⚲ Singapore
I’m so glad I decided to stop off in Singapore. It had been on my bucket list to go to Gardens by the Bay because I was fascinated by the “Supertrees”. I also knew it was an impressive city, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t know too much about it before going. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring it and learning all about it.
By the time I got to my hostel after landing, it was quite late and I was quite exhausted. I had a slightly bizarre check-in experience where I basically had to enter my details on a touch screen, scan my passport, and take a photo; it then printed my room card for me. No concierge, no human, just a machine – we really are living in the future! I then picked up a quick dinner from a shop next door, bypassing a durian stand (the smelliest fruit, with the sweetest taste!). I then ate, and headed to bed, excited for my Singapore adventure to begin.
The next morning, just as I was leaving the hostel, I ran into an actual human who worked there (I know, crazy right!) who gave me some useful tips about what to do while I was here. Some of them were things I wouldn’t necessarily have considered, so I was very grateful.
I started off in Chinatown, wandering around and soaking in the buzz from the markets and the fascinating street art. A lot of the street art seemed to illustrate the history of Singapore, which I thought was really beautiful. I also, as much as possible, tried to stay in the shade because it was HOT! Anyone who knows me knows I am essentially a solar panel and love to soak up the sun’s rays, but in Singapore, it was so hot and humid I was beginning to think I might melt!
But humidity aside, my favourite part was that within maybe 200 metres there was a Chinese temple, a Hindu temple, and a mosque. It just seemed so beautiful that so many cultures and religions coexist in such close proximity. Apparently multiculturalism and tolerance are woven into the country’s fabric, and it was really beautiful to see it in action. I went inside the Chinese temple, but not the other two as prayer services were happening at the time and I didn’t want to encroach.
After a long exploratory walk through the Chinatown District and a visit inside the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Chinese temple), I went for lunch in one of the local restaurants and had something called Mapo Tofu. The waitress was very lovely and, guessing correctly that I was a tourist, asked if I was okay with spicy food. I think in the back of my mind was a video I had seen where restaurants tone down spice levels for tourists, so I said I was. Whether they did or didn’t tone it down, the spice level was perfect and the food was absolutely delicious! What was quite entertaining to me was that I could see the American couple next to me looking over out of the corner of their eye, watching with confusion as I ate my tofu and chillies with chopsticks while they ate something that was essentially chips and egg fried rice with their cutlery.
After lunch, I made my way to the Botanical Gardens and spent pretty much the rest of the day exploring. I probably spent a good three or four hours there. I also thought staying vertical and in motion would help with the jet lag! Within the gardens were lots of mini gardens, and the first one I went to was called the Healing Garden, which seemed apt; although rather than emotional healing, it was all plants that can be used in medicinal ways, which was really fascinating. I then went on to the orchid garden. One of Mum’s favourite flowers was orchids, and she had a great skill at keeping them alive, or even nursing them back to health (clearly she was a very talented and multifaceted doctor!). The orchids were truly beautiful and there were so, so many of them! I must have taken about 100 pictures, some of which you can find on my gallery page. I haven’t uploaded them all because no one needs to see that many pictures of orchids, but if you do, hit me up when I am back.
By this point, I had pretty much been walking since leaving the hostel, and my feet were starting to feel it. So I headed back to freshen up and had a short rest before heading out for dinner. After much deliberation, I ended up going to Lau Pa Sat, which is a hawker (food vendor) centre inside a historic Victorian cast-iron building. There was an incredible atmosphere inside, with tourists, locals, and vendors buzzing around the place. I had a wonderfully fragrant mushroom masala and a mango lassi. I spent a bit of time exploring the food hall and soaking in the buzz, before jet lag hit and I headed back to the hostel for some much needed shut-eye.
It was a very busy and full day, but also an amazing one!
More updates coming soon.
Much Love,
Sara 💛
Song of the day: As Long as You Love Me, Backstreet Boys. Not quite what l was expecting from Singapore, but for some reason every shop that I went into seems to be playing the Backstreet Boys! They clearly love their 90s and 00s hits!
Baggage Claim 