A Sweet break in Singapore
How has it already been five days?
Tristan and I woke up in Singapore this morning asking ourselves that as we packed up and headed to the airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City. We both wished we had more time to explore this vibrant, beautiful country, but we definitely made the most of our stay—and we’re already planning to come back.
Five Days in Singapore
Our journey started with a very early morning in the Philippines. We were up by 5AM to begin our travel day, which included a three-hour layover in Taiwan and then a five-hour flight to Singapore. Naturally, we had to watch Crazy Rich Asians on the plane to get in the mood. By the time we landed, we had been in transit for 18 hours. Our only goal at that point was to find our accommodation and pass out. We stayed in a little capsule hotel in the heart of Chinatown and had a very comfy bed in a strongly air conditioned room—mission accomplished we slept like the dead.
The next morning, we made a conscious decision to take things slow. After all the movement and chaos of the Philippines, it felt amazing to have our own quiet, cool space. We were also due for some serious trip planning, so we researched nearby cafes and spent a lazy morning sipping lattes and strawberry matcha while mapping out our route for Vietnam and Thailand. Ever since we left Japan, I’ve been craving a good matcha latte—and we found the perfect cafe right in Chinatown. We ended up going there every morning of our trip.
Once our plans were sketched out, it was time for food. Thanks to our Crazy Rich Asians crash course, we knew Singapore’s food halls (or hawker centers) were the place to go for affordable, world-class meals. We walked over to the Maxwell Food Centre, just down the street, and got in line for the famous Michelin-rated chicken rice. It was by far the most popular stall in the hall—lines stretched around the corner—but it only took about five minutes to get our food. Singapore doesn’t mess around with efficiency. We devoured our plates and then headed to the botanical gardens for a stroll.
Just as we arrived, a thunderstorm rolled in. We ducked into a nearby mall, stocked up on toiletries, and waited out the rain. Once the near monsoon slowed to a gentle drizzle, we grabbed our umbrellas and headed back out to explore the now-cool, freshly washed gardens. The place was bursting with life. The real highlight, though, was the orchid garden in the center, which features species from all over the world, along with their own unique hybrids. We both left with a newfound appreciation for orchids.
For dinner, we did something very “Tristan and Jordan”—we went on the hunt for Mexican food. We found a lively bar tucked down an alley with amazing margaritas and very mediocre chicken flautas, but it still hit the spot. Sometimes it’s not about the quality—it’s about the comfort.
Our second day was dedicated to sightseeing. We visited the iconic Gardens by the Bay, where you get an incredible view of the city and harbor. The weather was overcast (thankfully!), so the heat wasn’t too brutal. Singapore’s architecture is like nothing we’ve ever seen—futuristic but integrated with nature. The city was built not in spite of the forest, but to include it bringing sophistication and nature together. Buildings are combined with foliage to keep the rainforest ecosystem alive. Otters and lizards share the streets equally with pedestrians and monkeys live in tree canopies right next to golf courses. It was like nothing we’ve seen before.
We ended the day watching the sunset from a rooftop garden atop a nearby mall. As darkness fell, the city lit up around us. It was one of those perfect travel moments—quiet, colorful, and full of awe.
The next day, we took a train about 30 minutes outside the city to visit one of Singapore’s rainforests. Our goal was the Treetop Walk—a suspension bridge that brings you right up into the forest canopy, eye-level with the monkeys. What we didn’t realize was that it would be a two-mile hike to get there, and another two miles back.
That hike turned out to be an adventure. Tristan—bless him—discovered a new fear: wildlife. The path was teeming with life, including massive monitor lizards and monkeys that blended into the scenery so well, you wouldn’t notice them unless you were paying close attention. I was in heaven; Tristan… not so much. Every time a bush rustled, he jumped a little. Still, we made it to the canopy and soaked in the view before power-walking back just in time to miss a downpour.
We were absolutely starving by the time we returned, so we rewarded ourselves with Shake Shack—and honestly, it was the best burger I’ve ever had. We took the rest of the day off to relax.
Our last day in Singapore was quiet. We made one final visit to our favorite cafe for lattes and strawberry matchas, said goodbye to the sweet staff who had started to recognize us, and did a bit more planning for the next leg of our trip. Vietnam was calling, and we were getting excited.
Singapore was everything we hoped for—clean, green, delicious, and surprisingly relaxing. We’ll be back.
