Last Day in Singapore

Woke up late. Did some preliminary packing. Had a late buffet breakfast. Rushed off to the Japanese and Chinese Gardens. Skipped lunch. Back to Orchard Road to pick up some pants I left for alterations. Rushed back to the hotel before they charge me an extra half-day. Did request for a late check-out, but the front desk seems to have forgotten about it. Final packing. Dropped off luggages at the concierge. Visited the new National Library, then further on to Parkview Square and Sultan Mosque. Passed by Bras Basah and bought some books and stamp albums. Picked up bags from hotel concierge. Taxi to airport. Boarded plane. Time for another movie marathon.

Tips for the expert junketeer:

• Do not unpack everything if you can help it. Leave everything in the luggage. Take out stuff as needed. Saves you time packing when it's time to go. Use the extra time to do something else.
• If you have to, just use one or two drawers. Saves you the hassle of going through every drawer and cabinet and nook and cranny looking for stuff you might've left behind and worrying on the plane.
• Arrange for late check-out the moment you check-in, regardless whether you'll need it or not. Trust me, you'll need it. Confirm that your late-checkout is in the records.
• Don't bother bringing home all those training materials, brochures, and tourist maps. They're heavy and take up valuable space. Nowadays, everything is available online in case you need to refer to something.
• If you're into last-minute shopping, there are two things you need to remember. One, set aside enough cash to get to the airport, in case you get carried away. Two, have an extra bag handy. Plastic bags are not strong enough, and they're unwieldly.