Having 10% of Singapore in less than 10-hours-transit

by Fauz Irfan Rafi (Indonesia)

I didn't expect to find Singapore

Singapore is definitely not a new thing for most travellers, but it took me to an unforgettable experience of my very first travel abroad, only me without any families or friends. Well, my destination was Bangkok tho, and I could have booked a direct flight to there. However, I could not just leave my steps on one country, so I managed myself to transit in Singapore. At first, I found out that Changi Airport provides a free tour for those who transit for at least 5,5 hours. I was very optimistic to join this tour, but later after I landed, it was out of my expectation since I arrived at Terminal 4. I should have been at Terminal 2 or Terminal 3 to register for the free tour. What surprised me next was I just innocently cleared the immigration check, while the free tour registrants need to be remain at transit area. Oh God! I was definitely not allowed to join what I had planned before. Well, if plan A doesn't work, there are still plan B to Z. Using airport Wi-Fi, I spontaneously browsed about how I could spend my time in Singapore. Voila! I got an idea to buy a 1-Day Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) for S$20, and storaged my baggage for S$10. Then I only had S$10 on my hand tho, since I didn't expect for this mess before. I ensured myself to explore this expensive country, only with minimum cash! And here I got started... Using the STP card, I could use MRT unlimitedly for that one day. Well, my first spot was Merlion, like most people who travel to Singapore for their first time. Getting down at Raffless Place Station, I was confused at first on how to get to Merlion by walking, since I got no connection to access the map. I just followed the crowds then, wow! They indirectly led me to where I desired. And there I was, standing in amazed feeling, to finally watch a great statue that I could only see on the internet before. But my heart reminded me, "You can't just stand here, go anywhere! Your time here is limited!" Then I rushed to another MRT Station under Marina Bay Sands, and a man suggested me to go Universal Studio. Oh yeah, I followed his instruction and managed to reach that spectacular place with its eye-catching rotating globes. My stomach told me to get a lunch, and I didn't expect to find a Malay streed food restaurant there! For $S8.5, I enjoyed a rich-flavoring Biryani rice, while accidentaly noticing an ad about a famous one-dollar ice cream at Orchard. "Just go!" my tongue cheered. Then I rushed back to the last MRT Station I visited, Harborfront, and picked a train to Orchard. In a very thirsty and exhausting condition since I didn't find any waterpot, I successfully reached the phenomenal ice cream stall and chose mango flavor for S$1.2 to refresh my throat. Oh God, it just made me more thirsty, and I only had 30 cents! However, I just strenghtened myself and at first, I just wanted to go back to Changi. Then surprisingly, I found a man wearing Islamic cloth, who led me to Sultan Mosque at Kampung Glam. There I could satisfy my thirst by drinking a free water provided by the mosque. What a help from God! I could have collapsed if I didn't find that man. Everything happened on that day, was out of my expectation. I got to learn that worst thing can happen anytime, so I have to prepare plans A-Z before I travel anywhere. But however, I really enjoyed it, all that spontanity!