Singapore

March 2018

Long before I’d seen the movie, Crazy Rich Asians, I was curious about visiting Singapore. My husband, Adam travels there on a routine basis for work. From the pictures and stories he’d shared, I was interested to see the glitz and glamour for myself. As part of a trip to Phuket and Koh Samui, we spent a few days in Singapore. The flight to Singapore from San Francisco is a long one, clocking in at around 17 hours. Luckily, I had plenty of movies to watch and managed to get in a decent amount of sleep. But from the moment we landed, I knew Singapore was unique. While I’m use to airports with random buckets set out to collect rain water (looking at you, O’Hare…), Changi Airport was breathtaking. It was easy to see why it has been named the best airport in the world numerous years in a row.

On our drive into the city, I noticed the gorgeous flowers that covered the median. It felt almost as if I was in an adult Disneyland as everything was perfectly manicured. This wasn’t a total surprise knowing of Singapore’s abundant wealth and strict laws against crimes such as littering.

From a distance, I could already see the Marina Bay Sands; it is the unique Singapore hotel often featured in articles and TV shows. Adam and I once watched a documentary on the hotel and it was fascinating the number of people required and engineering involved to keep the hotel and casino up and running 24 hours day.

Once we stepped inside, I was astonished of the sheer size. It smelled of orchids the moment you entered and gorgeous flower arrangements were everywhere I looked.

We briefly checked out our room with its stunning views before heading to our key destination, the pool, AKA that surfboard in the sky. The pool can only be accessed if you are staying at the Marina Bay Sands but there is an observation deck that offers similar views to non-hotel guests. I woud guess this is to keep the crowd in control and allow everyone their perfect selfie. Even if you aren’t the type of person who takes a lot of selfies, this pool may be your one exception. It is truly unlike any other infinity pool I’ve ever seen and the views from it can’t be beat. And since Singapore is so close to the equator, it is always hot and always humid so a dip in the pool is always welcome. Even Adam, who wasn’t originally sold on what could be so great about a pool was a fan after experiencing it first-hand.

Post our first pool dip, we ventured over to Gardens By The Bay. Now, in full disclosure, I am not exactly one with nature. Between my allergies and uncanny ability to kill anything green in record time, my favorite type of flower/plant is typically the fake kind, but I was in awe of the Flower Dome. It smelled incredible and the intricate detail was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was so beautiful, I almost thought about going home and trying hanging baskets for the 10^th time. (I came to my senses…)

Next we ventured through the Supertree Grove which reminded me of a scene backdrop out of Avatar. The average tree is as tall as a 16 story building and they are meant to provide shade during the day while coming alive at night in displays of color and lights.

Everything about Singapore feels very modern and cutting edge. And expensive. Hotels, meals, cocktails; Singapore is not cheap. But if you do have any money left over, one thing you can do in Singapore is shop until you drop; literally. I would have needed a good night’s sleep before I would have been able to knock out all the available stores and neighborhoods. I knew Singapore had a reputation for extravagant shopping, but this was on a different level. Every high-end designer (Chanel, Goyard, Fendi, Celine) has at least one location and many have multiple locations on the same street! Orchard Road is a combination of New York, Paris and London squeezed into multiple shopping malls. It also happened to be the ‘Year of the Dog’, so this bulldog lover was in heaven with the window displays and merchandise. I also quickly realized why maybe Adam hadn’t suggested me visiting sooner. =)

Adam and I made a reservation at the Tippling Club. I am mildly obsessed with the show, Sons of Anarchy, and I got a kick out of seeing a similar logo behind the bar when we entered.

It was another unique experience as you selected your cocktail by smelling various paper straws, almost in the same fashion you would sample perfume or cologne. You were supposed to select your cocktail based on what smell appealed to you the most. While the drink ingredients were listed on the tiny scented sample, I wasn’t sold on this decision-making method, but it turned out to be delicious! Luckily, I didn’t have to smell anything to pick my entree selection. =)

During our visit, we also stopped at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. (Ladies don’t worry if due to the heat, you aren’t covered enough to enter. There are wraps you may borrow to cover your shoulders and knees.) What struck me the most upon entering the temple were the vibrant colors. Growing up, I attended Catholic Mass and most of the church interiors I remember were wood and marble of various muted shades. This temple was visually the complete opposite and spectacular to see in person.