Singapore, I Love You

Singapore is my gateway to paradise. Our only first-world neighboring country has it all - a fusion of Asian culture, modernity and sophistication. Not to mention it's a true shopper's paradise. It's a place where our family vacations would usually start off before going to Bangkok or Manila. We would spent a couple nights here with a shopping spree around Orchard and then a trip to Sentosa every now and then. Now, it's a place for transit before going back to Jakarta and/or Manila. Initially this time, I planned to stay in a coffee shop in the airport with caffeine, baked confectionaries and free wifi keeping me busy for six hours. Once I checked out of the immigration line, the adventurous side of me took over.
The reasons why I love traveling to Singapore alone is because simply because, I can truly enjoy safe independence of wandering in a foreign place, being isolated from any means of communication and exercising my time management skills a little bit.
Note: Pictures were all grabbed from the internet. I didn't take any of these!

They say that you can judge what a country will be like from its airport. This is definitely true for Singapore because the first step you take inside the airport and you can sense and see the orderliness and efficient the country is. The immigration process will take you probably less than a minute if you follow the proper procedures.

 Efficiency and orderliness truly defines the SMRT transportation system. Affordable and also reliable mode for transportation around the small city. The perfect place for people-watching/observing (discreetly, of course). You can be a witness to the blending pot of all ethnic groups - Chinese, Indians, Westerners and Filipinos all come together.


Even though my actions may scream out 'tourist', from clutching an Essential Singapore Guide pamphlet and glancing at the MRT map every 15 seconds to make sure I was going on the right way, I didn't care.

Strolled along in Orchard Road. Bought a dollar ice-cream (mint choco-chip!) sandwich from the street vendor, who I still remember back in previous family vacations.

Next time I'll try places a bit more offbeat like Bugis or Chinatown. Hopefully, I'll definitely check out museums and nightlife in the future.

1-Altitude, the world's highest al-fresco bar. Who wouldn't want to see a breathtaking view of the whole city here?  

A museum on the history of peranakans (early Chinese and South-Indian descendants) that explores their culture, rituals, traditions and history

 Farewell, Singapore. Until next time!