The Trip Isn’t Perfect, Yet It Can Still Be Memorable
Traveling with friends often turns us into perfectionists, driven by the desire to create unforgettable memories and the perfect experience — especially when it’s your first trip.
I experienced this firsthand during my first trip to Singapore, which I had planned for seven months. What began as a solo trip to attend The Eras Tour concert transformed into a group trip with my two close friends, and it turned out to be everyone’s first trip to Singapore.
My friend Simba is the enthusiastic one; since it’s her first trip abroad, she eagerly dove into influencer reviews and recommendations. She researched hotels, compiled a list of must-visit destinations, saved food recommendations, and even memorized the MRT routes. Meanwhile, Mba Ran and I just followed Simba’s plan. Our initial itinerary stretched from 7 AM to midnight, filled with excitement and anticipation. We were determined to make our first experience in Singapore perfect.
However, in our quest for perfection, we overlooked a crucial lesson: life is unpredictable, and you should always expect the unexpected — even if you’ve planned for it.
Despite our meticulous planning, things didn’t go as smoothly as we hoped. On our second day in Singapore, we got lost several times, even walking for around 30 minutes to find an exit from Marina Bay Gardens to the next MRT station. We were exhausted, but we still had one last place to visit: the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience show. We had already bought tickets, so we couldn’t cancel our plans just because we were tired.
The highlight of our second day was supposed to be the Forbidden Forest Experience. Unfortunately, from the very beginning of the journey, it felt like everything was going wrong. Even on our way to the venue, we encountered several problems. We discovered that our Tourist MRT card wouldn’t take us to Sentosa Island, which caused a delay in payment. Amidst the crowd, I realized I had left my wallet behind, so we ended up borrowing my friend’s Visa card.
After we finally arrived at Sentosa Island, Mba Ran insisted we could walk to the venue in about 30 minutes, so we decided to give it a try. We walked and walked, only to find ourselves lost in the middle of nowhere, staring at a sign that read “The Last Pedestrian Area.” With our ticket for 10 PM and the clock ticking at 9:40 PM, we felt hopeless. The information page indicated that the bus usually taking tourists to the show was no longer operating. Just when we thought all hope was lost, a bus appeared. We rushed to ask the driver if it was headed to the show, and he said yes. We jumped on, relieved but still anxious about making it on time.
However, our relief was short-lived. Upon arrival, we discovered that our ticket was actually for March 6, not March 2. Confusion and frustration washed over us as we realized our mistake. After a trip to customer service, we had to repurchase the tickets at a higher price than we had originally paid. It was disheartening, especially since we were on a budget, but we couldn’t let the day end without experiencing something magical.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation, even as panic set in. We thought we had planned the itinerary perfectly, but it turned into chaos by the end of the day. Exhausted, we still enjoyed the show as the last visitors that night.
We returned to our hostel at midnight, starving and exhausted, feeling a mix of bad moods and annoyance from the unexpected events, particularly during our visit to the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. The need to add more to our budget due to the ticket mix-up left some of us feeling frustrated. A tense silence fell between us, and although we didn’t argue, the atmosphere was uncomfortable given the chaos we had experienced. Still, we felt we needed to keep going since it was a trip we had planned, even though we didn’t expect the day to unfold that way.
Despite the chaos, our trip was filled with unforgettable moments. All three of us are Potterheads, and we finally experienced the Forbidden Forest up close, casting spells and encountering beloved creatures like Hedwig and unicorns. The magic of that experience lifted our spirits, and we were happy to take pictures and capture the moment. We also visited the ArtScience Museum and enjoyed the Garden Rhapsody light show at Gardens by the Bay.
For me personally, the ultimate highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert. I have been a fan since high school, and now, in my 30s, attending her incredible concert was a dream come true. Watching Taylor Swift perform songs from all ten albums was unforgettable. I had a VIP ticket, allowing me to see her up close, and singing along to my favorite songs from high school to adulthood created core memories I will cherish forever.
In the end, we managed to explore about 60–70% of our planned itinerary. While it didn’t hit the perfect score we aimed for, I believe the 30–40% we didn’t explore can be saved for our next visit. We don’t want this trip to be our last in Singapore; it’s just the beginning.
Initially, I thought this trip might be the worst because we couldn’t fulfill 100% of our plans and faced conflicts along the way. However, I now believe that this trip to Singapore is one of the best I’ve ever taken. The memories we created, the laughter we shared, and the lessons we learned about flexibility and enjoying the moment made it truly special.
As we look forward to our next adventure, I hope we can approach it with a more relaxed mindset, ready to embrace the unexpected. After all, it’s not about achieving perfection; it’s about creating memories that last a lifetime.
