Three Nights in Singapore: A Memorable Stopover

Arrival in Singapore

Getting into Singapore was easy. We grabbed a trolley off the plane, walked about four minutes before leaving it, and then headed to scan our passports, as we had already filled out the online documentation. The system also required us to scan our right thumbs before passing through the automated gates. The bathrooms at the airport were pristine, resembling those in a luxury hotel, and water stations (offering both hot and cold water) were conveniently placed near the luggage claim area, allowing us to refill our bottles.

One hiccup: Our Eskimo eSIM card didn't work in Singapore. We hadn’t checked in advance, so we ended up purchasing a new eSIM at the airport—1GB for seven days at $4.50 USD, which worked perfectly.

First Impressions

The roads were wide, with three to four lanes, no potholes, and beautifully lined with trees. Traffic was surprisingly light, with no honking. The drive to the Marina Bay area took about 15-20 minutes. Singapore’s compact size was evident—the entire east-to-west stretch is only 40 km!

During the day, the heat and humidity were intense. We appreciated taking it slow in the mornings, enjoying a nice breakfast and a workout at the gym. Much of our first day was also spent planning our Singapore activities and finalizing our next two weeks of travel.

Evening Out: Esplanade & Marina Bay

We decided to attend a symphony performance at Esplanade, which was a lovely experience. Afterward, we walked to Marina Bay to watch the light show, admired the Sands Observatory Deck from a distance, and visited the iconic Merlion statue. The evening weather was pleasant for walking, though it got warm after a while. We explored the historic Fullerton Hotel and read about its significance before strolling along Clarke Quay, an area filled with restaurants and bars. Being a Friday night, the place was lively and buzzing with energy.

Gardens by the Bay Experience

Our morning routine remained the same, and by 5 PM, we arrived at Gardens by the Bay. A couple we met had highly recommended the Cloud Forest, so we started there. The experience reminded us of the Biodôme in Montreal, as my husband put it. It was incredibly well done but crowded, making navigation difficult at times. The experience included an elevator ride to the sixth floor, from where visitors descend via a skywalk, offering stunning views (and slight vertigo if you look down!). Learning about its sustainability initiatives made the visit even more impressive.

Next, we explored the Flower Dome. It houses a diverse range of flora from different regions, including Baobab trees from Africa and Australia, various cacti, and palm trees. The highlight for me was the Sakura exhibit. Since we had missed cherry blossoms in Japan, this was a wonderful consolation. The trees were smaller than expected, but the variety was fascinating. The place was packed, making it challenging to pause and take in the scenery fully. However, as night fell and the lights illuminated the garden, the experience became truly magical.

A fascinating fact: This was the 10th edition of the Sakura exhibition in Singapore, featuring 440 cherry trees from 48 different varieties, half sourced from Japan and the rest from Europe. Many of these trees were about 15 years old. The 130 lanterns, crafted from bamboo, symbolized the philosophy of "turning bamboo damage into bamboo wealth"—a concept of coexisting harmoniously with nature.

After visiting the domes, we headed to the Supertree Grove for the light and music show, at 7h45pm which lasted about 10 minutes. It was mesmerizing, though crowded. Some visitors lay on the ground with blankets to fully immerse themselves in the experience—an idea that seemed fun but also a bit risky in a crowded space!

A Last-Minute Change of Plans

We had planned to dine at The Butcher’s Wife, a gluten-free restaurant, but it was closed for the holidays. Instead, we returned to our hotel for dinner. That evening, we also finalized our travel plans—booking our next flight at 4 PM and securing a hotel at 11 PM. There were plenty of available options, but deciding on one took time. We went to bed exhausted but relieved to have our plans set.

Departure from Singapore

Singapore has four terminals. Since we were flying to Krabi with JetStar, a budget airline, we departed from Terminal 4. The terminal was massive and well-organized. Security was a breeze, and seating areas varied from traditional chairs to plush sofas, all exceptionally comfortable.

Final Thoughts

Singapore impressed us with its cleanliness, thoughtful urban design, and striking architecture. We thoroughly enjoyed our three nights but felt that one extra day would have allowed us to see the Fountain of Wealth and experience the Sands Observation Deck at sunset (which had been fully booked both evenings we tried).

Would we return? Perhaps, though we feel we’ve seen most of what interests us. That said, we had a fantastic time, and—on a completely random note—I got an awesome shave here (haircut)!

Passengers encounter a mist resembling clouds within the plane cabin, producing an ethereal ambiance before take-off