Travel for the sake of travel - last hurrah before baby

[billmurray]

Back in Jan 2026 - I booked an extremely short solo furlough for May 2026 to burn through my near 1m VFF points with the imminent arrival of baby #2 in July . We have done well with our first kid, clocking in 8 international business class flights. Now he's 2 years old, any future family trips in J will be near impossible.

I wished to experience QA J and in Jan I was able to book SYD - SIN, SIN - DOH then DOH - SYD, all in J. My SIN - DOH flight was cancelled nearly 4-6 weeks ago when the M.E war kicked off (only notified of this fact through Flighty, no formal email from VA or QA), so was on the hunt since then to save my trip.


I found a SIN - SYD in PE, which i booked as a backup, but this was an unacceptable way to travel. Weeks went by, checking daily, exhausting all routes & options to fly home in J but with no luck. Running concurrently, to continue my love affair with Japan, I had an alerts saved for direct flights, when yesterday morning a HND – SYD become available which I booked immediately. Spent all day yesterday trying to leapfrog to Japan, only option I could work out was SIN - HAN - HND flight with SQ – and was going to book it the next day after thinking it over.

However, fortune struck late last night - i was checking one last time before going to bed and i spotted the elusive F rewards seat. It was SIN - SYD, BA via QA. 75k AVIOS points & $450 in taxes. Although the older 787 product, and an overnight flight, i booked it because why not, i believe I also have access to the Qantas F lounge?

Accommodation booked with Accor, using the free night stay via Amex Platinum. So for now, I’m fully committed to 3 full days in Singapore (unless a SYD - HND flight becomes available in the interim).

Plan to bring nothing but a backpack and a camera. Leaving on Thursday 7th 3pm and come back Monday 11th 6am. Just need some ideas of things to do in Singapore now (Except for the standard touristy things).

 

[OZDUCK]

Some suggestions for Singapore :-

- a visit to the island of Pulau Ubin. One of the last bits of jungle and kampong style living in Singapore. You have to catch a bumboat from Changi Pointe to get there. As an extra treat Changi Village Hawkers Centre is also probably one of the last 'traditional' hawker centres with very traditional food at great prices.

Pulau Ubin Website

Situated just off the northeastern corner of mainland Singapore, the boomerang-shaped Pulau Ubin is home to one of Singapore’s last...

pulau-ubin.nparks.gov.sg

- if you are a bit of a nature lover visit the Sungei Buloh Wetlands. Mangroves mud flats and the chance of seeing crocodiles and otters.

https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=a6fb17f3-c113-4a02-8908-6f36f95c75e4

- walk the southern ridges trail. Great views plenty of interesting vegetation and animals to see

A Walk along the Southern Ridges from Mount Faber to Kent Ridge Park

Singapore is not just a concrete jungle, it has rich biodiversity & truly lives up to its name as a Garden City. Have you walked the Southern Ridges yet?

www.springtomorrow.com

- 'climb' Bukit Timah Hill

Guide To Bukit Timah Nature Reserve & Hindhede Nature Park 2026

Get up close to some of the island's greenest hiking trails, mountain-biking paths, a fun playground and Singapore’s highest “peak” at Bukit Timah Nature

www.sassymamasg.com

 

[Flyfrequently]

Love the title of your TR @billmurray
No doubt you have room in your backpack for gifts for your +1 and offspring

 

[billmurray]

Some suggestions for Singapore :-

- a visit to the island of Pulau Ubin. One of the last bits of jungle and kampong style living in Singapore. You have to catch a bumboat from Changi Pointe to get there. As an extra treat Changi Village Hawkers Centre is also probably one of the last 'traditional' hawker centres with very traditional food at great prices.

Pulau Ubin Website

Situated just off the northeastern corner of mainland Singapore, the boomerang-shaped Pulau Ubin is home to one of Singapore’s last...

pulau-ubin.nparks.gov.sg

- if you are a bit of a nature lover visit the Sungei Buloh Wetlands. Mangroves mud flats and the chance of seeing crocodiles and otters.

https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=a6fb17f3-c113-4a02-8908-6f36f95c75e4

- walk the southern ridges trail. Great views plenty of interesting vegetation and animals to see

A Walk along the Southern Ridges from Mount Faber to Kent Ridge Park

Singapore is not just a concrete jungle, it has rich biodiversity & truly lives up to its name as a Garden City. Have you walked the Southern Ridges yet?

www.springtomorrow.com

- 'climb' Bukit Timah Hill

Guide To Bukit Timah Nature Reserve & Hindhede Nature Park 2026

Get up close to some of the island's greenest hiking trails, mountain-biking paths, a fun playground and Singapore’s highest “peak” at Bukit Timah Nature

www.sassymamasg.com

Brilliant thanks for these will check them out

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, you have access to the QF F lounge.

 

[billmurray]

And so it begins…not to sure how ill go at this trip reporting thing, as Singapore isn’t exactly exotic or unique to anyone on the AFF forums.

First off, failed to only live out of backpack. Camera gear & a few books blew this out. 1x carry on and suitcase it is then. Self-drove P7 parking, not a single car entering the carpark, ominously quiet.

Check-in, no one in the queue, quick smart with no luggage to check in. The new smart gates - again on one. From check-in to airside took < 5mins.

No SYD INT airport trip would be complete without the obligatory stop at Maccas - for the sole reason to watch your order wind its way down on the unique conveyer belt – love this thing. The meal, as to be expect, average beyond best. The new Sticky Korean BBQ burger in all its beige glory.




Before arriving at the airport, my newly minted Flighty subscription noted the departure gate will be #10…odd. I’ve only ever flown out of gate #57. Knowing this is the complete opposite end of the airport & lounges, thought I’d check out the ol’girl. What a beast she is, always impressed at the size of the a380s, her wingspan (and how thick they are), and those large RR Trent engines. [Tony Grieg voice] GORGEOUS





Walking to SQ lounge, i spotted the union jack, lurking back towards the M5. Thank god for iPhone & their 8x optical zoom as I was able to snag the rego number. I caught a glimpse of the future – because this will be the plane that will carry me home in 3 days time (did I tell you im riding shotgun in First?!)



Anyway, time to keep a tally on how many drinks – lets get the party started with a Tiger. Now off to the Air NZ lounge & get the steps up before the flight.