I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the Singaporean sun shining on my face – the best alarm anyone could ask for. It was finally winter break, a time to relax and escape the stresses of junior year.

Instead of dressing in a hoodie and jeans to stay warm on the cloudy, sixty-degree Palo Alto mornings, I happily wore a pair of denim shorts and a breathable top to cope with the island’s humidity.

After enjoying kaya toast with a poached egg, a traditional Singaporean breakfast, my family and I took a bus to Universal Studios, located less than fifteen minutes away. As a “Wicked” fanatic, I appreciated how they swapped out the New York section of the park for the Emerald City, a change exclusive to Singapore. Walking down the walkway with “Defying Gravity” playing through the speakers, I noticed a stage where Elphaba and Glinda were doing a meet-and-greet. I had the chance to interact with them, take pictures, savor “Wicked”-themed soft serve at a nearby restaurant, and purchase a “Wicked” keychain from a nearby shop.

After a few hours of fun and feeling a bit queasy from the Battlestar Galactica: Human Vs. Cyclon roller coaster, my family and I drove back across the bridge to Marina Bay Sands. We made our way to the 57th floor, where the SkyPark Observation Deck provided panoramic views of the Singapore skyline and Gardens by the Bay, which we planned to visit that evening. After snapping our pictures, we headed back downstairs and boarded a Singapore DUCK Tour.

This one-hour tour was unlike any other city tour, as it used restored military vehicles from the Vietnam War era, which towered above the other cars. We reached the dock, and the vehicle smoothly slid into the bay, splashing my family and me as we were seated in the front row. It was fascinating to see the harbor view instead of from the observation deck or on foot in the streets. We felt like we were getting first-class treatment as we watched crowds of people flocking around the famous Merlion statues, but we enjoyed the premium view, getting a close-up look.

Thanks to this sit-down tour, we managed to recharge quite a bit before heading back to Marina Bay Sands to shop. The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands are known for being one of the largest luxury malls in the country. The interior reminded me of Westfield Valley Fair due to the multitude of stores and dining options, but a key difference was the canal in the center featuring a Chinese wooden boat called a Sampan, complete with a live tour guide who offers guests a roundtrip around the mall. However, we didn’t feel the need to ride a boat inside a mall, as it seemed overly touristy.

To conclude the night, my family and I, tired from our travels in one day, decided to end the evening at America’s first and only Michelin-starred Korean barbecue restaurant, COTE Korean Steakhouse, which opened its first international location last January. The interior was sleek and modern, with dim lighting. Our waiter became our chef, cooking every meat we ordered, which was earthy, buttery, and melted in our mouths. The spicy lettuce salad and rice complemented each cut perfectly. She even treated us to complimentary ice cream for dessert as a welcome gift for our first day here.