Singapore’s Changi Airport is astounding. An adventure in itself. After a very early morning and the 8-hour flight from Sydney, we were happy to have an overnight stop before continuing on to Paris.

I love the mini-quests that go along with travel. Getting off the plane and navigating the 4-terminal, multi-story, Skytrain-linked maze of Singapore Airport proved to be a worthy introductory challenge before the boss rounds that lay ahead.

With our luggage en route (hopefully) to Charles De Gaulle, our exhausted bodies were burdened only by our day packs. Within hours, we had explored Singapore’s Terminal 3 butterfly garden; were thrilled when the Skytrain slowed through Jewel at Changi Airport’s spectacular “rain vortex” falling from the glass-domed ceiling; and had dropped our packs at the futuristic pink-lit Yotel just outside the airport.

Jewel at Changi Airport feels like a lush, overgrown slice of Earth manufactured on another planet. The gardens, the torrent of water, hourly light and sound shows, and the multitude of international stores are beyond any shopping experience in Australia.

No wonder the airport has picked up the “World’s Best Airport” award for 12 years running!