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Early in the morning (the other couchsurfers were still asleep) I got up to catch an early bus to Singapore. I knew it was gonna take all day to get there and didn't want to arrive too late. After my experience from the other night.. No way! Unfortunately I forgot my earphones at Eric's place so I couldn't listen to music or watch a movie. I had to listen to the busdriver and his friend switching music every 20 seconds. Even though it was Asian music and I didn't know the songs, you hear the silence between songs and the different tone to know they were switching songs. Imagine listen to this for 7 hours. Really, try imagining it and it will drive you crazy already. When we arrived in Singapore it seemed to take forever to get through customs. The que was really long and when we finally got through, the bus took forever to leave to the centre as well. This day took forever and I was so tired when I arrived at Ron's apartment. He told me I could take a shower and we would grab a small bite somewhere near his place. For a while now I
have to be careful how I spend my money. So instead of a meal, I got a "Milo Dinosaur" (Milo is something like Nesquik/ Colacao).
The next morning, Ron took me to the centre of Singapore. It's a bit strange to think you're in Asia. Apart from the people and the restaurants around, you would say you're in a western city. We went to a sort of museum that explained about all the actual and future plans of the city. Things from public transport to water- and drainage systems. I couldn't make up my mind if this city had indeed a well organized system and even seems the be ahead of Europe/ North America, or if people are brainwashed and think it is. During my trip I've met several people from Singapore and they all praise it and talk about it as if it's paradise on earth.
When we went to the food court afterwards it didn't give me that impression, but the centre itself does. Although it also feels like a "fake" city, like Dubai or Las Vegas. I've never been to either one of them but I can imagine it would be somewhat similar with its many
high and new buildings and perfectly landscaped parks. After a quick bite, we went through a busy Chinatown to a large Buddhist temple. We had to wrap a piece of fabric around as a skirt and I had to get a scarf to cover my shoulders. When we entered there was a ceremony going on and everyone was very quiet. In the middle, the people who actually came for the ceremony and around just as many tourists walking from one room the the other. When nobody was looking I made a few pictures although there were signs everywhere that it wasn't allowed to take photos. There were several floors and the top floor was the most "important" or "sacred" one. This is where they kept Buddha's tooth. I couldn't take a picture of it because this room was high secured. But the tooth was so big that if you ask me, it looked more like an animal tooth. But who am I right?
We had some freshly pressed sugarcane juice when we got back on the street. Together with fresh pineapple smoothie this is my favourite drink in Asia. Then Ron left to go to work.
Since I had
only one day to spend here (my flight to Jakarta would leave the next day) I wanted to see as much as possible. First I went to the so-called "Henderson Waves", a bridge that runs through a park. It was a nice but very long walk and it was hot. I went from there to the Marina to see "Gardens by the bay", a large park with huge man-made trees that are one of the famous landmarks of Singapore. I just arrived in front of them when it started storming with heavy rain and thunder. Just in time I found shelter. Together with about 10 others we stood on this 1x4 meters dry area. Not very comfortable but we all just laughed about it. Got into a conversation with some of them while waiting for the storm to fly over. It didn't seem to take too long. When it finished I decided to walk towards the rest of the places I wanted to visit. I walked over a bridge and through the large Marina Bay buildings. the parts you can walk through is a large shopping mall with on the bottom floor a canal (about 300 meters) with small boats.
Where you pay to go from one side to the other. It made my laugh on the inside. Who pays money for that?! When I exited the building on the other side I walked pass a flower looking building. The Art Science Museum I could read on the signs. from there I walked over "Helix Bridge" towards the outdoor theatre, right in front of the Marina Bay buildings, where the laser show would soon start. I was getting hungry and before sitting down, I went to 7/11 to get some noodles. They poor hot water over it when you ask for it. That's nice! I also couldn't resist buying some Reese's. You can't find them everywhere in Europe and it's so delicious! Just when I sat down the show started. Ron told me they do it every night and that it was one of the things you can't miss when in Singapore. To be honest I didn't find it spectacular at all.. It took about 5 minutes I think and it was just some music accompanied with a fountain/ laser show. I expected something huge but even the light show in Kuala Lumpur was bigger and better. The statue of
the half lion/ half fish was still on my list but I was getting tired. I walked all day and couldn't force myself to walk anymore. I got the metro back to Ron's apartment and after an update about our days I went to bed. Tomorrow I would have to get up early again to catch my flight.
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