Singapore: my start into the world trip

פֿאַרעפֿנטלעכט: 20.01.2019

Singapore made it very easy for me and gave me a nice and positive start. After saying goodbye in Vienna, I was glad about the good atmosphere, a cozy hostel, and the extremely friendly people here. Thanks to Michi's tips, I already had a little plan.

Honestly, I knew little about the city-state. But in three days, you quickly learn the most important facts about Singapore. Luckily, there are "Free Walking Tours" here, where you can come to a meeting point without registration, quickly join a sociable group, and give the guide as much money as you want at the end.

That's how I started on the first day, and because the guide was so good, I immediately did two more tours. (1. Chinatown, 2. Civic District (Colonial District), 3. Kampong Glam). (monsterdaytours.com for those who are coming)

He was so incredibly motivated and knew everything we asked him. He even knew why chewing gum is practically banned in Singapore... The reason for my question: out of fear of paying a fine, I left my chewing gums in the plane because it was at the top of the "prohibited" list in the immigration info. In reality, you just can't throw them away in public, but you can possess them. Because they are hardly sold here, a black market for chewing gum has actually emerged 😂. They are banned because somewhere a subway door was so glued with chewing gum that the subway could not continue for five hours. 🤦‍♀️

Okay, enough about the chewing gum story.

About Singapore itself: for me, it was an exciting, multicultural, clean, friendly, colorful, green, organized, and safe city. Most of the inhabitants come from China, Malaysia, and India. Accordingly, the food was delicious. 😋 One of my highlights was also the Indian Thaipusam Festival.

Singapore (City of the Lion) was founded in 1819 by a Briton (so it's 200 years old this year...), before that, it was just a fishing island.

A few downsides: very expensive, politically apparently somewhat authoritarian democracy compared to Europe, but progressive compared to the rest of Southeast Asia! I was very impressed by the government's measures for cleanliness and the environment (e.g. for every built sqm, a sqm of green space must be planted here, which is sometimes vertically integrated into the architecture and looks great!)

You can see on the photos where I've been hanging out.

There could have been so many interesting museums, art, and places, but there wasn't enough time for that...

I really liked Singapore overall and can highly recommend it.

Gardens by the bay at night
Gardens by the bay at night
Gardens by the bay
Gardens by the bay
Light show with loud music. Even though it was totally crazy, it was one of my highlights.
Light show with loud music. Even though it was totally crazy, it was one of my highlights.
My hostel in the middle of Chinatown
My hostel in the middle of Chinatown
Hindu temple in Chinatown, everything mixes!
Hindu temple in Chinatown, everything mixes!
Market in Chinatown
Market in Chinatown
Dear ice cream vendor
Dear ice cream vendor
Green architecture. Personally, I liked it very much!
Green architecture. Personally, I liked it very much!
Currently everything revolves around the Chinese New Year, the year of the pig 🐷! (February 5/6)
Currently everything revolves around the Chinese New Year, the year of the pig 🐷! (February 5/6)
Skyline
Skyline
Merlion, the unofficial symbol of Singapore
Merlion, the unofficial symbol of Singapore
Malay-Muslim quarter, had delicious Lebanese food there.
Malay-Muslim quarter, had delicious Lebanese food there.
Light show in front of the Singapore skyline!
Light show in front of the Singapore skyline!
Thaipusam Festival in Little India
Thaipusam Festival in Little India
During Thaipusam, there is a 4.5km long procession in Little India. It is a major Hindu festival of gratitude during the full moon. One of the customs is that men attach hooks to their skin and carry a piece of jewelry with about 60kg (!) weight because according to belief, pain is the greatest thing one can give to God.
During Thaipusam, there is a 4.5km long procession in Little India. It is a major Hindu festival of gratitude during the full moon. One of the customs is that men attach hooks to their skin and carry a piece of jewelry with about 60kg (!) weight because according to belief, pain is the greatest thing one can give to God.
Indian women in festive attire
Indian women in festive attire
Thaipusam
Thaipusam
Lots of street art.
Lots of street art.
Me in the tropical house! 😊 Thanks to Sophie for taking the photo!
Me in the tropical house! 😊 Thanks to Sophie for taking the photo!
Tropical house gardens by the bay
Tropical house gardens by the bay

Light show in front of the Singapore skyline!
Light show in front of the Singapore skyline!
In the famous Fullerton Hotel
In the famous Fullerton Hotel


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