GIRLS’ GETAWAY
Take a trip around Asia with your girl friends
BY AGNES AUI
Rejoice ladies! In conjunction with International Women’s Day, there’s truly no better month to plan a girls’ trip than right now. If you’re looking for places with fun activities and are safe for girls, fret not as we’ve compiled five countries around Asia – and just maybe, you’ll find yourself in one of them for your next all-girls getaway:
#1 TOKYO, JAPAN
Savour some authentic Japanese cuisine in Tokyo from sushi and ramen to tamago and matcha, as it’s a city worth visiting for food hunting fanatics. But don’t worry as there are also fun activities to enjoy in Tokyo like visiting the eccentric hot springs, Sensoji Temple (Tokyo’s oldest temple), admiring digital art at MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM—teamLab Borderless, getting lost in Shibuya Crossing and more. Just make sure to hunt down and bring home a packet of the famous Tokyo matcha powder.
#2 SINGAPORE
Just an hour’s flight away is a place that may feel just like home yet is different in many ways. When visiting Singapore, take time to explore the country and appreciate its technological advancements. Apart from Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, you and your girls can also wander off to Joo Chiat for colourful and photo-worthy Peranakan shophouses, hike at MacRitchie Reservoir or stare in awe at street art in Haji Lane.
#3 BANGKOK, THAILAND
One for the party-goers, Bangkok is the place to go for bar-hopping at night. From underground scenes and swanky bars to rooftop speakeasys and cocktail joints, the only advice we have is to ditch the heels and opt for sneakers as you appreciate the fast-paced city. If you have a little time to spare before your night out, take a trip to Bangkok night markets where you can savour popular street food.
#4 PULAU SIPADAN, MALAYSIA
Dubbed as ‘the dive mecca’ and rated as one of the top diving destinations in the world, Pulau Sipadan is the perfect spot for you and your girl diver friends. The oceanic island is not only known for its vast marine life but its quirky and unique turtle tomb – an underwater limestone cave of narrow tunnels and chambers containing the remains of green sea turtles that were trapped and had drowned. Not for the faint of heart, the turtle tomb is an experience worth sharing with your girls.
#5 BALI, INDONESIA
It’s no surprise that almost everyone’s aware of the Bali curse by now, but the good thing about it is that the curse does not affect an all-girls trip. So, pack your bags and indulge in everything Bali has to offer – sandy white beaches, architectural temples, sky blue seas and more. You can even café-hop as Bali is now home to some aesthetically pleasing food havens like Sea Circus, Kynd Community, The Loft and Watercress.