Singapore, a transit before new fantastic adventures.
Since I rarely go back to places I have visited before, Singapore is an exception, firstly, because it is a convenient place to fly into, especially on this trip, where Malaysia and Indonesia were the main destinations. Even though many think Singapore is boring and not a real country, I still think it has its charm. Yes, the city is all very new and flashy—hundreds of shopping centres, and the cleanest place you can find in Asia. But it also has its Chinatown, the Emerald Heights, and the charming old houses along the Singapore River.
A good sign
I have a theory that if the start of a trip is a bit strugglesome, it can only be getting better. When you arrive in a new city at 5:30 in the morning, having had little sleep, you can easily get frustrated. It started with the fact that my already bought eSIM card would not connect, so I was without internet. Next, I had purchased a tourist travel card in advance for my stay in Singapore. This company had forgotten to send me a QR code, and without wifi, I could not get in touch with them. Because of this, I had to wait at the Airport until their office opened at eight o’clock. In moments like this, I think it can only get better.
Big contrasts
It all worked out in the end, and on the underground into the city centre, my eSIM also started to work, so now I was ready for Singapore, and the following six weeks of travelling in Malaysia and Indonesia. I had one more thing to sort out before I felt I could go and re-explore Singapore, and that was to find out why I had not received my bus ticket for Malacca in a few days. When I had sorted that out, I was ready for anything. As you can see in the picture above, Singapore is full of contrasts. Here you can see the Elgin Bridge from 1925. The bell tower of Victoria Theatre a concert hall from 1902. And last, but not least, the Marina Bay Sands, the new landmark of Singapore since 2010.
Finding new spots
As I have stated before, I visited Singapore in 2022. That time, I visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and I had a bike ride on Palau Ubin. I also went to watch the Lightshow at Gardens by the Bay. Therefore, I wanted to see some other things this time. I had heard about Sentosa and the theme parks out there. So I wanted to give it a go. I got a friend from my previous trip here to join me for the day. What can I say, no doubt that families are the main target here, and here you are supposed to spend money. But there were some lovely beaches out there, a free shuttle bus, and a beautiful three-top walk.
Strolling the streets
I was only going to stay in Singapore for two nights before starting my “real holiday” and new experiences. Therefore, I found myself wandering around in the streets in the early evenings, and just feeling the vibes. I have read some about Singapore and its politics. They say they are a democracy, and in one way they are, but it has been the same party ruling for years, and the opposition gets far fewer seats in the government than their votes should count for. And, I do not think you will find any signs in the Western world that state that caning is a way of punishment.
60th anniversary
At first glance, Singapore looks like it is well functional, and it has to be said, not all the countries in Asia can show the same. Of course, you should scratch just a little bit under the surface, and see that all the immigrant workers here are underpaid, and live in not-too-nice conditions. Also, since the Mainland and Malaysia are pretty close, many commute back and forth every day. Singapore became independent in 1965, so they are celebrating their 60th anniversary this summer, so I guess a “Happy anniversary” is in its place.
After this short time in Singapore, I was ready for the bus to Malaysia and Malacca. And later on to Indonesia, so all this will follow in upcoming posts.
