I always dreamt of having a job that would allow me to travel. The reality of it is that often, you go somewhere to work but there is little time to explore. If possible, I try to extend my stay over the weekend after an event or business trip so I can squeeze in some sightseeing. When I did an event in Singapore earlier this year, I didn’t have that luxury but if you’re lucky enough to meet and work with amazing people, you sometimes manage to experience a location even if you’re only there for 48 hours.
My expectations for getting some sightseeing under the belt were very low when I got to Singapore late on a hazy and humid Sunday early June. I spent most of the Monday preparing for the event that our company was hosting on the Tuesday when I received a text from my workmate Vincent who is heading up our offices in Singapore. He said he’ll pick me up from the hotel later that day to show me around Singapore. And before I knew it I was on my way into this bustling metropole with Vincent and his lovely wife Faith.
Eating at a Hawker Centre in Singapore
Our first stop was the Chomp Chomp Food Centre, a so-called Hawker centre. Hawkers are the traditional street food vendors and these food centres are outdoors and bustling with people and delicious, great-value delicacies. Vincent ordered everything for us while we were chatting away about life in Singapore and the UK, and trying to find ways to get me over to work with the local team (funnily enough at this point, I didn’t think it was going to happen and now I’m here!). I just ate whatever was on the table and drank the delicious fresh juices. The satay sticks, chilli stingray and Kang Kong (vegetable) were my favourite foods but everything was absolutely mouth-watering.
Trying Durian fruit
Whilst we were enjoying all the delicacies on offer until our tummies hurt, I was asking about other typical Singaporean foods. One that came up was the infamous Durian fruit, also called the King of Fruit. It’s distinctive for its large size and thorn-covered rind. This fruit can grow as long as 30 centimetres and it typically weighs one to three kilograms. Durian isn’t allowed in many enclosed spaces like planes etc. because of it’s pungent smell. Taste-wise, it seems that people either love it or hate it. After all this talk about it, my hosts decided that naturally, our next stop would have to be a Durian market. Cutting the Durian is an art on its own, as the flesh needs to remain intact while the thick shell is hacked. Ultimately, Faith and Vincent bought some Durian so we could take it back to their home for me to try it. I was really happy and grateful for the hospitality and the opportunity to get to know a bit of the “real” Singapore, behind the shiny façade of Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay. And whilst I thought the taste was a bit unusual, I definitely can’t stay I found it distasteful!
Visiting Marina Bay Sands
I was planning to do a little more sightseeing on the Tuesday after our event (which was a lunch event) and before my flight back home in the evening, but it turned out that my workmates already had everything covered. Without much ado, they took me up to Marina Bay Sands, the famous hotel that looks like a ship. On the rooftop terrace, which is accessible for 23 SGD (13 GBP / 15 EUR), people can enjoy mouth-watering foods and sushi as well as a range of excellent cocktails. Naturally, I had a Singapore Sling (what else?). The rooftop pool at Marina Bay Sands is legendary too but unfortunately only accessible to hotel guests (one night costs around 600 AUD (317 GBP / 370 EUR).
Sightseeing in the Gardens by the Bay
When I was sitting in the hotel prepping for the event, my mum unexpectedly texted me to let me know that Patricia was in Singapore at the moment. Initially I didn’t even know who she was talking about so I just texted her back and said “Patricia who?” and she replied that she was referring to the daughter of family friends of our village who I also know from the numerous times I visited my local back home, the infamous Ranch – our village pub. She’d given Patricia my number and after my quick visit to the Marina Bay Sands, I met up with her spontaneously and she took me around the magnificent Gardens by the Bay. We just walked around, enjoying the lucky coincidence and chatting about the joys and pains of living away from family and friends. Check out the pictures below – they really don’t need any further commentary!
