After being hit by the travel bug and collecting wonderful impressions last year in Iran, Spain, and Manhattan, I'm taking it a step further and granting myself a 3-month sabbatical. After long and painstaking planning, re-planning, and re-planning again (the travel plan only manifested itself two weeks before the trip started...), I'm embarking on an 11-week trip through Southeast Asia (Singapore - Malaysia - Vietnam - Bali - Lombok) with a detour to Nepal. In this spirit...
March 11, 2019, 10:00 a.m., Berlin, Tegel Airport: Here we go... My heart was pounding like crazy! Mixed feelings arose - joy, curiosity, expectations, fear and longing all at once. I embarked on a direct flight from Berlin to Singapore alone. My partner and my best friend bid me farewell with loving words and many hugs, so I stepped onto the plane with confidence and excitement.
Singapore by Night
Arriving in Singapore, I already made some nice acquaintances. A very friendly older gentleman accompanied me a short distance to the hotel with his umbrella because it was pouring rain. Arriving safely, I fell into bed around 8:00 a.m.
My first thought as I explored a small part of Singapore: Like Manhattan with tropical flair. Between numerous skyscrapers, there is blooming and greening in full splendor! Kallang Riverside Park invited me for a beautiful walk.
Kallang Riverside Park
Now, hungry, I went in search of something to eat. The Golden Mile Food Centre offers one Asian snack bar after another. The selection of dishes is very exotic and perfect for Asian food lovers. However, I still need to become familiar with the local cuisine.
I chose Destination Hotel on Beach Road for my accommodation. If you can and want to spend a little more money, this is not a bad choice. The rooms are very clean and from the roof, you have a wonderful view of the Singapore skyline. In addition, you can refresh yourself in the pool, which is located on the roof, and also enjoy the view. The breakfast buffet was diverse and okay, there is something for every taste.
Jumping into the pool at sunset and enjoying the view
On the second day, I went to Garden by the Bay (30 minutes walk). The excursion is highly recommended. This beautifully landscaped park practically invites you to linger. Those who are into luxury boutiques can enjoy themselves at Marina Bay Sands and the adjacent center. Since that doesn't interest me, I hopped on the MRT (Subway) to Little India.
A quick note about the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit): Singapore has a good public transportation network, which makes it very easy, fast, and cheap to get from A to B.
In Little India, one vegetable-fruit-spice-flower-junk shop follows another. Through the spicy smells and women in saris strolling around the market, you really feel transported to India. The Indian restaurants were recommended to me by the aforementioned acquaintance. However, since I wasn't hungry, I refreshed myself with a homemade mango lassi to-go at Prasanna's restaurant. It was very delicious.
"One Mango Lassi To-Go, please"
On the way back to the hotel, I went on a bitter search for postcards and magnets. It wasn't until Bugi Street that I found them. Conclusion: In the south of Singapore, you can search for postcards/magnets for a long time...surprising, since Singapore is considered one of the biggest tourist hotspots.
According to my taste, Singapore is a very beautiful, especially green and diverse city worth exploring more thoroughly. After 2 days, it is now time to move on to the next stage: On the bus and off to Kuala Lumpur...
