Went on an Asia trip for the very first time and naturally, I picked Southeast Asia!
I flew into Singapore first where I spent 3 days sightseeing and trying food at some of their popular street food spots while convincing myself the city wasn’t that expensive 😂
Singapore
Singapore is visa-free for Ghanaian passport holders. Economy flight tickets from Accra to Singapore currently cost between $1,200 – $1,500 depending on the airline you book your tickets. Most of these flights are not direct. You will have to transit.
Before traveling to Singapore you need to complete the ICA visitor pass form within 72 hours of both your arrival and exit. This form is available on the immigration website and also as a mobile app.
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Info needed when filling this out includes your return flight tickets, paid hotel accommodations, travel itineraries within Singapore, previously visited countries, health declaration, available funds during your stay, and the usual shenanigans.
On arrival at Changi, you will digitally scan your passport and get scanned for your biometrics. This process takes less than 5 minutes if there’s no line at the booths.
Practically zero human interaction except when my yellow fever card was requested on my re-entry into Singapore from the Philippines.
What I Did In Singapore
Garden by the Bay was high up on my list of things to do so that’s the first activity I did. Entrance is free but you will have to buy tickets to enter most of the popular attractions in the garden.
To avoid the crowds, book tickets online. You will also need to check the official website for the closure dates of these attractions as they occasionally close them for maintenance.
I visited the famous Arab street the next day to check out the food! Everything I tried was tasty just as described in most blogs 🍝
I also checked out the famous Changi Jewel Waterfalls at the airport and was surprised to find out it was free. I could have sworn I read somewhere its a paid experience? 😅
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Singapore is expensive for an average traveler and you can easily spend $20 – $30 on a single taxi ride. You can also use the MRT once you figure out the various routes and stops.
Ubers don’t work here but I learned later they have other ride-hailing services you can alternatively use.
Decent hotels cost at least $150 per night and you could pay as much as $400 a night for a highly-rated hotel in the city.
Ultimately, Singapore is worth a couple of days’ stop if you are traveling within the region. One other thing to note is this is a cashless system. Most things must be booked and paid online except taxis.
Now, let’s talk about how the Philippines surprised me 😍
The Philippines 🇵🇭
I flew from Singapore to Manila, Philippines with one of the regional airlines called Cebu Pacific for approximately $350 round trip.
The Philippines is also visa-free to Ghanaian passport holders and you can stay up to 90 days on each visit. I was allowed up to 1 month.
There is also an immigration form you will have to fill out digitally within 72 hours of arrival in the Philippines. You can easily find this on the official immigration website or scan the QR code at the airport on arrival. I recommend submitting it before arrival.
Manila
Manila pleasantly surprised me as I only thought it was good just for a few day’s stay. I was wrong!
I checked out the Venice Grand Canal and took one of the Gondola rides. This was approximately 20 minutes of cruising around, people-watching, and getting serenaded by the guide 🥳
Easily the highlight of my Manila trip.
There are countless cafes, boutiques, cinemas and restaurants in the mall you can check out. Also, stroll through BGC and try the street food. I spent hours here without noticing. It’s even better looking at night.
Click HERE to watch the reel
I also visited Intramuros, the historic walled city in Manila. It showcases Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and significant landmarks such as Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral.
Established in the late 16th century, it offers a glimpse into the Philippine’s colonial past, with museums, cultural sites, and traditional horse-drawn carriages enhancing its charm.
To enter the forts and cathedral at the site you will have to pay a fee. Take a ride in one of the horse carriages or check out the cafe if you have time ♥️
Visiting An Island In the Philippines
Did you know the Philippines has over 7,000 islands? Yup!
Luckily there are domestic flights from Manila to the most relevant and popular islands. Flights cost as low as $100 round trip, depending on the island you pick and the airline booked.
You should research which days to fly and to which island as most airlines fly a few days in a week. Some islands are also only accessible with chartered flights which also tend to be expensive.
Also, most islands are a little challenging to get to from the airports. Ensure your hotel offers airport pick-ups which sometimes involve a boat ride. You can also use third-party airport transfer services available online on most booking sites.
I decided to visit Boracay Island and I spent about $150 on the round-trip tickets from Manila that included a check-in bag. This was a 45-minute flight.
I used an agency called Boracay Guides for my airport transfers & tours. It costs approximately $25 one way for a private bus ride from the airport, a public boat ride, and a private tricycle ride to the hotel.
All this took about an hour in total and they handled it fairly well. I recommend you don’t fly in at night.
Boracay Island
I picked Boracay last minute after being undecided for weeks and I am so glad I did! 😂
Boracay is rated as one of the top destinations in the Philippines and it is less crowded which made it perfect for me. The beaches here are stunning!
I spent most of my time just beach hopping and eating out at different beachfront restaurants. I stayed at the Aqua Beach Resort which has the best views of the Bulabog beach, great sunrise views, and a beautiful Seaview pool.
Check out the beachfront restaurant next door called Levatin when you decide to stay here. The food is excellent and the vibes are great. Made some wonderful friends here 🫶🏾
You should also absolutely visit Diniwid Beach just to catch the sunset. Boracay island sunsets are to die for but the views from this beach? Perfection! The best sunsets I have ever seen 😍
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As always, happy travels! ♥️
Nomadic Maajoa 