Post-Arrival

The short trip is over and I'm happy to be back home where I belong.

Although most of the trip was devoted to work, I enjoyed myself. The meetings were fruitful and we got to meet interesting people.

As a city, Singapore seems like a place that I'd want to visit again, especially with all the different tour options that are available (all of which I haven't tried). The ones that I'm particularly interested in are the walking tours, which I only read about this morning while standing around the hotel lobby waiting for our airport shuttle.

Dinner last night was with some work colleagues at the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant in Clark Quay. The view was lovely and the river breeze was refreshing. The food itself was fine, although I wouldn't consider it anything special -- it's the same quality that you'd expect from any authentic Chinese restaurant here in Manila.

Some parts of the city remind me of Kota Kinabalu, in the sense that the streets are wide, with a lot of trees, and the architecture has Asian influences stamped all over it. The people are also more gracious than Hong Kong or mainland Chinese residents. They're in less of a rush and walking on the street isn't a 'mad crowd' experience. I can immediately understand why people would seriously entertain the idea of moving there to work or to live.

Had a little bit of adventure after dinner last night by walking back to my hotel alone. The entire journey took over thirty minutes since the hotel is around three bus stops away from Clark Quay and I didn't try to rush myself. I enjoyed the exercise -- all those weeks of hitting the exercise machine at home helped -- and the walk back home tired me out enough that I slept like a log afterwards.

I think at the end of the day, what I appreciated the most was being able to get away from the current project and clear my head for a couple of days. It was a true break, which I think I really needed.

Pre-Departure

I really should be sleeping already since I have an early wake-up call tomorrow, but I'm not ready to drift off to dreamland yet.

Today was fairly quiet. Was home most of the time going through the stuff that I wanted to bring on my three-day-two-night trip to Singapore. I think I've got almost everything squared away. The flight leaves tomorrow afternoon.

Should be an interesting experience, since I've never been to Singapore before.

TSA-Approved Padlocks

I first heard about TSA-approved padlocks a couple of days ago.

Apparently, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the entity responsible for screening checked luggage and inspecting baggage in the US. They've worked with lock manufacturers to design a special kind of padlock, which people now call TSA Approved Locks.

These locks all have a number inscribed on the bottom, which corresponds to a specific type of master key. The TSA has all the master keys and will use the correct one to safely unlock your bag in the event that they need to inspect your baggage. After completing the inspection, they will relock your bag and include a formal notice that your bag had been opened and inspected.

Without a TSA-approved lock, the lock on your bag would simply be clipped open and after inspection, your bag will be closed but now without a lock. If you're the type of traveller who likes to keep things locked, especially if you're travelling into the Philippines, then you'll want to use a TSA-approved lock.

As it turns out, it's not that easy to find these locks in Manila because they apparently sell quite well. A few hours of research have turned up these options:

• Victorinox. They're known more for their swiss army knives, but they also make TSA-approved locks. The only branch I know of is located at The Podium, on the second floor. It will be good to call first to check if they have any in stock.
  
• True Value. This chain of hardware stores carries TSA-approved locks with the Master brand. Again, call first to reserve because the locks are often out of stock. Shangri-La Mall branch: 635-0410 to 12
• Ace Hardware. Another chain of hardware stores, affiliated with the SM chain. Megamall branch: 633-1471, 633-1485
• Luggage Brands. Some luggage brands that sell travel accessories have also started carrying TSA-approved locks. Example: Samsonite.

Travel safe!

Travel Lessons

Lesson One: when you are attending a private training course or seminar organized by another company in another country, get an explicit, written confirmation that the event is pushing through before buying the tickets and reserving the hotel room... so that if they cancel at the last minute, they are obligated to reimburse you for the cancelation fees.

Lesson Two: it's worth taking the time and effort to find the best possible travel package deal because the price differences (especially after you convert US$ to PhP) can be quite substantial. Some packages seem more expensive, but it might be that they have additional items included, like complimentary breakfasts and airport transfers.

Lesson Three: A travel agent with a great attitude makes the hassle of canceling a trip much more bearable. Find one and stick to them for all your travel needs.