#I needed to take a north bound bus and then transfer to an east bound bus

[bottlewoman]

My city has the worst fucking transit system

I hate it with a fiery passion and I want who ever redesigned the routes to die from excessively stubbed toes.

[dustinczarny]

Sunday Thoughts:  My Early Voting Expansion Proposal

Note:  Early this month I formally submitted this proposal to expand Early Voting in Onondaga County.  When we the OCBOE formally met on Monday May 3rd, 2021 my counterpart refused to discuss expansion this year and opted to stick with just 6 sites.  This makes Onondaga County the largest county doing the bare minimum of Early Voting sites in new York State.  I believe the facts for expansion speak for themselves so I am releasing the plan I formally submitted In April making the case for Early Voting expansion THIS year.  Below is my proposal.

Expanding Early Voting in Onondaga County

Background

On May 2, 2021 at our monthly organizational meeting we will vote on our Early Voting sites as required by NYS Election Law. NYS requires us to have in 2019 and 2020 we elected to do the minimum number of sites 6 for over 300k voters. In 2019 the sites were Van Buren Town Hall, Clay Town Hall, Dewitt Town Hall, Lafayette Station #1, Armond Magnarelli Center, and Syracuse Connections at South West Community Center. In the infancy of the program 8k voters, or 8% of the overall turnout, chose to participate in Early Voting. The numbers were almost triple the absentee ballot universe. There were little lines though some minor traffic issues at Clay Town Hall and Dewitt Town Hall our most populous voting centers. There were complaints from those populations in the southwest corner of our county they did not have accessible location.

In 2020 in the middle of a pandemic we once again chose to keep the 6 minimum sites. However we made an important adjustment moving from Van Buren Town Hall to Camillus Fire Station. The COVID 19 crisis drove almost half of our electorate to find alternate voting methods. One of the highest turnout elections in our history we saw nearly 50% of the electorate chose not to vote on Election Day. That portion was equally divided between Early and absentee voting. Those fearing COVID-19 chose to stay at home and vote by mail while those wanting to vote by convenience chose Early Voting. The nearly 60k voters that flooded our sites caused major traffic and lines at all of our sites. The long lines and traffic issues put excess demands on the Towns and City to provide police and traffic control. Some voters waited well over 2 hours, beyond our mandate of a 30 minute wait, to cast their ballot.

Minimum sites for 2021

We agree on the six minimum sites for 2021. These are the same sites from 2020 with the exception of a temporary change moving from Camillus Fire Station to Camillus Town Hall for the General Election due to condemnation of the pedestrian bridge. We both agree that if we are to remain at 6 these sites are well spaced out and provide minimum needs for our voters. While some sites performed better than others the familiarity of these sites to the voters as well as coverage in North, South, East and West portions of the County and North and South west portions of the City of Syracuse spreads out the coverage as evenly as possible given the small number of sites.

Need for Expansion

While the unprecedented numbers in 2020 were hard to imagine earlier in the year, it was only logical that Early Voting would grow in popularity. As we saw in the 40+ states that came before us, the initial years were sparse but the growth happens over time. In many states usage of Early Voting exceeds 40% of the voting totals. In Onondaga County in 2020 we saw only 25% of our voting populace vote. There is plenty of room for growth. Despite the long lines the voters appreciated the ability to choose the hours in which they vote as well as the convenience of being able to choose polling places instead of being assigned just one.

I am grateful that facing the long lines last year we were able to reach agreement to extend hours on the final weekend of voting. This did help mitigate the wait times. However extending hours is not a significant way to deal with expected crowds. The lesson we should learn form 2020 is it would be better to disperse the voting populace by adding sites, reducing initial staffing, and then surging staff to areas that are experiencing longer waits.

Placing Expansion Sites

There are two main deficiencies in our 6 site structure. With a county as large and populace as ours it is difficult to serve all of our community’s geographic needs. The towns of Lysander, Cicero, Onondaga, and Manlius are some of our more populace communities yet do not have Early Voting sits inside their townships. Because these towns are located squarely between the current 6 site plans their populace has the farthest to go to take advantage of Early Voting. We have seen that the farther away from an Early Voting site you are the less likely to take advantage of Early Voting.

The current 6 site plan also is lacking in another quality that helps Early Voting, placing sites that are congregated by large amounts of citizens. Because Early Voting allows any voter to vote at any site, the concept of placing polling sites only near places of residence is limiting. Added value to any site would be a large amount of county residents that are expected to be in the vicinity of the site during the hours of operations 10 days before General Election Day. Places like the Civic Center and Onondaga Community College have large amounts of county residents that work or study in the immediate area. Not only would placement in these communities help the residents that live nearby, it will help all residents who frequent these areas easing the burden on all county sites.

No matter where we expand sites it is important we commit that the expansion has geographic and ideological balance as much as possible. Confidence in our integrity is important and fair placement should be tantamount to our deliberations.

Expansion Proposals

For your consideration I am offering three options regarding expansion in 2021, a modest expansion to 8 sites, a moderate expansion to 10 sites, and a robust expansion to 12 sites. While I am always for the most expansion possible I understand fiscal concerns and I am willing to accept that the most aggressive expansion may not be possible this year. However since there are bills in the NYS legislature which would double the amount of sites required I felt it is important to at least start the conversation. Across the state over the last two years many counties and most of the large counties, have gone beyond their mandated minimum. They have seen on average increased usage of Early Voting.

Expansion to 8 sites: Onondaga Community College and Cicero Town Hall. This option allows us to address our most glaring needs, access to Early Voting in the Southwest and Northeast corners of our counties. Cicero has over 23k voters and Onondaga has over 16k voters. In addition to the residence in the Town of Onondaga thousands of county residents from all walks of life attend school and work at Onondaga Community College. The college faculty and administration are willing to house

us in the facility and there is plenty of parking on campus as well as the ability to reserve spaces close to the arena for those who are elderly and have mobility issues. Placement at these sites will ease the burden on our three biggest suburban sites Clay, Camillus, and Dewitt as well as achieve a site with high public concentration. Ideologically Cicero is one of the most GOP leaning towns and though Onondaga is evenly split in registrations one could assume the college population leans towards the left. Pairing these two sites gives balance to this expansion. I would also be open to North Syracuse Village Hall instead of Cicero Town Hall.

Expansion to 10 sites: Lysander Town Hall & The Civic Center in Syracuse. This is my preferred option. Adding these sites in addition to the sites at OCC and Cicero adding sites in Lysander and Downtown Syracuse is the next logical choice. Lysander has over 17k residents and the residents there have flooded the Clay Town hall site as well as Camillus. Placing a site Downtown would serve a growing downtown population that has mobility issues, be close to the Centro bus transfer station, and serve the thousands of downtown residents. Lysander has decidedly a GOP lean its registration. Any site inside the city is bound to have an ideological left lean though the makeup of the thousands of downtown workers is undetermined. Pairing these sites also gives balance for this further expansion.

Expansion to 12 sites: Salina Town Hall and Manlius Town Hall. If we really want to invest in Early Voting doubling the amount of sites is the eventual choice. Expanding to Salina and Manlius will put sites in every town with over 15k voters. It will ease the burden on the Dewitt site as well as Clay and Armond Magnarelli Center. Manlius is our third largest town 23.5k voters and Salina has 22k voters. Both Manlius and Salina have Democratic leaning registrations but when we get to this level of expansion it is harder to find areas of large population that doesn’t have a Democratic lean. The sheer numbers of population in these towns calls for expansion into them if we go to the highest level. I would be open to adding Van Buren Town Hall and the NYS Fairgrounds to also add in sites at Geddes and Van Buren in addition to these for a super expansion in the future which will bring more moderate towns into the mix.

Fiscal Impact

Expanding Early Voting sites will require some expenditure of resources above the current budgeting levels. However the current budgeting levels may be inadequate even for the bare minimum 6 site plan. The main expenditure for Early Voting is the inspector totals. We already have enough Electronic Poll Books and Poll Print units to expand to even 14 sites with reasonable accommodations. We also have money in the Shoebox and upcoming Capital Grants if any small purchases are needed. The supplies spent on ballot paper and other consumables will be the same regardless of the number of sites as the population of the voters will not change drastically, only their convenience and time.

When we look at our normal 6 site plan we have staffing of 1 Poll Site Manager, 2 Voting System Specialists and 6 regular inspectors per day at each Early Voting site. This would normally cost us approximately $65,000 per nine day EV period. During the 2020 election because of the long lines we had to surge staff and increase hours. Our staff at each site went to 2 PSM, 2 VSS, and 8 inspectors and

with the added hours it cost Onondaga County over $156k. The extra staff dealt with crowd control and line maintenance as well as assisting voters with their ballots.

By expanding the sites we reduce the chances for long lines and crowded polling places requiring additional staff and hours. If we expanded sites we could reduce our staffing footprint to 1 PSM, 2 VSS, and 4 Inspectors. If needed we could surge staff to larger sites seeing more activity to reduce wait time, especially on closing weekend. Our cost ranges for the expansion would be as following: 8 sites 70k-86k, 10 sites 87k-107k, 12 sites 104k to 128k. I have attached a spreadsheet which details each scenario.

While expanding sites will add costs in some cases, it is actually less then what was spent in 2020 due to the long wait times. The more sites we add, the less likely we will have to surge staffing to deal with long lines as voters will have more options and can choose from a variety of sites. It is also worth noting that Early Voting, per voter, is less expensive to Onondaga County than absentee and mail in balloting. Expansion will encourage its use as oppose to voters who live farther away from designated sites deciding to request mail in ballots. The NYS Legislature in 2021 once again included money for early Voting Costs for the purpose of covering expansion of Early Voting. Onondaga County is set to receive between $40k and $50k. This will more than cover an expansion to the 10 site model.

Conclusion

I propose we expand to the 10 site model for Early Voting for 2021. We can reassess in 2022 whether this reduced wait times and provided more ease and convenience for voters. We should use the extra funds from NYS to cover the expansion costs plus reduce the overall local footprint of Early Voting on local dollars.

[heyshanii-blog]

Singapore and Malaysia were never on my bucket list, cause I’m not a city person. However, how would I not give it a go if two of my best mates were bound for an international reunion?

Everyone says Singapore is freaking expensive and I’d agree on that for the Southeast Asian standard cost however it is like that for a reason. I’ve never seen a city so perfect when it comes to convenience and cleanliness.

On the contrary, Malaysia takes the toll on making this trip affordable, and a challenge when it comes to getting direction as not all can comprehend and speak English. But don’t worry, everything should be easy peasy after you read this post.

DO WE NEED A VISA TO SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA?

For Philippine passport holders, not at all. You only need to show your return ticket or any proof that you’re coming back to the country like a company ID.

MONEY SAVING TIPS

©️wanderingpeople.wordpress.com

TRAVELLING TO DOWNTOWN SINGAPORE FROM CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Considered as one of the best airports in the world for six consecutive years, Changi International Airport is a destination in itself with its groundbreaking design and amenities like themed gardens, movie theatres and entertainment corners which some you can avail for free with your departure boarding pass.

A free Skytrain service operates from 5 AM – 2:30 AM between Terminal 1, 2 and 3; and a complimentary Shuttle Bus service connect Terminal 4 to Terminal 2.

BY SUBWAY (SMRT): The fastest way to get to the city from the airport. Located in the basement of Terminals 2 and 3, it is accessible from the Arrival and Departure Halls and operates from 5:30 AM on Mondays and Saturdays, 6 AM on Sundays and public holidays till 11:20 PM.

Hop onboard the train for Tanah Merah Interchange Station, then transfer to an East-West Line train going to the station nearest to where you’re staying. You can use your Singapore Tourist Pass.

BY PUBLIC BUS: The fare is SGD 2.50 and will you get into the city in an hour. No change is given so make sure to prepare the exact amount. Catch bus 36/36A from the basement bays of Changi Airport Terminals 2 and 4. The first bus leaves at 6 AM and the last one before 11 PM. Please refer to this route guide for a list of stops and estimated travel times.

BY AIRPORT SHUTTLE: If you’re arriving at odd hours, you can take an airport shuttle bus for SGD 9 for adults and SGD 6 for kids under 12. These shuttle buses run 24 hours and will take you directly to your hotel. You can book tickets on Klook however, check first if your hotel is one of their serviced hotels.

BY TAXI: Easiest but most expensive way as it’ll cost you around SGD 20 – 40 with an airport surcharge to get into the city. Larger groups can take large taxis called Maxi Cabs, which can accommodate up to 7 people for a flat fee of SGD 60. For more information, approach the 24-hour Ground Transport Concierges at the Arrival Halls.

TRAVELLING TO KL SENTRAL FROM KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the primary airport of Kuala Lumpur and has two terminals named KLIA and KLIA2. If you’re flying to Malaysia from the Philippines on either Air Asia or Cebu Pacific, you’ll likely be landing in KLIA2, which services low-cost carriers. The inter-terminal fare via KLIA Transit or KLIA Ekspres is RM 2.

Despite its name, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is 50km south of KL Sentral, the city’s intermodal transportation hub. It is home to KL’s service rails and bus lines and where you’ll be taking the bus or train back to the airport too.

BY KLIA EKSPRES: Kuala Lumpur’s fastest non-stop airport transfer from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA & KLIA2) to KL Sentral Station in the city in just 28 minutes. A one-way ticket costs RM 55 for adults and RM 25 for kids 2-12 years. Get a discount on the adult ticket if you book beforehand in Klook (RM 48). Please check the train schedule here. 

BY KLIA TRANSIT: Kuala Lumpur’s commuter service between the airport and KL Sentral Station, which makes three quick stops along the way – at Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya & Cyberjaya and Bandar Tasik Selatan. Ride this train if you’re going to either of those stops as it cost the same with KLIA Ekspres (RM 55 for adults and RM 25 for kids 2-12 years).

BY BUS: The cheapest way to get to KL Sentral is through SkyBus. Estimated travel time is an hour and will cost you RM 11. You can save RM 2 by buying your ticket online as well. Make sure to check their bus schedule for your arrival time.

BY TAXI: It’s expensive as it will roughly cost you RM 80 if you’re lucky enough to have a taxi driver who follows the taxi fares set by SPAD– Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission.

HOW TO TRAVEL FROM SINGAPORE TO MALAYSIA OR VICE VERSA

Singapore and Malaysia are neighbouring countries which you can travel by air or overland via bus, train and car. However, I’ll only recommend either taking the bus or plane since taking the train is quite a hassle as you need to transfer through different stations.

BY PLANE: Most convenient yet expensive. If you’re departing from Malaysia, a one-way AirAsia flight costs around RM120 but from Singapore, it will likely cost you around SGD 60 for a one-way AirAsia flight.

BY BUS: The cheapest and convenient way. Numerous buses depart daily from Singapore or Malaysia all differ in price depending on the time and comfort. The bus will usually take 5 to 6 hours to reach its destination. A great place to start your search is at EasyBook.

Some buses feature reclining seats with enough legroom, a USB socket to charge your mobile phones or even WIFI. The cheapest you can get from Singapore to Malaysia or vice versa is SGD 10 (RM 30), and the most expensive on a luxurious bus is SGD 45 (RM 135).

TIP: Be reminded to check the corresponding departure and arrival location in Singapore (or Malaysia) and the travel date you choose in buying tickets. Please be advised to be at the departure area 30 minutes or an hour before the departure time.

HOW TO GET AROUND

Singapore and Malaysia’s MRT system are both efficient that we used it everywhere we go. We only needed to take a taxi when it was odd hours, and a bus when we went to Merlion Park after having lunch at Lau Pa Sat and when I was heading to the airport from Terminal Bersapuda in Downtown Kuala Lumpur.

We started our in Singapore and opted to rent a Singapore Tourist Pass, a special tourist card to unlimited bus and train rides (excluding premium services such as Sentosa Express) for the duration it is valid. It costs SGD 10 for one day pass, SGD 16 for two days and SGD 20 for three days; and with an additional SGD 10 rental deposit which you can get back once you return the card.

However, if you’re staying longer than three days and doesn’t need unlimited rides daily, it’s better if you get the alternative EZ-Link Card that you can use at the MRT for a discounted trip rather than single-journey tickets, public buses, taxis and even at a convenience store. It’s similar to Korea’s T-Money Card.

If you need to travel by bus often, it’s best that you use Google Maps to help you navigate as it tells you the bus number you need to ride on.

On the contrary, I opted to do single-journey tickets when I was in Kuala Lumpur since I didn’t stay longer than one day as I was moving around Malaysia and it’s relatively cheap with most subway fare costing RM 2 for a short-distance journey.

TIP: Familiarize the transportation system through these train maps: Singapore and Malaysia, and calculate your train fare in Malaysia.

WHAT TO DO IN SINGAPORE

1.) Spend a day on Sentosa Island

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS Located on Sentosa Island, this theme park is home to exhilarating rides like Battlestar Galactica, Transformers, and Revenge of the Mummy. You can buy tickets online or at the gate, but you can get discounts if you purchase them in advance through Klook for SGD 72.

Since I came in a day late and right on time for Chinese New Year, I skipped experiencing the rides thinking I’ll only end up in a long queue. However, I still didn’t miss taking a photo on their famous Universal’s Globe!

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Peace out ✌🏼 to those who wanted to take a decent shot but ended up with us photobombing!

A post shared by Charmaigne 🇵🇭 (@heycharmaigne) on Mar 6, 2018 at 2:44am PST

How to Get There: Harbourfront (North East Line) → Ride bus # RWS8, 188R, 963R

Bus Fare: SGD 1 ( not covered by the Singapore Tourist Pass as considered a premium service)

TIP: You may opt to ride the monorail train for free upon going back to VIVO City Mall.

WINGS OF TIME If you got no plans for the night, check out Wings of Time. The light show usually starts at 7:40 PM or 8:40 PM, but it’s best if you go there an hour to get good seats. You can book your tickets with Klook for SGD 13.

MADAME TUSSAUDS If you don’t mind spending extra to see life-sized replicas of famous Americans and historical icons in themed galleries, go to Madame Tussauds. It will costs you SGD 20 via Klook.

2.) Explore Chinatown

No trip to Singapore is complete without a visit to Chinatown, a place of mixed culture, cheap hawker centres to trendier bars and restaurants, and where you can buy the best bargain deals for souvenirs.

Subway Station: Chinatown

SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE The first Hindu temple in Singapore which worships the goddess Mariamman was constructed in the early-19th century by southern Indian immigrants.

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Fiery sunset at the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, the Sri Mariamman. This amazingly intricate tower is 1 of 72 buildings to date that have been gazetted a National Monument within the Republic of Singapore.

A post shared by Shawn Eastman, Cardiff (@shawneastmanphotography) on Jun 19, 2017 at 9:47am PDT

BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE A beautiful four storey wooden eccentric structure, which is based on the Buddhist mandala and integrated with the Tang Dynasty’s Buddhism. As the name suggests, it houses what the Buddhists regarded as the left canine tooth of Buddha. Wear appropriate clothes if you intend to go inside the temple.

ANN SIANG ROAD Stroll down these elegantly restored shophouses that house the traditional home of clan a ssociations, exclusive social clubs, restaurants, bars and niche boutiques.

On Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 PM to 1 AM, both Ann Siang Road and Club Street, the name comes from the Chinese clubs that used to line the stretch, comes to life as the area is closed off to traffic and the crowd (and maybe even drinks) spills out onto the streets.

Head off to The Honeycombers for this hill’s neighbourhood guide.

NUS BABA HOUSE The Peranakans are the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the Malay archipelago. Once the home of a Peranakan Baba called Wee Bin, the furniture inside is all relics, making it a genuine representation of Peranakan life and culture in Singapore in the 19th and 20th centuries. Booking is necessary for free guided tours.

3.) Eat in a hawker centre

Lau Pa Sat is one of the most famous hawker centres where you can have good local foods at reasonable prices in Singapore. There are plenty of stalls to choose from, so have a walk around and check out what’s for sale and what others are eating– the perfect way to avoid food envy. A meal costs between SGD 2.50 – SGD 5.

Throughout the day different stalls are open, but it’s best to come here after 7 PM as this is when Satay Street opens, where they closed the roads when the sellers set up their barbeques. It might not be the best quality meat around, but sitting on the plastic tables with a beer and the famous snack is a fun way to end your time at Lau Pa Sat.

Subway Station: Raffles Place (Downtown Line), if coming from Chinatown

4.) Walk around the iconic Merlion and its nearby attractions

MERLION Being Singapore’s national icon, there’s no need for an introduction. The Merlion’s body symbolises Singapore’s humble beginnings as a fishing village called Temasek, which means “sea town” in Old Javanese while its head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura or “lion city” in Malay.

How to Get There: Raffles Place (East-West Line) → Exit towards the United Overseas Bank Plaza and from the middle of the plaza, you’ll see the Fullerton Hotel. Merlion Park is behind the hotel.

THE ESPLANADE You wouldn’t miss this performing arts centre as it’s eye-catching! Locals have dubbed the twin structures as “the Durian”, as it structures resemble the spiky tropical fruit that is unique to this part of the world.

SINGAPORE FLYER Sticking out among the skyscrapers in the Singapore skyline, the Singapore Flyer is no ordinary orb. This giant observation wheel offers 360-degree city views, a panorama that stretches to parts of Malaysia and Indonesia on a clear day.

A scenic 30-minutes spin on the Singapore Flyer takes you 165 metres above ground or as high as 42 storeys, making it Asia’s largest giant observation wheel, as you marvel at the spectacular scenery below in a fully air-conditioned glass capsule.

You can go on a regular flight but if you want something a little more memorable, how about going on one while sipping on cocktails or champagne? For people travelling as a couple, they even offer flights with a romantic four-course dinner for two.

You can buy tickets online for SGD 33 or through Klook. Klook offers a Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay combo pass, as well as vouchers to their beverage and dinner flights.

HELIX BRIDGE A unique, visually stunning feature in Singapore that links Marina Bay South to Marina Centre. A way to enjoy and photograph views from this bridge is through its viewing platforms. Each night the Helix Bridge is illuminated providing a beautifully lit walkway.

ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM The ArtScience Museum, which is the boldly lotus-inspired building that houses internationally renowned exhibitions, beautifully fuses art and science to tell fascinating stories. Immerse yourselves in the dynamic, digital universe of interactive art installations at Future World: Where Art Meets Science, a highly raved permanent exhibition in the museum. You can book your tickets at Klook for SGD 18.

MARINA BAY SANDS MALL Marina Bay Sands is the most iconic hotel in Singapore and sits directly opposite the Gardens by the Bay, which makes it the best place to grasp the size of the park. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of its infinity pool on social media. Sadly, it’s only open to hotel guests, but, the next best thing for you not to miss its unparalleled view would be to head up to the Sand Skypark observation deck on the 57th level. You can buy tickets at the gate or purchase in advance via Klook for SGD 20.

The hotel has a flagship shopping mall too called The Shoppes, where you can shop the biggest collection of premium and luxury designer fashion and accessories.

Witness its waterfront come alive at night with its Wonder Full Light and Water Show, Southeast Asia’s grandest light and water show. It is free of charge, and the show runs at 8 PM and 9:30 PM every Thursday to Sunday; and 8 PM, 9:30 PM and 11:00 PM every Friday and Saturday.

Subway Station:  Bayfront

TIP: The best location to see it would be outside of The Shoppes’ main exit or the left of the Louis Vuitton store, where you will be in the centre of the show.

5.) See the future at Gardens by the Bay

Singapore is considered the greenest city in Asia and a fitting symbol to it is Gardens by the Bay. It’s home to the mind-blowing Supertree Grove and two marvelous conservatories— Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.

SUPERTREE GROVE Stand in awe of these astounding vertical gardens planted with over 162,900 varieties of bromeliads, orchids, ferns, and tropical flowering climbers.

Designed to resemble towering trees and functioned like them as well- they all collect rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, some are equipped with solar panels to store energy for the nightly light show, while others are used as air exhaust receptacles to help cool the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest conservatories.

Walking around the park won’t cost you a cent, but access to the OCBC Skyway, where you can walk between three Supertrees for 15 minutes, is SGD 8 for adults and SGD 5 for children ages 3 -12.

SUPERTREE ROOFTOP BAR At the top of the tallest Supertree are a restaurant and rooftop bar. The latter has an entrance of SGD 18 per person, which includes one complimentary drink. A npice place to chill out while waiting for the light show.

OCBC GARDEN RHAPSODY When day turns to night, the Supertrees come alive casting a glow over the park. The OCBC Garden Rhapsody is free of charge, and showtime is at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM. Come early to get a good spot as for you to lay down.

THE CLOUD FOREST The smaller shell-shaped greenhouse highlights a 35-meter high mountain that boasts the world’s tallest indoor waterfall covered in lush tropical highland vegetation. It has two platforms, which give you stunning aerial views of the entire conservatory, Cloud Walk and Tree Top. The tour starts with a lift that takes you to the peak where you’ll start walking down the mist in Cloud Walk to the lower ground by the Tree Top.

THE FLOWER DOME Enter a world of perpetual spring through exhibits, which are complemented by varying displays in the Flower Field reflecting different seasons and festivals. You will also find yourself on a journey around the world with Baobaos from Africa, Olive trees from Spain, and Kangaroo Paw from Australia.

Combined admission to both the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories is SGD 28 for adults and SGD 15 for kids 3-12 at the gate, but you can get a discount through Klook. They offer a combined pass to both conservatories and the OCBC Skyway as well for SGD 30.

HOW TO GET THERE: Bayfront, Exit B → Follow the underground linkway, exit and cross the Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge into Gardens by the Bay.

6.) Discover awesome finds at Little India, Bugis and Kampong Glam

These three vibrant and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods have a long history of Arab, Malay, Bugis, and Indian merchants who have migrated in Singapore, creating a melting pot of religion, architecture, shopping and cuisine around the area’s thriving hippie yet cultural scene.

TAN TENG NIAH Possibly Singapore’s most colourful house, the House of Tan Teng Niah is in the heart of Little India, but its roots lie firmly in the Chinese colonialisation of Singapore making it one of the last surviving Chinese villas in the neighbourhood.

Subway Station: Little India

HAJI LANE The vivid graffiti-tagged alley located in the heart of Kampong Glam, famed for its charming and quirky boutique shops as well as hip bars and cafes.

MASJID SULTAN One of the oldest and largest mosques in Singapore, which can be easily recognised thanks to its golden domes.

ARAB STREET Once a place where Singapore’s Arab traders settled in the founding, it is now the best location where you can find the best bargain for the quality and exotic batik and silk finds.

BUGIS STREET The largest street-shopping bazaar in Singapore where you can buy affordable souvenir trinkets like key chains, tees, and postcards are available.

Subway Station: Bugis

7.) Enjoy the greenery at Singapore Botanic Gardens

With all of this small city’s urbanisation, it’s quite a surprise for a 158-year old tropical garden to exist. Singapore Botanic Garden, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Singapore, is home to a tropical rainforest, three lakes and multiple-themed gardens. You can spend an entire day here!

Entrance to the garden is free of charge, but the National Orchid Garden has an admission fee of SGD 5.

Subway Station: Botanic Gardens

WHAT TO DO IN MALAYSIA FOR ONE DAY

1.)Admire the architecture of Petronas Tower and Sultan Abdul Samad Building

PETRONAS TOWER The most iconic twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia connected by the SkyBridge, the world’s highest 2-storey bridge. You can visit their Ticketing Counter at Concourse Level in Petronas Towers, or you can buy online in advance to avail the Petronas Tour which costs RM 80 for adults and RM 33 for kids (3-12 years). They are available from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM – 9PM (closed between 1 PM – 2:30 PM on Fridays).

Station: KLCC (LRT), cost RM 1.90 from Masjid Jamek (LRT)

SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING

Used to house several government departments, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is among Kuala Lumpur’s earliest Moorish-style clock tower buildings, which is widely photographed by visitors. Today, this historic structure houses the Supreme and High Courts and is not accessible to the public.

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Random Post: I PROMISE you that you are not alone. No matter how ‘together’ some other 20 something seems…they are most likely sharing to some extent in your doubt, in your lostness, in the stretching of your paycheck, in your desire for purpose, in the pressure of your family and friends…We are all freaking out about something. For me today, I am freaking out because I'm currently sick and I have a travel ganap tomorrow. Pero you get my point? Apparently, we have to struggle, so let’s struggle upwards, struggle well. . . Hope this serves as a helpful reminder before we end our week! Love you guys!

A post shared by 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐳 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐥, 𝐂𝐏𝐀 (@colzvidal) on Mar 2, 2018 at 5:35am PST

Station:  Masid Jamek (LRT), cost RM 1.60 from KL Sentral (LRT)

2.) Climb to the top of Batu Caves

Batu Caves, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most frequented tourist attractions, is a limestone hill comprising three major caves and several smaller ones. The 100-year-old temple is considered an important religious landmark by Hindus as the Cathedral Cave, the largest and most popular cavern in Batu Caves houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100-metre high arched ceiling. It’s a strenuous climb up the 272 steps to the top of the caves so make sure that you don’t bring all your baggage.

Note: There is an ongoing track upgrading work between KL Sentral and Putra station that will last until November 2019.

How to Get There: → From KL Sentral, take the free shuttle bus to Sentul Station. The bus parks at the basement bus station, next to the KLIA2-bound buses. → From Sentul station, buy a ticket to the KTM Komuter Line for Batu Caves railway station, which costs RM 5 for a return journey. Kindly refer on the link for the specific train schedule.

SAMPLE ITINERARY AND BUDGET

Singapore and Malaysia are packed with interesting points, but you can do every significant attraction in 4 days if you’re in a rush. Here’s a sample itinerary:

© wanderingpeople.wordpress.com

Surprisingly, you get to see the best of both countries for less than PHP 10 000. The breakdown would be PHP 1400 for accommodation, PHP 4000 for prepaid activities, PHP 1850 for transportation and PHP 2300 for food. Take note this doesn’t include the plane ticket and souvenir (vary from SGD 1.50 for keychains to SGD 10 for T-Shirts) expenses. That’s two new stamps in a row on your passport as long as you spend wisely!

See the Best of Singapore and Malaysia for PHP 10 000 in 4 Days Singapore and Malaysia were never on my bucket list, cause I'm not a city person. However, how would I not give it a go if two of my best mates were bound for an international reunion?

[netmaddy-blog]

Business Traveller Flying to London? A London City Guide for Getting to the Centre

New Post has been published on https://netmaddy.com/business-traveller-flying-to-london-a-london-city-guide-for-getting-to-the-centre/

Business Traveller Flying to London? A London City Guide for Getting to the Centre

London. The vibrant, beating heart of the United Kingdom. It’s one of the world’s most popular destinations for tourists, and for business travellers too. The amount of commerce that goes through London is staggering, with a financial centre second only to New York, and service industries that cater for both the UK, European and international markets. As the world’s most multicultural city – there are over 300 languages spoken by a population of over eight million people (twelve million if you include the metropolitan area) – the opportunities for business are clear.

With the UK strategically positioned for the business traveller on the western edge of Europe, London is a global hub for air travel, providing easy access to mainland Europe, and a stepping stone to the United States. Primarily served by five airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Stansted and Luton – London is easily reached from anywhere in the world. But with the exception of London City Airport – smallest of the five and located in East London, close to the business district of Canary Wharf – the other four airports are satellites evenly dispersed around the city. The most popular, Heathrow, is located to the west of London; Gatwick is situated to the south; Stansted to the north east; and Luton to the North West. Knowing this before you make your travel plans can be useful. Since the greater metropolitan area of London covers over 1,000 square miles, your final business destination may not be right in the centre. Researching which airport is closest to your destination can save you time, effort and money.

However, whether you’re a business traveller flying from within the UK or from overseas, your starting destination may often determine the airport you arrive at. Other factors, such as your chosen time of travel, budget and availability will also make a difference. For example, if you’re travelling with a major international carrier from a major city, such as New York, the chances are you’ll arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick (Stansted also receives flights from New York but is the smallest of the three). If you’re travelling locally from within the UK with a budget carrier you’re more likely to arrive at Stansted or Luton (though not exclusively). And if you’re travelling from a major European city, particularly a financial capital, such as Frankfurt, London City Airport is a likely arrival point (the airport was created specifically to cater for short haul business travellers, particularly between financial centres).

Each airport is served by comprehensive rail and road infrastructure, providing business travellers with a variety of options to enter London. All five airports offer direct rail travel into the heart of Central London, coach travel to the main Victoria terminus, and hire car, mini-bus, licensed black cab and taxi services by road. If you’re a VIP business traveler, chauffeur services are also available, and with the exception of London City Airport, each also offer direct helicopter transfer into the heart of the city.

London Heathrow Airport

The busiest of the five airports is London Heathrow. Located less than twenty miles from central London, Heathrow is situated to the west of the city within the M25 motorway metropolitan boundary. The fastest route into London is via the Heathrow Express train service, taking just 15 minutes from terminals 1, 2 and 3 to Paddington station (located on the western side of Central London). If your flight arrives at either terminal 4 or 5 it’s a further four and six minutes travel time respectively, and you’ll need to transfer on to the main London-bound service at terminals 1, 2 and 3.

The service is excellent, offering comfort and convenience, but does not always suite everyone’s travel budget. The standard ‘Express’ single journey ticket costs £21.00 (€25.00 / $35.00), but business travellers can get better value when purchasing a return ticket, priced at £34.00 (€40.00 / $56.00). The ‘Business First’ ticket is more expensive, with singles costing £29.00 (€35.00 / $48.00) and returns £52.00 (€62.00 / $86.00), but it does afford business travellers considerably more leg room, the privacy of a ‘single seating’ layout, and a fold out table. The experience is akin to that of air travel. All passengers across both pricing structures enjoy access to electrical sockets, USB ports and free Wi-Fi. The overall quality of service and passenger experience generates a ‘wow’ factor, and if your budget can afford it, is certainly the smoothest, quickest and most convenient way to travel into London from Heathrow. Trains run regularly every fifteen minutes in both directions, particularly useful for last minute dashes to the airport.

There are two further rail options available to business travellers, both considerably less expensive, though this is reflected in the quality of service. That’s not to say either is not a good solution for business travellers, just that there is a noticeable difference in convenience and comfort.

With a service typically running every thirty minutes, and a journey duration – depending on the time of day – of between 23 and 27 minutes from terminals 1, 2 and 3, Heathrow Connect is more than adequate for business travellers who are not in a hurry. Like the rival Express service, Connect also arrives at Paddington station, but unlike its faster rival stops at up to five other stations before reaching its terminus. The ‘inconvenience’ of this less direct journey is compensated for by a considerably less expensive ticket price. Single journey’s cost £9.90 (€12.00 / $16.00) while a return is £19.80 (€24.00 / $32.00). There is no saving to be made from purchasing a return ticket. While the convenience and comfort of the traveller experience cannot match the Express, the Connect business travel solution is an acceptable compromise that suits a greater number of travel budgets.

The third – and least expensive – rail option is the London Underground ‘tube’ network. Despite the network’s name the majority of the journey from Heathrow is overground, until the business traveller nears Central London. Starting on the Piccadilly Line, the service connects all five Heathrow terminals and provides frequent trains into London, stopping at a considerable amount of outlying stations before arriving in the capital’s centre. This continually ‘interrupted’ journey – there are seventeen stops between Heathrow terminals 1, 2 and 3 and Paddington Tube station (the nearest equivalent tube terminus for a fair comparison) – and takes approximately fifty minutes journey time on average, considerably slower than its more direct rivals. This journey comparison also requires the inconvenience of a transfer between lines.

So why would the business traveller consider using the tube from Heathrow to Central London? Simple. The frequency of service, the array of destinations, and the cost. At a cash price of just £5.70 (€6.80 / $9.50) for a single journey in either direction during peak hours (06:30am to 09:30am), financially the Underground is an attractive option. At nearly half the price of the Heathrow Connect, and at just over a quarter of the price of the Heathrow Express, this service is comparably good value for money. Further value can be found if the business traveller purchases an ‘Oyster Card’, the ‘cashless’ electronic ticketing system beloved by so many Londoners. Available to purchase at Heathrow London Underground stations, this useful option allows you to get tickets cheaper than for cash – in this case a reduction to just £5.00 (€6.00 / $8.30). Off-peak travel with an Oyster Card offers even greater value, with Heathrow to Paddington in either direction costing just £3.00 (€3.60 / $5.00) per journey. The Oyster Card can also be used for unlimited travel on buses and trains throughout London, with a maximum daily spend capped at £17.00 (€20.00 / $28.00) peak time and just £8.90 (€10.60 / $15.00) off-peak for a six zone ticket (destinations across London are divided into six main zonal rings. Travelling from Heathrow to Central London crosses all six zones).

The Underground is primarily a city-wide mass transit system, rather than a ‘train’ service. As such the level of comfort and convenience is substantially less than that of both the Heathrow Express and Connect services, and at peak hours can be considerably uncomfortable. Having endured a recent flight, business travellers who choose this option run the risk of having to stand up the entire journey if travelling during peak hours. If the carriage is full to squeezing point (as is often the case at peak time) managing your luggage can be a challenge. It should also be noted that the tube network – which, as the world’s first urban mass-transit system is over 150 years old – is often prone to signal failures and delays. If the time between your arrival at Heathrow (don’t forget to factor in clearing immigration control, luggage collection and customs) and your business appointment is tight, particularly during peak hours, it is not unfair to say that you are taking a risk if you choose to use the Underground.

Compared to using rail, travelling by road into Central London is far less convenient. Like every major city around the world, traffic congestion plagues the streets of London. The M4 and A4 route from Heathrow into London is always busy and in parts can be slow moving at times. No matter what your method of road transport, the business traveller is vulnerable to the risk of delays and accidents.

Buses and coaches are plentiful. The dominant carrier is called National Express. They operate services between Heathrow Airport and London Victoria, the main coach terminus in London. From here travellers can travel to many other destinations around the UK. The coaches run from Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station, which is located between terminals 1, 2 and 3. Its well sign posted so easily found. If you’re arriving at terminals 4 or 5 you’ll need to first take the Heathrow Connect train to the central bus station. From Victoria Station you can get to any other part of London with ease, via the Underground, plentiful buses, local trains and licensed black cabs / minicab taxi services.

A single journey tickets start from £6.00 (€7.20 / $10.00), while returns cost £11.00 (€13.20 / $18.00). Although you can purchase your ticket at Heathrow, it is advisable to do so in advance, and online. This will ensure you have a guaranteed, reserved seat on your coach of choice, and also provide you with the opportunity to select a time of departure and/or return that best suits your needs. Typically this service runs three coaches per hour to and from London Victoria coach station. The journey time can vary, dependent on the route taken, the time of day and traffic conditions, but you can typically expect your journey to take between 40 and 90 minutes.

National Express also offers business travellers a Heathrow hotel transfer service to and from the airport, known as the Heathrow Hoppa. With hundreds of services each day running around the clock, it’s a clean, comfortable and affordable way to get about, costing £4.00 (€4.80 / $6.60) for single journey and £7.00 (€8.40/ $11.50) for a return journey. This service is particularly useful if your business appointment is located close to Heathrow and you have no need to travel into Central London.

An alternative to coach travel is taking a bus. This can be particularly useful if you arrive at Heathrow late at night. Depending on the day of the week, the N9 night bus runs approximately every 20 minutes to Trafalgar Square in Central London, from 11.30pm to 5am. The journey time is approximately 75 minutes, subject to traffic delays. It’s a very affordable service, and as part of the Transport for London infrastructure a single journey can be paid for with an Oyster Card (£1.40 (€1.70/ $2.30) or by cash (£2.40 (€2.90/ $4.00).

If your journey into London requires the freedom to choose to travel whenever you want, to wherever you want, or you simply require privacy, then private hire transport is readily available at Heathrow. If you’re just interested in getting from A to B and back again, without any other journeys in between, taking a licensed black cab or minicab taxi may suit your needs. Travelling in an iconic licensed black cab into Central London will take approximately 45-60 minutes, subject to traffic delays, and can typically cost between £50.00 (€60.00/ $83.00) and £80.00 (€96.00/ $132.00). If you do find yourself delayed in traffic the journey will cost more, since black cab meters also charge for waiting time when not moving. Black cabs are readily available at all hours, and good sign posting at Heathrow means they’re easy to find. At a squeeze up to five business travellers can be accommodated, though if you all have large luggage it will be a problem.

An alternative private hire to black cabs are licensed taxi services. This could be a better option for the business traveller, particularly if a number of people with luggage are travelling together. An array of vehicle types are available, ranging from standard 4/5 seater saloon and 6/7 passenger people carrier cars, up to 15 or 17 seater minibuses and even coach taxis. An added advantage is you can book your vehicle of choice in advance and at a fixed price. With so many different companies offering these services, prices – and quality of service – can vary, but typically for a single journey the business traveller can expect to pay a fixed, advance price of £40.00 (€48.00/ $66.00) for a saloon car; £50.00 (€60.00/ $83.00) for an estate car; £55.00 (€66.00/ $90.00) for an executive car; £55.00 (€66.00/ $90.00) for a people carrier; £65.00 (€78.00/ $108.00) for an 8 seater minibus; £80.00 (€96.00/ $132.00) for an executive people carrier; and £165.00 (€198.00/ $272.00) for a 16 seater minibus. Savings can be made on all tariffs if a return journey is booked in advance.

Travelling by black cab or licensed taxi affords the business traveller the freedom to travel at his or her own pace, and can take the hassle out of a journey. It can be a very relaxing way to commute from the airport into London, particularly after a long flight, and offers the business traveller an opportunity to unwind prior to their business appointment.

If you need to arrange senior executive or VIP transportation, chauffeur driven services are readily available (booked in advance) between Heathrow and London. The vehicle type and the length of time you require it for will dictate the price you’ll pay. Chauffeur driven services are readily available to find online. The same is true of helicopter charter services which can transfer the executive business traveller from Heathrow into Central London (Battersea Heliport) in approximately 15 minutes. Flightline Travel Management is experienced at providing our customers with both modes of transport, and we’re happy to take your enquiry.