Upon arrival to Changi Airport in Singapore, we proceed to immigration. The looks of them are so strict, they asked the same questions, where will I stay, what will I do in there and when I will return home. They made sure you are not planning to job hunt in there. It’s my first time traveling abroad and my first time being interviewed in a foreign country. So she was satisfied with my answer and let me go in and proceed. I am so happy for the first time my passport has now a stamp. I’d be happy to become a passport stamp collector, lol.
So we roam around. There are lots to see in the airport. The Singapore airport is a wow. It’s huge, aesthetic, clean, high standard you can tell and a lots of views in there, a lots of restaurants to dine in and of course they had a free wifi – and take note, it’s fast! We consume lots of time roaming around at the airport since we arrived daytime. We noticed that some of the staff were senior citizens who were still very capable. It was heartening to see them actively involved and doing a great job at that age.
A lot of great landscaping in there as well, like the Eye of Oculus, it’s super amazing. Like I haven’t seen an airport like this in my entire life up until today. The Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore is an eco friendly one. A lot of green landscape you can see.
We bought a sim card and can enable us to have an internet using our phone. Our local sim card will not work in the country. We exchanged some USD to Singaporean dollar in the airport. To be used on paying the train or bus going to our hotel.
We can look for a money changer in the town proper later. As we all know money charger in the airport varies in exchange rates. We took a train, headed to exit the airport. That’s how big their airport is, you need to get a train heading out.
We got a map in the train too. You can see all train stations, and it’s route. It’s confusing at first but you’ll get the hang of it. We also bought a train card. You need this, important for transportation. You just load the card and tap it on the machine when you exit the train station. It’s not allowed borrowing a card, you need to have a card of your own.
We headed out from the airport at night time. From Changi Airport, we take a train going to Expo and we switch to blue lane and stopped at Bencoolen Station. The train station is like 3 levels, we go up to exit. You need to read the signs, where to go, find the exit. It’s amazing down below, there is still phone signal.
And at last we go up and we’re at Bencoolen Station. It’s so nice to see the road, after a long hours of travel. We booked a stay at Hawaii Hostel in Bencoolen. Its just a walking distance from the Bencoolen MRT Station. We installed maps.me to navigate and headed to the hotel. Once you left the train station, it’s more on walking, unless you take a taxi. I don’t recommend taxi of course, we enjoyed walking and using the train as our transpo.
Where to Stay in Singapore for a Tight Budget Travel
We stayed at Hawaii Hostel. It’s cheap and great for solo traveler or any travel who are in a tight budget or a backpacker travelers. We didn’t spent much money in hotel as we spent more time outside thus we don’t plan to stay longer in Singapore.
So to summarize my experience in Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, I can say that their train system is superb classy and awesome! I do wish Philippines will have same as this. The moment I got in Singapore, I really don’t want to go home, it comes too in my mind to find a job in there. Singapore is a modern city and would definitely come back again and again.
