Singapore: probably the most organized, modern and clean place you could ever go. In my short 12 hours here, I realized this and enjoyed it. After coming from India, a litter and dirt free metropolis was a welcomed change. To accompany this environment were warnings everywhere of the very many laws in place to actually create such clean and all-too-kind surroundings. “No pets outdoors! Fine $500” “No chewing gum! Fine $1000” “No food or drinks allowed on the train! Fine $1000”… The list goes on, but you can see how scary this can be as a foreigner, especially when you do not want to do anything wrong. Overall though, I think if the U.S. had more extensive and enforced laws, such as littering policies and no smoking allowed in any public places, that our cities and highways would look a lot better and create a healthier environment.
Okay, enough of my ranting! In the morning I went to the Singapore Zoological Gardens, one of the world’s best zoos. It was a great zoo, with amazing gardens, but it just isn’t the same going to a zoo after you have seen the majority of the animals in the wild on a safari. I have to keep reminding myself not to take it all for granted, but it is difficult. We all joke about “the difficult lives of SASers” and in all seriousness about how spoiled/lucky we have come to be during our travels. We don’t clean, we don’t cook, we don’t walk if there is a taxi nearby, we get to go to exciting places weekly, we don’t have jobs…the list goes on, but you can see why going home will be a sad and drastic reality check for us all.
At the zoo I finally got to ride an elephant with Liz and Paige, something everyone is probably happy for so I will shut up about it! After the zoo we took a bus to the train station and headed for a stop in China Town. Here we were recommended to try the cheap, “fast food” huts called the Hawking Center. These food centers are everywhere in Asia, so I finally had to try food. After my sickening experience with street foods in India, I was hesitant but finally had to at least try it. My dumplings and noodles were not bad, but tasted like ramen. It made me even more excited for the food in Asia, where I’ll get to eat lots and lots of carbs, sadly my favorite! After China Town we went to Orchard Road, the prime shopping district (where I did not allow myself to even walk into a store and be tempted…and yes they even had a Forever21!). Before our on ship time that night we met up with my hall mate Nick and some other SASers for an amazingly delicious dinner at the Hard Rock Café. Who knew I would ever miss BBQ, slaw, French fries and potato skins so much? They were phenomenal, to say the least!
There are only 3 countries left to visit- Vietnam, China and Japan- all back to back in the next 3 weeks. Although I am excited to see everyone at home, I am starting to realize just how hard it is going to be to adjust to my old life. Traveling gives you such an adrenalin rush, along with a constant flow of stress and exciting events continuously occurring. For all these reasons I have always loved to travel, yet I know it will be hard to find these own excitements in everyday life. I think that is something I will definitely have to work on once I’m back in the states. With summer classes, work, and all the other commitments life brings your way, I’m sure I will have more than enough to keep me busy! And I think more than ever, I will truly appreciate being able to just relax with friends, sleep in often, talk with family, and play with my dog!
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