Employee Engagement Conference in Singapore from September 27-29. He figured that it would be one heavy and serious event so he decided to bring mom and me as his hand carried luggage.

We were billeted at the Grand Hyatt on Orchard Road and Scotts. And that was what it was – GRAND! Our room was big enough for me to run around. It had a king-size bed and fluffy goose feather pillows. There was a huge flat plasma screen TV where I watched my Barney DVDs. Dad thought that there was a better use for an expensive technology other than just watching a purple gay dinosaur prancing around. I know Dad is just jealous. Don’t worry, Dad, I still love you – next to Barney.

I loved the bathroom and the tub of course, where I took a dip at least twice a day – one with mom in the morning and one with dad before bed time. I wouldn’t mid being a duck. I think, they have great life.

What did Mom and I do while dad was attending his conference? Well, we lived the life -- slept as long a we could, took leisurely breakfasts, shopped a little, and waited for Papa while watching Barney on the super duper wide plasma screen TV! We sure had a grand time at the Hyatt!

A Nose for Sale

Mom has an incredible nose for the best sale in town. So even in hip and expensive Singapore, she sniffed out the best deals in town. She swears that the shoes (lots of them) and clothes she carted away are cheaper than their cousins in Manila.

How would Dad know? He wouldn't. Dad's only use during these shopping sprees is to carry Mom's bags. Well, he's really a great and uncomplaining porter -- as long as you feed him well.

A Safari Tour

Hello Singapore!

We touched down at the ultra-modern Changi Airport at around noon time on September 26. Having slept through the 3-hour flight from Manila, I had all the energy to conquer the city.

Safari, our driver from Vacation Asia was already at the arrival section waiting for us hoisting a placard with Dad’s name on it. Yep, you got that right. His name is SAFARI --quite a novelty for one who lives in one of the world's cleanest, safest, and most modern cities.

He’s one cool driver – worked as a Manager for Singapore Airlines for many years and even took a 6-month course at AIM in Makati. He’s retired now and just drives tourists around Singapore.

Well, we did have a taste of a real safari on our second day as we toured Singapore's famous Night Safari. We rode an open tram that rumbled through dense South American and Indian rain forests, the savannahs of Africa and the tropical jungles of Asia.

Am I one lucky kid. Most kids my age only see these animals in their Baby Einstein DVDs. I was within the leaping distance of these growling, snorting, real, live animals -- lions, tigers, elephants, hippos, giraffes, hyenas, zebras, flamingos, rhinos, monkeys. You name any animal from A to Z, I’ve probably growled at them as my dad instructed me to.

La Vida Singapura

Tita Detdet and Tito Jeff have been living “la vida” in Singapore for more than a year now. It’s a great city – super clean, green, and efficient. Imagine, five days in the Lion City and I didn’t hear a single car or bus honking.

The food too is fabulous – a fusion of Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Continental. I drooled at the succulent prawns at the Chinese restaurant Tita Detdet took us to. And on our last night, we tried the famous Singaporean Chili Crab at a resto by the bay. We also met up with Tita Yvette, another J&J expat and friend of Dad.

Thanks Tita Det and Tito Jeff. I think I need to stay with you for about a month so I’ll finally warm up to you.

Ola! Costa del Sol!

We capped our Singapore adventure by moving into my Tita Detdet’s cool condo at Costa del Sol – an exclusive cluster of classy high-rise apartments. Tita Detdet, Dad’s friend, is a J&J globe trotting expat based in the Lion City. She lives on the 22nd floor and has a fantastic view of Singapore Harbor.

I went gaga over Costa del Sol’s swimming pools -- a 100 meter 8-lane lap pool, a diving pool, an adult leisure pool that’s as big as the ocean and, of course, a sand and pebble kiddie beach-pool. And Oh, it also has a mote hugging the east side cluster. I had a splashing grand time and fought with daddy as he fished me out of the water after an hour because, my fingers and toes were already wrinkled cold.

Tita Detdet & Tito Jeff -- please adopt me . . . and my mom . . . and my dad!

Swinging singapore

Hello everyone!! Sharing our pictures in Singpore. Mom and I tagged along with Dad's scheduled seminar last Sept. 26 and stayed in Singapore till nearly mom's birthday. We were so lucky to be out. There was a terrible typhoon and lights were out for more than four days. I can just imagine how it could have been if we were here. I would've been crying the whole day. Will post more pictures soon. I loved the underwater world and night safari the most.