Small Island, BIG Ideas
Explore Singapore
Singapore is a destination that holds a special place in my heart. While many people visit for its famous attractions, my connection to the city runs much deeper. It’s where family history, lifelong friendships and countless return visits have made Singapore feel like a second home.
A City That Feels Like My Second Home
My journey to Singapore began through my father’s determination to reconnect our family with relatives we had lost touch with many years before.
Check out Singapore Visual Stories
for more inspiration and places I’ve explored.
My grandmother (my father’s mother) and her elder sister were both born in China. Around the time they left their hometown, their lives took very different paths. After marrying my grandmother, my grandfather left first to explore new opportunities in Thailand. Once he had settled, he returned to China to bring my grandmother to begin their new life together in Thailand. Meanwhile, my grandmother’s elder sister married and eventually made Singapore her home.
Over the years, the connection between the two sisters and their families gradually faded until they eventually lost contact.
Determined to rebuild those family ties, my father spent years searching for our relatives in Singapore. His persistence eventually led to an emotional reunion that brought our families back together after decades apart. We were warmly welcomed, and what began as a search for family became one of the most meaningful journeys of my life.
Since then, I’ve returned to Singapore many times to visit our extended family and close university friends who live here. Every visit creates new memories, making Singapore much more than a travel destination. It has truly become my second home.
What I Enjoy About Travelling in Singapore
Although Singapore is one of the smallest countries in Southeast Asia, every visit reminds me how much there is to experience. The city continues to evolve, where futuristic architecture stands beside historic neighbourhoods, colourful temples and diverse cultures that have lived together for generations.
One of the things I admire most is how Singapore blends urban development with nature. Beautiful parks, waterfront promenades, lush gardens and tree-lined streets are woven into everyday city life, making it one of the cleanest and most walkable cities in the region. As someone who enjoys photography and green spaces, I always find new places worth exploring.
Getting around is effortless thanks to the excellent MRT network, making it easy to explore Marina Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam and many other neighbourhoods without needing a car.
Singapore is also one of my favourite cities for food. From Michelin-recognised hawker stalls to modern cafés and international restaurants, every visit is another opportunity to discover new flavours.
Despite its small size, Singapore packs an incredible variety of experiences into just a few days. Beyond the iconic attractions, I also enjoy discovering hidden corners, public art, cafés and Instagrammable places that showcase another side of this remarkable city.
Do You Enjoy a Morning Run!
One thing I always look forward to in Singapore is starting the day with a morning run. Whenever possible, I choose a hotel within running distance of Marina Bay or Fort Canning Park so I can enjoy the city before it gets busy.
Running through these areas offers a different perspective of Singapore. Along the way, you’ll see modern skyscrapers standing beside beautifully preserved British colonial buildings, with gardens, waterfront promenades and green spaces connecting the city. It’s one of my favourite ways to experience Singapore and appreciate how seamlessly old and new coexist.
Here Are Singapore’s
Most Instagrammable Places
From futuristic architecture to colourful heritage streets and beautiful gardens, these are some of my favourite places to photograph in Singapore.
- Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
- Gardens by the Bay (Supertree Grove)
- Cloud Forest
- Flower Dome
- Merlion Park
- Jewel Changi Airport
- Helix Bridge
- Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade
- ArtScience Museum
- Kampong Glam & Haji Lane
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Clarke Quay
- Fort Canning Park
- Singapore Botanic Gardens
- National Gallery Singapore
- The Southern Ridges
- Henderson Waves
- MacRitchie Reservoir TreeTop Walk
- Sentosa Island
