Indulge in the Uniquely Singapore experience

It was the summer of 1992, our plane has finally landed after four hours of traveling on air then we heard the gentle voice of our flight attendant announcing that we have finally arrived.

"Welcome to Singapore", she said.

Frannywanny with lil sister at Sentosa Island, Singapore -- May 1992
As we unbuckled our seat belts and patiently lined up to exit the plane, I held on to my dad's strong hands as I tried to hide the excitement building up inside me.

The travel from the airport to our hotel took more than thirty minutes but this ten-year-old girl didn't mind at all. I was carefully soaking in the beautiful scenery that I can see from outside. Everything was so clean and green... It was truly love at first sight.

Since then, I've always been in love with Singapore.

As the saying goes, "Big things come in small packages." This holds true for Singapore. Quite a small country in terms of land area but it sure has a LOT to offer when it comes to giving the best travel experience for its visitors.

It has been seventeen long years since my last visit to this lovely country that's a melting pot of different cultures and races. There has been a lot of changes and I'd love to go back, to experience them all and to fall in love with Singapore again and again...

...and this time, I'm bringing my beloved fiance with me. :)

Paul has never been to Singapore but has, in multiple occasions, expressed his desire to do so.

If given the chance to embark on a One-Day trip to Singapore, I will definitely make sure that I'll be ready with an action-packed itinerary wherein we'll be able to have a complete and one-of-a-kind experience of Singapore. This itinerary will allow us to learn more about it's rich culture and history, it will also lead us to see a number of beautiful scenery that will surely take our breath away, it will make me shop till I drop and lastly it will treat our taste buds to the dishes that has placed Singapore at the center of every foodie's heart.

This itinerary is a mix of my old favorite spots that I would like to share with Paul and a couple of new ones that I would like for us to experience together.

7AM: We will begin early in the morning as we travel to Chinatown for breakfast. No trip to Singapore will ever be complete without a hearty morning feast of Kaya Toast, Soft-Boiled eggs and Coffee. At the original branch of Ya Kun in the Far East Building along China Street, Paul and I will try to grab a table near the door to be able to witness the morning activities of the residents in this area.

830AM: After filling our tummies and walking around Chinatown (and probably waiting for Paul who'll be happily snapping away), we're ready to head towards the Singapore River for a scenic tour on board a vintage-looking boat as we enjoy the sights of the iconic Merlion, the Esplanade, as well as the buildings and skyscrapers that we'll see along the way. This will also be the perfect time to unwind and relax our feet before we head on to our next destination.

1030AM: We're off to Orchard Road for our next stop. It's time to shop, shop and shop!!! As a child, this has been my favorite road as we would all shop till we literally drop. The entire street is lined up with malls giving you the chance to buy almost everything that your heart desires.

1230PM: Paul and I will stop for lunch here. Another must-try when in Singapore is their Hainanese Chicken Rice. We'll hop over to the posh Meritus Mandarin Hotel and dine at a restaurant called Chatterbox to enjoy the best Chicken Rice in Singapore.

3PM: After splurging on a couple of new outfits and gifts that my family will surely love, we're ready to move on to our next destination -- The Asian Civilization Museum. Paul and I both agree that in order to fully appreciate the beauty of a country, we have to also educate ourselves on its history and rich heritage that has made Singapore what it currently is today.

4PM: After enjoying our visit to the museum, we'll take a short walk to The Esplanade for our afternoon snack. We will head directly to the Makansutra Gluttons Bay where we can try a couple of local favorites such as the Fried Carrot Cake and some Ice Kachang while enjoying the cool sea breeze.

6PM: Just as the sun is about to set, Paul and I will head to the Singapore Flyer for a romantic ride around the 165 meters high Ferris wheel. From the Flyer, we'll be able to see the Merlion Park, the Singapore River, the F1 circuit and a lot more. This will truly be a romantic ride as we'll enjoy a 360 view of the city.

8PM: It's finally time for dinner! We'll travel to CHIJMES which is situated within the compound of an old girl's convent school. I love the exterior and I can't wait to see how it looks like inside. Dinner will probably consists of an international fare from one of the restaurants inside this complex.

Just when you thought, it's time to unwind and call it a day...

10PM: We're off to the Singapore Night Safari as a perfect ending to our adventure-filled day. This is a one-of-a-kind attraction that can only be found here in Singapore. We'll go on a tram ride as this will bring us around the entire park where we can see the different animals living in their natural habitat. No cages here, mind you.

12MN: The day has finally come to an end as we head back to our hotel. It was surely a fun, romantic and enriching day as we allowed ourselves to enjoy Singapore's food, history and most of all, it's beautiful scenery that will leave us wanting for more.

Lastly, to quote one of my favorite food icons on his thoughts about Singapore....


While this itinerary remains a dream today, we hope that soon Paul and I will find ourselves on board a plane headed to Singapore to make all these a reality.

Indulge in the Uniquely Singapore experience!

photos from:
www.visitsingapore.com
www.singaporeflyer.com
www.rivercruise.com.sg