A memorable stopover at Changi airport, Singapore
 
On a recent trip to the Far East,  I had to make some changes in the itinerary and ended up with an unavoidable 5 hour stop over at Singapore's Changi airport .  Though I had not been to Singapore in more than ten years,  I was not looking forward to spending five hours on transit.  As I  got off the plane and walked into the transit lounge, my intention was to find a suitable place to sit down and read and relax as I routinely do while on transit.  Usually I have my laptop with me, which means I also have the option to surf the internet if the airport's wireless option isn't too expensive.  However on this particular trip I was without my computer which meant my options were limited.  So I was not particularly looking forward to the next five hours.
 
It only took me moments to realize that the airport had undergone a massive face lift since my last visit.  Even as I was walking towards the transit lounge, my attention was caught by the welcome signs and  booths offering transit passengers all sorts of information about the city.  One of the first booths I came across promised free tours of Singapore to transit passengers.  That was something I had never seen in any other airport.

 Feeling curious, I approached them for more information.  By looking at my boarding pass and passport, they determined what tours I was eligible for.  I decided to opt for a two hour cultural tour that began in 45 minutes.  This gave me sometime to freshen up and  explore other areas of the airport while waiting for the tour to begin.
 
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this airport seemed to be the most passenger friendly one I have ever seen. The improvements in the recent years seem to have been made with passenger comfort in mind. There was this general feel of welcome in a tastefully decorated setting with a lot of greenery to enhance the ambiance..  There was plenty of seating available in a variety of styles.  For the hungry, there was a choice of cafes and restaurants.   Huge TV lounges were also available with comfortable sofa style chairs to watch current sporting events.  Speakers were carved into the chairs so that those watching could hear the sound clearly without disturbing others.




One of the passenger lounges

 
I also noticed that this airport seemed to be designed to pique the curiosity of the weary traveler.  Rather than the monotone, drab  colors used in traditional airports, the styles and colors here seemed much more inventive.  By just sitting in one spot, I felt like I was missing out on interesting sights and sounds,  so I found myself
walking  further  to explore what else there was to see and do.

My curiosity was rewarded.  I found plenty of free Internet stations with computers available to surf the Internet on.  For children and adults who are children at heart, there were video game terminals with the latest video games available for free.  Those feeling sore from a long hour flight could go for a run in the gym or even get a massage from a trained masseuse (the gym comes free, but I am not sure about the masseuse).

Bus Tour Through City Streets: 


 

I just had time to quickly scan through my email when it was time for my tour to begin.  I showed up at the counter where an agent presented me with a tour card which I showed to the immigration officer.  The agent collected all our passports to ensure that we would remain with the tour group at all times.  The bus ride began with an excellent commentary about Singapore's colonial past while highlighting key buildings along the way.  The tour highlighted the cultural makeup of Singapore as we passed by churches and temples of both Chinese and  Indian variety.  We visited Singapore's financial district, then  China Town followed by Little India, with all the key locations highlighted along the way. 

While we weren't allowed to get off along the way, the purpose of the trip was made clear by the tour guide's constant  promotion of places to visit  "on your next trip to Singapore."


 


By the end of the tour, we had a much clearer vision of what Singapore was like than any brochure or commercial could provide.  The amenities provided in the airport and the free tours highlighting what was  waiting for us in the city, should serve as a model for any city wanting to become a popular destination for tourists as well as in the transit stopover market. This traveller for one came out wanting to go back at the next available opportunity! 
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Sportsplex and outdoor arena




Massive construction projects depict a booming economy.  In spite of construction activities, the city is seen to maintain spotlessly clean streets and orderly flow of traffic





Very distinctive architecture that exhibits an aesthetic blend of old and new. 

Below you see the amphitheatre (open air)