The Batchelorette

I used to love flights with layovers. I didn’t care about the inconvenience of indirect flights if it meant I get to spend a few hours seeing a destination basically for free, even if it’s just within the airport premises. This, of course, gradually changed through the years when the energy of my youth declined.

Back in 2015, I spontaneously booked a cheap ticket to Saigon with an overnight layover in Singapore. Not wanting to waste precious hours that I can use to explore, I headed out of Changi and spent the night primarily in Clark Quay where a slew of bars are open until the the wee hours of the night. In there, I made friends with two Taiwanese girls where we spent the rest of the evening together until the MRT reopened at 5 am.

Two years after, I was in a similar situation flying from New York back home to Manila. The cheapest ticket I was able to find had a 24-hour layover inbound Beijing and a shorter one on my return flight. I researched prior the trip and found out my passport was eligible for a transit visa upon arrival. I was able to visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City within that time.

It’s been a while since I’ve done anything relatively crazy, but, just last February, my boyfriend and I flew from San Francisco to Singapore where we chose to spend 24 hours before hopping on another flight to Manila. I knew the 17-hour flight would already be too exhausting and we would need a breather. I thought I can use my knack for planning jam-packed days like this like what I usually do at work.

We landed in Singapore around 5 am with probably just enough sleep to power through. I didn’t want us to book a hotel knowing we’d be out and about the whole day so we resorted to the pay-per-use lounge at the airport’s new Jewel terminal. Expecting no less from this world-class airport, the facilities were well-worth the price. The private shower area is spacious and comes with complete amenities. We also made use of their luggage storage that can hold ours until the next day. Our total expense still came out pretty steep, if I’m being completely honest, but I thought we’d also save time doing this instead of going to and fro a hotel.

I haven’t been to Singapore in over five years and I’ve been looking forward to seeing it with Choco for the first time. I’ve said this many times in the past, but Singapore used to be (and probably still is,) my notion of utopia. I love the hustle of the city, its ingenious architecture, the amazing food, the rich arts and culture, and the overall mesh of people from different backgrounds. The only thing that perhaps changed is my endurance for its heat and humidity but, nonetheless, it’s still not a deal breaker.

Just like any good day, we needed coffee to begin things. We went straight to Strangers Reunion, a kitschy cafe known for their bottled coffee concoctions. I was particularly intrigued with their White Magic which is a creamy, potent blend of espresso, milk, and a touch of cream. It was so good! I heard it’s also best mixed with the Sea Salt Chocolate one which I’ll most likely try next time.

After a quick coffee fix, we walked towards Tiong Bahru to scour for BooksActually. I’ve been wanting to visit this bookstore for a while now, but have miserably failed that one time after Google Maps made me go around circles. This time around, we found it right away and it was as amazing as I’ve always thought it would be. They carry a wide-range of literature in various languages and my pick was a Hangul-translated novel called Diary of a Murderer by Kim Young-ha. Outside the bookstore, they also have vending machines that disperse mystery books which, of course, I didn’t miss the chance to try.

Just around the area, we stumbled upon the famous Tiong Bahru Bakery and had some pre-lunch pastries. I’ve only heard praises about the place and their matcha croissant and blueberry lemon curd muffin turned out nothing but exceptional. We were planning to have lunch in this restaurant called Botany after but, to our dismay, the place was closed for a private event. We instead headed to Orchard Road where the food court has an impressive selection of options.

A little around noon, we left the mall for Gardens by the Bay which was actually not a wise idea in retrospect since it was scorching hot that time of the day. I originally wanted to skip the tourist areas but I haven’t been to the Supertree Grove yet and thought it’d be perfect to see with Choco. The observatory skyway stands 25 to 50 metres tall and has a panoramic vista of Marina Bay Sands and the neighboring cityscape. At night, it lights up to an even more exhilarating view to the tune of a lights and sounds show.

I’ve also read that TeamLab has an ongoing exhibition inside the ArtScience Museum which is strategically located near the garden. I’ve visited this interactive museum in Tokyo before and had a really great time. Their Singapore version is a little smaller but we still enjoyed the immersive experience. Choco and I were like kids sliding hand-in-hand and trying out all the playful installations we can fit in our time. One of my most favorite ones is still the exhibition of white lights that illuminate into different tempos, ultimately radiating an ethereal effect.

At this point, all the coffee we’ve had is starting to wear off but it was still pretty early to call it a day. After the museum, we went to Bugis, an area I am particularly fond of after previous visits with my cousins. We wanted to go to the flea market to get a souvenir fridge magnet and do some shopping on the side. We also had plans to have dinner with my high school friend, Valerie, who’s now based in Singapore. I suggested my favorite hawker place, Makansutra Gluttons Bay, which has a magnificent view of Marina Bay and the Merlion. Choco and I had a tranquil hour or so just relishing the view, sitting on the steps, and just taking in the moment. It’s either downsized or under construction, but turns out the food court is no longer as big than I remember but we still had a good time feasting on Singaporean staples like satay, Hainanese chicken, and pineapple fried rice.

Our flight to Manila wasn’t until 5 am the next day but we already returned to the airport that night, in desperate need for some rest. It was a brief visit yet an incredibly long day. I still have a lot I want to see and experience in Singapore with Choco and I am still continuously amazed with what this country has to offer. The famous centerpiece inside Jewel, Rain Vortex, is also more breathtaking at night when we got back. It is the world’s largest indoor waterfall that showcases a light show on a daily.

This Singapore trip happened a little before Covid-19 became a pandemic although there were already warnings of it. I really thought we can go back sooner but since international travel is on a halt, that might take a while. I’m happy we got to at least see it beforehand and we can’t wait to be back.

I feel like I want a refund for ageing this year but only being able to use it for a few months before the world as we know it now went haywire.

Just last December, I turned 25 and had one of my most memorable birthdays yet. I’ve always been a planner when it comes to trips but for that day, I only had one wish for Choco to be completely in charge of our itinerary.

We flew to Rome for my short birthday trip. I decided on the destination a little late after realizing our original plan of visiting Sydney required more preparation. Rome is one of those cities I’ve dreamt of visiting as a child, thanks in large part to the Lizzie McGuire Movie. It’s a quick 5-day vacation where we crammed most tourist spots, visited Choco’s family, and ate as much Italian food as we can. We even planned a day-trip to Naples but unfortunately chose to let it go after being too exhausted and jet-lagged still (good bye, 100-Euro train tickets.)

Turning 25 is momentous, at least for me. Not too surprisingly, I was spared from the usual quarter-life crisis, having underwent through it prematurely I would say as early as when I was 21. I only had high hopes reaching this age and for the first time in perhaps a long time, truly satisfied where I was at.

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I didn’t have any clue how Choco arranged the day but first things first, we got up early to head to the Trevi Fountain before the crowd flocks in. We already went there the night before and revelled on its evening allure but I still wanted to take better photos in daylight. It was a very surreal moment. I expected nothing less from Roman sculptures and this baroque masterpiece was breathtaking up close. While there, we tossed a couple of coins and made our wish.

Not too far from the fountain, we walked towards Sant’Eustachio, an ancient coffee shop located just a few steps away from the Pantheon. Choco knew a perfect day for me consist of some good coffee and breakfast and this one hit the spot. Just like any typical cafe in Rome where everything is consumed fast-paced, people here order espressos and drink them by the bar. There’s an outdoor seating area for those who want to stay longer and enjoy their amazing assortment of pastries. One can not go wrong with any of the options! My bombolinis were perfectly paired with a cup of hot monachella, a piccolo-sized drink made of espresso shot, mixed with chocolate and topped with some whipped cream. We liked this place so much that we even went back on our last day.

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With just enough room for lunch, we then headed to Ristorante Aroma at Palazzo Manfredi. This two Michelin-starred restaurant is located on a penthouse and has a spectacular view of the Colosseum. My mind was blown away with how perfect the panorama is. It’ll be our third time to try a Michelin restaurant after Carbone and Babbo in New York and this one was another well-worth the experience. Through compliments of the chef, it became a three-course lunch where we enjoyed a good rigatoni pasta dish, Iberian suckling pig (our most favorite one,) and a selection of desserts. I used to think places as high-end as this only focus on the ambience but the quality of the food was actually exquisite. It’s still one of my most favorite experiences with him up to this day.

Our tour for the Colosseo was scheduled after and I’ve been looking forward to it the whole trip. The amphitheatre is one of the most exemplary landmarks in Rome, known for hosting gladiatorial contests and public spectacles in the ancient times. The edifice itself is massive and astonishing the very moment you step in. I’m not very knowledgeable with Roman history but it was unreal just seeing the view loom before me.

Since days are shorter during winter, the sun was quickly setting just as we arrived in Hotel Raphaël for apéritivo. It is an essential part of any Italian’s day which is a lot similar to happy hour but is usually enjoyed pre-dinner. Choco discovered their amazing Roof Garden, a multi-level terrace on the hotel’s rooftop which overlooks Piazza Navona and the Vatican. It was getting colder at this point but we sucked it up over some cannoli and a glass of prosecco. I can’t believe how well-planned this whole day was and it’s not even over.

After some 30-minute walk from the hotel, we finally reached Trastevere, a hipster area with cobblestone streets that people frequent for pubs and trattorias. We went there for Almost Corner Bookshop where Choco surprised me to a book of my liking. It’s a modest, little bookstore that carries both English and Italian titles which I think is rare to find in Rome. I ended up picking a young adult novel called Kismet by Luke Tredget.

To cap off the evening, Choco had a final surprise which, again, involved food as he knows much I am fond of it. Sitting atop Janiculum Hill, we did a little trek to reach another Italian restaurant called Antico Arco. It is a sophisticated space with white brick walls and dimmed, candlelit atmosphere. The semblance somehow reminds me of entering a tunnel albeit more chic. We couldn’t get enough of authentic carbonara this whole trip so we gravitated towards their version with black truffle. They were generous to give us some extra serving after realizing we’re splitting the pasta between us two, a gesture we really appreciated. We paired it with their suckling pig with honey, singed apricots, and licorice. The meat is more on the chewier side compared to the one we had at lunch but it was brimming with flavors and can be really filling. For dessert, Choco got me a customized Tortino dal cuore morbido, which is a molten chocolate soufflé cake with almond waffle. Apparently, restaurants of this caliber often offer compliments from the chef so we even got another free dessert along with the lava cake.

My birthday turned out way better than I expected. It was a good change to go with the flow for once and be surprised by each stop, especially since Choco thoroughly planned every detail. I would already be content with just a simple celebration but I feel really lucky to have someone who pays great attention to my interests. His keenness made it easier for him to curate the day- from the grand details up to the nitty gritty of what he knows we will both enjoy. It was a promising start for my 25th year and truly, a birthday that is one for the books.