24 Hours in Singapore

Arriving in Singapore at 10 pm, we were utterly drained from a night of travel. Hastening through customs, we embarked on a car journey to Sentosa, where we'd be staying at the stunning apartment of Riley's family friends. Technically an island, Sentosa is guarded by a gated bridge. The roads meander around a meticulously landscaped tropical terrain, interrupted by tall, white-windowed apartment buildings and surrounded by expansive, meandering pools. In the residential areas, giant, modern houses often showcase a Porsche or Bentley in the driveway. We finally reached the spacious, beautiful apartment overlooking the harbor and enjoyed a glass of white wine. Finally, we went to bed!

View from the Penthouse

Waking up, I laced up my running shoes and decided to explore the island. Often, I had to tag along with a nanny and her entourage of kids to pass through one of the many gated areas accessible only by a key card. The harbor hosts large, pristine yachts and beach clubs along the boardwalk. After returning to the apartment, I showered, and Riley and I headed into the city, with our first stop being Marina Bay Sands.

Sentosa Running Path

My crazy face in front of Marina Bay Sands

This iconic boat perched atop three towers offered a panoramic view of Singapore's skyline. The Central Business District (CBD) is home to towering buildings, while closer to the coast, smaller two-story structures, mainly hotels and luxury shopping outlets, line the streets. On the water, a lush garden blooms, adorned with large flower-like statues emerging from the land (as seen in Crazy Rich Asians, which I frequently pondered throughout the day, given it's the foundation of my knowledge of Singapore). After exploring the top, we descended to view the building from ground level, conveniently leading us to bustling street markets where we craved some inexpensive street food.

Halting at Market Street, we ordered our stir-fry, only to realize, post-service, that they didn't accept cards, and we had no cash. A kind stranger paid for our $5 meal, sparing us from embarrassment. Acts of kindness like these are rare and deserve recognition and reciprocity.

View from the top of Marina Bay Sands

Continuing our day, we ventured to the next set of stalls and indulged in boba. I opted for matcha, and Riley chose a berry shake with black rice, which became the fan favorite.

Finally, we returned to the apartment, polished off the wine from the night before, and took a dip in the expansive lazy river-style pool.

Eventually, to our dismay, it was time to head back to the airport.

Singapore Street Market