The “Almost” Backpacking Solo Singapore Trip

It’s been a while since I flew solo. The idea of being alone at the boarding gate, waiting for a flight, has never crossed my mind for years. But here I am, still reliving my passion for traveling, and being single does not mean I won’t be traveling again.

I had my usual coffee stop over, and will always be a part of my airport activity. Can you see what has changed in the cup?

Everything was smooth from boarding to deplaning. The immigration officers were more friendly and polite. 

I had some small chat with my seat mates at the plane and I am happy that one is also a solo traveler, so that doesn’t make me a loser.

I was picked up by my mom’s cousin (Kuya Hector) and her wife (Ate Genah) at the airport. It has been a decade since I was last picked up at an airport by a relative. It has always been a car rental company or a hotel’s private shuttle service who has been doing my airport transfers ever since.

We had our late lunch at the airport. I ordered chicken satay and curry flavoured tofu. I am always a fan of satay and tofu and that made the start of my trip.

I stayed at the Amolar’s humble home in Ang Mo Kio Avenue and shared a room with my cousin (Jessy). I had a wonderful 12-hr sleep. It has also been awhile since I had that peaceful sleep.

Wen, also my cousin, flew over the next day. She was with her husband, Nick. We had some food trip bonding while watching BGT with kuya Hec and ate Gen.

Kuya Hec cooked breakfast and we had pizza for our second breakfast.

I have been in contact with some SG-based friends/former officemates (Boss A, Boss Kate and Mark) since I booked my flight and we were able to find some catch up time over coffee and dinner. 

This trip was still beach inspired. I am always a beach lover and will be always be. We skipped the normal city itinerary and focused more on the Northern and Southern part, where the beaches are.

On the Northern part, we biked from Punggol to Coney Island and back. Wen and Nick joined me with Mark and Kate.

We had dinner at the House of Seafood, where US president Trump and N.Korea prime minister was also attending a press conference. They also have a scheduled summit on the 12th.

My next few nights were spent in a pod in Chinatown. It’s my first time to book a backpacker inn and it was surprisingly clean. Wen stayed at Nicks’s place in Bradell, so I was alone in the pod. I have made friends with some of my pod neighbours. They are from Jamaica and France.

Sentosa has always been a stop over every time I visit SG and we focused more on the Sentosa attractions and skipped the USS. We stayed there for one whole day, enjoying our day pass while spending hours talking about goals and happy memories over food and coffee.

My last night in SG was spent in an airport hotel. The hotel has a pool and a pool-bar.  My solo room was small but the bed and linens are of 5-star quality. Since it’s within the airport, I am also within the shopping areas (Duty Free). Don’t ask me what I didn’t buy for myself. Haha! 

I was never really alone in this trip. That was the initial plan, but I guess, that’s not my thing. I realised that it’s always been my nature to bond with people close to my heart and I will always find a way to meet up with good old friends and close family members, to squeeze them all in a weekend getaway.

I enjoyed every bit of this trip. It made me buy some time for myself to reassess my worth. The trip was stress-free and full of fun.

I am definitely ready to travel again.

Will I fly solo again? Why not? 

Until my next trip.

The Journey Continues

We sometimes find ourselves lost even if we are executing our plans within our goals. Our ability to lose ourselves after one traumatic life changing situation gives us more time to reevaluate what we really want in our lives versus what we used to believe that we need. 

I never thought that I will experience another heartbreak after so many years of being happy and contented. With all the other reasons for me breaking down, this is the worst that I can handle. I am never really good at handling heartbreaks. That probably is the reason why I tend to quit a relationship when I start to feel that something’s already wrong. 

My last relationship may have ups and downs but that may also be the most ideal of all. That again, may probably be the reason why I was hurt that much to the point of me breaking my habits and routines after she decided that it’s all over.

I lost myself. I felt betrayed. I was devastated.  Someday I wish to tell the world that this is just a love story, and that I have more happy stories than that.

I am not a fan of traveling solo. I also gave up backpacking years ago, and had lived a laid back life to balance the stress in the outside world. But now, that I need to reevaluate myself, I decided to fly solo, booked a pod as a regular backpacker and booked a single room in an airport hotel. 

Though the goal was to backpack solo, I didn’t really travel alone. As soon as my cousins and friends found out that I am flying over, I had numerous sleep over and meet up invites. Though there are several activities all though-out the day, the idea of going to bed alone and waking up alone in your solo bed, still imposed some episodes of depression.

It’s still a good thing that nature has a way of balancing things. Life has always been better with friends and family. They keep me whole. They keep me sane. They make me realise more how lucky I am to be blessed, and should be thankful for all the the good things that happened after our relationship ended.

I am writing this while on the plane on my way home. Details about my recent “almost backpacking solo” trip will be published after this entry.

This is obviously not a travel entry, but still decided to publish this here, as my way of telling the world that my journey continues and nobody can stop me from traveling and exploring my passion.

I am no longer lost. I already found and redeemed myself and I am more than ready to travel again.

Until my next trip.