Travel

THE SOLO DRIFTER: Losing Myself in Singapore (A Travel Guide)

By on Sunday, January 4, 2026

This article was first published on 28 December 2019; updated on 4 January 2026.

Malaysia tour was tiring, but worth it! Now, Singapore was the next stop of my third #SEAtour, plus our five-day Asia-Pacific train-the-trainers training! We traveled for around five hours from Kuala Lumpur to Beach Road via bus, with ticket prices starting at SGD 30. There was no time difference from the Philippines, but one thing stood out immediately—the sun sets later here, around 7:00 p.m.

Philippine passport holders are granted visa-free entry to Singapore for up to 30 days.

Six years later, I returned, not as a solo traveler, but with my family. This 2025 visit became more than a trip.

What you need to know about Singapore

  1. Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles as a trading post of the British East India Company
  2. Classified as an Alpha+ global city, indicating its influence on the global economy. Singapore is the only country in Asia with an AAA sovereign rating from all major rating agencies, and one of 11 worldwide.
  3. Regularly ranked among the most expensive cities globally.
  4. The Singapore passport consistently ranks among the strongest worldwide.
  5. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the only tropical garden in the world to be honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  6. “Singapura” comes from Sanskrit, meaning “Lion City.”
  7. Known as the Garden City due to its urban greening efforts.
  8. Temperatures usually range from 25 to 35 °C (77 to 95 °F)
  9. Information and communications technologies is one of the pillars of Singapore’s economic success. However, Singapore’s mass communications networks, including television and phone networks, have long been operated by the government. Internet in Singapore is provided by state owned Singtel.
  10. Cars are expensive; public transport is king.
  11. Traffic and walking follow the left-hand side.

Where to stay

In 2019, I stayed at Orchard Hotel Singapore—modern, compact, and efficient, with robots like Egg-xecutive Chef Ausca and AuRA delivering services. Rooms were narrow, which I later realized was common in land-scarce Singapore. Breakfast was consistent but not varied. Still, being along Orchard Road placed me at the heart of shopping and tourism.

In 2025, we stayed at Hotel Boss. Practical, centrally located, and ideal for a family trip. More importantly, it allowed us to explore the city on foot—morning walks, nearby cafés, MRT access, and evenings that never felt rushed.

Getting Around Singapore

Singapore’s transport system remains one of the best in the world.

Beyond the MRT, buses are efficient, accessible, and wheelchair-friendly. Some operate past midnight on weekends and holidays. MRT services generally run from 5:30 a.m. until midnight.

Stored-value cards such as EZ-Link or NETS FlashPay can be purchased and topped up at MRT stations, 7-Eleven, ATMs, and SingPost outlets.

For route planning and live updates, the MyTransport app remains highly recommended.

Returning in 2025, I appreciated the system not just for efficiency but for how well it supports walking. Trains connect seamlessly to neighborhoods, making it easy to slow down and explore.

To find the best way to get your destination and calculate fares and travel times, I encourage you to download MyTransport for handy information on train operating times, station exits, public bus services and bus arrival times.

Places to visit

Shopping Centres

There are a lot of shopping centres in Singapore. ION Orchard Mall, Paragon Shopping Centre, and VivoCity are some of the remarkable places due to their design and architecture.

Merlion Park

No Singapore visit is complete without a photo here. The Merlion—lion head, fish body—stands proudly against Marina Bay, with Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade in the background. In 2025, this spot felt less like a checklist and more like a shared pause.

Marina Bay Sands

The Marina Bay Sands complex houses a hotel, an upscale mall with indoor canals, two theaters, lots of fancy restaurants and the world’s largest atrium casino. On top of the building you can find a large infinity pool. Spectra, a light and water show, reflects Singapore’s journey to becoming the cosmopolitan city of today. It can be viewed from the Merlion Park. The show starts at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. everyday, with a 10 p.m. show on Fridays and Saturdays.

Gardens by the Bay

The Supertree Grove comes alive during Garden Rhapsody at 7:45 and 8:45 p.m. Some of our souvenirs were bought from Gardens by the Bay.

National Museum of Singapore

The oldest museum seeks to inspire with stories of Singapore and the world. The Museum includes the Singapore History Gallery and different exhibits.

Bugis Street

The street was renowned internationally from the 1950s to the 1980s for its nightly gathering of transvestites and transsexuals, a phenomenon that made it one of Singapore’s most notable destinations for foreign visitors during that period. Today, the lane presently touted as “Bugis Street” is now billed the largest street-shopping location in Singapore.

Little India

Little India is another neighborhood that should be on your list. Walk around in the small lanes in between and take in the smells, sounds, and the bustling and vibrant atmosphere. Buy low priced internationally branded products at Mustafa Centre.

Chinatown

Singapore’s Chinatown boasts multi-religious buildings and structures. The Chinatown Heritage Centre is located here. This museum tells the story of Chinatown’s colorful and chaotic history. Two famous temples also sit here – the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Thian Hock Keng Temple.

What to do

Watch Wings of Time

A fitting end to your day is Sentosa’s spectacular show about friendship and courage. Be wowed by spellbinding laser, fire, and water effects set to a majestic soundtrack, complete wit a jaw dropping firework display. Wings of Time is a 20-minute show everyday, 7:40 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. Ticket price starts at SGD10.

Visit Sentosa via Singapore Cable Car

Took Singapore Cable Car on the way to iFly. Enjoyed the scenic view of the Resorts World and Universal Studios through Sentosa. The first cableway system in Singapore, links Sentosa Island and Mount Faber.

Experience the thrill of skydiving

I’ve got my wings and mastered the art of bodyflight with iFly Singapore! Attended the introductory class and flew in the tunnel. A first of its kind in the world being a themed indoor skydiving facility, iFly is one of the world’s largest wind tunnels. Package of P3,400 includes pre-flight demo, safety training, complimentary rental of flight suit and safety equipment, two skydives, and a flight certificate. Also got my practice and actual flight video in an iFly flashdrive in a separate package. Flyers are required to check in one hour prior to the flight time, which needs to be scheduled and confirmed with the reception.

Luge ride and Skyride

Known as Asia’s Favorite Playground, Skyline Luge Sentosa brings the unique, wheeled, gravity ride from New Zealand. Took a two-way Luge/Skyride combo. The helmet has infrared so the cameras installed on the way out can capture you so I got mine!

Well-earned Pause at Ola Beach Club

After the adrenaline of the Luge ride and Skyride, we slowed things down at Ola Beach Club—a much-needed pause in the middle of an adventure-filled day in Sentosa. With the rides behind us, this was the moment to sit back, breathe, and let the energy of the island shift from thrill to calm. Seated facing the beach, we enjoyed our drinks with an uninterrupted view of the sea. The contrast was refreshing: from racing downhill tracks to the steady rhythm of waves just a few steps away.

Exploring Universal Studios Singapore and the Many Faces of Sentosa Island

Walking into Universal Studios Singapore immediately shifts the mood, suddenly, everything feels playful, cinematic, and larger than life. Even without lining up for every ride, the experience itself is immersive: themed zones, familiar movie franchises, music in the background, and families moving from one attraction to the next with the same sense of excitement. It’s the kind of place where just being there already feels like part of the fun. Beyond Universal Studios, Sentosa reveals its versatility. The island effortlessly transitions from theme park energy to resort-style calm.

Leather Workshop at Crafune

@pjspirations

#leather #coinpurse making #workshop in #Singapore

♬ พี่ชอบหนูที่สุดเลย (Speed Up) – PONCHET

One of the most memorable new experiences. Creating a coin purse by hand at Crafune was a welcome contrast to Singapore’s high-speed precision—slow, tactile, and reflective.

What and where to eat

You will never forget to get a taste of Singapore as food places are all around the corner. For example, you will see a lot of Chinese restaurants in malls, cold-pressed juices in all places. Ice cream sandwich with the flavor of durian is also a must try.

Spago

One of the most meaningful moments of our 2025 Singapore trip happened over dinner at Spago. More than just a restaurant with a view, it became the setting where we paused to celebrate milestones that mattered to our family—Mother’s Day, my promotion, and advance birthday celebrations for my father and brother.

Set high above the city, Spago offered a sweeping view of Marina Bay, but what made the evening special was not the skyline. It was the quiet luxury of being together, sharing stories, laughter, and gratitude after days of walking through the city.

Dining Choices at Riverside Point

Riverside Point was one of those easy, unforced stops during our walk along the Singapore River. We spent time here simply walking, choosing where to sit, and enjoying the view of the river as boats passed by and the city lights reflected on the water. It was calm but not quiet, lively but never rushed—exactly the kind of balance Singapore does so well.

One of the things that stood out at Riverside Point was the sheer variety of dining options concentrated in one relaxed riverside setting. From casual cafés and dessert spots to full-service restaurants, the choices made it easy to find something for everyone.

I had a catchup with one of my good friends there, JM. We had dinner at Tomo Tokyo. It is known for an authentic Japanese dishes (sushi, sashimi, donburi, and set meals), riverside-facing seating in certain sections, and a relaxed but polished dining atmosphere, especially pleasant in the evening.

Washoku Singapore

Aside from Chinese restaurants, Korean’s samgyupsal is also known in Singapore. It also has Japanese restaurants offering authentic Japanese cuisine like Washoku Singapore, near KPMG Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is known for its artificial intelligence technology.   

Toast Box

I tried the famous Toast Box where I ordered iced teh melaka and its best seller laksa, a spicy coconut milk-based noodle soup.

What not to bring and what not to do

Singapore is known for its strict regulations and laws in place to maintain peace and order. Here are some of prohibited acts/things:

  1. Non-medical chewing gum
  2. Recreational fireworks/firecrackers
  3. eCigarettes
  4. Public nudity both in public spaces and private residential premises
  5. Owning or trading exotic animals
  6. Gathering in groups of more than three people after 10 p.m. in a public space
  7. Purchasing alcohol after 10:30 p.m.
  8. Jaywalking
  9. Spitting in public
  10. Smoking outside of designated areas
  11. No food or drinks on public transportation

Singapore Changi International Airport

The world’s best airport is like a hotel in an airport or maybe an airport in a hotel or a mall in an airport because the Changi International Airport is really more than an airport. You just don’t shop and dine at Changi, you take moments because it’s Instagrammable. The Jewel alone has attractions like the canopy bridge, art installations, butterfly garden, and cactus garden. And you meet a lot of robots! The self-service kiosks will help you print your boarding pass and check in your baggage.

Singapore is really a different experience but I lost myself, looking for a world of a natural feel, with people connecting with each other personally and helping each other.

Walking the same streets with my family, I realized the city had not changed as much as I had. This time, I did not lose myself. I found moments—shared, quiet, and meaningful—in a city that rewards those who slow down enough to notice.

Click this for the itinerary and budget.

Please click the following links for their respective travel guides:

Malaysia

Indonesia

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About the Author

Paul Michael Jaramillo
Paul Michael JaramilloChief Executive Editor
PJ is a Certified Public Accountant, writer, storyteller, and an advocate for youth empowerment and environmental protection. His passion for storytelling and social impact has taken many forms—from writing thought-provoking articles on national development, featured in a Spanish newspaper and Rappler, to producing documentaries on mining and environmental issues that aired on ABS-CBN News and GMA News.

A proud Ilocano and graduate of Northwestern University, PJ earned his degree in Accountancy then passed the CPA licensure exam in 2015. That same year, he began his professional career at KPMG in the Philippines. As an external auditor, he handled a diverse portfolio of clients, including a global workspace provider (the largest audit engagement of KPMG Philippines), a global bank, a major FMCG player, and several shared service centers.

His commitment to innovation was evident early in his career. PJ and his team won the KPMG Asia-Pacific Data & Analytics Challenge and later coached the Philippine team to a top-three finish at the KPMG GlobalRunner Cup. He went on to lead KPMG Philippines' Network of Audit Innovators and Data & Analytics Champions, as well as its academic arm. He was an active contributor to the Asia-Pacific Audit Digital Transformation Workstream and a member of both the Audit Methodology Group and the Root Cause Analysis Team. Beyond technical excellence, PJ is deeply committed to learning and leadership. He was a regular training facilitator on audit methodology, professional standards, and emerging tools in data and analytics. He also served as the Firm’s System of Quality Management (SoQM) Implementation Manager and one of its Workforce of the Future Champions.

In 2019, he contributed to the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) as a member of its Technical Working Group on Audit Methodology. His role in shaping audit quality and innovation has left a meaningful imprint on the profession.

PJ defines success by the people he uplifts. As a mentor and coach, he invests in the growth of emerging professionals and previously served as a member of the KPMG Philippines People Committee.

He leads various community-centered advocacy projects and shares inspiring stories through his vlog, PJspirations, a platform that celebrates individuals and their journeys. As a volunteer, he serves as Academic Master and Head Coach of PREMIER International Learning and Development Center, an organization devoted to providing coaching, mentoring, and training programs that help people grow personally and professionally.

Today, PJ brings his passion and expertise to the Middle East, South Asia, and Caspian regions as part of KPMG’s Professional Practice and Audit Learning & Development team. In this role, he contributes to audit methodology advancement and learning strategy across the Middle East Cluster.

He is also a certified #IAmRemarkable facilitator, leading sessions of the global Google initiative that empowers women and underrepresented groups to celebrate their achievements.

Tiktok: PJspirations
Snapchat: pgb_088
Personal Website: http://lnk.bio/pjspirations
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