Our travel story usually begins with a cheap flight, and this one is no different. A year ago, we saw a huge sale for flights from NYC to Singapore over the Labor Day weekend for only $550 USD. Since we hadn’t been to Singapore before, and the timing worked out, we jumped at this opportunity. Once we started planning the trip, and realized that Kuala Lumpur was only a hop and a skip away, it made sense to combine the trips. Continue reading
During our frequent travels around the world, we have stayed at both low end and high end hotels. Often, we tend to stick to either Starwood or Hilton properties where we have the status and points. Once in a while however, we do venture out of our comfort zone and stay at new places. When we started planning the Singapore trip, I knew right away that I wanted to stay at the Marina Bay Sands, the hotel with the famous pool on the roof.
Singapore, the most developed and urbanized country in Asia where “Where East meets West”. This relatively new city-country is where a confluence of diverse cultures meet to create a truly unique place.
Singapore is very safe and easy to get around with its ultra modern subway system. Coupled with the fact that most Singaporeans speak English, its not hard to see why this country is often the top choice for people who have not been to Asia before. Here you can enjoy the same food and culture, minus the chaos and language barriers that exist with other Asian countries. The only drawback is that the costs are significantly higher than the rest of Southeast Asia. Continue reading
Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay simply transport you to another world where nature and technology work seamlessly together to create a one-of-a-kind experience for its visitors. This billion-dollar sprawling waterfront garden spans over 101 hectares of reclaimed land, and features space-age bio-domes, giant cyborg trees, and countless flora from different environments and climates. Continue reading
The Marina Bay Waterfront in Singapore, like Sydney Harbour and Victoria Harbour, stands out as a fine example of stunning waterside architecture that has become an attraction for tourists and locals alike. The Marina Bay is a thriving place in Singapore where people work, live, and play. A 2.6 mile loop takes you around to the most well-known landmarks in Singapore like the Merlion, Helix Bridge, and Marina Bay Sands hotel. It’s the perfect place to watch the boats glide across the water, admire the views, and even catch a light show at night. Continue reading
Singaporeans are food-lovers and eating out is one of their favorite pastimes. Food is a topic that unites the island’s diverse population, and that’s why it’s not surprising that the food standard is very high. Singapore is a melting pot of different cultures from around the world, with influences from Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine. Continue reading
This morning we bid farewell to Singapore, and headed over to Kuala Lumpur on the next leg of our trip. But before we left, we had to visit the infinity pool one last time. It was hard to say goodbye to this incredible pool overlooking the downtown core, but the hotel itself, I didn’t really care for. Ever since I saw pictures of the pool on top of the Marina Bay Sands, I’ve wanted to see it for myself. Unfortunately the only way to visit the pool is as a hotel guest. This hotel costs about the same as other luxury hotels, but the service and experience is subpar – it is more of a tourist attraction to be honest. But the view from the pool is something that a lot of people are willing to pay to experience at least once, myself included.
I felt like Alice in Wonderland, walking amongst the super trees in Singapore’s Garden by the Bay. The grove of 16 story-tall “trees” completely dwarf everything else around them. These man-made structures are built on reclaimed land as part of an efficient green space project. Each tree is surrounded by a steel skeleton that is used as the framework for planting various flowers, ferns and other vertical climbers. At the top are built in solar panels used as the main energy source to keep the structures lit at night. These trees are as fantastical as they are practical and they are an iconic part of the city.
Singapore is a beautiful sight at night when the buildings are all lit up, but the extra special time is right after sunset. Right before it gets dark, the sky turns a lovely shade of blue, a perfect backdrop for the glittering skyline. This picture was taken on the promenade from the Marina Bay Sands hotel overlooking the downtown area.
On our first day in Singapore, we ventured over to Little India to visit Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the city, built by the early Indian laborers and dedicated to Kali, the goddess and destroyer of all evil. On the outside is an explosion of colorful deities adorning the entrance tower.
We were fortunate to visit the temple during the daily puja (prayer) session lead by the priest. It started with a bathing ceremony and and ended with a sacred flame offering while rousing music is played. It was the first time I’ve every been inside a Hindu temple and witnessed a prayer session. Hopefully, I am blessed with a good rest of the trip.
life after 9to5 