Before the rainy season officially kicked in last June, my family and I flew to Singapore for a short vacay. We explored its streets, tried local foods and spent some time at attractions like Universal Studios and Gardens by the Bay. The trip was worthwhile, and knowing for a fact that Singapore is a small country but an economic powerhouse adds to the memorable experience. 

Universal Studios

Universal Studios guarantees an amazing day out with its rides, shows, attractions and shops. It’s located within Resorts World Sentosa.

Although it rained really hard on our way to the theme park and it continued to pour when we arrived, the weather got better after we had our lunch. And that’s when we excitedly began choosing rides.

Universal Studios has 7 zones, each having different themes – Hollywood, New York City, Sci-fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away and Madagascar. Can you tell which themed-cities these are?

My favorite ride was the Transformers. It’s a 3D ride that was utterly thrilling without the stomach-churning heights – perfect for me! My mom also enjoyed this so while my sisters were falling in line for another round of the roller coaster Cylon, we were happily “helping” Bumblebee defeat evil robots again.

Flower Dome

Listed in the 2015 Guinness World Records as the world’s largest glass greenhouse, the Flower Dome had us gawking at thousands of plants and flowers. These stunners were of various colors and sizes; every section unveiled a collection of flowers that showcased its own vibrance and beauty! The whole tour felt like I stepped into a huge, well-maintained Secret Garden.

Aside from the visual display, I remember how cool the temperature in the dome was, which is said to replicate the Mediterranean climate. We also didn’t miss the delightful floral scent that permeated the place.

Cloud Forest

The Cloud Forest has to be my favorite attraction. It’s refreshing, both literally and figuratively. The temperature inside is kept low to simulate an atmosphere with that of the tropical rainforests. Since it’s cool inside, we didn’t get tired much touring the place. It was a welcoming escape from the heat outside. Also, the 35-meter high, man-made waterfall that greeted us when we entered was impressive and adds to the place’s cool climate.

As one would expect, the Cloud Forest is teeming with tropical vegetation. But what I really liked about it was the unique architecture and plant life exhibits. There’s a walkway that weaved through the man-made mountain, and every certain height were various plants that one would usually see in montane regions. There were exotic orchids, ferns and mosses, a lotus pond and even Venus flytraps! 

I recommend allotting 1-2 hours when you visit the Cloud Forest. Aside from the tour, you can opt to stay for the film viewing in their theatre. The film educates people on climate change and our environment’s current status.

Little India

When my sister Maan invited me to have a quick tour of Little India on our last day in Singapore and showed me pictures of it, I quickly said yes. This was despite having to wake up real early so we could still stick to our strict schedule (We would just meet the rest of the fam later). Seeing the vibrant streets in the pictures, I got interested in checking out structures that embody Indian culture.

Come the day, we wandered its streets, checking out some houses and temples. I read that Little India is known for its bustling streets filled with malls and quirky cafés. Most of the establishments were still closed that time though so we mostly just had a stroll and observed the neighborhood.

The most remarkable structures for me were Sri Veeramakaliamman, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, and the House of Tan Teng Niah. For Instagrammable pictures, you would want to check out the House of Tan Teng Niah. 

Authentic Indian dish for breakfast! Spicy level is !!!

Merlion Park

Of course, as first-time tourists in Singapore, we had to have our pictures taken with the iconic statue – the Merlion!

I was finally able to have a creative shot with the Merlion statue! It was tricky to have solo ones because of tons of other tourists. Just be ready and quick with your shots lol.

The park was big enough for a nice stroll and the view of downtown Singapore across was soo scenic.