Singapore - the cosmopolitan melting pot of Southeast Asia

When landing in Singapore, we are sitting on the wrong side of the plane, instead of seeing the illuminated skyline, we see the South China Sea and the lights of countless cargo ships in it. The day has passed quickly, in taxis, at the airports in Cebu and Singapore, so it is quite late when we finally arrive at the hotel. The journey from the airport to the hotel only takes twenty minutes and we catch brief glimpses of skyscrapers, the illuminated Supertrees from a distance, and the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Off to bed. Elena's health condition has changed, but not improved, so it first needs a messenger trip from Claudio to the pharmacy to get a supply of medication. Meanwhile, we sleep. The mood is somewhere between foggy, suffering from illness, and frustration that we are not fit enough to enjoy the city. But we do our best to do as much as possible, even if we have to take many breaks.

Singapore is so different from the rest of Southeast Asia - temporarily, we feel like we are in a Western country, or like in Europe. We feel this in everyday things (clean, functioning toilets with toilet paper and sinks with running water and soap! How something seemingly so simple can make such a difference). Singapore is a very wealthy country, and people from all over the world live here - it is overall very cosmopolitan. The streetscape is clean and well-maintained, and despite the urban environment, it is also very green, as wherever there is concrete and glass, there are also trees and plants. In Singapore, there is a remarkable mix of old neighborhoods with so-called shophouses (small traditional houses) and modernity, which is evident in the futuristic skyline. Furthermore, it is also a melting pot of different cultures. We stroll through China (Chinatown) with its kitschy shops, then through India (Little India) with Indian restaurants, Bollywood music, and saree shops, and finally through the old Kampong Glam neighborhood (Arab Quarter) over Arab Street, where we immediately treat ourselves to great Lebanese food next to the large mosque!

When we get tired of walking, we try something that we have wanted to try for a long time: e-scooters that can be rented via an app at collection points and can be dropped off elsewhere in the city. Wonderful! Since Singapore not only has sidewalks but is also completely barrier-free, we can zoom through the city unhindered - Claudio with so much enthusiasm that he takes loops and extra rounds, Elena a bit more cautiously.

And when the sun sets and the city lights up - then Singapore truly shines! During a walk along Marina Bay, we are once again amazed by all the lights and the nightly light show of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. But we find another show even better: the Supertree Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay. The Supertrees, artificially constructed trees planted with a variety of plants, have been lit up every evening in a light show with great dramatic music for several years - we like the show so much that we lie down directly under the Supertrees and watch the same show again 45 minutes later.

After two full days in Singapore, we are saying goodbye again, as we are going back to Indonesia! But before that, by a wonderful coincidence, we meet our dear friend Anja at the airport, who has just finished her stay in Australia and happens to be transferring on the same day that we are at the airport - it is enough for a short breakfast together and to chat a bit!