It was 9th November early morning, when we set foot on Changi International Airport, Singapore, one of the world’s best airports in the world. I was enthralled by the unique architecture, huge shiny glass façade, ambient lighting especially the breathtaking lush green gardens. One of these is a vertical garden that has a ‘Green wall' covered with climbers .It is interspersed with four cascading waterfalls (helping to regulate the internal temperature). I had to touch discreetly (actually not allowed) some of the leaves to believe that they were real. Thank God my act went unnoticed!

For a Mumbaikar staying in Santa Cruz, one gets so very accustomed to the cacophony of vehicles on the move non-stop, that the journey from the airport to the hotel appeared hushed. Well-maintained litter-free roads traversed by law- abiding drivers, no graffiti and above all, no horns honking; these sights left me contemplating whether I’d be able to catch sleep in the all pervading tranquility.

Our stay was arranged in The Galaxy Hotel situated in the heart of the trendy Robertson Quay which is perched on the bank of the Singapore River; a delightful waterfront experience. Post lunch we began our real business journey.

We visited the office of Singapore Tourism Board where we were given an overview of the education system. The government frequently refers to Singapore's population as its only natural resource and describes education in the vocabulary of resource development. The goal of the education system is to develop the talents of every individual so that each could contribute to the economy and to the ongoing struggle to make Singapore productive and competitive in the international marketplace.

We visited three local and a few other universities. In addition to local universities, many of the world's leading foreign universities have also established their presence in Singapore.

The three evenings at Singapore were an unforgettable experience. The ride on the Flyer, the world's largest observation wheel offered a breathtaking view of Marina Bay.  The exuberant display of   rare and exquisite Tropical Orchids in the National Orchid garden was a spectacular sight. The Night Safari was an awesome experience of exploring wildlife in a tropical jungle at night.