Singapore, Singapore, SINGAPORE!

Hey Travelers,

For weeks you have been following along as I counted down the days to my departure for Singapore. For those of you who may be joining me later on this blogging adventure, I headed to Singapore for a few days last week for a work trip. I have spent previous weeks diving into other blogs and Google to research key sites to see and experiences to wander upon.

Blogs like NomadicMatt helped me create a starting Singapore travel guide, inclusive of popular destinations within the state. Although his post certainly created some thought starters, I was not actually able to visit any of the locations I noted in that post, as they were significantly farther apart from my central location than anticipated. As I learned quickly, Singapore is very easy to navigate but there is a tremendous amount of traffic at all hours of the day; so if you’re headed there anytime soon, be sure to plan ahead if you have to be anywhere by a certain time!

I also did some general digging via Wikipedia into tourism in Singapore, taking a chance to update a page myself following some careful research. My updated content is still available on the Wiki page today, and I even was able to spend some time with the local population chatting about the value of tourism to Singapore. As I noted, top market visitors are: China, Indonesia, and India, which per the locals, still remains true to this day. Within the past few years, Singapore has done extensive construction work to create a more accessible and visitor-friendly city, as there are areas that are very tourist-centric, but many that are still not. In just seconds you can go from a very wealthy area to a very impoverished one, which is clear to even the most oblivious of tourists. The wealth gap remains incredibly extensive and is made notably clear throughout the state.

To get to the good stuff, however, I thought I’d do a BIG post to show photos of my trip and talk my fellow travelers through my favorite activities. Overall, the country is absolutely beautiful. It is green literally everywhere; the vegetation is extensive and it is clear that the people take serious pride in preserving the land. Coming back to New York was certainly not easy as there is about one tree on every block (with the exception of Central Park and other randomly placed parks throughout the city), and in Singapore there are trees, plants, and flowers just about everywhere.

To start out, I figured I’d start with my favorite experience, which was my time spent at the Gardens By The Bay. To even put into words what this floral fantasy looks like is incredibly difficult, as it was truly like nothing I had ever seen before. The Gardens boast a whopping 250 acres of land full of vibrant flowers, waterfalls, and plants. I cannot even imagine what it costs to maintain the spaces, considering the ticket prices are truly so low. While I can’t really put it into words, I can certainly put it into photos, so check them out below! This absolutely would be a recommended must-see for anyone visiting Singapore anytime soon (or anyone who is now looking into it). It was an experience I truly will never forget and am grateful to have had a few hours to wander and reflect on how lucky I was to be there.

Another truly incredible experience was time spent at the Sky Park at Marina Bay Sands. Marina Bay Sands is a massive resort hotel and casino that is featured in many movies (cough, cough, "Crazy Rich Asians" as a most recent). The hotel boasts absolutely striking views of the Singapore coastline via its Sky Park Observation Deck, which provides a view of the city that nothing else can. Luckily, my colleagues and I were able to visit in the middle of the afternoon on a Wednesday, so we did not have to stand in any lines before heading to the top. Once we arrived at the top we were immediately taken aback by the breathtaking views. This experience was absolutely fascinating as it provided us the opportunity to see Singapore as a whole, as when you could see the incredible gardens, you could also see the slums that exist extensively. This was a truly eye-opening experience as it showcased the wealth gap that I read about before my departure. However, I will certainly say this experience was another that comes highly recommended as the view from the top is amazing and the resort as a whole was just incredible to see.

The last of my top picks comes at a slightly different pace, in the form of a buddhist temple. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a famous temple located in Chinatown within Singapore that is placed smack in the middle of a bustling street. While strangely placed, the architecture is absolutely stunning, both inside of the temple and outside. There are still Buddhists in practice at the temple, so it was important to be respectful of their time and energy (note that it is most respectful to cover shoulders, remove hats, and wear close-toed shoes). This experience was incredible serene, complete with a rooftop orchid garden, and had I had more time, I would have loved to stay here and just sit on the roof admiring the incredible work done to create something with such rich religious significance.

Other notable experiences were my visit to Sentosa Island and my walk to the Merlion Statue. Sentosa Island is known in Singapore as the "Island of Fun," as it is home to many vacation resorts, beautiful beaches, cable car rides, and Universal Studios Singapore! I was intrigued by Sentosa but am not sure I would go out of my way to visit again, as it was a bit too touristy for me. But nonetheless, it is truly beautiful and the view from the cable car, if you can hitch a ride, is stunning! I also visited the Merlion statue, which is famous in Singapore and provides an incredible view of Marina Bay Sands and Singapore's downtown financial district. Although this was certainly tourist central, it was great to see such a rich piece of Singapore's history and traditional culture. As the Merlion statue spits out water, many people stood taking pictures in places where they could appear to be catching the water in their mouth, similar to what people do at the Louvre or the Leaning Tower of Pisa! 

Before I wrap this post up, I wanted to include some key pointers I learned in my time in Singapore. I enjoyed every minute of my experience and wish I had been able to stay longer!

1. There is no Uber or Lyft, but there is an equivalent app known as Grab. It works the exact same way as our standard transportation apps, and even takes cash! You can also order food (like Uber Eats) from the app. Note that drivers typically accept rides very quickly and do not like to wait around if you are late.
2. Singapore is an incredibly safe state because its laws are very strict. The government and the people take great pride in keeping everything in order, so it is important for visitors to be respectful of this when touring the state. No chewing gum!
3. As I noted in an earlier post, the traffic can be very bad. It doesn’t matter what time of day you are traveling (if by car), expect delays based on crowded roads and some slow drivers. Be sure to allot enough time to get to your destination.
4. The night markets, Singapore’s famous food stalls, are home to some of the best local cuisine there is. While the food is incredible, I would recommend drinking only bottled water as although the water is safe to drink, the mineral contents are different than what we are used to drinking here. 

Overall, as hopefully evident from this post, my time in Singapore was absolutely incredible. I am grateful to have spent time there and to have experienced much of what the state has to offer. I look forward to returning later in the year and will hopefully have ample time to continue exploring then.

As always, reach out with any recommendations or questions. I’d be happy to help you plan your next trip!

Cheers,

Annika

Tales of an Unexpected Friend

Hey Travelers,

Earlier today I was cleaning out my camera roll on my phone and came across some photos of a mini adventure I had when I went to London earlier this year. The photos reminded me why I love the city so much and provided an important reminder to be present and kind, as you never know who you will encounter along the way.

I hopped off the plane at London Heathrow airport and immediately found myself snaking through what seemed like an eternal maze to get to the Heathrow Express, which is the train that would take me to my flat for the weekend in Paddington. The train ride itself was quite nice and very quiet, and included a beautiful view of the city from the outside.

Upon arrival to Paddington Station, I needed to figure out how to get to my flat, which was about a mile away, very close to Hyde Park. I quickly realized that my international data plan was failing me, leaving me with no sense of direction and no ability to call an Uber. So, with about 100 pounds in my pocket I walked outside of the station to find a row of black cabs, notorious in London, awaiting clueless travelers like myself. As someone who hates taking cabs in New York, I was somewhat reluctant to request a ride, knowing that the cost would likely be exorbitant. However, I needed to get to my destination quickly (and properly) so that I could begin my travels throughout the city.

I found myself in the back of a piercing black cab driven by a young man named Harry, likely in his late twenties or early thirties. He was very pleasant right from the minute I stepped into his vehicle, chatting up a storm almost immediately. At first I rolled my eyes (internally, of course), thinking I just wanted to look out the window and get my first looks at the city after a long day of traveling from home. However, I quickly realized it was unlikely that I would be able to get Harry to stop talking, so I took advantage of the local and began asking him for some recommendations.

He was absolutely delighted to help and incredibly friendly, asking about my interests to help tailor his response to what he thought I would enjoy most. He began pointing out key landmarks we were passing, explaining the history of each, and even sharing some stories about clueless tourists (like myself) he had encountered at each one. What began as an exhausting encounter quickly turned into one that was very positive, as I realized that Harry truthfully could care less about the money he would be receiving from the ride, and much more about showcasing his city to an outsider. As someone who is consistently in the New York state of mind, most often keeping my head down when walking and speeding past people before they can even get a word in, I was quick to dismiss his eagerness to be of help.

I realized later that Harry had stopped the meter fairly early into our ride. Most often I would find this somewhat concerning, but his true dedication to his city shined through when he clearly showed he cared more about creating an appreciation for the city amongst visitors than the money at all.

In times where you find yourself consistently rushing, use this as a reminder to take a breath and a step back, and step out of your comfort zone. You never know who you may encounter.