Back home in Dubai, I find myself returning to the memories of Singapore: laughter with friends, long walks, an unexpected light show, and the stories I discovered in Tiong Bahru.
Singapore was part of a journey that had already taken me through Egypt and Malaysia. Although I arrived with a full agenda, I found time to explore—and some of my favourite moments came from simply being curious and saying yes.
On 25 September, I joined friends for lunch at The Book Cafe, where we met the visionary behind an app I use. Hearing the heart behind its creation gave me a new appreciation for something I might otherwise have taken for granted. There is something special about discovering the inspiration and purpose behind an idea that has become part of your life. It was an engaging conversation, and I left grateful to have been included.
Another happy memory began with my team from India persuading me to join them for an outing. I am so glad they did. Away from our usual responsibilities, we had the chance to break the ice, get to know one another, and share plenty of jokes and laughter.
We explored Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion, and the stretches of city between them, taking more than a few silly photographs along the way. The Merlion was particularly fun, and those pictures will always remind me of the people who made that evening so enjoyable.
At Gardens by the Bay, we happened to arrive just in time for the light show at Supertree Grove. We had not planned for it, which made standing there together, immersed in the lights and music, feel even more special. Sometimes travel gives you a moment you could never have arranged quite so perfectly.
There was plenty of walking, too. My travel philosophy was beginning to sound suspiciously like: Why take transport when Sherin has perfectly functioning legs?
My feet might have preferred a different approach, but walking gave me time to notice the little things between the landmarks—and take a ton of photographs. A place does not have to be famous to catch my attention. Often, it is an ordinary corner or an unfamiliar street that makes me want to stop and look a little longer.
Once I knew where I would be staying, I researched places within walking distance. That was how I discovered Tiong Bahru’s murals and began planning a little exploration of the neighbourhood.
On 30 September, my final day in Singapore, I walked to Tan Tock Seng’s historic tomb site. Learning about his philanthropy brought a quieter moment into the day and made me reflect on the people whose generosity becomes part of a city’s history. It was a reminder to look beyond the names we encounter and learn something about the lives behind them.
From there, Tiong Bahru’s murals offered glimpses of the neighbourhood’s earlier life. I visited the Bird Singing Corner mural and Pasar and the Fortune Teller, pausing to read about the scenes they portrayed.
I was especially fascinated by the story of the bird corner: a pet bird shop with songbird cages hanging outside, and a nearby coffee shop where people gathered for coffee, conversation, and birdsong. I loved imagining people making time to sit together and listen to their feathered companions—a simple pleasure that became part of a neighbourhood’s shared memory.
Pasar and the Fortune Teller introduced me to another side of everyday life, with its market, hawkers, and familiar gathering places. Discovering these stories through art gave me a reason to linger and imagine the routines and relationships that had shaped the neighbourhood.
On my walk back, I came across Drips, a small coffee shop and bakery, and stopped for a cappuccino. It was so good that I stayed for a little chat with the lady working there, who told me it had opened in 2010. As we spoke, people came in to buy loaves of bread and croissants.
There was something lovely about being part of that ordinary scene for a little while. Finding Drips unexpectedly filled me with joy, and if I return to Singapore, I will certainly go back for another coffee.
Before leaving, I visited Jewel at Changi Airport. After a morning spent exploring neighbourhood history, its indoor waterfall was a wonderful final stop. I paused for a photograph and took in one more experience before the flight home.
Looking back, I am grateful that I made room for all of this. A busy trip gave me inspiring conversations, new friendships, glimpses into the city’s past, and the pleasure of finding a really good cappuccino by chance.
I brought home a little more confidence in my willingness to explore—and a healthy respect for how much walking my feet will tolerate. Most of all, I brought home memories that still make me smile: the laughter, the birdsong I could only imagine, and the small discoveries that made Singapore feel personal.
