My first international trip was in August 2015, but that was for Hajj. It was a group journey with fixed schedules and guides, so I never truly felt like a traveler. I was just following instructions.

Everything changed in May 2017. That trip became my first real travel experience—solo travel across four countries. It shaped the way I see travel even today.

The journey started unexpectedly. One of my UK clients invited me to the UK for a business meeting with full sponsorship. Unfortunately, my UK visa was rejected in 2017. It was disappointing.

Later, they suggested meeting in Bangkok instead. That meant planning visas again. A travel agency advised me that without visiting two or three countries beforehand, getting a Thailand visa would be difficult.

So the plan changed. I applied for a Malaysia tourist visa first, as travel history was not required at that time. Based on that, I applied for a Singapore visa, and with both visas, I finally applied for a Thailand visa. Alhamdulillah, all visas were approved.

While booking tickets, my travel agent suggested adding Indonesia. It was visa-free at that time and cheaper from Malaysia. I agreed.

The final plan looked like this:
Singapore – 2 nights
Malaysia – 3 nights
Indonesia – 3 nights
Bangkok – 3 nights

Singapore hotels were expensive, so I stayed only two nights there. Although my client covered the expenses, I didn’t want unnecessary luxury. I paid around 50,000 BDT for flight tickets.

I booked all hotels myself through Agoda, which I still use today. Occasionally I use Booking.com in the USA, and last year I used Airbnb in the USA and Canada.

This was my first-ever solo trip. Everything was new—airports, immigration, connecting flights. At Dhaka airport, I faced no issues. During my earlier Saudi trip, I couldn’t enjoy the flight experience properly, but this time I paid attention to everything—meals, in-flight entertainment, and the journey itself.

Landing in Singapore, I felt nervous. Immigration was smooth. I collected my luggage, took the MRT, and followed Google Maps to reach my hotel. It was my first real moment of confidence as a solo traveler.

The hotel was Prime Hotel—a very basic one. At that time, I didn’t understand much about hotel locations or areas. Budget mattered more than comfort then.

Singapore felt surprisingly easy for a first-time solo traveler. The public transport system is extremely organized. The MRT is clean, reliable, and simple to understand. Signboards are clear, and Google Maps works perfectly.

Transport costs may feel slightly high, but the comfort and time-saving make it worth it. The city is also very walkable, with wide footpaths and disciplined traffic.

The city tour bus from Suntec City was perfect for beginners. In one ride, it covered major landmarks. Modern skyscrapers, clean streets, and planned infrastructure made the city feel futuristic.

Marina Bay was the most impressive area for me. From the Marina Bay Sands observation deck, the entire city looked like a living blueprint—water, roads, and buildings perfectly aligned.

The giant wheel ride gave a stunning panoramic view. Merlion Park felt symbolic, something I had seen in photos but now experienced in real life.

The Singapore Zoo and Night Safari were unforgettable. Watching lions and tigers without cages, at night, while riding a golf cart was thrilling. The guide strictly instructed us not to use flash.

Sentosa Island’s cable car ride was my first ever. Being alone in the cabin made it scarier, but the ocean view below was breathtaking. Fear slowly turned into excitement.

Ride-hailing services like Uber were convenient. Most cars were modern models, clean, and comfortable. Drivers were professional. Slightly expensive, but the service quality justified the cost.

Singapore taught me something important—solo travel is possible. All you need is courage, planning, Google Maps, and trust in yourself.

MD ABDUL HAKIM MIAH
Proprietor, B M Aerospace