Four days exploring futuristic Singapore! We slept in “space pods,” were mesmerized by the Supertree Grove light show, explored the Orchid Garden, and ate like royalty at the famous Hawker Centres. A clean, safe, and surprisingly easy stopover before Australia. (P.S. Don’t forget your eVisas!)
It’s been a long stretch since my last update. When I wrote about the Philippines, the world was still spinning somewhat normally. We left there on February 4, 2020—feels like a lifetime ago—and as I write this we are isolating in Naramata, British Columbia (March 28, 2020). A lot has happened in between, so to keep things digestible I’m splitting the next stretch of our journey into three parts: Singapore, Australia, and our South Pacific Cruise. Let’s kick things off with Singapore.
Landing in Singapore
We were en route to Australia but chose a short layover adventure in Singapore—four days to explore one of the most modern cities on the planet. At that time, COVID-19 still felt like a “China problem” to most of the world. Airport screenings consisted of one simple question: “Have you been to mainland China?” We hadn’t, so full steam ahead.
Sleeping in Space Pods
Hotels in Singapore are pricey, so we opted for an experience instead of a luxury room: Galaxy Pods in Chinatown. Imagine a cross between a spaceship bunk and a futuristic toaster slot—that was our accommodation. Each pod had a little TV, USB ports, and just enough room to flip over if you didn’t mind smacking your knees on the wall. I had the top pod, Nic had the one below, and let’s just say if one of us farted, the other knew about it. Happy Year of the Rat!
First Impressions: Clean, Calm, and Controlled
Singapore is unlike any other place we’ve been in Southeast Asia. It’s spotless. No gum on the sidewalks, no graffiti, no garbage. And there’s a reason: chew gum and risk a fine; traffic offenses mean humiliation via public shaming; drug smuggling comes with the death penalty printed right on your landing card. Message received—behave here.
Gardens by the Bay
On our first night, we headed for the famous Gardens by the Bay light show. The Supertree Grove looks like something out of a sci-fi film—giant tree-like structures that light up to music every evening. Hundreds of people lay back on the grass staring up in silence as colours pulse overhead. It was an incredible introduction to the city. Also, I found a geocache in the gardens—bonus!
Spectra Light Show – Marina Bay
Not to be outdone, the Marina Bay waterfront puts on a free water and light show called Spectra. Water cannons and mist screens shoot into the air while colourful lasers dance across them. We liked it so much we went twice. Who needs Broadway when Singapore is handing out nightly entertainment for free?
The Iconic Marina Bay Sands
We wandered through the Marina Bay Sands mall—yes, the one with the boats sailing through it like a mini Venice—and watched kids run across an interactive digital floor that reacted to every step. Then we rode up to the rooftop for sweeping views of the city. You don’t need to stay at the hotel to enjoy it—just wander confidently like you belong there.
Botanic Gardens (aka Nic’s Happy Place)
We grabbed a one-day metro pass and headed to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Full disclosure: I am not a flower enthusiast. Nic, however, is. I let her go deep into the Orchid Garden while I sat outside enjoying the peace and pretending I wasn’t bored. Marriage is about compromise after all.
Little India, Raffles Hotel & Other Wanders
From the gardens we walked—because that’s what budget travellers do—through Little India, admired the famous Raffles Hotel from a safe “we can’t afford that” distance, and eventually found a happy hour beer by a canal. An $8 SGD pint was about as affordable as beer gets in Singapore. That alone made it taste amazing.
Hawker Centres: Food Heaven
The best food in Singapore is not in fancy restaurants—it’s at hawker centres. Think giant food courts filled with independent food stalls serving cheap, delicious meals from every culture you can imagine. Each stall displays its cleanliness grade, so we stuck with “A” and “B” vendors and ate like royalty on a street market budget. Bless these places.
Changi Airport – The Best Airport in the World
Singapore’s airport is an attraction in itself, complete with indoor rain forest and a massive waterfall named Jewel. We didn’t get as much time there as we wanted because we discovered—at check-in—that we forgot to apply for our Australian eVisas. Oops. Thankfully Singapore has a booth that will do it for you in ten minutes… at a price, of course. Crisis averted. Flight saved.
Reflection
Singapore was a fascinating stop—part futuristic metropolis, part cultural melting pot, part environmental masterpiece. It felt like Asia on training wheels: safe, efficient, organized, and ridiculously easy to navigate. It’s not a budget traveller’s paradise, but it’s an incredible place to experience for a few days. Clean streets, epic sights, and some of the best street food on earth—Singapore, you impressed us.
Next up: three weeks in Australia before our South Pacific cruise. Stay tuned…
