It was one of our first international trips together. Yet, when we think of Singapore now, the first sensation that returns is humidity.

August. The air felt dense even before we stepped out of the airport. At that time, our travels had not yet stretched towards Central Asia or the Caucasus. For many Indians, Singapore — along with Malaysia — was the natural first step beyond familiar borders. Accessible, organised, reassuring.

We boarded a late evening flight on Singapore Airlines and arrived before dawn. At immigration, I was unexpectedly taken aside and held in a small room with a few others. There were questions, though none seemed accusatory. After some time, I was allowed through without explanation. I never understood the reason. What I remember more clearly is P’s steadiness. She handled the situation calmly, almost matter-of-factly.

Singapore, at that moment in our lives, felt like a complete metropolis. Dubai has transformed dramatically over the past decade, but in 2014 Singapore seemed like the finished version of what a modern city could be — efficient, immaculate, self-assured.

We began at Gardens by the Bay, then walked to Merlion Park. Glass towers reflected a sky that never quite felt light. That evening we rode the Singapore Flyer — our first such experience suspended above a city. What stayed was not the height, but the stillness inside the capsule as the skyline rearranged itself beneath us.

Having arrived on an overnight flight, we surrendered to sleep early.

The next day unfolded in colour and engineered spectacle at Universal Studios Singapore and Sentosa. Day three was spent at the Singapore Zoo, followed by a night safari. We moved through enclosures and walkways absorbing impressions more than forming reflections.

Curiously, the food never stayed with us. It filled the moment but left no imprint. What lingered instead was the city’s order — the way everything seemed calibrated and intentional.

Singapore did not overwhelm us. It presented itself clearly.
A first widening of horizon, delivered with precision.