A week in Singapore

If you're standing in the bathroom and you're startled by the automatic toilet flush, then you know you're back in the civilized world.

I was in Singapore for a week. Actually, I was supposed to be in Java by now, but Singapore was so amazing. Now I'm heading to Bali via Java. I'm currently at the airport on my way back to Bali. My family will also arrive tomorrow. Mom, Dad, and My Jules! I'm so excited to see you all.
My hostel was in the Kampong Glam district. The Muslim district with the trendy Haji Lane, all the graffiti, and the Sultan Mosque. You can also find good food here.

But I mostly ate Indian food here. I love Naan and Pratha (especially Banana Pratha):p and here they finally have proper Aloo Gobi.. Not like in Germany with tomato sauce. Little India was right next door. Now I'm even more excited about India. I also got my first Henna here. I love it!
It only took 20 minutes to draw it, then another 20 minutes to sit still until the paste dried, and after about 3 hours, you can remove the paste. It should last for 2 weeks. Mine only lasted a week. I wash my hands too often.. Little India is a great neighborhood, very cheap for eating and shopping. There are mostly Indians walking around and Bollywood music blasting from the speakers everywhere.

Oh, speaking of shopping: Singapore is incredible for shopping! I spent so much money here. It's a shopping paradise. Luckily, I can give everything to my family to take back to Germany:p
I've never seen so many shopping malls in one city. There are so many international chains here.
There is a shopping center in every neighborhood and on every corner. And then there's the famous shopping street Orchard Street. It would take about a week just to visit every mall. I got off the subway there and was already inside a shopping center. That alone was huge. I only managed to visit this one:)
In one week in Singapore, I shopped more than in the last 5 years in Hamburg:)
But I don't go shopping often. But I had to take advantage of it here.
Cinema is also very popular here. Only 6€ for a ticket (if you go on weekdays). Of course, I went to the cinema twice. I was already having withdrawals:)

I love Singapore's skyline. Of course, I took some pictures. It looks even more beautiful at night. With all the skyscrapers and the amazing Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The Gardens by the Bay are also amazing and at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm, there's a 15-minute music show and the trees start sparkling along with it. It's a very modern city. I thought it would be too artificial here, but I really like the city. The best climate. Southeast Asia, but still with all the comforts and very clean, multicultural, lots of greenery. I could even imagine living here for a year.

The Royal Botanic Gardens are also very beautiful. Clarke Quay is good for eating and having a drink. I found Chinatown super kitschy. Like all Chinatowns are. I can never relate to Chinese architecture and the big Buddhas, etc. But the Hawker center there is pretty good. There are so many Hawker centers here. They're just huge food streets with lots of street food stalls, cheap food, loud, hot, and chaotic:) I liked the food there the most.

I didn't visit Sentosa Island anymore because the weather didn't cooperate in the last few days. It's a theme park island. Universal Studios, Sealife.. there are several theme parks and beaches.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't that great. It rained at least once every day and the sun wasn't out much. But it was still 33°C all the time. Very pleasant warmth. But you don't sweat here. The humidity is definitely different from Bali. I don't have frizzy hair here:)

If you have a long stopover in Singapore, you can register online in advance for the free 6-hour sightseeing bus tour. It starts directly at the airport and brings you back there.
There's even a cinema and a shopping center there, as well as various gardens (Butterfly Garden, Orchid Garden..), there's a pool on the top floor..

I'm definitely very impressed by the city.