I have memories of being a kid when my father would come back from one of his work trip, showing me a lot of pictures of the Jewel Changi Airport, along with some airport souvenirs and city guide maps and so on. I have ever since wanted to visit Singapore, at least the Jewel. So when the opportunity came during the time I moved to Sydney, I went ahead and booked the flight with the longest available layover at Singapore.

I had an overnight flight to Singapore, which landed at around 6 am with a heavy downpour. I had made a reservation for a city tour later during the day, which meant having a couple of hours within the airport. Grabbed a coffee and started walking around.

The Changi Airport is busy and exquisite. Boutique stores of almost all luxury brands, interactive art installations, tranquil gardens and snooze lounges. Everything is thoughtfully put up. There was a morning rush, while I was figuring out the different terminals, making back and forth trips within the airport sky train. Having a long day ahead I decided to slow down after a while and getting some rest before the city tour at one of the rest areas tucked away from the noise, offering plush seating and an ambient atmosphere, making it feel like you’re entering a spa, and it was the perfect spot to unwind.

Getting out for the city tour was a breeze. All it took was a quick passport scan at an automated gate. Our guide gave us a couple of instructions, boarded a bus and off to the city, passing a few iconic landmarks like the Merlion Park, Marina Bay Skyline, and Gardens by the Bay. Singapore's skyline is like a textbook of contemporary architecture. Despite the drizzling weather, it felt no rush, and I was able to spend a good time exploring around each landmark.

"Singapore is lush. It is literally what you call an urban forest. It's a perfect interplay between glass, steel, concrete and abundant greenery"

Within a few hours, I made it back to the airport, to the Jewel - it truly lives up to its name. It was a bit crowded. The center piece, the Rain Vortex, surrounded by the lush garden, felt like stepping into a urban rainforest with the inter-terminal Skytrain gliding past it. The Canopy Bridge, bouncy Sky Nets, and artsy gardens added playful, visual layers to the space. There was also even a live workout session happening !

The Jewel offers one of the best shopping, dining and leisure experiences housing a maze of global brands and restaurants, which I did not miss out on a few favourites, that I was longing to experience.

The entire experience in the city and the Jewel is a great inspiration - from architecture, art installations, brands, the systems, inclusivity and their stores featuring all sorts of creative concepts and product showcases.

There is a lot of thought put into every aspect of the space, for all kinds of audience. Singapore is a textbook for every designer, from systems to beauty; it has figured it out.

By the end of the day, fatigue caught up. I had a few more hours before my next flight to Sydney, made my way to a quiet lounge for a quick nap. Changi’s design makes it easy to relax and recharge as well. Had some good 2-3 hour deep sleep, and made it in time for my next boarding. The 22 hours were thoroughly enjoyed, and I’ll make sure to stay over longer next time.

Among all this, I figured that I lost my wallet in the morning at one of the currency exchange centers. I didn't realise this until towards the evening trying to shop around the Jewel. I was almost certainly sure that I wouldn't get it back, but took a chance and went back to the currency exchange and asked around. To my surprise they had actually logged a lost wallet into their systems and handed over to the lost and found. Although they had a different set of staff on duty at that time they patiently guided me to where I claim it back. That was the most delightful moment of the day.