Traveling to Southeast Asia

2018 was the first time we got to travel to Northeast Asia. We visited China and then Japan. The trip was full of discoveries and surprises. For example, we found out how quiet and clean the streets of Tokyo are compared to those in the United States. Even in places with thousands of people walking around, like Shinjuku or Shibuya—areas filled with giant digital advertisements and bustling crowds, similar to Times Square in New York—the difference is striking. Despite the sheer volume of people, Tokyo’s streets remain impeccably clean and orderly, whereas Times Square often feels chaotic and littered. I also compare the Ginza area to Fifth Avenue in New York City, though Ginza’s polished sidewalks and lack of trash set it apart. I know I am comparing streets to entire neighborhoods, but those who have visited both can understand these comparisons.

Our first trip to Northeast Asia included a visit to Tokyo, Japan, and Beijing, as well as the Great Wall of China. We definitely left Northeast Asia wanting to come back one day.

Earlier this year, I was given a nice surprise. Felly (my wife) surprised me with a trip to Singapore and Japan for my birthday!

You can imagine my surprise when I was told we were going back to Japan, but also to Singapore, which we’d never visited. The trip was scheduled to take place from the last week of July to the middle of August, giving us plenty of time to slowly visit places, eat various foods, and enjoy daily life in these two countries.

We left for Singapore on a flight from Seattle to Seoul, South Korea, then took another plane from there to Singapore. Getting to Singapore took a while, but having access to airport lounges definitely improved the experience and our mood, as we were able to shower at the Seoul airport after a long flight. Once we arrived in Singapore, we were tired but excited at the same time. We got there early in the morning, and after having a small breakfast and coffee at a Starbucks at the Singapore Changi Airport, we decided to take a bus to the place we were going to stay for almost two weeks. We chose the bus so we could see the city waking up, admire its streets, neighborhoods, and all the people going to work, school, etc.

We walked outside to the bus stop, a short five-minute walk from the arrivals area. We waited for about ten minutes only to find out that our credit card didn’t work on the bus, so we walked back to the airport and bought a transit card instead. This is a rechargeable card that can be used for the subway and the buses in Singapore, and you can add more money via an app, convenience stores, and at the subway stations.

The bus ride was nice, and right away we were pleased to see the cleanliness of the streets in Singapore, definitely a contrast to Western and European cities. I was not surprised after experiencing the same in Japan a few years before, where the streets and subway system were clean and odor-free. It feels more civilized, as if humans there have reached an understanding that we can all live better if we all contribute to keeping public areas clean—something we could all do more of in cities like New York and Seattle, to name a few.

The apartment Felly rented in Singapore was in a nice residential area with plenty of shopping. It was fun to go underground to the subway, just a short walk from the apartment, and discover this huge shopping area underground, which offered a much-needed break from the sun and humidity on the surface. While I am not a fan of big malls and shopping in general, it was interesting and entertaining to explore the halls and stores underground, where you could go for blocks without having to go outside or even take the subway. As much as I liked it, it was also nice to get out and actually see the sun and breathe fresh air, although very warm and humid.

Being in Singapore with Felly is a dream come true. I seek places to travel not because they are dreamy travel destinations, but because I am curious about them—the way people live and work there, and of course, the food, always the food. Singapore is a place I have been interested in for many years. It intrigues me how the country changed its policies since the 1960s, which have helped with its current success. Also, since it is a small country, I was eager to see how things like public transportation worked there, and let me tell you, they have the most efficient, modern, and clean subway system that I’ve ever experienced. I understand that it isn’t as large as New York’s or Tokyo’s subway system, but they definitely know what they are doing, and the subway in Singapore is a joy to use.

The days in Singapore went by fast. We didn’t do as much exploring and walking as we had hoped; the heat and humidity were too much. We enjoyed eating at Lau Pat Sat, one of the many food centers in Singapore. We found a noodle place there that we really liked, and if you are not into noodles, no worries—there is a lot of variety in food at this place. Definitely a place to visit if you are in Singapore.

We also visited the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel and its large shopping center. It reminded me of Las Vegas and how some hotels on the strip are attached to endless hallways filled with high-end shops and restaurants. It was interesting, but not something I enjoyed. I prefer to visit neighborhoods with local shops and restaurants when traveling to remote places. One such place in Singapore was Chinatown, the perfect neighborhood to eat, walk, and do some photography. It was probably my favorite place in all of Singapore.

We also walked to Boat Quay, a place filled with small restaurants offering a large variety of cuisines, and also a place where you can take a leisurely boat ride down the river and around the marina. We walked around this place one night and had excellent Thai food while enjoying a view of the river and Singapore’s skyline at night.

The last place we visited before we departed for Japan was Sentosa Island, a place with sandy beaches, resorts, a theme park, and more. We decided to take a cable car to get there—it was a fun ride! However, the beaches were empty due to some cleaning or something, and most places at the beach were closed. No one was swimming or hanging out at the beach. It wasn’t a great experience while we were there, so I’d like to go back one day and enjoy the beach on a day when everything is open.

While Singapore is warm and humid year-round, I’d like to go back one day during February or March to see if the experience is different.

Singapore was a great trip. I enjoyed and learned a lot about it.

Thank you, Felly, for making this trip a reality. Besos 😘.