Singapore: Roaming the Lion City (Universal Studios + Sentosa Island's Wings of Time)

DAY1, Direct flight from Guangzhou Airport to Singapore took about 4 hours. We flew Singapore Airlines, and the meal was by far the best I've ever had. The dessert was a Magnum. Most of my previous flights were budget airlines, so no comparison means no harm. Money really is the root of all evil—when you pay enough, everything is great. We booked a homestay, following a friend's advice to find a private homestay through a Singapore forum. The host was a Chinese immigrant, very nice, and he arranged airport pickup and drop-off, saving us a lot on transportation. The houses in Singapore are all townhouses, very clean and tidy, with a nice neighborhood. It was also close to the bus stop, very convenient.

After a short rest, we went to our first stop: Gardens by the Bay. Actually, you can get there by walking through the Marina Bay Sands hotel. We bought tickets for the Skywalk and walked along it, enjoying a distant view of Singapore's scenery. It was quite beautiful.

Singapore is actually very small, and the attractions are quite concentrated. You can easily walk to Marina Bay Sands, Merlion Park, and the durian-shaped Esplanade...

On the way, we encountered an elderly couple selling ice cream. The old man looked like he was in his 80s or 90s. They were selling very traditional ice cream sandwiches between slices of bread, and it was quite tasty. (There was also a modern ice cream truck in the park, creating a collision of modern and retro vibes.)

Day 2: Universal Studios is definitely a great place for kids. As soon as the little one arrived at the entrance, they perked up instantly...

Since Universal Studios is located on Sentosa Island, after leaving the park, we went straight to the beach on Sentosa to watch the sunset, play in the sand, and just relax and daydream...

Another highlight of Sentosa was the Wings of Time show. It was a stunning water, light, pyrotechnic, and multimedia spectacular, combining music, lights, fountains, fireworks, and special effects. The story follows two teenagers helping a bird named Shahbaz find its way home, traveling through deserts, underwater worlds, and across time and space. It was truly breathtaking and spectacular. Unfortunately, my phone couldn't capture the most moving moments. I highly recommend experiencing it in person—you'll gain a lot.

Day 3: We visited the famous Chinatown (also called Niu Che Shui), Clarke Quay (which felt like a bar street), and had Bak Kut Teh along the way...

Honestly, this day's city walk felt a bit lackluster. The city just didn't seem like there was much to explore. When we asked the restaurant owner for recommendations on things to do, they all said Singapore can be finished in a day. We searched online for the restaurant most frequented by locals: the famous Ampang Yong Tau Foo. Basically, it's stuffed tofu, stuffed okra, stuffed red peppers, fish balls, and fried tofu skin. And we still had to queue...

Day 4: Before setting off in the morning, we had some Musang King durian. It was really delicious! (The plump flesh, I loved it!)

Next stop: East Coast Park. This is Singapore's largest seaside resort area, free to enter, and swimming is also free. The park has many sports facilities, great for kids. People from different countries gather here. If you want to practice your spoken English, you can walk around. Also, swimming is free.

Day 5: We really couldn't think of anything else fun to do. We took a walk nearby in the morning, and after lunch, our host drove us to the airport. (Changi Airport turned out to be a major attraction in itself, with a waterfall and children's play facilities. I suggest leaving some time to explore the airport.)

Overall, Singapore is a livable place, but it's very small and easy to explore. In fact, three days is enough. -- THE END.