Life in different fish tanks

On the last day in Singapore, we first visit the Botanic Garden. I believe I have visited this green oasis during almost all my visits to Singapore. It is a famous and ancient institution that undertook intensive research on rubber trees a hundred years ago and, through new methods of rubber extraction, made Malaysia a major rubber producer. In the meantime, the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) has made a name for itself especially in orchid breeding. Our aim for this year's visit is innovations. In the expanded area of the OCBC Arboretum, which was opened five years ago (see my blog post from then: Singapore Botanic Gardens), an old colonial house has been restored and opened as an educational and event building mainly for children and young people. After the visit, we go to the famous National Orchid Garden, which has received three new greenhouses. The first house simulates the climate for numerous bromeliads, orchids, and mountain plants. The second house showcases different species of orchids and rare hybrid orchids. It is named after Tan Hoon Siang, who possibly owes his life to his enthusiasm for orchid cultivation. When the Japanese invaded Singapore during World War II and entered Tan Hoon Siang's house, they saw the orchid cultivation on his veranda and concluded that he must also be gifted in the cultivation of agricultural land and commissioned him with a corresponding project in Malaysia. The third greenhouse simulates a cool mountain forest climate, which provides a pleasant respite for us visitors from the tropical heat of Singapore. After this long walk, we have earned our lunch and walk to the neighboring campus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, part of the National University of Singapore (NUS), where there is a small Hawker Centre. After lunch, I make a round around the complex. It is an old colonial site that could benefit from a fresh coat of paint. In 1969, at this place, Lee Kuan Yew addressed memorable words to the students, expressing his skepticism towards foreign teachers who, coming from a privileged social status, failed to recognize the necessary societal needs in a country that had only recently gained independence and who did not teach: 'I wonder if you understand whether you have an understanding of the realities of the society in which we live. I often feel, because the administration is so effective, that you live like fish in an aquarium in different tanks. And in your aquarium, there are only angelfish, a few black mollies, some red carps. But in another tank, there are some tiger fish, piranhas, man-eating fish species.' With this apt statement, he did not make friends among the existing out-of-touch teaching staff.
In the meantime, the aforementioned cold has left me exhausted and I am only excited about small activities. A round through Chinatown, a walk along the Singapore River, and around the Merlion at Marina Bay must suffice as a conclusion. We head to the airport, get our boarding passes, eat at the Kopitiam Hawker Centre, and miss the indoor waterfall at Jewel because it is turned off at 10 PM, which I did not know. It doesn’t matter, we have experienced a lot in Singapore in this short time and it was not my last visit to this impressive city.