Wow, I can’t believe how much Singapore feels like home already. The country is such an interesting mix of Western and Asian culture — everywhere I go I see people of all different ethnicities and religions, food from all over the world, and so many different languages being spoken. I knew Singapore was considered a “melting pot,” but I didn’t think it would be to this extent.
Despite Singapore’s constant heat and humidity (I checked the weather app on my phone the other day and it said the weather felt like 108 degrees!), I try not to let that stop me from exploring. One of my favorite destinations in Singapore is Haji Lane, located in a pocket of Singapore known as Kampong Glam. This area isn’t actually much of a tourist destination, but maybe that’s why I like it so much. Haji Lane reminds me of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco — it has a very hipster vibe with lots of vintage boutiques and small cafes, as well as murals painted on the walls. I’ve been there both during the day for shopping and the night for dinner; during the night it’s quite bustling with people eating and drinking outside.
My other favorite area to visit in Singapore so far is Gardens by the Bay. Gardens by the Bay is definitely a tourist destination, but it completely lives up to the hype. It’s essentially a nature park filled with different pockets of scenic walks, conservatories such as the Flower Dome, and tree-like structures. It’s absolutely incredible at night, as the “trees” are lit up and the skyline looks so vibrant behind it.
Four months seems like such a long time for studying abroad, yet my time here is already flying by. I hope at the end of journey I’ll feel like I took advantage of every opportunity I had to explore.