When I was in Kindergarten, I once heard my teacher mention the word “Singapore.” At first, I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was a name for an animal or a fruit. But my innate curiosity pushed me to ask one of my neighbors what it was. What I got from her was not just an answer, explaining me that it was a beautiful place overseas, south of the Philippines. What I got was a dream — his dream, which later on became mine.

The truth is, I learned what Singapore was way before I learned the other parts of my own country. Since then, I’d always heard the word “Singapore” — from my parents, teachers, and family friends. And when they uttered the word Singapore, it was often accompanied by the words “beautiful,” “progressive,” “unique.”

Not just that, people had always used this tiny yet marvelous city as a benchmark for our country. When we came across a pile of garbage in our province, my mum would say, “Singapore is probably the cleanest country in the world.” Whenever my cousins and I would see people jaywalking and breaking traffic rules left and right in Manila, they’d say “They wouldn’t allow that in Singapore.” Even now that I’m all grown up, I still often hear Singapore as this country’s standard for almost everything — trade, business, waste management, urban planning.

I’ve never been out of the country but who could blame me if the first foreign city I’d like to set foot on is the first foreign land I had heard about when I was a kid — Singapore.

Take a look at my friend’s pictures taken when she was in Singapore:

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Boy did that made me feel my ultimate sin was envy! Haha. My other friends and I have planned going to Singapore countless times but none of them pushed through for reasons ranging from financial to schedule. But now that I have this chance of finally seeing the unique city I’ve always dreamed of experiencing, make no mistake, I won’t let it pass without a good fight.

I have not been wanting to visit Singapore just because I keep hearing how unique it is from other people. Rather, I’d love to go because I KNOW everything about it is diverse and unique — cuisine, architecture, arts, culture, and even people!

Given a chance, my dream Singapore itinerary would look like this:

MORNING

I know it would be best to start early. Thus, a breakfast composed of kaya toast, runny eggs, and hot sweet kopi would give my day in my dream city a good kick-off.

Then, the rest of the morning will be spent close to nature in the marvelous Botanic Gardens along Orchard Road.

AFTERNOON

My afternoon will be an immersion to good mixture of Asian cultures! Little India will surely make my day a lot hotter with the scrumptious dishes that await me. Lunch like I never had it before!

After that, off to Kampong Glam for a little sight-seeing! Mosques, souvenirs, and more coffee and tea!

Chinatown is next in my list with its street markets, teashops and antique shops. I can already imagine myself munching on dimsums!

Off to Singapore Zoo after that.

EVENING

Every country boasts its own version of the sunset but I’d love to experience Singaporean sunset with the lovely animals at the Night Safari! And then off to Newton Circus!
If I still have time (and energy), I won’t be leaving Singapore without a taste of its nightlife at Zouk!

…

I’m now 23 years old, way older than the Kindergarten me who wished to visit Singapore the moment he learned how unique it was. But nothing has changed since then. SIngapore is still the benchmark of many SOutheast Asian countries. And I still want to indulge in something Asian yet Western, something modern yet close to nature, and most of all, something uniquely Singapore.

How about you?

Indulge in the Uniquely Singapore experience.

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