Singapore was part of my very first trip overseas. I went in July 2010 and spent a total of 5 days 4 nights there. Since I was already halfway across the world in Laos I figured I should hit up Singapore as well. Plus my mom and my sister were fans of Singaporean dramas so they wanted to experience the city in real life. For a list of top attractions in Singapore check out my other post. Below is an overview of my own personal experience in Singapore.
Journey
Vientiane (VTE) → Bangkok (BKK) → Singapore (SIN)
Total Flight Time: 3 hrs 45 mins
Culture
Upon arrival to Singapore, it was like returning to a world I was familiar with. There were many similarities in comparison with cities in America. It was most definitely a drastic change having traveled directly from Laos.
Singapore was modern, the air was clean, high-rise buildings outlined the skyline, and business professionals filled the streets. Western influences were visible in the colonial style architecture. As for communication almost everyone we came across spoke English and the majority of signage was in English so navigating around was super easy.
The main thing that stood out for me was how impeccably clean it was especially for a city. As soon as you exit the stall in the public bathrooms a custodian promptly goes in to do a quick cleanse before the next patron. There’s even a fine for anyone caught chewing gum in public. Seriously.
There were signs everywhere stating durians weren’t allowed inside. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of smelling one you already know why.
Most eateries barely provided any napkins if any. This made me aware of my high napkin consumption.
Memories
- Pigging out at hawker centers- food galore
- Observing adorable pink dolphins at Sentosa Underwater World
- Eating giant steamed pork buns at Chinatown
- SHOPPING
- Trying yummy colorful desserts at Cooking Arts Peranakan Nonya Kuehs
Last Impression
Singapore had all the urban vibes without feeling too crowded. Till this day it is still the cleanest city I’ve ever been to!
I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience in Singapore!
Have you visited Singapore before? What did you find most unique about it? Let me know in the comments below!
