Have you ever traveled on an airplane all by yourself for the first time? There is this silent prickle in your system as you order your drink for one, settle on your seat with a complete stranger behind you and spend few hours alone with anticipation. Once the Captain announces that the aircraft is about to descend, you look at the window and get your first glimpse of a foreign land; this is how I FIRST fell in love with Singapore. There is a combination of excitement and personal awe adding the actual, magnificent bird’s eye view of the city before you land. I think this should be the first item on your “to do” list when you visit this country: looking at your cabin window when the aircraft is about to land and you will understand what I mean.
If my memory serves me right, it will be the 7th time visiting the city, If I were to fly there now. Other than having several family members who I enjoy seeing, my palate kept me coming back. When I was a kid, I would always watch how Jamie Oliver visit a small town, tastes their famous delicacies and create the same meal adding his personal touch or how the late Anthony Bourdain documents each of his trip abroad and trying out just everything from the high-end restaurant menus to the city’s popular street food. During my 1st and 2nd visit to Singapore, I did exactly what any traveler would do, I ate. I have visited the city’s famous Hawker spots; And this is how I fell in love with Singapore for the SECOND time. These down to earth culinary destinations gives every traveler the chance to taste a variety of local dishes. You can try to drop by Tekka Centre (in Serangoon Road) where you can get some of Biryani and curry fix, Old Airport Road Food Centre (in Geylang) where you can try the tasty Satay and other Indonesian dishes, Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre (in Upper Changi) where this is a vast array of food stalls you can choose from and a lot more places you can explore.
It is well-known that Singapore has one of the best transportation worldwide. Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and city buses are synced together in one easy app you can use to navigate your way around the city powered by the EZ-Link card which I suggest you need to purchase once you arrive in the airport. This re-loadable smart card is used in paying for public transportation. You can easily reach all 130 MRT and bus stations as long as this “tap” card is fully loaded. Commuting in this country is even faster than driving (well, for travelers I would say). I was able to go easily from one place to another without any companion. I fell in love with Singapore for the THIRD time.
When you travel, you would always aim to visit as much attractions as you can. You would plan to see something distinctive that only this city offers. In Singapore, if you have the luxury of time, I suggest you walk around Chinatown, Little India and Raffles. I fell in love with Singapore for the FOURTH time; I took one day for myself, picked a stop, get off the train and just wander. Within few hours, I was somehow teleported to China and had the chance to lit a candle in the Tooth Relic temple and wrote my wishes and prayers at Sri Mariam man Temple then to India where I enjoyed taking photos of the colorful houses, smell the pungent spices along the streets and shopped at the famous 24 hour – Mustafa Centre then last stop, shifting to a more modern view with high-rise buildings, convention centers and shopping areas in Raffles where you can watch diverse nationalities with their weekday, fast-paced lives.
I have done several of my “Traveling First Times” in this country, same reason why I have been coming back. There are still a lot more playgrounds to play, food to taste and beauty to explore. The FIFTH time I fell in love with Singapore was, I would say the most passionate one. In its very soil was my first International half marathon at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. I have finished several half marathons but this one is very special. While wearing my best running gears, I was able to pass by social and cultural hot spots in Singapore like the timeless structure of St. Andrew’s cathedral, The National Library, Lau Pa Sat, the ever-mesmerizing Gardens by the Bay, Vivo City and finishing with the nicest view of Marina Bay. After this, I have realized that, as a runner, maybe one of the best ways to enjoy a new city is to sign up in one of their running marathons (Don’t you agree?).
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