Singapore

Four days of humidity, light shows and cold beers

By Hilton Luke

What better way to get back on Australian time then breaking up the return leg from Europe with a 4-night stopover in Singapore. The daily QF2 service flies through the night from London Heathrow and Lands at Changi Airport about 5.30pm, daily.

Here is the view from our very affordable hotel on Queen Street.

A short Grab ride (Asia's version of Uber) to the Gardens by the Bay. You can explore the 100+ hectare gardens and take in expansive views of Marina Bay Sands.

Stroll around the gardens and take in the hundreds (probably thousands) varieties of plants. There is also plenty of shade to provide respite from the oppressive Singaporean heat!

Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay light show

Spectra—a light and water show by Marina Bay Sands is one of the best attractions Singapore has to offer (and it's free!). It runs twice per night on Sunday–Thursday (8pm and 9pm) and three times per night on Friday and Saturday (8pm, 9pm and 10pm).

I joined an Aperture night photo tour on a Sunday night and make the 9pm light show.

I captured this photo with the following settings: ISO 2500, 35mm, f/4.0, 1/8 seconds.

The colours of Marina Bay Sands

This photo is a three image portrait panorama stitched together in Lightroom. The settings I used are: ISO 100, 85mm, f/11, 15 seconds (per photo).

Using my 400mm lens, I snap this shot from 250m away on the northern end of the Jubilee Bridge.

Downtown Core

This photo is a three image portrait panorama stitched together in Lightroom. The settings I used are: ISO 50, 35mm, f/14, 30 seconds (per photo).

Jewel

Got more than a 3-hour stopover at Singapore Changi Airport? Visit Jewel—an amazing shopping centre connecting all of Singapore Changi Airport terminals. Thousands upon thousands of plants surrounding a 40 metre indoor waterfall.

Crowne Plaza, Changi Airport

Yes, you can book a room with runway views to watch planes land, takeoff and move about the airport. The premier runway view room on level 5 offered amazing views of Changi's main runway and terminal used by Singapore Airline.