Last day

Today was my last day in Singapore. Not forever, just for now.

I've loved this place. And I don't think it's because of the place itself, but the fact that each time I've come here, I've spent really great quality time with those I love. I've had fun. I've laughed. I've smiled. I've even cried. I've forgotten about my fears and even discovered parts of myself I never thought I had. In Singapore, which I never expected. Of course, there's the breakfast with the kiddo and his cars, to die for ice-cream wafers and strolls around the city, which are pret-ty lovely.

Night Safari

The Night Safari was an absolute blast. What’s a night safari, you ask? At first I didn’t have a clue myself either. The night safari is a nocturnal zoo where you get on a tram and go around in the woods seeing animals up close in their natural habitats without any barriers between you and said animals. Yes, you hear me, without any barriers. And by animals, I mean tigers, lions, rhinos and hippos, elephants and giraffes. It was just incredible to get so close to these animals. Half the time I was thinking, ‘hey there tiger, I’m probably food to you’ and the other half, I thought, ‘wow, this is just amazing’.

Apart from the night safari, you get to immerse yourself in a wonderful animal show and the fire show. These shows, along with the night safari, run back to back the whole night, so you can alternate any way you want. The folks who do the fire show are the definition of crazy, because they make spitting fire out of your mouths so darn easy and au la natural, not to mention a tad impressive. The optimistic part of myself said, ‘gosh darn, that must be pretty bad for their health’, but the less optimistic part of myself screamed, ‘KEEP GOING.’

No doubt, one of the best experiences I’ve had here in Singapore.

Water play

What a beautiful and endearing sight.
 

Give me some food love

Because a food post is kinda mandatory when you visit a new country.

Chinatown

Although I'm not really a regular around Chinatown back home, there really is something different about Singapore's Chinatown that would pull me back time and time again. The Victorian architecture above the little shops and the hundreds of lanterns hanging against the night sky are absolutely beautiful - love the fusion of the Western and Asian influences.

Fly birdie fly

"If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?"

For me, it's always been a bird. Perhaps on spontaneous days, I might go for something like a meerkat, but it's always been a little birdie. Why? I've always been a bit envious of the fact that they can fly, and the freedom that comes with it. And you know, you don't have to go saving lives like Clark Kent, which is pretty sweet.

Went to the Jurong Bird Park today, and it was quite the experience. I loved that many of them had so much room to fly in, and it was just really refreshing to be amongst nature. You know what's the best thing though? Going with your eight year old cousin, who points in all directions and exclaim in fascination every time he sees or hears something. His eyes light up and his mouth grows into a wide smile, nudging those around him to look.

In a world where many of us have grown to be fascinated at something once and not be entranced by it the second time, it's really quite profound to have a new set of eyes with you, like the eyes of an eight year old.

Getting To Know Singapore

You'd think that on my second visit to Singapore, I can strut around the streets and go, "Yeah, I've seen this before. Yep, I know this country so much better than you tourists. Yep, I'm a know-it-all." That is not the case at all. I am still kept on my toes about this little country. Little, but boy, it's certainly brought the word organised to a whole new level.

1. Trying to find litter in Singapore is like looking for a needle in a haystack, except harder.

2. The escalators in this country are dead fast. As if normal escalators don't go fast enough.

3. Everywhere you go, it's airconditioned. Buses. Interchange stops {long gone are the days where you wait outside for a bus. They do it shopping centre style here}. Shops. Everywhere.

4. Don't even get me started on the public transport. It's so easy to get around here.

For a small country, you've got to give it to them for being so organised in accomodating its people and tourists. You start to think, 'gosh darn, they thought of everything'. Makes one happy tourist.

Sky high

Upon our arrival into Singapore, we paid a visit to Skypark at Marina Bay Sands. You know, the one with a ship sitting on top of three skyscrapers that makes one go, 'Woah, what?' but in a good way. The views from up top were just amazing. Despite belonging to the 'meh' category with man made things, I enjoyed it. The city just lights all around at 9587342341 feet high - kinda how I felt on a happy scale at the time.