Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

SIN-MNL (4h) Boeing 777-300ER ETD:  2.15pm  (GMT + 8) ETA: 6.15pm (GMT + 8) “What? You’ve never been to Australia?” was something I’d grown used to hearing up to the age of 35. Indeed, this travel series marks my very first Down Under experience. While Melbourne can be reached directly from Singapore, I set off in the opposite direction first, heading to Manila, the Philippines with the oldest commercial airline in Asia.

SGN-SIN (2h) Airbus 350-900 ETD:  12.30pm  (GMT + 7) ETA: 3.30pm (GMT + 8) For the final entry to wrap up this travel series, let’s take a look at the flight back home in Business Class onboard Singapore Airlines SQ177 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Operated by Airbus 350-900, the flight offered a reassuring sense of familiarity and comfort even if it was a brief one.

SIN-NRT (7h 10m) Boeing 767-300 ETD:  8.10am  (GMT + 8) ETA: 4.20pm (GMT + 9) In the quest to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan, I embarked on yet another journey to this fascinating country to explore a few destinations in Aichi, Gifu and Mie Prefectures. My adventure began with Japan Airlines JL712 that brought me to Narita International Airport before I caught a domestic flight to Nagoya.

IST-SIN (10h 25m) Boeing 787-9 ETD:  5.55pm  (GMT + 3) ETA: 8.30am (GMT + 8) We've finally reached the last post to wrap up this series on my very first round-the-world experience. Starting from Singapore, crossing the vast Pacific Ocean to the Americas to the Americas, and returning via the Atlantic Ocean and beyond, it was an amazing trip. Turkish Airlines TK208 flew me back to Singapore from Istanbul, Turkey.

[BR226] SIN-TPE (4h 35m) Boeing 777-300ER ETD:  1.15pm (GMT + 8) ETA: 5.50pm (GMT + 8) Here's to a new travel series! Join us as we set out on our very first round-the-world trip, a voyage filled with anticipation and wonder as we went back to Canada after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ushered in the festive spirit of Christmas in Panama and New Year in Colombia. The journey began with EVA Air BR226 from Singapore to Taipei, Taiwan.

[MH608] SIN-KUL (1h) Boeing 737-800 ETD:  5.25pm (GMT + 8) ETA: 6.25pm (GMT + 8) Welcome to the start of a new series of travel posts! Our long-awaited family trip, which happened in December 2022, led us to explore the Kansai region of Japan. This series is going to be a rather brief one as I've unfortunately lost most of the photos I took, except those I've shared on Instagram. Still, join us as we revisit and relive our adventure!

BKK-SIN (2h 15min) Airbus 350-900 ETD:  11.20pm (GMT + 2) ETA: 2.20pm (GMT + 7) I know I've been taking so long, but we're down to the last post of the trip to Azerbaijan that my BFF and I embarked on in the middle of last year. We found ourselves on a plane for the third time in less than 24 hours, heading back home from the Land of Smiles. My previous flight with Thai Airways had been long before the COVID-19 pandemic, aboard one of their Boeing 747-400.

93 Stamford Road, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Daily: 10.00am - 7.00pm Let's continue with Part 2 of "The Doraemon Exhibition Singapore 2022", which is the first global showcase outside of Japan since its first inception in 2002. As a quick recap,  Part 1  showcases one of the three galleries that I went to, together with the gift shop and pop-up café. In today's post, we shall marvel at what the second and third galleries have got to offer.

93 Stamford Road, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Daily: 10.00am - 7.00pm Let's take a time out from Azerbaijan to take a nostalgia trip at one of the exhibitions hosted by the National Museum of Singapore that's going to be over soon. "The Doraemon Exhibition Singapore 2022" has been running since 5 November 2022, its first overseas debut since its premiere in Tokyo, Japan back in 2002.

SIN-IST (11h) Airbus 350-900 ETD: 1.45am (GMT + 8) ETA: 7.45am (GMT + 3) The time I'd been waiting for finally came. The stationary  Restaurant A380 @ Changi  back in 2020 aside, to feel the excitement of stepping into an aircraft once again after more than two years was truly a blessing. Join me in my first long-haul flight in the Premium Economy Class cabin of the flag carrier of Singapore.

80 Airport Boulevard, Level 3 Transit Area, Changi Airport Terminal 3, Singapore Daily: 24 hours Before September ends, I thought I should spare some time to start posting about my short trip to Azerbaijan in the middle of the year. After more than two years of not travelling overseas, I almost teared up when I could finally go through the immigration checkpoint at our beloved Changi Airport, and then proceeded to the round-the-clock SATS Premier Lounge at Terminal 3.

93 Stamford Road, B1/F National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Daily: 10.00am - 7.00pm Hi, folks! Hope everyone is doing fine. I've yet to be able to blog regularly again, but for today, I'm going to put up photos on an ongoing exhibition that truly captivated this highly nostalgic person who very much prefer to live in the late 1980s to 1990s. Titled "OFF / ON: Everyday Technology That Changed Our Lives, 1970s – 2000s", the immersive showcase can be found at the basement level of Singapore's oldest museum until the end of October 2022.

1 Orchid Club Road, Singapore Situated in the idyllic part of Yishun, Orchid Country Club (4*) was established in 1993 by the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, then Secretary-General of the sole trade union in Singapore, who envisioned to make golf accessible and affordable to local workers. There's a resort hotel within the country club that's got a total of 75 guest rooms.

Mandai Road, Singapore Did you know that the demand for water in Singapore exceeds the total volume of more than 750 Olympic-sized swimming pools? Water from local catchment areas is a pillar of our sustainable water supply. Upper Seletar Reservoir is one of the 17 reservoirs designated as national water catchment areas at the point of writing, managed by the Public Utilities Board.

18 Marina Gardens Drive, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Dale Chihuly is an American artist best known in the field of blown glass, "moving it into the realm of large-scale sculpture". For about 5 months in 2021, the exhibition at Gardens by the Bay marks his first major garden exhibition in Asia. This exhibition is now over, and as much as I'd like to post this entry earlier, I'm sorry that I forgot about it when life got really tough last year. Still, for the record, I shall upload a few photos that I took.

90 Robertson Quay, Singapore Happy New Year, everyone! A property under Milennium Hotels that manages at least 125 hotels across more than 20 countries, M Social Singapore (4*) is a chic hotel located at the vibrant Robertson Quay along the iconic Singapore River. Designed by Philippe Starck, a French architect, the hotel houses just slightly less than 300 guest rooms.

18 Marina Gardens Drive, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Daily: 6.30pm - 11.00pm I hope everyone has been having a great Christmas season! Known to be the biggest yuletide event in Singapore, Christmas Wonderland is back to illuminate the Supertree Grove area of Gardens by the Bay from 3 December 2021 to 2 January 2022. Visitors can enjoy light displays, have fun with carnival games and shop for gifts at the Christmas market.

3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore Officially opened in 2013, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering (5*) is a testament to the fact that architecture and greenery can blend very, very well. Given its stunning appearance, it's hard not to be tempted to have a staycation there, but I'd been resisting the idea for some time it since the hotel is located way too near my house. 

351 Cranwell Road, Singapore Here comes another throwback to 2018 before COVID-19 hit our shore: a relaxing staycation at Changi Cove (4*) that's located in the tranquil part of the Changi area. In fact, recently I scored a pretty good deal and would be going back to the hotel soon, which is a restored heritage site occupying 4 hectares of lush natural greenery.

1 Fullerton Square, Singapore Welcome to Part 2 of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (5*)! Don't forget to check out  Part 1 , if you haven't done so. In today's post, let's explore the rest of the areas and the history of the heritage building that covers a floor area of 41,100 square metres. Playing a pivotal role in the history of Singapore, it's been gazetted as a National Monument since December 2015.