Tourist wakes up extra early to visit Jewel at 8am -- only to be sorely disappointed
A traveller was left stunned when she discovered an unexpected reality about Jewel Changi Airport.
Jessica Jayne Turner, who has been travelling the world with her partner Jasper after selling their house and quitting their jobs, had high expectations when they arrived in Singapore.
The couple, who have spent the last few years exploring Europe and Asia, planned a short stop in Singapore after five weeks in Thailand.
Eager to experience Changi Airport's world-famous attractions, Jessica made sure to arrive at Jewel, the airport's retail and entertainment complex, early before their next flight.
However, in a TikTok video, she shared her surprise: "When was someone gonna tell me that the famous waterfall at the Singapore airport isn't on 24/7?"
Jessica said she had been looking forward to seeing the HSBC Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, but was disappointed to find it switched off.
She later learned that the waterfall, which stands over seven stories tall, only operates from 11am to 10pm from Monday to Thursday. It starts at 10am from Friday to Sunday and public holidays.
"We checked in our bags and headed to Jewel, where the giant waterfall is, and then it was in this moment that I realised the waterfall isn't even on," she said.
That wasn't the only surprise. Arriving at 8am, the couple also discovered that most stores and restaurants at Jewel were not open yet.
"It felt really empty, so it was kind of creepy walking around with nothing open," Jessica said. "It sounds really dumb now, but I just assumed that everything at the airport in Singapore would be open 24 hours a day because there are so many flights coming to and from Singapore."
Fortunately, she managed to grab a meal at McDonald's, one of the few places open at the time.
Despite the unexpected closures, she was still impressed by the airport's cleanliness and design, calling it "so fancy" and "just a really nice place."
The couple then boarded their next flight, continuing their travels around the world.
