I have always been a big fan of Singapore Airlines. I have consistently had pleasant experiences flying with them but those usually have been on long haul flights. On this occasion, I was flying a relatively shorter distance from Dhaka to Bangkok that included over eight hours of layover in Singapore. While that is a significant amount of time to spend in an airport, I was not concerned. Singapore Changi Airport offers a variety to things to do and one can easily pass time over there without getting bored. This is an account of my flight and airport experience.

My flight out of Dhaka was close to midnight. I had several hours before my flight and decided to spend the time at the designated airport lounge for Singapore Airlines. When it got close to boarding time, I made my way to the gate and waited at the front section of the boarding lounge which is typically reserved for premium passengers.

Singapore Airlines manages their schedule strictly and soon the announcement was made for boarding. Although sleepy and tired, I was happy to make my way to the boarding bridge and on to the airplane. It had been exactly a year since I flew on Singapore Airlines and I was excited to fly with them again. As soon as I stepped into the airplane, a flight attendant checked my boarding pass and I was guided to my seat.

I had preselected a window seat in this 1-2-1 seat configuration. The seat itself was comfortable and provided sufficient support although it was a bit narrow and I felt somewhat constricted. I am not a fan of the three-point seat belt as it feels like I am being strapped tight to my seat. The chest strap does come off and can be unhooked after the seat belt sign goes off which is a big relief.

Since this was a late-night flight, I was unsure about eating and did not preorder any meal. Once the aircraft departed and I settled in comfortably, I decided to try one of the meals from the onboard menu. There were three meal options to choose from featuring either fish or chicken on duck. I went with the Teochew style braised soya duck. There was only one item offered for the appetizer and one for the dessert but there was a selection of bread to choose from and multiple options for beverage.

It did not take long after my meal to arrive. The appetizer which included caesar salad with grilled chicken was good but my main meal consisting of the duck tasted average. There was nothing in it that made it stand out and that might be because it was late at night and I was too tired to enjoy it. Regardless, it did its job and filled my hunger cravings if there were any. The garlic bread on Singapore Airlines is usually doused with butter but I don’t mind that. The dessert was acceptable but nothing extraordinary. Once the meal service was over, there was only a couple of hours left before the flight landed in Singapore and I decided to catch some sleep till then.

My flight reached Singapore very early in the morning.  I had over eight hours to spend at Changi Airport. The first thing I decided to do was freshen up and get some breakfast. Since I was flying business class, I had access to the SilverKris Lounge and headed to the one located in Terminal 3 since that was bigger and more recently renovated.

One of the lounge offerings is showering facility and I gladly took advantage of that. To be able to shower during a layover is an amazing benefit as it washes away all the tiredness and feels very invigorating. I always carry extra clothes to change and never pass up on an opportunity to shower when I get the chance. SilverKris lounge has many seating areas with different types of seating arrangements. I found myself a comfortable seat and then proceeded to get some breakfast. There was a plethora of things to choose from and they were served fresh and hot. The items were well stocked and there were plenty of staff who made sure everything was replenished as soon as they ran out. There were also many different drink options and included both hot and cold beverages. I had a very satisfactory breakfast and decided to walk it off by venturing outside the lounge.

There are many attractions at Singapore Changi Airport in each terminal. Since I was already at Terminal 3, I decided to visit the Butterfly Garden which was located not too far from the SilverKris lounge. The butterfly garden has two levels and I entered from the lower level. There are two sets of glass doors that needs to be crossed to enter the garden. Once inside, it feels like stepping into a tropical wonderland. The air is moist and warm which might be necessary to mimic the environment where these butterflies and plants thrive. I was quite amazed by the size of the garden and the many varieties of butterflies hovering over the flowers. There are also feeding stations stocked with slices of pineapples for particular species of butterflies to feed on. It felt surreal to experience such a wonderful tropical garden housing different varieties of butterflies inside an airport. I spent a good amount of time in the Butterfly Garden since I was so mesmerized by the butterflies. I still had a lot of time to pass and I decided to walk over to Terminal 2. I could either take the airport train or walk there and I decided on the latter.

To go from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, I needed to get to Terminal 1 first.  Although it is a lot of walking, I was fine with it since there was a lot to see and experience. Each of the terminals had different stores offering various merchandises such as electronics, pharmacy items, luxury goods, etc., including a plethora of restaurants offering various types of cuisines. The airport also felt very bright and open since there were plenty of glass windows all over and also offered clear views of the tarmac with airplanes. It was quite enjoyable to experience all the terminals since they all seemed to have a slightly different theme.

On my way to Terminal 2, I stopped by a few stores to do some shopping. I did spend a little extra time in Terminal 1 before heading over to Terminal 2 since it felt very bright and open over there. There were plenty of stores and also some little ponds with greeneries scattered around. These mini ponds were actually stocked with different types of fishes like catfish, large koi fish, etc. swimming freely in clean clear water. I just found it so fascinating to see this inside an airport.

By the time I reached Terminal 2, it was close to lunch time and I was starting to get hungry. Since there is also a SilverKris lounge in Terminal 2, I decided to stop by and grab a quick meal. This lounge is a little smaller compared to the one in Terminal 3 but does have similar food and drink options. There are also plenty of seating options but not as much as in the lounge in Terminal 3. Also, the shower facility at this lounge is slightly dated and I prefer the one in the SilverKris lounge at Terminal 3.

After my meal, I decided to walk around Terminal 2 and enjoy some of the other gardens that are located here. Close to the lounge is the Enchanted Garden with lush tropical plants around a large pond filled with koi fish. It is very relaxing to sit among the plants and watch the fish swimming while listening to the rippling sound of water.

There are also other gardens located in Terminal 2. There is the Orchid Garden & Koi Pond located not too far from the Enchanted Garden. I spent some time there as well and enjoyed the lush green landscape with an artificial sky on the roof. It was a unique experience to observe an indoor garden under a “blue sky”.

Soon it was time for me to catch my flight to Bangkok. After completing security screening at the gate and a short wait later, I was settled comfortably in my seat. Given that it was regional flight and I was on a similar aircraft as in the first half of my journey, the seats and amenities were identical. However, the meal served on this flight was different.

As in the previous flight, I had three options to choose from for the main course. Among the pork, chicken, and crab meals, I went with the latter. It came with a smoked salmon salad which I enjoyed quite a bit. The Southern Thai crab curry was slightly spicy but wonderful. I got a sesame seed bread which was a good choice. The dessert included a chocolate raspberry cake and it worked very well after my slight spicy crab curry meal. The flight from Singapore to Bangkok was short and soon we landed in Suvarnabhumi Airport.

My experience at the airport in Bangkok has been positive. When I arrived at the immigration hall, the queue was long but moving at a good pace. There were several immigration counters and officers were working diligently to keep the line moving. Also, travelers to Thailand need to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (DTAC) prior to their visit. I had already done this beforehand and my immigration process went smoothly and took very little time. Soon I was out of the immigration area and waiting for my bag at the luggage carousel which arrived shortly after. I grabbed it and was on my way to the Hyatt Regency Hotel located near the airport.