Singapore

February 17, 2020

Singapore has always been a hot spot for tourists due to the allure of its super clean, high end rules based culture. In the past few years, it has soared as a top travel destination (largely due to the hit movie, Crazy Rich Asians).

Once we decided to attend our friends’ wedding in India, it was only natural that we planned a few other destinations as we visited the other side of the world! I had visited Singapore once before in high school, so I actually tried to advocate for Bali. Steven loves luxury so naturally he fought for Singapore and I acquiesced. However, I’m so glad we decided on Singapore because we loved it.

We set the bar high by staying at the Marina Bay Sands the first night because why not live a little! The hotel rooms have automation where the moment you enter the room, the curtains slowly open automatically for you. We paid for a “garden view,” which provided a beautiful view of the Gardens by the Bay.

We naturally had to enjoy our first meal at a hawker center and found Satay by the Bay within walking distance. Though it was definitely priced for tourists not locals, we adored the food! Already drooling thinking about it already.

A few of the most popular and breath-taking sights in Singapore are the Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and Skyway. We found a fantastic deal on Klook, which combined all of the above in one ticket!

My favorite was the Flower Dome. It took my breath away. An air-conditioned dome filled with lush flowers. Amazing!

The Cloud Forest kept going and going. The moment you thought you had seen it all, it was elevate into additional floors and cascade into more beautiful views. A stunning waterfall greets you when you walk in and it is jaw-dropping.

Lastly, we visited the skyway in the midst of the Supertree Grove. A great way to end the sightseeing portion of this exciting day!

We worked up an appetite and visited the famous Lau Pa Sat Festival hawker center (where Nick Young takes Rachel when they arrive in Singapore).

And now…one of the moments we’ve all been waiting for! The fabled infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands!

For our second night, we stayed at the Novotel Singapore on Stephens, a more classic area of Singapore before the newer tourists parts got developed. We took a stroll to the Botanic Gardens, which actually felt very boring and underwhelming after experiencing the Gardens by the Bay despite their honor as a UNESCO heritage site.

We had an incredible lunch at Tenjin at the Shaw House & Centre mall. The restaurant stood small and quaint in the heart of the dining area, and featured the most delicious tempura sets I’ve ever experienced with exquisite tea as a complement. I adored it!

In the evening, we visited the world famous Night Safari & Tram, the only night safari in the world! We also found a great deal on Klook and really enjoyed the experience. On the tram, you experience the real lives of animals that typically are sleeping or dormant during the day. You sit a few feet away from lions, tigers, elephants, and more. There’s also an entertaining animal show you can attend as well.

On the next day, we visited Haji Lane. It’s a famous street of independent boutiques and Middle Eastern cafes. Super colorful and unique! My favorite store: andwelldressed studio.

We ended our last night as a local, with my mom’s old family friends in a locale of Singapore that people actually live. For dinner, we visited a “cafe,” which is what the locals call hawker centers…and had the best meal of our entire time.

For our last day, we visited Sentosa Island. It’s super easy to get there! We rode a tram that connected us to the island and it runs super frequently. Not my favorite part of Singapore, but very relaxing if you want to take a day trip.

Before bidding Singapore adieu, we soaked in the beautiful airport. Definitely one of the best in the world! We felt sad leaving and a little nervous given this was the very start of COVID-19. Looking back, we are eternally grateful that we got to squeeze in this trip before the world became isolated. Thank you, God!!

We love you, Singapore, and hope we get to come back soon!