Final Blog: Singapore & the Maldives

After having looked forward to and planned this trip for four years, it is hard to imagine that our year-long adventure has come to a close. BUT, it is time to reflect on all of the amazing memories, experiences, life lessons and things we’ve learned along the way. This has truly been a remarkable year, in so so many ways. We were blessed to visit new places, arrive home safe & healthy, with amazing memories, including making shared memories with friends and family along the way, and meeting new friends. 

As we conclude our incredible 9-month journey abroad, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the highlights, memorable experiences, and travel tips we’ve collected along the way. 

But before we jump into our final reflections, first, a look back at our final two stops: Singapore and the Maldives.

After having travelled through Southeast Asia, we were able to budget our expenses quite nicely. However, Singapore was by far the most pricey destination we had visited in Southeast Asia. We spent 8 days in Singapore, and were joined by 2 friends from our home in Iqaluit. Our time in Singapore was spent enjoying the amazing city, dining in food markets & lavish rooftop restaurants and bars, sampling Raffles famous Singapore Sling, and mixing in a little hiking and outdoor time. It’s quite amazing to have friends who are willing to tackle a 20+ hour travel journey to join for 8 days of fun! 

Singapore: Small Island, Big Energy

Our time in Singapore was a mix of exploring the city, green spaces, tasty food markets, and learning about the city’s past and the people who shaped it. Singapore’s public transit system made getting around very easy —we hopped on the MRT, buses, and did plenty of walking. We stayed in Clarke Quay, a lively spot by the river that turned out to be a great base. Its proximity to a several neighborhoods like Chinatown, and right near some of the best hawker centres (which quickly became one of our favorite parts of the trip), were a highlight! 

Mat and I got there a day early, and the next day our friends Craig and Patricia joined us. Even after a long travel day, they showed up in great spirits—and we pretty much hit the ground running! First stop: Gardens by the Bay, a huge, futuristic park right by Marina Bay. We strolled through the outdoor gardens, but as dark clouds rolled in, we ducked into two of the main attractions.

The Flower Dome was up first—the world’s biggest glass greenhouse, filled with plants and flowers from all over. We got lucky and caught Tulipmania, with tulips blooming in every color you can imagine. Then we moved on to the Cloud Forest, a beautiful indoor garden, with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall! We took an elevator to the top of the garden, and began to make our way down along walkways that wrapped around a mountain of lush greenery.

One morning, we wandered through the Singapore Botanic Gardens, enjoying a break from the hustle & bustle of the city and soaked in the lush greenery and peaceful vibes. We spotted turtles sunbathing, swans gliding across the water, and early risers practicing Tai Chi under the trees. And we were fortunate to get breakfast at what’s been called one of the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world—a surprisingly scenic (and tasty) little detour.

No trip to Singapore would be complete without a few must-do sights. We crossed the stunning Helix Bridge, a DNA-inspired structure with amazing views over Marina Bay. We also stopped by the iconic Merlion statue, joining the crowds to grab the classic tourist photo with the city’s famous half-lion, half-fish mascot.

Singapore’s food scene is on another level, and the hawker centres totally stole the show. These open-air food halls are packed with stalls serving up every kind of local dish imaginable. Each centre had its own specialties—Lau Pa Sat was a highlight, especially the stretch known as Satay Street. Mat enthusiastically ordered 40 satay skewers (yes, 40), and may or may not have been full for the next two days. We also visited Maxwell Food Centre, made famous in Crazy Rich Asians, and tried dishes like the famous Carrot Cake from Lau Goh Teochew Chye Thow Kway, (which is actually radish cake) and—yes—more satay.

We also spent a day on Sentosa Island, Singapore’s man-made island escape with beaches, attractions, and even Universal Studios. We relaxed, and rented a couple of beach chairs at a seaside resort, and had some drinks by the water. It was the perfect reminder of how Singapore balances the buzz of city life with green spaces and peaceful waterfronts.

We spent a morning hiking the MacRitchie Reservoir Treetop Trail, a beautiful nature park right in the city. The park is full of winding trails that loop around a lake, through the forest, and even behind a golf course. We walked along wooden boardwalks surrounded by thick greenery—and a few bold monkeys. At one point near the start of the trail, we had to pass a group of monkeys along a raised walkway. One monkey stood its ground on the railing, baring its teeth as we approached, making that section of the walk a bit more adrenaline-pumping than we expected! The elevated canopy walk gave us amazing views over the treetops, and a nearby lookout tower offered even more stunning views of the surrounding forest and city skyline.

Later that day, we cooled off by the pool before heading to the iconic Raffles Hotel to try their famous Singapore Sling—the classic cocktail created there in 1915. The historic Long Bar had an old-world charm that made it feel like stepping back in time, and sipping the drink in its birthplace made the whole experience even more special. So did cracking the peanuts, eating them, and throwing their shells on the ground!

That evening, we had dinner at Level33, the world’s highest microbrewery, perched above the Marina Bay skyline. Our reservation was timed perfectly to watch the city’s famous light and water show, with unbeatable views of Gardens by the Bay glowing in the distance.

The next day, we all went our separate ways, catching different flights—Craig & Patricia back to Iqaluit, and Mat & I onto the Maldives.

From Singapore, we flew into the Maldives, landing in Malé—which surprised us with its unexpected built-up skyline.  After a late-night hotel check-in and some much-needed sleep, we were ready to kick off the next chapter of the trip.

Maldives

We spent some time debating where to go for our final destination. Both of us have really enjoyed the diving portions of our trip, so we agreed the best way to wrap things up was with one last diving adventure—and what better place than the Maldives? The Maldives has always been my dream beach getaway, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get here. So this was a huge bucket list check for me, and I’m so grateful we made it happen!

We flew from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a quick layover, then hopped on our next flight to the Maldives. When we landed in Malé—the bustling, surprisingly urban capital—it was late into the evening and we were quickly whisked off to our hotel. 

The next day, we took some time to explore Malé Island. Mat had been dealing with an ear infection and wanted to get it sorted before our dives, so he made a quick stop at the hospital where he picked up some ear drops—just in time to be cleared for our upcoming adventure.

Our liveaboard journey kicked off the following morning. We met the group at our meeting spot, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves before our first check dive at Fish Tank (Kandi Oiy Giri). This site used to be home to a fish factory that released fish scraps into the sea, attracting loads of marine life. Even though the factory is currently closed, there was still plenty of marine life there—moray eels, lionfish, reef sharks, a massive napoleon wrasse.

The next morning set the tone for the rest of the trip with two unforgettable dives at a site called Shark Tank. As the name suggests, things got intense fast—bull sharks, tiger sharks, rays, spinner sharks—all drawn in by a chummed-up feeding frenzy. We started the trip with two dives at this spot, and were instructed to sit on our knees at the bottom of the sea floor. As we did, tiger sharks cruised past us, rays glided in massive groups like birds in formation, and we sat there watching our backs as big sharks swam around us. 

Currents, Channels, and Coral Kingdoms

Our days unfolded in a rhythm of dive briefings, gearing up, giant strides into the blue, and post-dive chats over fresh fruit and coffee. Each site brought new underwater adventures and unique challenges:

• Kandooma Thila: A thrilling drift with reef hooks, batfish, eagle rays, and a farewell wave from a turtle.
• Miyaru Kandu: A channel dive that tested our buoyancy and air consumption. We took our fins off and “ran” across a sandy channel barefoot and found garden eels swaying with the current. Putting our fins back on to continue the dive. 
• Alimatha Jetty: A night dive like no other. Surrounded by nurse sharks in a glowing circle of flashlights, we were nudged, bumped, and awed as the gentle giants swam right over and under us.

Manta Moments

Despite some manta dives not delivering the swarms we’d hoped for, we had memorable encounters:

• Fesdhoo Lagoon (Night Dive): Sitting in a flashlight ring, mantas glided inches above us in ghostly elegance while a stingray stirred the sandy stage.
• Moofushi Block & Maavaru Bay: We saw fewer mantas than expected, but the reef life—sharks, triggerfish, and a curious octopus—kept our attention.

Wrecks, Pinnacles & Final Thrills

The Kudima Wreck offered an eerie exploration through ship corridors, while Bathala Thila brought strong currents and schools of barracuda. But our last dives were pure adrenaline.

In our final Shark Tank dive, we descended with seven 55 gallon drums of fish guts being dumped into the water, which made us feel very uncertain about our safety. As we descended and swam through tuna droppings, rays and smaller fish feasted, two tiger sharks made repeated, close passes. The guides were vigilant, and while the experience was intense, it was unforgettable.

Life Above the Surface

One night during our trip, we anchored at a local island for a special beach BBQ—and it ended up being one of the most memorable evenings of the whole liveaboard. We dined under the stars on freshly grilled local fish, toes in the sand and warm breeze in the air. The crew had even sculpted a whale shark out of sand, complete with fins and a massive tail, which made the night feel even more special. After dinner, we wandered the beach by foot. It was a beautiful evening.

After days of diving, we took a walking tour of Malé, visited local markets, and watched stingrays circle the pier. Our final night on the boat was filled with laughter, gratitude, and quiet reflection.

We ended the trip with a city day in Hulhumalé. We checked into an amazing Airbnb, got Balinese massages, and met up with Kun, a friend from the boat. Over dinner and ice cream, we shared highlights and stories from a trip we’ll never forget.

The Journey Home

Mat and I actually took separate flights home. I had booked mine using points (feeling pretty proud of that at the time), while Mat went the full-price route. The catch? My itinerary came with three layovers—each over 11 hours. Mat left 10 hours after me but still managed to arrive a full day earlier. I definitely saved money, but let’s just say I’ve learned my lesson: sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more to avoid turning your trip home into a multi-day airport tour. Direct flights > bragging rights.

Lisa & Mat’s Travel Tips/Things We’ve Learned Along the Way:

• Download the Wanderlog Travel Planner to help you keep your long term & short term travels organized. You can add people to your trip itineraries and ensure everyone is on the same page during your travels. 
• As you travel, create a file in your phone to save the names/recipes of your favourite foods while abroad. This way, when you arrive home you can try and remake them!
• If you’re travelling, look into the Wise card. It was a very good travel companion for avoiding hidden fees and getting real exchange rates while spending or withdrawing money in over 40 currencies worldwide.
• If you’re at a museum and they offer an audio option, always take it. 
• Don’t leave your debit card in the ATM machine (…twice 🙄)
• Be willing to wake up early to beat the crowds. 
• Use Uber, or similar apps whenever possible! It will save you a ton of money and headaches in negotiating prices, especially with language barriers.
• Always book the earlier flight, delays are inevitable.
• When in Egypt, be nice to people at the airport (LOL), we have witnessed many angry outbursts among passengers (who then proceeded to be let on the plane together). 
• Keep ALL food in the refrigerator, especially in tropical & warm climates. 
• Cash is still king – especially when travelling Africa – airtel / MoMo pay – ATMs won’t let you withdrawal cash
• Never trust baboons.
• Is Strava on??
• Always, always double check for your visa requirements and once you know your port of entry, OBTAIN THE VISA EARLY.
• Taxi/lyft/grab/indrive will always be cheaper than hiring a driver in person.
• Mat says: US Dolla dolla bills y’all – and preferably small bills – 5 10 20’s. I also carried a $100 USD on me just in case.
• Travel insurance: we used the World Nomads travel insurance. Never had to actually use it, but it’s way better to be safe than sorry.
• Meet with a travel nurse before your travels to bring an assortment of appropriate medicines with you. The antibiotics we had with us saved us a time or two.
• Don’t book flights until you are guaranteed to be there. For example, if you haven’t gotten your visa approved, wait!
• People live too much on their phones when at an event. Everything is recorded or dozens of pictures taken. CARPE DIEM. Live in the moment.
• Only buy packing cubes that are solid, not mesh because Beatles and ants love oats, and when the said food is in your bag with mesh packing cubes……they are also in your clothes (and you will be awake until late hours of the night removing Beatles from your bags while your partner sleeps).
• If you have a lock on your bag and it’s not being used, make sure it is not on the actual unlock code pattern.

One Incredible Year

And just like that, our year of travel comes to an end.

We visited 11 countries (Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Maldives). We took dozens of flights (26 to be exact), trains, boats, and bumpy rides. Countless meals shared, maps misread, new words learned, and sunsets watched from places we once only dreamed of. From diving with tiger sharks in the Maldives to wandering the streets of Singapore, climbing volcanoes in Indonesia, chasing waterfalls in Laos, road tripping across South Africa, safari’ing in the Serengeti and tasting everything in between—this year gave us more than we ever expected.

We didn’t just visit places. We met people, got lost (a few times), slowed down, sped up, and learned what it means to feel at home in unfamiliar corners of the world. We learned how to pack lighter (sort of), how to be more patient (mostly), and how to appreciate the little things—like a good coffee (or chai latte), clean laundry, or a familiar face on a video call.

There were challenges, of course. Travel isn’t always glamorous, and not every day felt like a postcard. But even the hard moments taught us something. And when we look back, we don’t remember the delays or the discomfort—we remember the joy, the laughter, the awe, and the sheer wonder of it all.

We’re coming home with tired feet, full hearts, and stories we’ll be telling for the rest of our lives.

Thank you for following along on our journey!

Here’s to the next adventure, whenever it comes. 🌍✈️💛