Singapore 2026
Since living in Australia, I made it my goal to return every 3-4 years. I was lucky once again to find cheap flights for €1100, including two stopovers in Singapore.
The flight from Zurich to Singapore took 12 hours and once again reinforced my opinion that Singapore Airlines might actually be the best airline in the world. Even in economy, the service feels like first class.
And Changi Airport really does live up to the hype. It took us about 15 minutes to go from stepping off the plane, through immigration on the automated machines, picking up our luggage, and into a taxi. I have definitely spent longer waiting for pretty much anything else in my life.
We arrived at the hotel at 7 a.m. and, having slept only three hours, I told myself we could cheat the jet lag a bit and nap until 10:00. My inner rebel clearly had other plans, because I kept hitting snooze until it was suddenly noon.
Safe to say, adjusting to the local time is not off to a strong start.
Then we were excited to finally put on shorts and t-shirts in 31-degree weather. The moment I saw how white my arms and legs were, I realized Swiss winters are not just long, they erase all evidence of ever having seen the sun. And let’s not even talk about my vitamin D deficiency.
It’s always good to come back to Singapore. Singapore is known for its cleanliness, due to strict laws and high fines that discourage littering and keep public spaces spotless. It is also considered one of the safest places in the world, with very low crime rates and strong law enforcement. At the same time, Singapore is rather expensive, especially compared to other countries in South East Asia.
And here is important information for all vapers: vaping is prohibited in Singapore, with heavy fines and other penalties for possession or use in public.
For getting around, we used the metro (MRT), which connects most places and costs about €1 per ride. For door-to-door convenience, Grab is the best and cheapest option. I got an eSIM from Mobimatter (12 GB for €8), which you can install at home and simply activate once you arrive in the country.
In Chinatown we spent the day eating and trying all kinds of food, including durian… the stinkiest fruit on the planet. It’s so strong that it’s even banned in some places because of the smell.
People say, “it smells like hell and tastes like heaven,” which gave me just enough curiosity to try it. In reality though… it was nothing like heaven. More like a very aggressive mix of rotten onions and garlic that completely overpowered everything else. Let’s just say it was an experience I didn’t need twice, and it took the rest of the day (and several drinks) to get rid of that aftertaste.
The second day we headed to Gardens by the Bay. A must visit in Singapore. It feels a bit like stepping into the future. Right in the middle of Singapore, you find towering Supertrees, lush indoor waterfalls, and perfectly curated gardens that somehow make you forget you are in a busy city. It is a great place for kids, Lani had so much fun, especially at the Jurassic Park exhibit at Cloud Dome.
We were eating lunch in the Gardens on a bench when noticed a crow watching us. I told my daughter that it almost looks like it is hatching a plan and explained that crows are highly intelligent birds known for their problem-solving skills, ability to use tools, and even some capacity for planning ahead. They have strong memories and social awareness, allowing them to recognize individual humans for years and learn from experience. These traits make them among the most intelligent birds.
When we finished eating and she was still holding a piece of bread in her hand, I walked a few meters away to throw the trash in the bin. Next thing we knew, the crow swooped in from the sky and started attacking her head three times, like it was anticipating for me to leave. She was running and screaming, and luckily dropped the bread, which made the bird back off. Poor thing. She was wearing a hat, so she was not hurt, just very startled. And honestly, so was I.
Birds can be terrifying. I once got attacked in Australia by a magpie, they are known for it, while riding my bike. It would not stop and came at my head at least 20 times, and that hurt! Little f***er had the advantage! Safe to say, I have developed a healthy respect for aggressive birds! It reminds me of the old Alfred Hitchcock Horror movie the Birds 
After 48 hours it was time to continue our journey to Australia. Slightly paranoid about sleeping through the 3 a.m. alarm, I lined up multiple backups and asked the hotel, and even my Swiss friend, for a wake-up call. But my paranoia paired with jet lag kept me up for most of the night anyway, so I was super tired to say the least.
Even at that hour, Changi Airport is wide awake. We had breakfast at the 24-hour food court, my daughter played at one of the playgrounds, and all around us adults were asleep in their chairs. The contrast was quite something. The energy of a child really is something to admire.
I passed out about three minutes after sitting down in my assigned seat. Later, when they came around with lunch, nothing really appealed to me, so I politely declined. That apparently caused some concern, because moments later they offered me a meal from first class on an actual plate. And just like that, my appetite made a full recovery.
Like I said before, Singapore Airlines. 
And after 7 hours and 30 minutes we landed in the other place I call home, Australia 
So very happy and grateful to be back with with my daughter after 4 years.
So very happy and grateful to be back with with my daughter after 4 years.