Russian TikToker, 29, plans & pays for grandad’s trip to S'pore as it was his lifelong dream to visit

It was his first time overseas.

Gawain Pek | March 06, 2023, 05:10 PM

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At 82, one grandad's lifelong dream of seeing the world came true thanks to the help of his granddaughter.

With her "adult money", TikToker @sophielyuik flew her grandad and mother out from Russia to Singapore for the trip of lifetime.

One happy camper

In a video posted to TikTok on Tuesday (Feb. 28), Sophie Lyuik, 29, documented the elation her grandad experienced on the dream trip.

The highlight was watching grandad's reactions as he travelled around Singapore.

The trip started with a warm embrace between Lyuik and her grandfather at Singapore's Changi Airport.

Gif via @sophielyuik/TikTok.

In front of the iconic Marina Bay Sands, grandad appeared in awe:

Gif via @sophielyuik/TikTok.

At the S.E.A Aquarium, grandad was bedazzled:

Screenshot via @sophielyuik/TikTok.

Screenshot via @sophielyuik/TikTok.

At the Singapore Zoo, grandad appeared pleased to make the acquaintance of a lemur:

Screenshot via @sophielyuik/TikTok.

Most adorable of all are the interactions between grandad and a couple of service robots:

Gif via @sophielyuik/TikTok.

Tour de Singapore ended off with a cruise to Malaysia, where grandad stood at the foot of the iconic Petronas Towers. Watch his endearing and priceless reactions in full:

@sophielyuik Singapore ✅ Cruise ✅ Robots ✅ Zoo ✅ #grandfather #grandad ♬ space song - favsoundds

Life got in the way

Speaking to Mothership, Lyuik shared that her grandad had never been abroad in his 82 years of life.

Grandad hails from Ukraine, but currently lives in Russia, where Lyuik lived as well before moving to Malaysia and eventually, Singapore several years ago.

"He is a fan of history and reads a lot", Lyuik said.

According to the TikToker, visiting Singapore was grandad's "specific dream", especially after she moved here.

However, life "developed in such a way" that he was never able to travel overseas.

Grandad had to take care of his wife, Lyuik told Mothership, but when grandma passed on, the elderly man had more time on his hands.

Lyuik then helped grandad prepare his travel documents some time around the beginning of 2020.

Unfortunately, the trip did not materialise after (you guessed it) the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.

"We had to wait for a long three years to make everything happen", Lyuik lamented.

When grandad learned that the trip was finally going to happen, he was "speechless".

According to Lyuik, grandad then took earnest efforts to prepare himself for the trip, including doing morning warm-ups to prepare for long walks.

He also practiced eating with chopsticks, and made flashcards with English words to pick up the basics of the language, as well as read up on Singapore's history.

Grandad's top picks

Lyuik's family spent a total of three weeks in Singapore before heading off to Kuala Lumpur on a cruise, which was also on grandad's bucket list.

Here are the attractions that impressed grandad the most, according to Lyuik: the Singapore Zoo, Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay (Avatar exhibition an added bonus), S.E.A. Aquarium, Marina Bay, CapitaSpring's Sky Garden, and Jewel@Changi.

Grandad was also impressed by local foods like Old Chang Kee and "egg yolk sauce everything", Lyuik shared.

In total, the TikToker spent about S$4,200 on air and cruise tickets as well as attraction tickets for both her grandad and mother.

When asked how the idea for the dream trip came about, Lyuik said that her grandad had brought her much joy during her childhood.

So, she wanted to "do something in return".

While money can be earned again, watching her grandad "living his dream, waving to robots and happy as a child" was hard to come by in comparison.

For Lyuik, "every cent was worth it".

@mothershipsg He was also impressed by the local foods like Old Chang Kee #tiktoksg #sgnews ♬ Walls - Juan Miguel Severo

Top image via @sophielyuik/TikTok