ella's inkwell

Originally published: Jan 6th, 2024

A life hack I discovered while booking flights during this fast moving trip was that many flights go through large airport hubs. If you want to stay at that location for an entire day, you likely can. Due to the long layover, that flight is typically cheaper.

Which is how we ended up in Singapore for a quickie 24 hours.

Arriving at the Singapore Changi Airport at 10 pm, we were utterly drained from a night of travel. Hastening through the tech savvy customs, we hailed a taxi 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, lazy-river type pools. In the residential areas, giant, modern houses often showcase a Porsche or Bentley in the driveway.

We asked the driver if it was possible to go a little fast in the car, where he kept the speedometer well below the speed limit. He warned us that there are cameras everywhere. The second he surpasses the limit, the police would know and fine or arrest him. I was again reminded that this country, specifically its surveillance system, was one of a frightening dystopian nature.

Finally, we arrived at the spacious, beautiful apartment overlooking the harbor, and enjoyed a glass of white wine. Lulled to sleep by the exhaustion and light alcohol haze, we finally passed out on large clean beds.

Waking up in typical Ella-fashion, I laced up my running shoes and decided to explore the small 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.

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 Singaporean knowledge). 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. Big thank you to the unnamed tuxedo man. I shall try to pay it forward at the soonest available opportunity.

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.

Goodbye Singapore, thank you for a lovely day.