Everything and a little bit more

In my previous article, I promised you to write down everything and a little bit more of what I was doing on my return to Singapore. Again, I had 24 hours. Let’s be realistic. I haven’t mentioned in any of my article what these 24 hours actually mean. Let me briefly describe the situation. We took off from Brisbane towards Singapore around one in the morning. The flight is about seven hours long. Including the time difference, we landed in Singapore around six in the morning. A 24-hour rest period is considered from the time of landing. Till the time we complete all our post landing duties, it is for sure one hour more. In our case, seven in the morning. How long is the drive from the airport to the hotel depends on the destination. It takes about half an hour to reach hotel in Singapore. Adding this time to the total amount, we lose an extra hour before we are in the hotel room. It’s eight in the morning. We have the next 22 hours. To rest and see Singapore. But that’s not all. More towards the end of mine, I hope this time, a little shorter article.

Most of the Cabin Crew, after a night flight, decide to sleep for a few hours and then head out to explore the city. Me and Mila, a girl from Finland, decided to meet in the hotel lobby as soon as possible. We showered, repaired make-up, got dressed and got ready for sunny Singapore. Time was showing nine. Exactly three hours after landing we manage to keep our energy on high level (hmm we could debate about it). We were definitely ready to explore another part of this city.

We walked from our hotel to the nearest metro station, Stevens. Public transport is a challenge for me. On metros, buses, trains you can get to know and feel the vibe of the city. You notice people rushing through the city. Above all, you get to know the surroundings through the eyes of the locals. Mila and I took the metro to the southern point of Singapore. In between, we changed the metro (from blue line to purple) and arrived at the Final station – HarbourFront. Our plan was to visit Sentosa Island, which is primarily intended for the entertainment and relaxation of tourists, as well as locals. That’s why the they call it “The State of Fun”. First we walked to the VivoCity Mall, from where we headed further. There are several ways to go to the island. From the cable car you can enjoy panoramic views of the island, port and city of Singapore. You can walk the Sentosa Boardwalk, but it is worth mentioning that the route is very long. I do not recommend this if you want to reach the extreme southern point of the island. Maybe cycling is better in this case. For locals, the most convenient option is a car ride. You have to pay an entrance fee, which is not very high. We decided to take the Sentosa Express train to the island. The fastest and most affordable option. Daily price S$ 4 (around 2.6 euros). The train stops at three stations. The first at Universal Studios (Resorts World), which I will mention later. The second is Imbiah, where is the cable car station and the last station – Beach, where Mila and I went.

We first looked for an Island map, so we could orient ourselves. We found that we are located in the southeast part of the island. There are many restaurants, bars and sandy beaches. It was eleven o’clock in the morning, so we decided it was time for breakfast, ups brunch. We walked west and stopped at one of the seaside bars. Exactly at Bikini Bar, Coastes at Siloso Beach. And our breakfast. Poached eggs on toasted bread with mushrooms, rocket and cheese. Amazing. I would have one portion now, but I am locked up in my apartment in Dubai. With a full stomach and a smile on our faces, we went for a walk. We passed Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach, Dolphin Lagoon (where you can see dolphins), Tanjong Beach, and headed to the western part of the island. The least touristy part of the island, where there is a lot of nature and especially peace.

We walked along the sandy beaches under tall palm trees. In between, we crossed the Tanjong Golf Course, which was empty that day. There are several golf courses on the island. You just have to choose this right one for yourself. We continued along the sea to the suspension bridge. After a short walk, we came to the most beautiful corner of the island. Sentosa Cove. If you Google it, it will show you hits from the entire area called Sentosa Cove. However, we only explored a small corner of it. On this small island you can find two smaller traditional houses, the #Sentosa inscription and a lot of calm places in nature. In addition to real fashion photography, we also took a break. We laid down on the burning sand at one of the large palm trees, trying to catch the sun’s rays. We sat there for about half an hour and exchanged many words. We both love to talk. Since we had two more stops planned, we needed to stop enjoying our time. So we got up and headed back towards the train. Unexpectedly, we stopped at a small outdoor amphitheater where people can meet with animals. These are intended primarily for families with children. That day, there was a show featuring parrots. They impressed us with their playful devils and incredible appeal. The 15 minutes free show was definitely a refreshment of our day.

We finally managed to board the train towards the exit of the island. Before the last stop, Sentosa Express stopped at the penultimate stop, Resorts World. Now I can finally mention the main attractions of the island. This is primarily an island of fun, not a search for peace. If you disembark at this station, you can spend the whole day enjoying adventure attractions, restaurants, museums, hotel resorts. This part of the island never rests. For sure, it is worth mentioning one of the Universal Studios that extends over nearly half of this area. I will definitely come back next time for this. The Adventure Cove Water Park is also located here, equipped with 14 different water attractions. If you are a big animal lover, you can check out S.E.A. Aquarium. However, Musical enthusiasts, can head to the Hard Rock Colosseum and enjoy musical pleasures. In addition, you can also walk to the south-eastern part of this island. Here are: Sentosa 4D Magic, Underwater World, Butterfly Park & ​​Insect Kingdom, Dragon Trail, restaurants, accommodations, souvenir shops and more. And when I say a lot, I really mean a lot. Everyone can find something for themselves on the island. Okay, enough now. Let’s go ahead.

We disembarked at the last stop, on the third floor of the VivoCity Mall. We also stopped here for the next hour. First, we went to the Food Court and had some fresh fruits (pineapple, watermelon, melon). I wanted to buy some sports clothes, and Mila needed cosmetics. First we went to the sports shops, which did not satisfy my desire. I wanted “colored” capri leggings combined with a top. I gave up pretty soon. On the other hand, Mila bought quite a few cosmetic products at Sephora. Face masks, tonic, cream, makeup. She paid the bill with a card. Logically. While deciding whether we spend a few more hours here or we move forward, we discovered a crazy shop. Forever new. This is a brand established in Melbourne, Australia. The collection was crazy. Created according to global trends in art, theater, film, music. We found something for ourselves. I bought myself a dress with a flower patterns. So far, my favorite dress. We stayed at the store for another half an hour, so we were pretty late. The day was already bold in the afternoon.

We took the metro to Orchard Road. I mentioned this road in my earlier post. From luxury retail to premium international cuisines, Singapore is the most famous shopping area. The street is 2.2 km long and is an important tourist attraction. Yes, I just copied this part. Mila and I only stayed at the Ion Orchard Shopping Centre. The mall has been operating since 2009 and has 335 grocery and retail stores. With such volume, it is recognized as one of the top shopping malls in Singapore. If you have time, stop here. You don’t have to waste your money here, but you can take Asian-style Bubble Tea. I suggest Each a Cup, because they have a huge selection of different flavours. We went to Sephora again and tried some test products. In the end, I bought a face moisturizer, PixiBeauty, and AllNighter makeup remover. I recommend this one to anyone who needs long-lasting face makeup. The price is quite high, around 30 euros, but it is definitely worth the money. Time just kept running and running. We decided that it is enough for today. Finally, we headed to the nearby supermarket Kate’s Mart and bought some groceries. And dinner? I remember ordering ToGo Noodles with chicken and vegetables at one of the Asian restaurants. I don’t remember which one I choose. Mostly this means that the food is not bad, but also nothing special. Uff yeah, it’s been a long long day. A day without sleep.

So, we arrived at the hotel around seven in the evening. We spent around eight to nine hours in the city. But you should know we didn’t take rest before going out. Most people will sleep to twelve or one in the afternoon and then they will go into the city. So they would have a good six hours. And so, this is our reality. I came to the hotel around eight, ate dinner, chatted over WhatsApp with my loved ones, and sank into sleep around ten in the evening. Till WakeUp Call, which was around four in the morning. I spent next eight hours in a hotel room, under a cozy blanket. If WakeUp Call is around four, this means we have a flight around eight in the morning. Next four hours are lost. When you finally look back, every hour in a new city is valuable. And I try to use it as efficiently as possible. I can sleep when I land back in Dubai. There are not many opportunities to stroll around Asia’s most beautiful city. At least not everyday.

Well, another blog is done. And I can’t believe it, I wrote it in good four hours. I often need a lot more time. This means Singapore has special place in my heart. It is my place. It is my soul city. Maybe some day I will…