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Published: September 13th 2008
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Well, I realize I'm a slacker, but who has time for these things anyway! :P So I am in Singapore now...yay...I made it out of Seoul alive and with money in the bank! Though I must say the flight was not cheap, especially when there are so many discount airlines! The cost fell somewhere around $500USD...boo. I must say the treatment on the flight was quite enjoyable though.They give you hot towels to clean up with several times... throughout the flight, alcohol is a free beverage option, personal in flight TV entertainment with tons of movies, and the food...well it sucked as usual haha but all in all not too bad of a flight...I think I watched two and a half movies!
I arrived in Singapore, went through customs no problem, grabbed my bag, found the ATM, and jumped a taxi to the neighborhood of my "host family" (a friend's family). The cab driver was very friendly and talked with me of travel, family, Singapore, and all that jazz. It was nice to have a direct ride from the airport, though I could've managed on public transit, the taxi was fairly inexpensive, cozy, and probably took half the time. So I
arrived at the house, and was warmly welcomed. They got me settled in my room, feed me some spaghetti, and gave me a tour of the house. The house, I must say, is gorgeous and amazing. Quite large as well...three stories with huge bedrooms, each having an ensuite bathroom! My room is FABULOUS, and very cozy! My bed is a king size cloud! :D Originally planning this journey, I never imagined such luxury! I have been welcomed to use this home as a base for my travels. Singapore is a main hub for cheap flights all over SE Asia, plus if I want to leave a couple things that aren't necessary where I am travelling, I have been given the privilige to do so.
I've decided that Singapore is quite a nice place to be in...it's clean, has great public transit, I haven't seen one homeless person, and almost everyone speaks English! I like other cultures and languages, but its nice being in a foreign place and still being able to communicate in English...naive, I know! THat is not to say that Singapore isn't full of many cultures though...there's many different cultures brought together in this city. You have places
ME!
Dancing in my room... such as Little India and Chinatown, not to mention ambassadors and families from all around the world come here to work and live. It is a bit humid and sticky, but I'm adjusting. It has been fantastic, due in part to the fact that I've had a personal guide, Aaron(close to my age, and knowledgeable of the city.) He's given me much of his time, to just wander about and talk of travel and the city, etc. Another bonus...he went to culinary school, and he makes some delicious vegetarian food, in which I have had the honor to indulge!!! woo hoo
We have had some fun out on the town, nothing too eventful, but laidback fun nonetheless. My first day we went into the city to hang out, and met up with Gabby(his girlfriend) and Cindy(her mother) for lunch in an Indian restaurant. It was a neat place. We were upstairs, and you must take off your shoes, and the couches were big and cozy and low to the ground. It was a very calm and relaxed environment. If you wanted you could pay for a hooka and lounge around and smoke sheesha. It wasn't smokey, though, because it was
Lovely alleyway
Thought these colorful buildings were fun... very well ventilated. We didn't smoke but we ate some hummus and chatted for a bit. That was really all we did in the city, other than stop in at a 7eleven to pick up a SIM card for me, so I could have a cell to use while in Singapore. After that we went back to the house because there was a friend of the family coming by for wine and appitizers before they went for dinner. So we sat and drank some wine, ate some cheese, and chatted for a bit. It was quite pleasant, and laidback. They left for dinner, and we just hung out eating some food, talking, and sharing music. Last night we went into the city, guitar in tow, and had some brews. The plan was to get some drinks and I wanted to go dance! So we grabbed some relatively inexpensive beers(booze is apparently and unfortunately rather expensive in Singapore), and sat outside the 7eleven, played some guitar, drank, and chatted. Another great thing about the city, no open container laws. We finished our first beer of the night, and made our way to one of the nightlife centers...where clubs and bars of
Gotham Tower
not really the name, but that is Aaron's reference which I found catchy and sort of fitting...apparently it is the most expensive building in Singapore or something all "colors" came together in a beautiful rainbow...Clarke Quay! Cover charges are outrageous, and often not worthy, so we just walked around, checked out the area, grabbed some more "cheap" beer at the 7eleven and sat by the water overlooking the madness across the bridge. After sitting for quite some time we decided food was a good idea, and hopping the nightbus home. We made it to the house around 5am, and called it a night!
Today was shopping day for the members of the household, and I was kindly invited to tag along. I was able to experience the joys of weekend shoppers in the city, and I think we managed to fit in three different shopping centers and a lot of running around! Later in the afternoon, Aaron and Abby(the children) went their ways and I returned to the house with Joan and Mark(the rents)and we enjoyed an array of cheeses, jams, bread, meats, olive tapenade, British jelly candies, and wine that Mark had picked up throughout the day. It was quite enjoyable, and now I have temporarily retired to the room to do some blogging and research for my next move.
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Michelle Wolfe
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Love that you're staying in a palace, yet practicing the skills you may need as a homeless person. (Drinking beer outside the 7-11? Very sexy and I'm sure your mother is very proud.) We're all glad you're having a good time.....try to find a country where your hard earned dollars will go farther! Much love, m