I lived inside an airport for a whole week - here's what shocked me the most
Maddy Macrae, 32, spent an extra-long 'layover' in Changi Airport, Singapore, and has shared her experience
The Aussie stayed at Crowne Plaza, which can be found inside Terminal 3, and spent her days exploring the huge airport.
'I just touched down in Changi Airport to start my week-long layover and this is the most insane airport,' Maddy gushed in a vi deo on TikTok, where she posts as @maddy_macrae_.
In the video, she pays a visit to the HSBC Rain Vortex inside the Jewel complex of the airport, an impressive 40 metres of cascading water.
'My first stop was the Jewel to see the waterfall – absolutely breathtaking. It's also a huge mall so I had a quick walk through before grabbing a milk tea and hopping on a skytrain to get to my hotel,' she adds.
The content creator even had access to a swimming pool from her airport hotel, complete with palm trees and sun loungers.
'The pool is right next to my room and this is just insane it's here for a layover,' Maddy comments.
Maddy made time for a couple of cocktails and checked out the departure board artwork.
'And then I made some new friends in a game of griddy grid,' she says, alongside footage of her playing a giant, interactive game.
'I checked out this cool orchid display for Singapore's 60th anniversary,' Maddy adds.
She opened up about her experience to news.com.au and revealed she was shocked to learn there were outside tours offered by the airport for free.
Maddy explained: 'I did do a free tour which took me to the river and Marina Bay.
'It's actually available to people who haven't even cleared immigration. You can be on the airport side and have a long layover and go on this free tour.'
Tourists with long layovers were able to do the trips.
She said: 'If you're in the arrival side and haven't come through you can still do it.'
But the strangest thing Maddy noticed was how it felt like 'time doesn't exist'.
'The phenomenon around airport limbo exists even when you live there,' she said.
The content creator described how 'time is a construct' in the airport and it's perfectly acceptable to enjoy a cocktail at 7am.
Maddy explained the stay was a 'social experiment' and revealed she spent $50 a day whilst in the airport.
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