Singapore

Once again, we took the coach (with extremely wide and comfortable seats) to our third country of the trip: Singapore. The border control was amusing as usual. We got off the bus on one side, showed our passports, put our backpacks through the scanner, and then got back on the bus on the other side. In Singapore, we tried Couchsurfing for the first time and we were amazed. Our hosts Darren and Sharon have been living in Singapore for about 13 years. Darren is originally from Pittsburgh and Sharon is from Kuala Lumpur, but they have lived in many places around the world. We had our own room and bathroom, so it was a very luxurious first Couchsurfing experience. Additionally, like everywhere else on the trip, there were two meowing housemates: the crazy and energetic Reed and the sweet Monroe. They were actually two foster cats that were meant to be nursed back to health, but they decided to stay with Darren and Sharon forever. Overall, Darren and Sharon were really warm and inspiring people that we will remember often.

On the first day, we explored the Marina Bay area, including the Merlion Park (a figure half fish, half lion) and the famous Marina Bay Sands. It is truly an impressive hotel that includes not only a food court but also its own shopping mall with a river flowing through it, where you can take a boat ride. We also walked past the Fullerton Hotel, which is an old building that used to be the end of the city where trade ships docked. Everything beyond that was artificially reclaimed and developed. We also visited Capitaspring, a publicly-funded building by the government. There is a flower and herb garden on the 51st floor and many plants, benches (including tables and power outlets for work), and a small outdoor gym on floors 17-20. Quite pretty compared to a typical German high-rise building. In general, the city is simultaneously super green and super modern with all the skyscrapers. However, there are also affordable food courts and markets if you don't want to only be in the super chic shopping centers. There are many free offerings and everything is well-maintained and clean. We also liked the different ethnicities and cultures living here. There are a total of 4 official national languages and most signs are translated into English, Chinese, Hindi, and Malay. One gets the impression that Singapore is well-thought-out and simply functions very well. Surely, the cameras and rules contribute to cleanliness and order, as long as they are not abused or unfair. We always felt comfortable and safe, never watched or hindered, but rather saw the benefits that such measures can bring. In the evening, we went to Gardens by the Bay, a large green area next to Marina Bay. There is a grand light show every evening at the so-called Supertrees, which was really beautiful. After dinner, we stumbled upon the next water-light show in Marina Bay itself, again with epic music and great effects.

The next day, our host Darren invited us to join him at East Coast Park, where he always spends his weekends windsurfing. We ditched all the tourist plans and went to the beach. Darren lent us his stand-up paddleboard and we floated on the water while he zipped around with his foiling surfboard about 1 meter above the water surface. For lunch, we had a snack from the hawker center (food court) in our own Tupperware containers, and in the afternoon, we made our way back home. Unfortunately, we had very little time to explore Gardens by the Bay further because in the evening, Darren and Sharon invited us to dinner at a vegan butcher shop (ultra delicious burgers!!!!) and for a drink at a trendy bar. After that, we chatted until 1 am, got tips for Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Australia, and fell happily and utterly exhausted into our bed.

The next day, we headed to Changi Airport, which is more than just an airport. In addition to the impressive indoor waterfall, there is a children's play paradise, a butterfly garden, a spa area, and so on. You could easily spend a few days here alone 😄 And then our flight to Jakarta took off.

Unfortunately, we only had 2 days in beautiful Singapore, as we arrived late and had to leave early, which is why we are certain that we will come back!