Behind the Scenes: Filming Our Singapore Travel Documentary

The Journey: London Lights to Singapore Sights

Despite the early alarm clock, Dan, Sam and I were full of energy and excitement as we boarded our 13-hour direct flight from London Heathrow to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. With spacious seats, soft blankets, proper pillows and an entertainment line-up that made the hours fly by, I couldn’t fault the journey. I ended up watching Conclave, which turned out to be the perfect long-haul pick. After a tasty stir-fry dinner (and more snacks than I care to admit), we landed feeling well-fed, surprisingly rested and fully in travel mode.

Flying over Singapore in the early hours is a moment that’s stayed with me. The city sparkled below – a sea of lights, ships dotted neatly across the water and that iconic skyline slowly coming into view. As we touched down at Changi Airport, the cool burst of air-conditioning was a welcome relief against the tropical humidity that hit us the second we stepped off the plane. Before long, we were in a taxi heading towards our hotel on Orchard Road. Watching the sun rise over the city from the taxi window, with the Singapore Flyer in the distance and Marina Bay Sands catching the morning light, it felt like the perfect introduction to the Lion City.

Day 1: Singapore Slings, Skyline Shots & Midnight Streets

After a quick hotel check-in, bag drop and freshen-up, we met our wonderful local guide, Josephine. Born and raised in Singapore, Josephine was a bakery owner-turned-tour guide, and she instantly won us over with her warmth, energy and infectious love for her city. She gave us a real taste of the kindness and generosity that seems to run through Singapore as a whole.

Our first filming location was the iconic Raffles Hotel, where we were booked in for a Singapore Sling masterclass. I’d heard so much about the hotel’s colonial charm and rich history but seeing it in person was something else – elegant, serene and timeless. We took a stroll through the beautiful grounds before heading to the Long Bar (before it opened to the public) to capture one of Singapore’s most celebrated traditions on camera.

The masterclass was a joy – part history lesson, part performance, with a good dash of sleep-deprived humour from Sam, who even tried his hand at bartending! Thankfully, the pros were on hand to guide us, showing us how the famous cocktail is made with effortless flair. Naturally, I had to try the finished product. It was refreshing, fruity and a little spicy, it reminded me of Christmas. Sitting there, sipping a Sling in the very place it was invented, was a real pinch-me moment. And yes, we joined in the quirky tradition of tossing peanut shells on the floor – slightly rebellious, completely encouraged and a brilliant way to end our first shoot.

FUN FACT: We discovered that Raffles has its very own bespoke gin, Raffles 1915, created in partnership with Sipsmith to commemorate the cocktail’s 100th anniversary!

From there, we headed straight to Marina Bay to film our opening shot. We knew we wanted that iconic skyline – especially Marina Bay Sands – as our backdrop. It’s instantly recognisable and a true architectural marvel. At that point, the heat was really kicking in, so the gentle spray from the Merlion statue was surprisingly pleasant and made for some fun photo ops too. The area was buzzing, and I felt a genuine love for the city as I watched locals and tourists alike lining up for a selfie with the famous statue.

A quick lunch stop followed at New Ubin in Chijmes, where we met the owner and learned all about Singapore’s diverse, ever-evolving food scene. Energised and full of delicious local dishes, we set off for our next filming location: the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

As our first proper glimpse of Singapore’s green spaces, we were excited – and it did not disappoint. The lush greenery set against the backdrop of towering buildings felt surreal. Inside the gardens, the National Orchid Garden was a personal highlight. As an orchid lover, I was blown away by the variety on display. That said, I found myself doing a lot of “shade-bathing” as the humidity was pretty intense – perfect for orchids, slightly less so for producers lugging equipment! We even had the chance to peek inside a Michelin-starred restaurant tucked right in the rainforest. Watching the chefs in action, so focused and passionate, was a real privilege – and left me absolutely starving. Just as well, because next on our list was dinner at the legendary Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat.

I’d done plenty of research on this place and still couldn’t quite picture it – a street of satay stalls nestled between skyscrapers. But when we arrived, it was even more atmospheric than I imagined. Satay Street is exactly what it sounds like: stall after stall grilling skewers of meat and seafood over open flames, served with sticky peanut sauce. Josephine, thankfully, knew exactly which stall to head for. The food was incredible and we washed it down with an ice-cold pint of Tiger beer, served to us by one of the friendly “beer aunties” – a nickname Josephine explained is affectionately used for the women who serve drinks at the tables. I loved that.

We wrapped up the night with a quiet drink at Lantern Bar, overlooking the glowing city skyline. Despite the exhaustion, I took a moment to soak it all in. It was the perfect end to an unforgettable first day in Singapore.

Day 2: Sentosa Shenanigans & Geylang After Dark

We kicked off Day 2 in Sentosa, Singapore’s island playground, just a stone’s throw from the mainland. We took a quick taxi over, but there’s also a scenic monorail and even a cable car if you’re feeling adventurous (or want a great view!)

First up: a speedboat tour around Singapore’s Southern Islands, departing from Sentosa Cove marina. With the wind in our hair and cameras rolling, we even got up close to an AIDA cruise ship docked in port! It was fast, brilliant fun and offered a whole new perspective of Singapore from the water. Our videographer definitely had his work cut out for him though – despite the stabilising gimbal, trying to film while bouncing across the waves became quite the challenge.

The rest of our morning was all about mixing thrills with chill. Sentosa really delivered – from the Skyline Luge to HyperDrive and a quick breather at Palawan Beach, we darted from activity to activity. Filming the luge was especially fun; I strapped my phone to my chest to try and get a POV shot of Dan and Sam zooming past me. Miraculously, no broken phones or bones – though as three very tall humans, our knees had something to say by the end of it!

After a tasty lunch at the picture-perfect +Twelve Beach Club (definitely one for the Instagram feed), we squeezed in a whirlwind visit to Universal Studios Singapore. It’s the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia!

That evening, we shifted gears entirely with a Night Food Tour through the Geylang district, led by the incredible Su, our guide for the night. Geylang comes alive after dark – it’s buzzing with locals and absolutely bursting with flavour. One of the big moments from the tour: trying durian. Known as the world’s smelliest fruit, I’d earmarked it early on as a must-capture-on-camera moment. To my surprise, Dan enjoyed it – meanwhile, Sam and I... not so much. It’s one of those love-it-or-hate-it foods (a bit like Marmite!), but I’m glad we tried it.

We wrapped up the tour with dinner at Penang Seafood, a lively local spot famed for their showstopping Volcano Chicken – a whole chicken flambéed at your table! Let’s just say, I came dangerously close to losing my eyebrows, but the smoky flavour made it totally worth it.

FUN FACT: Geylang is surprisingly great for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. We spotted loads of eateries along the way that cater to different dietary needs, which was fantastic to see on a night tour so full of variety!

To end the night, we popped into Mama Diam, a hidden speakeasy disguised as a nostalgic old-school sweet shop. We filmed this entire segment on my iPhone to avoid disturbing the relaxed, cosy vibe. Everything about it was just right, the cocktails were playful and creative, the soundtrack was perfect and the staff uniforms (quirky graphic tees) were so fun that I ended up buying one as a souvenir.

Day 3: Culture, Colour & Cloud Forests

We started our final full day in Singapore with a visit to Chinatown, where we set out to capture the community spirit and rich visual texture of the district. The streets were a kaleidoscope of colour – vibrant hanging lanterns overhead, traditional shophouses lining the roads and bold murals tucked into narrow alleys. It was such a lively yet grounded part of the city, full of heritage and heart.

We popped into a few traditional medicine shops, and I picked up a tin of Tiger Balm – not exactly rare, but there was something special about buying it here! The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple was especially striking, and Josephine, gave us insight into how the Chinese community first settled here and how the area has evolved over time. Her storytelling really brought the place to life.

Next up: breakfast. We stopped at Ya Kun Kaya Toast, a classic Singaporean breakfast stop. A simple combo of kaya toast (toasted bread with sweet coconut jam), soft-boiled eggs with a dash of soy sauce and strong kopi (local-style coffee) was just what we needed.

Then came one of the most playful segments of the trip: our “Race Across Singapore” transport challenge. The idea was simple – split up and see who could get from Chinatown to Little India fastest using different forms of transport. Dan grabbed a taxi, Sam took the MRT, and I tagged along with Sam to film a second angle on my phone. (Spoiler: the MRT won!) It was a fun way to highlight just how efficient and easy it is to get around the city and added a bit of healthy rivalry to the day.

Arriving in Little India was like stepping into another world entirely. The district is a feast for the senses, colourful shophouses, the scent of incense and spice in the air. At one point, Sam and I were even asked for a photo by some friendly locals – it felt like a lovely exchange, a reminder of how open and welcoming this community really is. We explored the bustling Tekka Centre, where fresh produce, fabric stalls and food vendors are packed under one roof. We also filmed a segment at the iconic Muthu’s Curry, known for its fiery and flavourful fish head curry!

After a quick hotel refresh, we headed off to one of the most cinematic spots of the entire trip: Gardens by the Bay. While we placed this footage in Day 1 for the final documentary (the magic of editing!), this visit actually took place on Day 3 – and included a special stop at Marguerite, the on-site Michelin-starred restaurant.

We filmed inside Marguerite just before evening service, and had the chance to chat with Chef Patron, Michael, who shared the restaurant’s vision and passion for seasonal, nature-inspired fine dining. Watching him plate up some of their signature dishes felt like a behind-the-scenes look at Saturday Kitchen Live. He also mentioned that anyone dining at Marguerite gets complimentary access to the Flower Dome, which I thought was such a thoughtful touch.

From there, we explored the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest – two of the most visually stunning places we’d visited. The Flower Dome showcased incredible blooms from across the globe, all arranged in beautiful, walkable displays but the Cloud Forest was the real showstopper. We stepped into swirling mist, towering greenery and the roar of the indoor waterfall, it’s the kind of place that makes you stop, take a deep breath and be present.

As evening fell, we made our way up to the OCBC Skyway, perched among the famous Supertree Grove, to catch the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show. That moment, standing high above the ground, surrounded by glowing trees while music pulsed through the gardens, was unexpectedly emotional.

To round off our final night, we headed to LeVeL33 for dinner and drinks, the world’s highest urban microbrewery – 33 floors above Marina Bay. The view was spectacular, the skyline glittering below, boats drifting in the distance and the glow of the city wrapping around the bay. We clinked glasses and looked out over the city we’d grown to love in just a few whirlwind days!

Day 4: Sidecars, Street Markets & a Jewel of an Ending

Our final day in Singapore kicked off in serious style – with a vintage Vespa sidecar tour through Kampong Gelam and the Civic District. Technically, this appears earlier in the final cut of the documentary (a little movie magic for pacing), but in real life, it was the perfect way to start our last morning.

There’s something special about seeing a city from the seat of a vintage sidecar, wind in your face and cameras rolling. Riding through Singapore’s historic streets gave us a completely different perspective, especially as we passed colourful shophouses, intricate mosques and colonial-era buildings. Haji Lane was good fun, as tourists and locals on this narrow lane popped out of shops and cafés for a selfie with us!

Next up was a stop at two of the city’s most beautiful heritage sites – National Gallery Singapore and CHIJMES. These former colonial buildings have been lovingly restored and reimagined, blending old and new in such a thoughtful way. The National Gallery, once Singapore’s Supreme Court and City Hall, now houses Southeast Asia’s largest public collection of modern art. Meanwhile, CHIJMES was a former Catholic convent, transformed into a vibrant dining and lifestyle hub. 

Then, it was time for our final taste of Singapore, through its vibrant hawker culture, with a $20 SGD Food Challenge at Lau Pa Sat. With Josephine’s help and some friendly rivalry, Dan and Sam set out to see how much delicious hawker food they could get for about £10. Korean ramen, fried carrot cake, chicken rice, iced tea – it was amazing how far your money went here. A fun way to wrap up filming and a perfect nod to Singapore’s unbeatable street food scene.

After picking up our bags from the hotel, we made our way to Jewel Changi – because in Singapore, even the airport was an experience worth capturing on camera. We saved our final piece-to-camera for in front of the Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. As it sparkled behind Dan and Sam, we filmed our closing shot, still riding the high of the trip even as it came to an end. We finished with a quick chat about their favourite moments and top tips – a lovely chance to reflect on everything we’d seen and done in just a few days. We parted ways with Josephine, and the team began to scatter.

My flight back to Newcastle via Dubai was a little later than Dan and Sam’s, so I had a bit of solo time to soak it all in. I wandered through Jewel, picked up a few last souvenirs and treated myself to one final Tiger beer. It was the perfect quiet moment to reflect – tired but happy, a little sad to leave, but full of gratitude for everything we’d experienced. Singapore had given us a warm welcome, a full belly and a suitcase full of memories.