Singapore Chronicles: Three kids, Six Days, Infinite Memories

Singapore | November, 2024

They say planning a trip with friends is not easy. Add kids to the equation and it transforms into a herculean task - one that can test your patience and your wallet before the trip even begins! But after successfully pulling off a few domestic adventures over the past few years, we felt ready to level up! Time to go international!

What started off with planning a wedding anniversary trip for two of our friends soon transformed into a full-blown toddler extravaganza on paper. Six nights in Singapore felt like a luxurious amount of time, just right for a relaxed, leisurely-paced itinerary - just the way we like it. Flights? check. Hotels? check. It is only when we started planning the activities we realized that Singapore had far more to offer than we could squeeze into our stay. And little did we know, the kids had their own plans to keep us on our toes!

Like every adventure, we had our heroes. Sid, the wiser and adventurous 5-year old, our little Ayaansh (who clearly insists that he is three-and-a-half, not three - mind you!) and the adorable Nemo, a 2-year old wonder boy whose job was to stay cute and smile! And just because airlines staff wouldn't allow three curious toddlers to travel by their own, accompanying them were three sets of parents, whose only aim was to balance fun and chaos without losing their sanity - and their passports!

Elevators really need a button that says, "Take me to the sky!"

Packing for six days in Singapore felt like preparing for a mission. Snacks, extra snacks, more snacks, toys and clothes for every imaginable (and unimaginable) scenarios. Of course, with whatever little space we had, we packed a bit for ourselves too!

Every epic journey begins with a good warm up. However with late night flights, you barely have control over which way things would turn. An early morning arrival at the Changi Airport in Singapore meant we had a lot of time to kill with two and a half awake toddlers, before checking in to our hotel. Day 1 was supposed to be light with just a visit to a mall and of course, shopping!

Singapore Zoo, Breakfast & Bird Paradise

It was only on day 2 that we felt like our trip had now begun. Starting off with Singapore's wild side (like literally) meant the kids found instant love! Having breakfast with the orangutans and getting clicked with the Iguana while we stuffed ourselves with lip-smacking food, there are only a few things the kids would love more than this! Singapore zoo is home to some of the finest animals in the world, making it seem like a book on wild life that the kids refused to come out of!

Tiger, tiger on the wall...who's the tallest of them all!

Hats, mosquito patches and hugs...Nemo has it all covered while we say hello to Mr. Elephant

With the harsh Singapore sun soring over our heads, our little heroes somehow kept their energy levels high. Was it the sea lion show? Or the breezy tram rides? Or the freshly squeezed cold orange juice? Who knows!

Just when we thought they would give up, they discovered a little play area, and boy did it bring their spirits up! Almost gave us a run to the bird paradise near closing time!

Jungle's calling...but only after we're done seeing through the wall...

Maybe if we had wings...these adventures would have been so much simpler!

While Sid and Ayaansh kept themselves busy with their common love of superheroes and "Paw Patrol", little Nemo was the real superhero, who found more amusement in bear-hugging both of his friends at every given opportunity.

Gardens by the Bay - Magic, Mist and Mischief

If magnanimity had a face, it would look like the Gardens by the Bay. The lush greenery, the colourful hues and the absolute vastness of the place looked straight out of a storybook, and for the kids, it might as well have been one.

If there's anything that makes you want to leave the cool mist of the Cloud Forest behind, it would be the Cloud Walk with the Marina Bay Sands in the backdrop.

The grown ups call this the Cloudwalk. Where are the clouds?

Just when we thought this is all the place had to offer, the Supertree Observatory and the light show took our hearts away! We wanted to ask the kids if they were having fun, but the lights shining in their eyes gave it all away!

Universal Studios - Rides, Sweet Treats, and Superstar Moments

Every trip has its highlight, and for us, it was undoubtedly the day spent at Universal Studios in Sentosa. Our faces lit up even before we stepped through the gates. While it promised to be an exciting new experience for the kids, it was the parents who were secretly bouncing with nostalgia, ready to relive their childhood favorites.

While the bigger rides were off-limits for the kids, they didn't miss out on any fun! Between the Minions, Transformers, Shrek and the dinosaurs, the kids had found their love. The endless array of rides, shows, meet-and-greets and carts filled with goodies, we never wanted to leave, unless the staff dragged us out of there.

Finally...someone who looks like the three of us!

Did we make a quick stop at the Lego store? Let's just say that's a story for another day!

Back at the hotel, we laughed about how we did not have Universal Studios as a part of our original plan but we were so glad to have added it later. Universal Studios wasn't just a hit - it was a whirlwind of joy, laughter and memories that would last long after the sugar rush too!

Sentosa: Sky, Sea and Sparkles

Day 5 was all about variety: from soaring above Sentosa in the cable car to exploring the wonders of the aquatic world, little did we know how spectacular it was about to be.

The cable car ride instantly became a highlight. While Ayaansh and Nemo chose a quick nap (tiny adventurers need rest!), their oldest friend found the best view that the island had to offer!

Next stop: The S.E.A Aquarium, where the boys' energy met its match in the colourful marine life. If running around the aquarium and squealing with delight were a punishable offense, we'd have been three down that day! As the kids pressed their noses against the glass at every exhibit, giggling at every fish swam by, all we grown ups could do was let the kids bask in their happiness! The jelly fish, the sharks, the stingrays and the ship-wreck were a big hit with the kids. And yes, they did find "Nemo", the one inside the tank and the one outside too!

Still finding Nemo...well, almost...!

Do jellyfish ever get tangled up in each other, or have they just mastered underwater choreography?

As night fell, the Wings of Time show at the beach was nothing short of spectacular. The combination of water, fire, lights and music seemed to have all the ingredients to keep the boys awe-struck!

As we ended the day, we were a bunch of tired adults and hopefully tired boys, remembering the marvels of what we had witnessed that day. It was the kind of moment that makes all the planning, packing and the occasional chaos worth it!

The Grande Finale: Art, lions, and Sky-High Views

As we approached the last day of our much awaited trip, there was still a lot left on the cards for us to do before we bid farewell to Singapore.

Beginning the day with a quick rain shower was not on our plan, but having carried rainwear for the kids meant our spirits didn't dampen for a bit. As the rain gods gave way to sunshine, the iconic Merlion statue shone in its glory, and with the Marina Bay in the backdrop, no amount of pictures we took could have been enough!

The Singapore Flyer was next, promising panoramic views of the city. While the adults marveled at the skyline, the kids were busy with more important matters that included running around in the cabin.

It was only at the Art Science museum where we realized there was more enthusiasm the kids had than they shown so far. The kids were clearly captivated by the digital installations, trying to catch the projections with their hands. Shiny objects, mirrors, crystals, digital art that happily swam around on the walls, the place had everything that could give all of us a chance to marvel at what human creativity had achieved!

As if the shows so far weren't enough, we had a last show planned for our evening - sunset at the Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck. As the sky turned shades of pink and gold with the sun setting behind the Singapore skyline and the boys busy munching snacks, this was our only moment of peace, thinking of all the memories the city had given us in the past few days.

Farewell Singapore

As we packed our bags that night, there was a quiet resistance in our hearts - a reluctance to leave behind the joy, wonder, and chaos of the past six days. Singapore had given us a trip we would always treasure. As we tucked the kids in for one last sleep before heading home, we could see three little boys running through metro stations, gazing at maps pretending to read them. We could see a little Nemo trying to catch up with Sid and Ayaansh, wrapping them in bear hugs whenever he could. We could see Sid and Ayaansh racing to press the elevator button at the hotel lobby. And all of a sudden, the red-eye flights, the initial struggle of figuring out public transport, our sun-kissed faces, and our tired bodies didn't seem to matter at all. Would we do it all over again? Without a blink of an eye!

Nemo says he's 2...not sure I agree with the way he pulls us both in a hug!

As friends, we managed to take yet another trip out of the confines of a group chat and turning it into something special, thus laying the foundation for many more such trips to come. As parents, we couldn't have been happier to see our kids bonding the way we did, having fun and making memories along the way.

And to Singapore, thank you for being the backdrop to it all - for the adventures, the magic and the unforgettable moments that will stay with us forever!

From here and beyond...