Today, ciMel successfully convinced me to do flowrider. She even offered herself to come with me to take some pictures and videos. Thanks ciMel! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
Here are some tips before you join an hour queue under the sun and getting ready to be thrown away by the water:
Get a free towel from the Solarium or bring your own towel. No ones want to go around the ship soaking wet.
Wear something tight, comfortable, and won’t easily get detached from your body due to the water force. For guys, try not to wear lose trunks. One-piece wetsuit would be fine, unless you want to show off your abs then wear something tight like diving pants. For ladies, please do NOT wear bikinis. If that’s the only swimsuit you have, then make sure you wear shirt on top of it. One-piece wetsuit or diving suits is highly recommended.
Queuing time would take an hour. Remember to put some uv lotion on, wear cap if necessary – you can remove before jumping on your plastic board.
Bring along your friend to take pictures/video when you’re ridiculously trying hard to figure out how to remain stable squatting on a tiny floating board and being thrown away by the evil water force.
Answer weird questions asked by the staff before join the queue: Can you touch your toes while standing up? And do you have low blood pressure?
Early in the morning while my friends were enjoying their k-pop dance class at the Seaplex (same place as where I had the bumper cars), I was queuing for flowrider. I was quite disappointed few days before boarding after finding out there were no karaoke lounge, no escape room, no archery class, i-fly and spa were not FOC. So I thought, I must try out this fun free activities so I could enjoy my holiday to the max. (((o(*°▽°*)o)))
But truth was, I was not fully prepared for the flowrider. So I didn’t go for it. But to make your life easier, I have made a list what to prepare before you’re heading against the gushing water on a tiny plastic board. Now go to my day-3!
Our check-in time was 3PM. That means me and my stateroommate ciMel, had ample of time to enjoy our lunch at Berseh Food Centre before heading to our departure gate. We checked-in our luggage instead so we don’t need to carry around. <(￣︶￣)>
It was all started when one of our group friend randomly asking everyone about going for a “Cruise To Nowhere”, sometime after Chinese New Year. Having a lousy year of can’t travel anywhere and felt like being trapped in this tiny red dot, no one objected the cruise idea at that time. Next thing I know, few weeks later, someone has already bought 3 nights ticket for everyone! WHAAAA! ∑(O_O;)
So what is Cruise To Nowhere exactly?
A cruise to nowhere is very much what it sounds like: boarding a cruise ship for a short voyage into international waters before returning, without calling on any ports.
Two cruise lines (Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International) have been given the green light to offer “cruises to nowhere” from Singapore starting in November 2020, will be part of a “safe cruise” pilot that will cater only to Singapore residents at a reduced capacity of 50 per cent.
Now let me take you on what to prepare for your Cruise To Nowhere.
⚪⚪⚪
1) PURCHASE THE TICKET 🎟️
Go to their website (we booked it from Royal Caribbean International), where it stated ‘3 nights ocean gateway starting from $279’. And that was price per night. You can choose your stateroom from Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, or Suites. Me and my friend ciMel (now she’s been recurring character on this blog, you should remember her from my past holidays) will be in the same Balcony Stateroom, where we can just chill and read books at the balcony during lazy days.
After the purchase, wait for email notification for mandatory SARS-CoV-2 (rtPCR) test for all passengers, T&C, important notes, request to update the passengers’ profiles and your sailing details (including booking number, ship’s name, and sailing date). (´｡• ᵕ •｡`)
2) DOWNLOAD ROYAL CARIBBEAN MOBILE APP ON YOURSMART PHONE 🤳🏻
Not sure if I should mentioned this, by now everyone is using smart phone I supposed?
Go to your ios or googleplay and download Royall Caribbean Mobile App. You need this app for checking in, making reservation for your daily activities, checking out what’s happening onboard and reminder for your booking activities. Every person must download this app, even if you’re in the same stateroom as your roommate. This app will come very handy later when you’re onboard.
It is required to update your profile on their website or app. Either way, you must create an account first and ask your stateroommate to do the same. You will receive email for confirmation invoice with your (and your stateroommate)’s profile. This means you are officially checked in. <(￣︶￣)>
3) SCHEDULE YOUR PCR TEST 🧪
The next email you will receive is reminder to schedule and take mandatory SARS-CoV-2 (rtPCR) test at their assigned medical centre (Raffles City Shopping Centre L2) and download TrustOne App. All passengers required to do this test within 48 to 72 hours prior to boarding and obtain a negative result. The cost of SARS-CoV-2 test is included in your cruise fare for sailings departing on or before 18 October 2021.
Truth: A week before our departure date there was quite a covid spike in Singapore and I also received “possible exposure” notification on my TraceTogether App. Was almost bailed myself out, wrote email to the Cruise Team and none replied other than the same auto-generated emails and reminder for the PCR test. Quite frustrating but anyhow went to take the test with all my 5 travel buddies.
We did the test on Saturday, and sailed on the following Monday. My test result came out within 24 hours. Once you received this email, I suggest you quickly download the app and book the slot because it is run out very fast. (*￣▽￣)b
4) FEW LAST THINGS TO DO BEFORE BOARDING ⚠️
✅ You can book some of the activities or paid restaurants on your App. However most of the fun activities can only be booked once you are onboard.
✅ Ensure you have received SARS-CoV-2 (rtPCR) negative test result on your TrustOne App.
✅ Download TraceTogether App or bring your TraceTogether token which will be required onboard for checking in the activities or restaurants.
✅ Answer required Health Questions and read/listen to Safety Information on Royall Caribbean Mobile App before check in.
✅ Bring passport, your smart phone, IC, SetSail pass, TT App/token and other necessary items with you handy at all times. Also, make sure your body temperature is not higher than 37.5 °C and have not been travelled outside Singapore in the last 14 days.
✅ Arrive at the terminal at your selected check-in time, together with your stateroommate / travelling buddies.
✅ You are free to choose either bring the hand-luggage yourself to your stateroom, or check them in.
✅ When checking at the terminal the staff will give each passenger a weird-looking blue bracelet/watch to track your movement, called Tracelet. You are not 100% sure how it works but required to wear it at all times anyway.
⚪⚪⚪
Now…
ALL ABOARD! ☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆
With so many activities and limited days onboard, it’s easy to lost counting days. This removable tiles inside the escalator were a gentle reminder of our holiday
I’ve been eyeing this kind of thrilling activities ever since I tried it back in Wyong, Australia. And I can’t believe we do have it too here in Singapore!! ☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆
Believe it or not, the very first time I tried it I had my eyes teary I couldn’t believe I tortured myself taking such a dangerous activity and high above from the ground, like that. I was quite sure it would be my first and last time walking on a rope 5 meters above the ground and I couldn’t stop cursing on myself. I almost cried when my friend, Uni, insisted us to take the third level instead of me sitting down at the ground trying hard to get my sht together…
But that was me three years ago. <(￣︶￣)>
Not long after that momentous activity, I am craving for same kind of adrenaline-pumping adventure! Apparently I found being so high above the ground – with safety harness on, walking from one tree to another, climbing, swinging, flying-foxing, tip-toeing, jumping, crawling, are VERY addictive! I was thrilled to try this adventure! (╯✧▽✧)╯
How lucky I finally have my holiday in the midst of this worldwide lockdown! Singapore is currently on Phase-2 of Circuit Breaker. We don’t call it Lockdown here, we don’t want to make everyone panic. But what is Circuit Breaker?
“The 2020 Singapore circuit breaker measures, abbreviated as CB, was a stay-at-home order and cordon sanitaire implemented as a preventive measure by the Government of Singapore in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country on 7 April 2020.” ~ Wikipedia.
Phase-2, however, has been implemented since 18 June 2020. Just two days after my birthday – yes I belong to that sad group of ppl who couldn’t celebrate birthdays due to this virus. The Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced on 15 June 2020 that Singapore will move into Phase Two after 18 June 2359 hours. This is because community infection rates have generally remained stable, cases in migrant worker dormitories have declined, and there are no new large clusters emerging.
Ok, enough for the lesson. So where did I go during my hols? (o˘◡˘o)
East! Me and my friend, ciMel (you should remember her from my Kyushu and Hồ Chí Minh holidays!) main goal was to buy facial treatment product, skii somewhere in Changi Terminals – not sponsored! So, our first stop was:
Thankfully the rain subsided just after we had our lunch! ♡＼(￣▽￣)／♡
We were not planning to stay late today, because we had so many walks and we had to catch a train back to our hometown tomorrow at 7AM. So we did the afternoon Wednesday in slower pace.
But before that, here’s a picture of me enjoying my chewy-vanilla toast I loved it SO much! I had the same toast for 2 nights in a row!! (/▽＼*)｡o○♡
After having a gloomy day on Tuesday, we got a suuuuper hot day this morning! And with that, we can follow our itinerary as planned! ヽ( ⌒o⌒)人(⌒-⌒ )ﾉ
We were still twinning out with our hats. And yes that was the batik I bought yesterday! ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡
We had about 12 stops today, so I have to separate them into 2 parts, like yesterday. Cyn agreed with the route I proposed. Our first stop was Taman Sari Water Castle. We called grab to pick us up before 9 in the morning.
Located near the Keraton, this place was also known as the garden for the Sultan of Yogyakarta. Tamansari was originally built for multiple purposes yet now only several buildings remain. Some of its original functions were a place to rest, to meditate, to work, to hide and to defend the Sultan’s family.
Taman Sari Water Castleꦠꦩꦤ꧀ ꦱꦫꦶ
Address: Wisata Taman Sari Jalan Tamanan, Patehan, Kecamatan Kraton, Kota Yogyakarta
Phone No.:
Opening time: 6AM to 3PM
Entrance fee: IDR 5,000 (for local) IDR 15,000 (for international)
Tuesday afternoon, 18th Feb 2020, cloudy and rainy.
We are now heading to Prambanan Temple, which is about 1 hour away from the previous castle. Same as the previous temple we visited, I’m sure there are price difference between local tourists and international tourist. We did buy the combined ticket back in the first temple. So here me and Cyn just walked our way through the non-queuing ticket counter. Yes, the temple wasn’t so busy, probably because we visited during daytime and was not in any holiday. There were few students having a study tour, a group of Korean tourists, two Japanese ladies and us. (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ
Did you know, this temple is the largest Hindu temple of ancient Java, and the first building was completed in the mid-9th century. It was likely started by Rakai Pikatan as the Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty’s answer to the Buddhist Sailendra Dynasty’s Borobudur and Sewu temples nearby. Historians suggest that the construction of Prambanan probably was meant to mark the return of the Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty to power in Central Java after almost a century of Buddhist Sailendra Dynasty domination. ヽ(・ω・)ﾉ
Candi Prambanan ꦕꦤ꧀ꦝꦶꦥꦿꦩ꧀ꦧꦤꦤ꧀
Address: Jl. Raya Solo – Yogyakarta No.16, Kranggan, Bokoharjo, Kec. Prambanan, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta
Phone No.: +62 274 496401
Opening time: 6AM to 5PM
Entrance fee: IDR 40,000 (for local tourist, adult!)
Culture: Hinduism
Our driver picked us up at 7 from our hotel and drove for about an hour to Borobudur Temple. We arrived at the parking lot at 8AM, and cheerfully headed to the temple. We walked slowly, found some photo spots here and there and took our time to get to the temple. ＼(＾∀＾)メ(＾∀＾)ノ
We were lucky the temple was not crowded when we arrived. There were maybe less than 20 tourists, including one Japanese group, one local group, less than 4 worshippers, and us.
FYI, 1 adult ticket is IDR 40,000. But if you buy combined ticket (Borobudur + Prambanan) or (Borobudur + Ratu Boko) it will cost you IDR 75,000 – cheaper! We bought the first combined ticket because we know we don’t have enough time to visit Ratu Boko anyway, so we gave it a miss.
