Anyway.
Sngapore. I really love it. Here are the reasons.
It's not too expensive.
It's easy to get around and transport is inexpensive.
It's very clean (except for the smokers).
Everybody speaks English.
There are probably over 100 malls. There are 38 on one street!
You can getnany food you like.
So basically, and don't get me wrong, I love Indonesia, but this trip to Singapore was really a trip to somewhere that is very much not Halmahera. Which is exactly what I wasn needing!
This place is one of of my favourites so far. Maybe it's a case of right place right time, or maybe it's all of the above points, but I've been to a few cities in Europe that wouldn't compare to Singapore. The train system is excellent for starters. The longest I have had to wait for a train here is 4 minutes. At night, day, weekend, any time. You never have to run for a train, or plan your day around timetables. It's unbelioevably convenient. And while we're on convenient - I was at a church here with 20,000 members, of which there were probably 8,000 in attendanc that morning. For communion, they have prepackaged biscuits sealed in on top of the juice cup. You get one on the way in to the church. Bam. Communion to 8,000 people in one hit. Faaantastic!
Part of China Town where I was staying. (Looks a lot prettier at night with the lanterns on, but photos turn out rubbish.)
Like I said, night photos don't turn out so great, but this is China Town and my hostel is immediately on the left behind the shops.
One of the shops under my hostel - souvenirs galore!!
There are an infinite number of reasons for the names of these biscuits... I was just happy to see them on the shelf next to each other.
Bam. Biscuit and juice in one clean package!
I think the other factastic thing about Singapore is that my old high school friend, Ellen, and her husband, Agung, live there with their 3 year old son, Dylan. So, instead of visiting some of the supposed attractions for tourists, I spent a lot of time hanging out with them and they spoiled me rotten! Every meal was a delicious experience and the company was great! I always said I hated traveling alone - and that was before I had even tried it! But now I knew it. I would seriously prefer hanging out with a friend over seeing some sights in a country on my own. I went down for a walk to the river front to see this famous 'merlion' ( for those who don't know - this is a lion with a mermaid tail.) Yeah, ok. It was pretty, with a the lights on and the pretty bridge etc, but I had no one to share it with. I took a couple of photos, but they're not really like the real thing. So after the cursory photos, I turned around and came back. Because there's no point hanging out somewhere out of tourist obligation - I'm much too old to be worrying about that sort of thing! All of that story was to inform you all that I have learned some interesting things about myself!
The night lights on the river - Singapore really shines at night (pun most definitely intended!)
Singapore's pride and joy, the Merlion (and for those of you who don't get it, it's a lion crossed with a mer-tail...) I suppose every country needs its Uluru...
Out for dinner with eyes glinting at the impending meal!
Ok, so I don't remember feeling this starved but I guess the camera captured my hidden emotions... Mmm real food!!!
Me, Ellen and Agung out to dinner (thanks guys!!)
At Christmas time the fairy lights are out all over the show. This was one set all along the entrance to one of the malls. (Once again, the photo doesn't do it justice...)
Something else I am impressed with here is how friendly all the people are. And not only the ones trying to sell you something! I've asked many a person for directions and even if they don't know, they try and point me to someone who does know. One night I was out and asked for help and this lady didn't know and said I should ask this teenager who was walking along. He had earphones in so I didn't expect much, but to my surprise he took his headphones out, put them in his pocket, told me he was meeting friends on the way and would walk me half way. And that's not all, he even made intelligent conversation along the way! I was very impressed and decided my kids are doing high school in Singapore!!
If you like natural beauty, impressive landscapes, detailed and eventful history, old architecture and a bit left of centre - then don't come to Singapore - you will be disappointed. But for a break from all of the above things and the added convenience of no flies or mosquitoes - then book a flight to Singapore. I feel fully refreshed, rejuvenated, revitalised and any other awesome re- word you can think of and will leave this place knowing and experiencing that I don't need to be in a stressful situation, or on a mission or anything more than usual to hear from God, to refocus, to redirect and go back to my place of calling knowing I'm safe in God's hands. This trip has turned out to be so much more than just renewing my visa.
Aimee
At this stage I decided that if durians weren't allowed on the trains, then they definitely weren't allowed in my stomach. Needless to say I have tasted durian, and don't feel the need to do so again. It kinda tastes like fermented onions. And I didn't even eat the flesh - I just licked it... Sorry all you durian lovers - it's just not going to happen!!
My funky, cozy hostel. To be honest, the colours were a little bit much, but it was a good location with a good feel!
Dried bananas? I don't understand who could want one of these - unless you were blind...
A taste of home. It's always cool when you find local products in a foreign country!!
You wouldn't believe my surprise to see that my Mum had met me on one of the trains! Oh the joys of camera phones! She didn't suspect a thing!!
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