There is no doubt that there are many things to love about Singapore. Recently, my best friend and work colleague (who I like to think of fondly as my Soul Sister) and I were shipped off by our company to attend an expo in Singapore. It was our first work trip outside of the country which was both exciting and a little daunting. Just two young girls making their way in the corporate world while trying to fit in some fun and city exploring during our free time. It was a week filled with ups and downs and overall lots of fun and a great experience altogether!
The trip started with a late afternoon flight which meant we would get to Singapore in the evening. Upon arrival it was already noticeable how organised and efficient the airport was. The immigration line was very short and quick. After that we had to figure out a way to get to our hotel. Originally we were going to take a taxi but then decided that we would take the chance (and save on money) and figure out the train system.
To our surprise, navigating the train system wasn’t that difficult. We bought a train pass each and loaded it up with some money and off we went. Even with our suitcases and bags we managed to commute easily and we got to our hotel without getting lost! It was convenient that our hotel was near a train station so we didn’t have to walk that far either.
If you ever visit Singapore for work there is no need to worry about getting around the city. The train system is very efficient and convenient. Just take a photo of the map or download the photo onto your phone and you can use that as your reference for going from one place to another.
After our long days of working, we found ourselves exhausted and would just eat at the local stalls on the way back to our hotel. One of the best things about Singapore is the food. Wherever you may be, there is always a local food stall or cafeteria style setup where you can order from multiple different stalls. The food is usually cheap and tastes amazing. I don’t think we had one bad meal during our week there. Whether it was following the locals to the nearest stall or sitting in a restaurant in Boat Quay, everything we ate was tasty! If you are a picky eater there’s no need to fret. Singapore has a mixed scene when it comes to food. In our case, we wanted a little bit of everything. One day it was duck noodles and the next it was more Chinese inspired dishes like sweet and sour pork and fried rice, and on our last night we decided to treat ourselves to a nice steak. We also sampled some sweet as well as spicy dishes and local refreshing fruit drinks. When it came to food, we never felt bored and were always excited to try something different.
On our one free day we decided to explore a little bit of the city. This time we decided to take a bus since the train pass can also be used on the buses. However, navigating the bus system was more complicated than we anticipated. Some buses had an electronic screen with the upcoming stops while others didn’t, which made it very confusing very quickly. After getting lost a couple times, we eventually figured it out and found ourselves enjoying the city. Just in one day we did some shopping at Bugis and ate more local food, then headed to Marina Bay and the Merlion. Of course we had to take those obligatory tourist photos and check it off our list. It is so pleasant to walk around the city. The cleanliness and mix of modern and colonial architecture makes it enjoyable to sightsee.
As a couple of girls who grew up in the city always surrounded by the hustle and bustle, naturally we wanted to know what the nightlife in Singapore looked like. We headed out on our last night to explore Boat Quay and Clarke Quay since that’s where all the crowds were gathered. We didn’t have a specific plan in mind for the night. We just walked around and observed which restaurants and bars looked nice and had good menus and ambience. After a late dinner, we decided to follow the music and find a bar with a good band or DJ. There were quite a few to choose from and overall it was a great evening out!
If you’ve never visited Singapore and have been thinking about it, I highly suggest you book that ticket! Singapore really has a little bit of everything. From food, to architecture, and even people. It doesn’t matter what age you are, you will enjoy what the country has to offer. Whether you are looking for fun and adventure, or just to relax and enjoy the nature that grows in between the cityscape, there’s something for everyone.
