The Orient has always fascinated me so when my in-laws (my mother-in-law, sis-in-law & her husband) suggested a family trip to Singapore, we right away put on our ‘planning caps’. After a month of meticulous planning & calculations, a six-day sojourn was set. Six days might be a bit long for a Singapore visit (SG being the second smallest country in Asia), but we had senior citizens in our group (who actually proved to be the more enthusiastic lot) hence organized a leisurely itinerary.

Day 1 (9th July,2018)

After a four and half tumultuous flight from Kochi, Kerala, we had a smooth landing at Changi International Airport along with the morning sun at 5:40 am. The immigration process was an absolute breeze and in around 45 minutes we were chauffeured to Hotel Boss, our home for the next 6 days. The size of most ‘reasonably rated’ hotels in this garden city would be a shock to many. Our room on floor 15 was approx. 12sqm but the view of the Singapore skyline from there was priceless!

Singapore’s MRT (metro) can get you anywhere. After freshening up, some of us decided to stroll around. Our nearest MRT was a 5-minute walk away. Hopping onto one, we disembarked at Maxwell Food Centre to treat ourselves to some cheap Singaporean food. It’s a must visit hawker centre especially for foodies. We tried the famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice and coconut pudding for a mere S$3.

The first visit on our itinerary was to Singapore Zoo where we had booked for a Night Safari. This vast nocturnal zoo is divided into different geographical zones which can be explored on foot or by the tram. We choose the 30mt. tram ride which takes you through the zoo and spotted tigers, giraffes, lions, hyenas, monkeys, deer, elephants and many more. On the way back, at the entrance we were in for a treat – a magnificent fire show. After dinner at the Saravana Bhavan near our hotel, we retired for the day.

Day 2 (10th July,2018)

After an opulent, complimentary breakfast, we boarded a luxury bus with other tourists and were taken on a city tour. Our friendly guide explained how the country got its name. Some early explorers on their visit to this country came across a strange looking animal with its head covered with thick mane. The locals called it ‘singham’ meaning lion and the city was thus christened Singapura or ‘The Lion City’. We were taken through the famous Civic District via the Parliament House and the National Gallery. We also got to see the famous Fountain of Wealth where a scene in the movie ‘Krrish 3’ was shot. We were given 2 hours at the Merlion Park where we clicked numerous pictures with mama Merlion and baby Merlion standing on the banks of Singapore River. Papa Merlion stays separated on Sentosa island. The Merlion, the official mascot of Singapore is a creature with a lion’s head and the body of a fish. The next stop was at the Buddha Tooth and Relic Temple and Museum in Chinatown. The temple’s beautifully designed interiors, numerous statues and other exhibits speak of stories of several hundred years ago. Our last stop on the city tour was at a souvenir shop in Chinatown where we bought several gifts and mementos for friends and family.

In the afternoon we were taken to Sentosa island by road. Our first stop was at Madam Tussauds. As it was our first wax museum visit, we were dazzled by all the glitz and glamour of famous personalities. We walked down the IIFA Awards green carpet and clicked pictures alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Kajol, RK & SRK. The kids practiced their football skills with Ronaldo and posed with Louis Hamilton. We then straight away delved into the marine world at S.E.A. Aquarium which is home to more than 100,000 sea creatures. Next up on our itinerary was the Butterfly park and Insect Kingdom. Although we didn’t get to see many butterflies we got to see several eerie looking insects. If you are not fond of these crawling creatures, you can give this place a miss. The last stop of the day where the kids had a gala time experimenting was the Trick Eye 3D Museum where we can be part of many optical illusions. The museum has an Augmented Reality mobile app (can be downloaded for free) to click all kinds of crazy pics with 3D effect.

Day 3 (11th July,2018)

It was a fun filled day at the Universal studios in Sentosa which began with a spectacular ride in a cable car from Mt. Faber to the island. The cable line passes through HarbourFront skyscraper and across the vast, panoramic expanse of the sea to Sentosa. Once at the Universal Studios, you have to plan your rides in accordance with the various shows that are staged there (the Studio Guide flyer will be of help). At the entrance is the Hollywood themed zone and you get to walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Unfortunately, we missed the Marlyn Monroe Meet & Greet Show.

Next at the Madagascar Zone some of us went for the Crate Adventure ride where you come across Alex, Martin & Gloria. In the meanwhile, the boys scooted to enjoy the thrills of the world’s tallest pair of dueling roller coaster though for that they had to wait an hour in queue. We passed by Ancient Egypt where we caught two Pharaohs walking on stilts. While strolling in the New York zone we watched an exciting live performance reminding us of the early Hollywood movies. The exhilarating River Rapids Ride at the Jurassic Park truly kept us spellbound and soaked; we felt that we had landed amidst the dinosaurs of the Lost World. Although it was a tiresome day (the Universal Studios is almost the size of 25 football grounds), we enjoyed it thoroughly especially the ride back in the cable car.