Hi everyone!
Today, I’d love to share a story from my trip to Singapore in December 2022.
This wasn’t just any trip — it was my first time traveling abroad in five years.
After finishing my military service and starting university, I finally had the chance to travel again.
And what made it even more special?
It was my first overseas trip with my girlfriend.
Because we had waited so long for this moment, every second felt meaningful.
This trip showed me just how much happiness travel can bring —
and I feel so grateful to have found a new way to feel truly joyful.So now, let me take you on the first part of our 3-night, 4-day journey.
Let’s dive in!
We took our first flight in a long time — a 6-hour journey to Singapore!
It had been quite a while since I’d been on a plane, but I didn’t feel bored at all.
In fact, I was excited the whole time.We left Korea in the evening and arrived in Singapore around dawn.
From the airport, we headed straight to a regular hotel nearby just to get some rest for the night.
I only slept about 4 hours, so I was definitely tired —
but the moment we stepped outside and saw this whole new world, I felt energized again.Even just walking down the street felt like an adventure. Everything was new and exciting!
Our first stop was Sultan Mosque.
It was gently raining that morning, and dragging a big suitcase through the wet streets wasn’t exactly easy.
But that’s part of the journey, right?
Sometimes you need to go through a bit of discomfort to fully appreciate the sunshine that comes after.
So I tried to just enjoy the moment.
Even the signs pointing to Sultan Mosque felt new and exciting —
I found myself smiling and taking photos of things I normally wouldn’t.
After about a 30-minute walk, we finally arrived at the mosque.
Seeing Sultan Mosque felt almost magical — like something straight out of a fantasy story.
The crescent moon on top especially gave me that fairytale feeling.
So of course, my girlfriend and I took lots of photos together under our umbrella,
trying to capture the mood of the moment.
This was the street in front of Sultan Mosque!
There were so many palm trees — something you’d never really see in Korea — and I couldn’t help but find it fascinating.
Maybe I’m a little weird, haha.
But honestly, I love how I can get excited just by seeing palm trees.
Having a low threshold for happiness really feels like a gift sometimes!
The light drizzle suddenly turned into a heavy shower,
so we decided to step into a café for a bit.
It just happened to be the perfect time for a coffee break, haha.
We took a moment to rest while enjoying a cup of coffee.
After finishing our coffee, the rain had stopped-
-so we headed out for lunch. We went to a place called Blanco Court Prawn Mee,
a famous spot known for its flavorful prawn noodles.
It was so delicious that I wanted to remember it clearly,
so I’ve included the map below for anyone who’s curious.
The broth was rich and full of depth, and the combination of prawns and pork gave me just the boost I needed in the humid weather.
The restaurant was open-air, so we could still hear the sound of the rain as we ate —
which made the experience feel even more local and atmospheric.
After lunch, we took the subway and headed to our hotel near Marina Bay.
We stayed at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore,
a 5-star hotel that was once Singapore’s General Post Office and has since been beautifully restored.
Since we hadn’t been able to travel for so long, we decided to treat ourselves and this place felt like the perfect reward.
The Fullerton had this timeless charm – a sense of elegance and grandeur, as if it had been watching over Singapore for generations.
Honestly, out of all the hotels I’ve stayed in, this one felt truly unforgettable.
I think I’ll have to write a separate post just about our stay at The Fullerton –
because that’s how happy and grateful I felt during our time there.
After checking in at The Fullerton, we unpacked our things and took a refreshing shower before heading straight to the pool.
There weren’t many people around, and the atmosphere was calm and peaceful.
Getting some exercise made my body feel light and refreshed-
-and doing it in such a beautiful place made it feel even better.
The grand pillars surrounding the pool felt almost symbolic,
as if they were quietly passing strength onto me.
After our swim, we went to see one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks – the Merlion.
It was super convenient since it was located right in front of The Fullerton Hotel,
and luckily, the rain had completely stopped by then.
We grabbed some drinks from a nearby convenience store and enjoyed the lively atmosphere around the statue.
There were so many creative people trying to take fun photos,
like pretending to catch the water coming out of the Merlion’s mouth.
The whole vibe was cheerful and full of laughter.
Watching travelers help take photos for one another and showing kindness to strangers,
I couldn’t help but think:
Singapore really is a hub! not only for trade in Asia, but also for people from all over the world.
Next, we headed to Raffles Place for a little exploring.
I was really impressed by how beautifully the buildings and nature blended together.
Many of the buildings were open and airy, so you could actually feel the fresh breeze flowing through even inside.
Don’t you think the sleek architecture and the lush green trees go perfectly together?
As we wandered around and took in the sights, evening rolled around-
and of course, we couldn’t leave Singapore without trying the famous chili crab.
We headed to Jumbo Seafood, one of the most well-known spots for it.
We arrived around 6 p.m., and the place was already buzzing with people — no surprise for such a popular restaurant.
Naturally, we ordered their signature chili crab.
The crab meat was thick, tender, and paired perfectly with the sweet and spicy chili sauce.
It was a bit tricky to crack open the crab ourselves,
but honestly, I think that’s part of the fun when eating chili crab!
That said…., I actually ended up loving the cereal prawns even more.
They were crispy, buttery, and rich in flavor, Exactly my kind of dish.
If I ever go back, I’m definitely ordering the cereal prawns again!
After our fancy dinner, we hopped on a Marina Bay cruise —
a glamorous night view to follow a glamorous meal.
Honestly, it felt like heaven.
The city cooled down after a hot day,
and the night view of Singapore from the water was hands down one of the most stunning I’ve ever seen.
And of course, Marina Bay Sands looked absolutely incredible.
I heard it was built by a Korean company — and even as a Korean, I was truly impressed.
It made me feel oddly proud, too.
If I ever come back to Singapore,
cereal prawns and the Marina Bay cruise will definitely be on my must-do list again.
It was such a special and unforgettable experience.
That wraps up Day 1 of our Singapore trip!
If I had to sum up today in just three lines, it would be:
1. It was hot and humid, but enjoying the trip was all about mindset.
2. There was so much delicious food (like prawn noodles and cereal prawns) — is Singapore secretly a shrimp paradise?
3. The night view was absolutely breathtaking.
Thanks so much for reading all the way through!
I’ll be back soon with Part 2 of our Singapore travel diary.
See you next time – bye for now!