When news of the Germany-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) first unveiled, we were cautiously optimistic. While we took the chance to make our bookings almost immediately — after noting that the prices of air tickets were not bumped up to a ridiculous amount — we didn't make any solid plans or bookings until one week before our trip, when we were more confident that the holiday could actually happen. After all, the Hong Kong travel bubble was cancelled twice.

Travelling in the post-pandemic era was an inconceivable idea, and we were well-aware that the VTL could shut off anytime.

Instead of the worst that we feared, more VTLs opened up a month after we made our flight bookings. Instead of only Germany, we now had a myriad of European cities we could pick from!

Our first stop: Paris.

Not because it's the city of love or that we miss the smell of dried urine that hits your nostrils hard (seriously, there's no nicer way to describe this), but because the last time I was in Paris, I was on such a tight budget that I couldn't bear forking out €2 for a macaron.

This time, we're back for me to amend my mistakes!

The moment I arrived at the airport, I fell right out of my Grab car and onto my knees while alighting because I tripped on the kerb FML. the driver apologised frantically abut not stopping closer to the kerb but I assured him that it wasn't him, it's me. How can it be a YT story if I don't fall or hurt myself through clownish ways?

Fearing the long lines and checks, we reached the airport extremely early. But Changi Airport's efficiency never fails to impress — after checking through our travel documents (mainly passport and air tickets), we were free to go!

Walking into the departure hall after almost two years felt surreal, considering most of Asia is still closed off to the world at that point in time. 

Since we were still early, we entered SAT Premier Lounge at Terminal 3.

Wearing a beanie because my hairdresser cut my fringe two inches too short (no, I'm not exaggerating).

I already brushed my teeth before I left my house so I restricted myself to plan water while my fiancé grabbed a can of coke.

Soon, it was time for boarding. We made a beeline for the security, which was crowded as crowded as pre-Covid times. Social distancing was still observed at this point, but would soon fly out of the window as we were cramped shoulder-to-shoulder on the plane.

I had a master plan to follow European time upon boarding in order to combat jet lag, which worked perfectly the last time I was in Europe. Alas, although I face chronic insomnia in Singapore, being on a flight made me sleep like a baby, even in economy where everyone struggled with the lack of legroom. I zonked out entirely and fiancé had to nudge me several times before I woke up; at home, I usually wake up with the slightest movement LOL.

Most of the flight was uneventful. We had two meals — supper and breakfast — and I caught a sunrise!

We had made the colossal mistake of dilly-dallying and assuming that every airport is as efficient as Changi Airport.

Multiple flights were arriving at CDG at the same time, and the precious few minutes we spent in the toilet left us at the back of the snaking queue, putting us back by at least an hour *claws face*

We stood in the line for two hours before we caught a glimpse of the immigration situation: only two public counters were opened to cater to hundreds of visitors from multiple flights °(ಗдಗ。)° WHYYYY

When it was finally our turn, the immigration officer neither checked our vaccination status (a requirement to enter France without quarantine) nor requested for us to remove our masks to check our passport photo.

I was limping by the time we cleared immigration LOL. 

And that's the end of Day 0! Reviving my dead blog again to journal down this epic holiday, though admittedly I'm unsure how long this mojo will last *cues dry laughter*