Adventures in the Lion City: Day 1 - A Whirlwind of Art, Nature, and Skyline Views

Hello, lovely readers! Welcome to my first official post following my introduction. If you've had the chance to read it, you're already aware of my insatiable love for travel. I mentioned that it is one of the main topics I'll share more frequently in my upcoming posts. So, here it goes.

Before diving into the heart of my Singapore escapade, I want to let you know I'm all about savoring every moment, and that's exactly why I've decided to turn this into a multi-part saga. After all, each day of this trip deserves its spotlight. I've been looking forward to this trip because this marks my first international travel since the pandemic struck four years ago! It's wild how time flies, but good things come to those who wait, right?

When Opportunity Knocks, You Say, "SG, Here I Come!"

Now that the pandemic is over, I am open-minded about traveling, international or domestic. That is why when my friend messaged me during the 11.11 seat sale and asked a super random– "Wanna go to SG?" question, I immediately said, "Yes!" Even though this will be my second time in Singapore already, I'm still very excited to return. There's just so much I haven't done the last time I went there, and I'm pretty sure many new things have popped up since 2019. Plus, my other friend has recently relocated to SG for work, so it's a win-win since we get to visit her and have a tour guide at the same time.

Throwback photo from 2019 during my first time in Singapore

I'm the type of traveler who maps it all out – itineraries, hotspots; you name it. I like my travels organized, and I won't let a single hidden gem escape my radar. Of course, first-time experiences are the priority this time.

Rise and Shine Early – Or Not...

In my itinerary, our day always starts at 7 am. Just one of the things I'm willing to do when I'm on a trip. I can't remember the last time I woke up this early on a weekday. My shift starts at 4 pm, so I am not a morning person. But every second counts when traveling, so I have to roll with it ideally. As expected, we weren't able to follow this. We arrived at our hotel at 1 am, so we were tired and woke up at almost 8 am.

Our first stop is supposed to be the iconic Merlion Park. This was my friend's first time, so it is a must-see for that mandatory Merlion photo. But, we got the 10 am tickets for the ArtScience Museum, and we were scared that they wouldn't let us in if we got late, so we had to skip the Merlion and decided to go at another time.

ArtScience Museum: Bridging Imagination and Reality

Fortunately, we made it in time. I'm really excited to go here. I always see this on Instagram, and the pictures piqued my interest, so I wanted to experience it myself. We got tickets for the newly transformed permanent exhibit, FUTURE WORLD: Where Art Meets Science. This collaboration is between Marina Bay Sands and the international Tokyo-based art collective teamLab. This includes 10 new artworks and the introduction of a fifth gallery, Sanctuary.

Upon entering, we were greeted by the first attraction, Transcending Boundaries, where a stunning six-meter-high interactive waterfall serenely cascaded down the wall and onto the floor. I'd have to say this transcended my expectations. You know those places that make you question reality? That's the vibe at this museum. There is also a whole section that is more appropriate for kids called the City of Garden segment. We opted not to try the activities here and give way to the real kids. 🤣

Exploring New Frontiers is a new section and one of my favorites. It's very vibrant, and we enjoyed the interactive digital art installations.

I liked the Aerial Climbing Through a Flock of Coloured Birds, which looked easy but needed a lot of focus and patience when climbing across the various suspended horizontal bars, so you don't lose your balance and fall. I took my time until I reached the end, and it was a good experience to immerse myself fully in the artwork.

Another fun thing was the Sketch Flight. It allows us to draw and color artwork and have it scanned to be sent to a digital wall. There's even an option to pilot your creation on the wall, but we didn't do this and eagerly waited for our airplanes to appear.

Selfie with my friends, April and Vana, while waiting for our artworks to appear

The last part is the Crystal Universe, the most Instagrammable part and the very reason why I wanted to go here. It's part of the Space sector, and it uses LED light points to create 3D objects and make them look like you're surrounded by stars. So out of this world. The exhibit ends here, but you can always go again. We didn't go for round 2 and decided to head straight to lunch as we were already hungry since we didn't have breakfast. 😆

For our first meal of the trip, we ate char siew and roasted chicken at the Rasapura Masters in Marina Bay Sands. For me, it was okay, nothing very special. I also had a chocolate drink that tasted like Milo, but overpriced. Singapore has already taken the spot as the world's most expensive city in 2023, and the prices don't lie.

Venturing to Flower Dome and Beyond

After lunch, we strolled from Marina Bay Sands to the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay. The 10-minute walk felt long in the scorching heat, so I was super happy that the Flower Dome was fully air-conditioned. I want to sit down and stay there forever, looking at the beautiful flowers surrounding me.

The breathtaking variety of flowers and cacti transported me to a vibrant wonderland. This was my favorite place to chill, and I had so much fun taking pictures.

That time, it was also the return of Tulipmania, which explored the Origins of the Tulip. The colorful tulips were so pretty, making me want to visit Turkey (manifesting ✨).

Fun fact: the Flower Dome holds the record as the largest glass greenhouse globally. Singapore certainly knows how to make an impression!

Right after the Flower Dome, we went straight to the Cloud Forest, just on the ground floor. "AVATAR: The Experience" envelops us in an ethereal ambiance, evoking memories of Pandora's lush landscape.

This is also a must-visit, especially if you are a nature lover. We were really tired at this point. This place requires a lot of walking on an ascending spiral pathway. Good thing we passed by a photo booth where you can "Avatarize" yourself. We wanted to rest, so we tried it despite the long line. What do you think of my Avatar?

Then we went to the top only to see this scary creature. 😂

We went down to the Crystal Mountain section. We were so tired at this point, but we had to see everything, so we didn't give up. 😅 We got to take a photo with the Mountain Banshee and try their Fly a Banshee simulator that allows us to fly around the Hallelujah mountain. Just when we thought it was over, there's still a finale where we get immersed in a massive multimedia show. Overall, it was an experience worth every stride.

A Sky-High Endeavor: Singapore Flyer and Nocturnal Spectacle

The next stop is the Singapore Flyer. I didn't know this was on the other side, and we had to walk again for about 20 minutes. Walking is life! We waited for almost an hour to be able to ride because of the long line, but the sight from the top was absolutely worth the wait. The total ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes, so we were able to sit and rest for a bit while taking in the breathtaking night city view.

The Grand Finale: Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay

Time flew, and we originally aimed to catch the 7:30 pm Garden Rhapsody show at Gardens by the Bay. Unfortunately, we finished the flyer at around 8 pm and still had to walk back to Gardens by the Bay, so we watched the 8:45 show instead. We still didn't have our dinner, so we were hungry and low on energy. But once the show started, the spectacle of light and sound was so enchanting, casting a spell over the iconic Supertrees and transforming the night into a symphony of colors and melodies. It made us forget our hunger and exhaustion.

We were supposed to have dinner at Satay by the Bay but were so hungry after the show that we decided to grab burgers and fries at Shake Shack instead. Sometimes, spontaneity is the best seasoning, especially when you're starving.

And there you have it, an action-packed day of adventure, discovery, and a touch of exhaustion. I achieved a record-breaking 27,304 steps. My poor feet were dying, and I just hoped they'd be able to recover for Day 2.

From the tired feet to the exhilarating adventures, Day 1 set the stage for what was to come. So stay tuned for Part 2 – and let me know which of these remarkable spots you've been to or itching to explore!

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Karenina