Exactly one year ago, Kenneth turned to me and said “let’s go to Singapore“. So we booked a flight that day to go right after boards, and the rest is history. (That’s how it goes in my memory anyway.)
November 2025: It was the liminal time between the written exams and the OSCE* for the Family Medicine diplomate boards, stress was high and relief was still a couple of weeks out of reach. Maybe 12 hours after the board exam ended, we both found ourselves on a spontaneous flight to see what the small city-state had to offer.
*Objective Structured Clinical Examination, or basically an oral exam with a practical skills component
Trip Highlights
We only stayed for 2 nights, and Kenneth even attended classes remotely for an hour or two in that time. Well, I probably also did some remote Chief Residency work, but I could barely remember now.
But somehow, even with such a short and sweet trip, we went and did so many things. Sulit na sulit.
https://youtube.com/shorts/RcFHOm2TriM?si=Duo5PmQnIFOFoUbr
- “Into the Modern: Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston” at the National Gallery Singapore – This special exhibition of Monet’s original works, loaned from a Boston Museum and brought all the way to Southeast Asia, was probably the main reason why we went ahead with the impulsive decision to travel. The collection was well-curated. Monet’s landscapes never fail to calm the heart. The tranquility was much needed while we were just beginning the long wait for the diplomate board exam results. (Spoiler alert: we both passed, and Kenneth even ranked Top 4 nationally)
- Lau Pa Sat Dinner – This might still be one of my favorite Hawker Centers in all of Singapore. I remember going on a weekend date trip with my mom and also enjoying this HC the most. Of course we only got some 10/10 Hainanese Chicken Rice.
- “Jurassic World: The Experience” inside Cloud Forest at the Gardens by the Bay – I am a sucker for animatronics, and the life-sized dinosaurs were executed brilliantly. The props, music, and misty backdrop of the Cloud Forest made for an incredible interactive experience. There were even baby dinosaurs snoozing in display… I highly recommend going to this immersive exhibit while it lasts!
- Siloso Beach & Fort Siloso Skywalk and Trail at Sentosa Island – I’ve never visited Sentosa Island before, because I always thought it was just all about adventure rides and beach parties. But there’s also a relaxed and nature-oriented side to the island. We went on a walk along the fairly quiet Siloso Beach (the weather was a little chilly). I think the Skywalk is nice if you have the time, but the trail in particular is worth making time for (if you like nature walks in general, I suppose).
- “Harry Potter: Visions of Magic” at Resorts World Sentosa – The main reason why we decided to go to Sentosa Island was actually to see some large promotional installations for Wicked: For Good. The installations ended up being a little underwhelming (mostly because they were apparently the same as the ones installed in SM MOA at that time). But on the way there, we saw adverts for a Harry Potter-themed multi‑sensory interactive art experience. It was a little expensive, but as a Potterhead in my youth, it was a good time. The Butterbeer was also a nice touch.
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For more art-focused content, I sometimes post museum and gallery finds on a dedicated Instagram account: @maartetype
P.S. I’m going on a planned / less spontaneous art trip to Bangkok this week, this time with Paige. Ahhh the world is ever growing and ever changing, I wonder if I’ll ever get tired of seeing it. I hope not.
Until next time! ♥
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