Hello! We’re halfway through Singapore—can you believe it? I find myself constantly thinking the days are crawling, but the weeks are flying by. So while 26 days doesn’t sound like that many, there are still so many things we have planned to finish.

After Work Adventures

The Witch’s Brew
Tuesday night after work, Lauren and her parents were gracious enough to invite us all to happy hour. A no-brainer—so me, Maddie, and Stella accepted the invite. The Witch’s Brew was exactly what you’d expect—imagine magic-themed drinks with smoke pouring out of them and food that lights on fire before you eat it. It was located on the second floor of a building in Chinatown and at first glance, it was pretty unassuming. But, as Lauren’s dad pointed out, it didn’t feel like we were in Singapore anymore once we stepped inside.

Night Safari
Wednesday night, I was lucky enough to go to the Night Safari with Ariana, her mom, and her sister Alexa (what a great name). It was a blast! I’ll admit, there was a brief moment where I thought some of the animals weren’t real. They were just so still—it looked unnatural. According to Google, I’m not the only person who’s thought that!

When we were on the walking trail, the height of the fences made me nervous—especially after Ariana pointed out how dark it was and how few people were around. Walking past the spotted hyenas, the fence barely reached my hip. I just kept my head down and hoped it was electric.

The tram ride was definitely the highlight. We got to see tons of animals while listening to a guide share fun facts. Though, between the sunset and the steady voiceover, I did start getting a little sleepy. Still, it was an awesome way to spend an evening, and I loved getting to hang with the Carrero crew.

Korean BBQ
Friday night, Chef Stella was in full force. Me, Maddie, Stella, Colin, and Dylan all went out for Korean BBQ, and it was delicious! Stella took charge and ordered all the best meats to cook up for us. It was actually my first time eating at a Korean BBQ, and I had so much fun.

Bulgogi was my favorite—it was super tender and seasoned perfectly. I especially liked wrapping it in a big piece of lettuce with some rice. Stella waited until after our first bite to tell us it’s meant to be eaten in one go. That was a bit of a culture clash for me, because I like to eat in smaller bites to savor the flavor. But I also didn’t want to be disrespectful of how the dish should be eaten.

She also ordered chadolbaegi and samgyupsal. Those weren’t my favorites—having cartilage in my meat is a no-go—but I gave it a try! My favorite part was trying all the different meats and sides, and watching Stella explain what each one was and how her mom cooks them.

From Stella and Maddie’s perspective, I was a good sport for trying everything—even kimchi (which is actually one of my Poppop’s favorites). I can admit it wasn’t half bad after Stella cooked it a little to mellow the intensity of the flavors. I know it’s super healthy and good for gut health, so I might be open to eating it again in the future.

It’s so fascinating that I got to learn so much about Korean food in Singapore—even though they’re not one of the largest racial groups here. I know it’s common in big cities to have diverse cultural food, but I really appreciated learning through experience with my friends. I feel more confident trying Korean food at hawker centers now, and I’ve got a better sense of what I like.

After dinner, we went to an ice cream parlor called Apiary—DELICIOUS, a must-eat if you come to Singapore. I actually didn’t get any that night since I’d had dessert after lunch, but it was so good we went back Saturday night. I’ll get there soon.

A Hot, Hot Saturday

I don’t think it’s possible to be in Maddie and Stella’s presence and not be constantly laughing—even at 9am on a Saturday. Somehow, Stella has managed to brainwash both Maddie and me into waking up early (even before work—two days strong!) to go to the gym. Don’t get me wrong, I always say nothing’s better than working out in the morning—but before work? I’m tired. I need sleep.

Saturday morning, the three of us woke up to hit the hotel gym. It was leg day—just what you want on a hot Saturday. I temporarily took on my “Trainer Alexa” persona and showed Maddie and Stella how I lift. They were excellent trainees.

After our morning workout, we got ready and eventually left the hotel room to head off to the Botanic Gardens. To say it was hot and humid would be an understatement. The only time I can remember being hotter was back in Cairns when we first arrived at our hotel and were racing to get in the pool. This? This took the cake.

The gardens were gorgeous, but when I saw a waterfall, I was so tempted to take a quick dip to cool off (don’t worry—I didn’t. Can’t risk a fine in the “Fine City”). I don’t mind the heat, especially compared to the cold, but Maddie was the real champion since she’s not a fan of excessive humidity.

At one point, while Stella and I were figuring out how to get to Merlion Park via public transit, Maddie pulled up the Grab app (Singapore’s version of Uber) and said, “Well, I’m checking Grab prices. I’ll pay for it.” I don’t think I was delirious from the sun, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

We took a twenty-minute Grab ride to Merlion Park. Ever since arriving in Singapore, I’ve been dying to see the Merlion in person. It was in our textbook—all about the story of Sang Nila Utama, a prince from Palembang who saw a lion and renamed the island Singapura, meaning “Lion City.”

The Merlion statue is half lion to represent that legend and half fish to honor Singapore’s roots as a fishing village. The constant stream of water from its mouth symbolizes wealth and power through moving water. We also had a stunning view of Marina Bay Sands—which is still on my bucket list to visit the top before I leave.

After the Merlion, we headed to Wanderbeau for some much-needed self-care: manicures and pedicures. Wanderbeau is open until 3am! Here I was thinking Target being open until 10 or 11pm was impressive. The ladies were super friendly, and even though there was a slight language barrier at times, it was still one of the best pedicures I’ve had.

We had to leave our shoes outside—only the second time I’ve had to do that in Singapore. I don’t know if it was placebo or not, but the salon definitely felt next-level clean. It also had minimalist vibes that I loved.

Following our mani-pedis, we headed to Maxwell for dinner at Chez Suzette. Let me be honest, this decision was mostly made because it was only a two-minute walk from Apiary. And let me tell you—Maddie and Stella appropriately hyped up the ice cream.

I had the best strawberry ice cream of my entire life. It was caramelized strawberry, and while I’ve always claimed Hogan-Dogues has the best strawberry, this put it to shame. Stella even mentioned buying dry ice to bring some home, so stay tuned on that. I have no doubt we’ll be back again and again—at this rate, we’ll all be at least 10% ice cream.

Sunday Funday?

Sunday morning means 9am pilates with my favorite instructor, Jinn. Ariana’s mom joined us, and she held her own—no problem at all. It was a great class, but it might be my last Sunday morning class since we’re so busy the next few weekends.

After pilates, I walked back to the hotel to get ready for a haircut and grocery run. For those of you who don’t know, I hate getting my hair cut. But I go once every six months, and by month six, I’m itching to chop it off. Stella had gone to Aqua earlier and came back with a fabulous new ‘do—not bald—so I figured it was safe. She was a real one and came with me to supervise.

I thought she was just trying to distract me with something to look forward to, but she wasn’t lying when she said the shampoo head massage was good. Ten solid minutes. I thought I was going to fall asleep—I was so calm.

It was my first time at a Korean hair salon, and while I didn’t notice anything drastically different (aside from a longer wash), it was still a great experience. Humidity isn’t the best for my hair, but I can’t complain too much. It always feels shorter than I wanted, but it looks healthier, and I’ve got time for it to grow before heading home.

After the salon, Stella and I went to the supermarket. It’s another week of salads for dinner—veggies still aren’t something I come across often here. We had a successful shopping outing: Stella bought four boxes of grapes, and I bought two. They’re really good.

Right as we finished shopping, it started to downpour. Thankfully, I brought my umbrella—but we still got pretty soaked. The priority, though, was keeping my fresh blowout dry… and that mostly worked. The rain definitely zapped our energy, so we turned the rest of the day into a cozy movie/TV day. Maddie and I did go out though to grab dinner, so the day ended on a high note.

This coming weekend, we’re heading to Bintan Island for the long weekend, and I’m so excited. It’s hard to believe how fast things are flying by now. I still have so much I want to do—like visit the top of Marina Bay Sands.

Stay tuned for more food recaps, cultural moments, and general chaos. I’m savoring every second of this experience—even the hot, sweaty, and rainy parts—and I can’t wait to see what this week brings.

Cheers,
-Alexa