Nabhel in Singapore 🇸🇬

It’s been over a year since I traveled to Singapore, and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to write about my trip! I guess it’s because I wanted to do justice to how incredible the experience was. For me, Singapore wasn’t just another destination; it was a transformative/healing experience and I remember the pure joy I felt boarding my flight—I live in Bali, and my journey meant first flying to Jakarta for a layover before heading to Singapore.

Window seat? Check. Phone battery? Double-check. I was that annoying passenger recording literally every single moment of takeoff for my Instagram stories and reel.

Navigating a New City

When I landed in Singapore, it was late evening, and I was greeted by the dazzling beauty of Changi Airport. Let me tell you: Changi is next level. It’s one of the most stunning airports I’ve ever seen. But of course, landing at the airport is only half the battle; I still had to clear immigration and customs! I took the skyline and made my way to the immigration. The immigration officer was polite but thorough — asked me the usual questions like why I was visiting. I may or may not have cheekily taken a video of the immigration area (don’t come for me!). After clearing immigration, I made my way to baggage claim, picked up my bag, where I faced my next challenge: figuring out the city’s transport system.

I knew about Grab (their version of Uber), but it was late, and I decided to brave the MRT (Singapore’s train system) instead. Following the signs — and the crowd — I found my way to the train station. I bought this cute Harry potter train card (10/10 for aesthetics) and hopped on.

The MRT is so easy to navigate. Seriously, Singapore’s transport system deserves a gold star. You literally can’t get lost; it’s a tiny city but incredibly well-connected underground. When I arrived at my hotel, I was too curious to stay indoors. So, I dropped off my stuff and went out for a walk. The streets were so clean, so serene — I fell in love instantly. I grabbed some dinner at a cute Korean restaurant and took my time soaking in the city. By the end of the night, I was already telling myself, “I could live here.”

Work and Conference Highlights

The next day, I attended a work conference at ACE Singapore. As an igloohomie whose company is headquartered in Singapore, it was wonderful to meet colleagues in person. The event marked our 8th year anniversary, with government officials and business partners in attendance.

We also launched 8 of our product into space — yes, space! Fun fact: I was the voice behind the video they played at the event. Hearing my voice booming through the room filled me with so much pride. Posted the video on twitter and created an instagram reel going to work at our HQ office.

After the conference, we had an elegant dinner party. The food? Amazing. One of my colleagues introduced me to this awesome app called CityMapper, which made navigating Singapore even easier — it shows you exactly when the next train is coming and which parts of the train are less crowded!. But as glamorous as it all was, my most unforgettable memory from that evening was walking back to the train station barefoot. Why? Because my shoe decided to give up on life. Yep, the sole came off. I tossed it in a bin and bought some rubber slippers at a nearby store. 😁

A Celebrity Encounter

Of course, it wasn’t all work, I spent the next days exploring the city. I made sure to visit as much places as I could, also made an instagram reel of all the places I visited. I went to gardens by the bay to see the cloud forest which was breathtaking — I paid to see the supertree observatory as well as flower dome, which was so cool and beautifully designed. Walked on the helix bridge and went to see the Art Science Museum. So much memories captured in photos here.

On day two explorations, I visited Bugis Market, bought a couple of shirts, and then headed to Merlion Park.

And here’s the most unexpected moment — I saw a Korean celebrity (Go Kyung-pyo from “Love in contract”) at Merlion Park! The excitement was real. I waited for the right moment, approached him, and asked for a photo. He was so nice and didn’t decline, and when I posted the picture on Twitter, it went viral. Talk about a travel moment!

The Bittersweet Departure

On my last day, I checked out early and went straight to Changi Airport — because, honestly, Changi is a destination in itself. I went from terminal to terminal using airport shuttle bus and explored its iconic features like the jewel waterfall. I made an instagram reel to capture the moment.

Also made an instagram reel while waiting for my departure flight as well. Leaving Singapore was harder than I expected. The return flight was… well, let’s just say it was a harsh reality check. From Singapore’s pristine environment to an airplane that smelled like wet socks, AirAsia didn’t try one bit, I was not impressed. Landing back in Bali was a mix of emotions. The airport felt like a chaotic marketplace compared to Singapore’s sleek infrastructure. “Welcome home”, they say…but honestly, I wasn’t that excited to be home 🥲. But this contrast only amplified my appreciation for the incredible trip I’d just experienced.

More Than Just a Trip

You know what? Singapore transformed and healed me in ways beyond words. When I returned home, I was determined to recreate the same level of comfort I experienced during my stay in Singapore. I bought new things, reorganized my space, and felt inspired. I’m incredibly thankful to my manager, who encouraged me to take this trip. Sometimes, all we need is a gentle push to experience something extraordinary.

🦋 Nabhel