The last thing you see when you leave, and the first thing that greets you upon coming home

For the past 8 months I’ve spent most of my days wherever my job takes me. Mostly Australia and Japan, sometimes New Zealand. My days off at home are precious and I spend most of them attending family events and catching up with friends, running errands and sleeping in my own bed. Never realised how rapidly Singapore have changed during the past few months till I crossed a junction at Bugis that looked entirely different from what I remembered it to be.

Recently, I read an article about 48 reasons why you still feel for Singapore and enjoyed its tongue-in-cheek humour. One I could relate to most was this:

42. You actually look forward to the comfort of the Changi Airport arrival hall
 Whenever you are away for too long.

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God knows how many times I’ve passed through Changi Airport, be it for work or for a random getaway. It’s been named the best airport in the world, yet again, and it’s irrefutable. There are just so many things to do there, be it at the public or the transit area. I used to go there often to just hang out, or get some revision done while I was back at school.

The sight of the arrival hall never gets old. There was once a nine-day work week was so, so challenging that once the aircraft touched down on Singapore ground, my colleague and I couldn’t help but to give a whoop of excitement. And once we stepped into the terminal, the four of us were over exaggerating-ly taking in air and whispering to each other, “Ahhhh, Singapore air.”

That’s how much we’ve missed home.

The best feeling is when we get to the immigration hall and see this whole bunch of people waiting to enter.. walking past ALL of them and towards the automated channel for Singaporean passports. Seeing the white words flashed ‘WELCOME HOME’ on the blue screen brings me some kind of comfort.

Once past that gantry… we’d collect our bags and head towards our loved ones and enjoy every single minute you have with them before going away again. It’s a cycle that never gets old. Sometimes I dread going to work, but coming home has always been the best part of my trip.

The airport is my favourite place in Singapore, right next to my bedroom, because it’s the last place you’re at before flying off somewhere, and the first place you see upon setting foot into Singapore. Plus, it’s so accessible and well-connected… you can go almost ANYWHERE from here. What’s not to love?

About being in planes

Processed with VSCOcam with f3 presetMy very first time on a plane was to Saudi Arabia when I was a wee four-year-old. I don’t remember much about the experience, except that they gave us kids pack to keep ourselves entertained for the duration of the flight. I think my parents bought me a tiny Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft model too.

Back then, I’ve always wanted to hop on a flight to somewhere far. I’ve always been the one standing at departure gates waving people off, wondering what’s on the other side. Because of family commitments, school and the lack of low-cost carriers 10 years ago…. travelling on a plane was a privilege.

That’s why I was so excited when my parents announced we’re going to Melbourne. I was 17 and 13 years have passed since my first flight, I was FINALLY getting on a plane far, far away! After discovering the existence of low-cost carriers and realising how well-connected Singapore is to the rest of the world, I’ve never looked back.

When I came across this video of two, lovely old ladies flying for the first time, I knew I had to share it. Their feelings, excitement and thrill of doing something for the first time mirrored mine. Watch it, your day will be made.

I spend half my time in the air, and though I’ve taken so many things for granted at times, it’s always exciting to be up there. There’s always something to see, from the beautiful fluffy cloud formation to the twinkling stars scattered across the night sky… the best had to be sharing the experience with first time flyers. I love the look on their faces when we invite them for a tour around our little aircraft, marvelling at everything from the galley to the toilets. Once we told them that a locked toilet was a secret passageway to the cargo. (Shhhh.)

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An empty cabin, pretty awesome and pretty scary at the same time!Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

With the Jetstar Asia crew who brought us to Osaka!

Even I discover something new and exciting about flying every day! I’ve watched countless of planes taking off from the airport, sat through numerous takeoffs and landings as a passenger. I’ve had the privilege to sit in the flight deck to see for myself what the Captain or his First Officer does to land a plane. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

Have yet to fly? Go for it, you will not regret a single second of it.