Singapore will always have a special place in my heart. Apart from having family there (my mom’s brother married a Singaporean, and they have three kids who I grew up with but never get to see anymore), it was the first and only country I visited with my grandparents. This is a big deal because they both aren’t around anymore, and I really miss them, especially my lola. I had a very close bond with my grandmother (she continues to be my idol and hero), and I will always cherish the times we spent together.

Rewind to the early 90’s to my first trip to Singapore. I was around 10 or 11 years old when my grandparents took my brother and me. I had such a fun time. I discovered chili crabs and oatmeal prawns, and my favorite chicken rice. My first shopping experience there was also very memorable, because I was able to make pabili so many things, thanks to lola (boy, how I miss that). It was a different kind of shopping experience back then though, because I was obsessed with comic books (and not clothes, bags or shoes) so we would go from bookstore to bookstore to find the missing issues in my DC/Marvel collection. I also got to go to Sentosa Island, which I loved because of its beaches and rides. There was just so much to do—I biked, swam and played with my brother and cousins the entire time. Oh to be a kid again!

I went back many times since, but it was always for work, and never more than 2 days. So I never got to visit my family like before. I got to eat Singaporean dishes but not enough of it. And the kind of shopping I experienced was speed shopping, where I had to pick and purchase in a matter of minutes. You can say I missed the Singapore I got to know back then, and I was longing to rediscover the country I had grown to love as a tween.

So when the lovely people of the Singapore Tourism Board, Cebu Pacific and Ogilvy & Mather Ad Agency invited my husband and I to experience Singapore as a couple, you can imagine what my answer was. A big yes! I was beyond excited. Carlos had never been to Singapore, and I wanted to go back badly. And so we spent an incredible four days touring the “garden city” (you must’ve seen my Instagram posts—we went to A LOT of places). This trip was one for the books!

On our first day, we went to GARDENS BY THE BAY. This place is new. It was my first time to see the place, and WOW, it is pretty spectacular. This place is every plant/flower/nature-lover’s dream come true. It features an exotic diversity of plants from all over the world. Its a garden paradise filled with new discoveries and exciting adventures.

I especially loved the FLOWER DOME, which is basically a giant greenhouse, only it is very cool inside (air is cooled at the lower occupied zones through chilled water pipes in ground slabs, while warm air is vented out at the top.). It is unbelievable inside, because they were able to gather hundreds of rare plants and flowers and allow them to thrive in one big space. The Flower Dome replicates the cool-dry climate of Mediterranean regions like South Africa, California and parts of Spain and Italy, and is the largest columnless greenhouse in the world.

We arrived a week too early! The tulips are not yet in bloom.

My husband loves plants (we’ve already started growing our own herbs on our balcony) so this was such a treat for him to see.

We’re in “Holland”.

Haha love this! The little windmill is a great touch.

Rows and rows of pretty tulips behind us.

Sayang talaga! One week more and we could’ve seen them in bloom.

Yes, this is how they’re supposed to look like.

 So happy. My best bud Mayi was able to tag along on our tour.

So many gorgeous flowers! My mom would’ve liked to see this.

Tulips.

Even more of them.

Imagining just how much more beautiful these will look when they’re in bloom.

Trying these on for size.

Haha! Sweet lang.

And here we are at the CLOUD FOREST!  A 35-metre “mountain” covered in lush vegetation shrouding the world’s tallest indoor waterfall that showcases plant life from tropical highlands up to 2,000-metres above sea level.

Ang lamig! Hahaha. We were actually getting wet while taking this photo.

And up we go to climb the mountain. Of course, there’s also the lift, which is more convenient.

Finally we are on top of the mountain, on the CLOUD WALK. It is pretty high, just to warn those who are afraid of heights.

Mayi and I.

Reading about the man-made mountain.

On our way out.

Sharing a laugh while admiring the SUPER TREES.

Here they are: the SUPERTREES! These are 16 storeys high and are made of of four parts: reinforcement concrete core, trunk, planting panels of the living skin, and canopy. Supertrees are embedded with environmentally sustainable functions like photovoltaic cells to harvest solar energy.

Just an elevator ride away and we’re atop these trees.

Admiring the view.

A long way down. Love this picnic grove btw!

Having fun, so far.

I can imagine these trees lit up at night. They must look gorgeous!

Back down, about to take a merienda break.

Our journey begins here–we’re are about to go on the SINGAPORE FLYER–the world’s largest giant observation wheel!!!

Long way up.

Art made of recycled materials.

And we’re inside! The decks are pretty roomy, some even had tables set for dinner!

The ride was slow and steady. Its view was amazing!

The Singapore skyline.

Finally! DINNER!!! You can say we worked up an appetite, after all that sightseeing. Chicken rice, for the win!!!

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All photos by DARREN CHIN (thank you Darren!!).