Before we start, here is a brief intro you’ll find at the start of all of my blogs!
This is a story-style travel blog featuring my adventure through Southeast Asia in the fall of 2024. I spent 1 week on my own in Laos, then joined a 14-day tour called Ultimate Cambodian Adventure from the company G Adventures, and a final 3-day solo stop in Singapore. You can read the blog in order, or about whichever destination intrigues you! Within my stories, I’ll offer some recommendations and some tips and tricks for a smooth journey. When I travel, I mostly do group tours and the reasons are:
* As a solo woman traveler, it is much safer especially if traveling long distances or to countries that can be dangerous in some areas
*The itineraries are amazing and usually include all of the things you’d want to see and do…and if not, there is free time to do as you wish
*You don’t have to worry about booking transport, finding hotels, etc. Sometimes that can contribute to the adventure, but it’s also nice to sit back and relax and let your Tour CEO be in charge
* And finally…the new people you meet on your tour become your family, and I’ve made lifelong friends in these journeys. For myself, this has equal importance with exploring new countries.
Singapore is a vibrant island city state in Southeast Asia. Despite its small size it boasts a powerful economy, world class infrastructure and a reputation for cleaniness, safety and efficiency. It is a global financial hub with its iconic skyline, but is also known for its lush green spaces and amazing culinary scene. The cultures mixed here in Singapore are Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western. You’ll find a dynamic mix of tradition and modern progress. It is also reallllyyy hot here with high humidity but luckily you’re never far from an air conditioned building to get that blast of ice cold air.
This morning, I head out for breakfast at a place called Lunchbox…I’m craving kaya toast again!!
After, I walk over to St. Andrew’s Cathedral, an Anglican one that’s been here since the 1800’s.
I enjoy exploring churches and this one is quite beautiful.
From here, I’m just a short walk from the famous luxurious Raffles Hotel, named after the founder of Singapore. I want to have a look around inside, but I cannot find the main entrance! Haha. It seems like I’ve walked around the entire building, and I can’t find it and it’s WAY too hot today for me to waste any more time on this.
Luckily I’m close to an MRT station so I hop on and travel to my next destination. Today, I’m exploring the most popular and iconic tourist area in Singapore. I have left this for my last day since there were a lot of roads closed off this past weekend for the Formula One race. I arrive at the station that gets me to Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Gardens by the Bay.
Marina Bay Sands is absolutely huge….I decide that I will not have time to attempt going inside so I admire it from the outside. It has a casino, giant convention centre, a luxury shopping mall, a science museum, a theatre, celebrity chef restauarants, and a Skypark connecting the towers. It looks like a big cruise ship; a big tropical park the size of 3 football fields!
You can go up top for a lookout but I’m taking in the views somewhere else today. I am headed to the Singapore Flyer, the giant observation wheel.
It’s a bit of a pain in the ass to get there; maybe there is an easier way but I definitely can’t find it. There are still some roads blocked off from the race, so I’m blaming it on that. I end up walking over this bridge, and then over to the flyer.
I bought a combo ticket online that includes this and Gardens by the Bay. It’s an expensive day, but way cheaper with the combo price. It’s not busy today, so I get the entire pod to myself. Yess!!
And it’s air conditioned. Yess!!! The flyer is 541 feet tall( the second largest in the world)and it takes around half hour to to complete a rotation.
The views are super cool, and since I’m alone, I practice singing some songs…the acoustics are decent!
It is a pain in the ass to get out of this area again because the roads are still blocked off, but it should be fairly easy to get over to Merlion Park. I end up walking down one of the blocked off roads like a badass foot racer.
It is seriously so hot though, and I manage to make it to a 7/11 before I pass out. I grab a fresh water and hang out in the air con. Like seriously, that was only 45 minutes in the heat and it’s that insanely hot.
But not far away is Merlion Park, where there is a giant fountain of a Merlion. Top half lion, bottom half fish. Never heard of this creature before, but it is the mascot of Singapore.
It represents Singapore’s origin as a fishing village, the original name Singapura, meaning lion city. This thing is 28 feet tall and weighs 70 tons. It was relocated back in 2002 and got a new water pump system.
Fun facts I learned about the Merlion – it was struck by lightning in 2009, splitting off fragments of her head (yes apparently it’s a girl fountain). And Singaporeans will substitute the word Merlion in lieu of vomiting, in reference to the water gushing out of her mouth. Can’t make this shit up!
This park is a great place for views of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, and also to have lunch! I’m super hungry so I hit Mos Burger(a Japanese burger chain, but a more healthy option). It hits the spot. There’s no way I’m walking back to the other side again, so I hit up the closest MRT station and head over to the Gardens by the Bay, where I’ll be spending the afternoon.
The Gardens is a large park divided up into different gardens and attractions within. I decide to do all of them, so the first stop is Floral Fantasy, with 4 artistry gardens. Here are some really beautiful displays within this garden.
There is also a 4D multimedia ride that simulates the flight path of a dragonfly through the gardens. It’s really cute and worth the extra charge.
I leave this area and it’s a short walk over to the Flower Dome, the largest greenhouse in the world, with a cool dry Mediterranean climate. There are 8 themed gardens inside the dome with all different kinds of flowers and trees from around the world.
There are also a lot of gorgeous sculptures throughout the dome.
There is a Monet exhibit in a house inside the dome, and I really enjoy this too.
Next is the Cloud Forest, which has a tropical mountain climate. In the centre is the 138 foot high Cloud Mountain with waterfalls cascading down.
I take the elevator up the mountain and then walk down the ramps, enjoying all of the plants, flowers and sculptures along the way.
Finally I end the day at the Supertree Grove. The trees in this grove reach heights of 82-160 feet.
Basically, they are described as functional vertical gardens that work as environmental engines and have technologies that mimic ecological functions of trees. I buy a ticket to walk along the elevated walkway between two of the trees, which in hindsight, isn’t worth it unless you really want to have a different view of all the gardens.
I stay until sunset because the trees come alive with a music and light show. Now this is the best part!!!
I head back to Chinatown for my final dinner here in Singapore, and I eat Xiao Long Bao and a cold refeshing beer(that I do not spill this time Haha).
I grab a few more souvenirs, and then settle back into bed at the hostel. I’m definitely sad to be going home, but also feeling ready to go home.
The next morning, I take the MRT to the airport, and once again it is super fast and easy.
One thing I like about the system at Changi Airport here in Singapore is that you go through security at each gate, rather than 1 giant security area for everyone. Seems way more efficient. And once again, a nice smooth flight home with Air Canada.
This is the end of my Southeast Asia Adventure…I hope you’ve enjoyed my stories, tips and ideas, and traveling the world with me!
Everywhere On Earth With Erin 