We never forget our first international trip! Mine was when I visited Singapore and Thailand and it was special for so many reasons.
First, I met the coolest bunch of travel writers and journalists on that trip. Priya, Kiran, Malavika, Nolan, Antoine, Alka, Bindu, Anjali, Anita, Akash, Swapneil, Karuna were all a delight to travel with. Primrose, the one responsible for getting us all together, joined the party a bit later and made sure the trip was one of the most memorable ones for everybody. Our guides Toon Hee and Josephine were so lovely that they made us feel at home from the moment we landed.
Second, I visited some of the most beautiful attractions of the Lion City and was blown away by the architecture, food and culture I witnessed. From the famous Universal Studios on Sentosa Island and the majestic SEA aquarium to the Gardens By The Bay and One Altitude Bar (the highest bar in the world), it all felt surreal. My persoanl favourite moment was the 3D Transformers ride at Universal.
Finally, this was also when I went on my first cruise – Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas – where everything from the room to the views to the on-board entertainment was simply top-notch. I chronicled all this in two features I wrote for India.com –
Singapore travel guide: Best places to visit and best places to eat in Singapore
Four days of sea, breeze and one Royal cruise experience!
I also shot a lot of videos in the two countries to make a farewell present for my then boss and now trusted friend, philosopher and guide Abhishek Mande. I have used the same footage to make a little dance video that captures the fun times I had on that trip. Here’s what happens when Singapore-Thailand meets Gangnam!