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.
