Final Snapshots of Singapore (20. - 21. Jan. '19)

I wanted to share a few more photos but wasn't sure where. The posts they would have fit in were already too long, but they didn't belong in the few short posts either. Then I figured I'd just dedicate an entire post to some of my random snapshots of this city-state called Singapore.

Civilian War Memorial Park (from 20. Jan.)

After the DUCKTour, I walk to get to Marina Bay Sands. On the way, I passed by the Civilian War Memorial Park. This is dedicated to those who lost their lives (about 50,000) during World War 2. Understandably, this was an exceptionally dark chapter in Singapore's history. 

 Funky architecture

Subheading says it all.

There are so many skyscrapers that have vegetation growing on it.
Way to be modern and eco-friendly(-ish?).

Helix Bridge

Let's cross the Helix Bridge over to Marina Bay Sands area!

Nice, eh?

This ballet-sort of photoshoot was going on. It's not creepy of me to film them, was it?

180-degree view of the bay and the Helix bridge.

Chinatown

I've stopped to eat here every time I went down this street.

Egg and onion paneer. Dunno the sauce, but it was great.

The main street of Chinatown.
Cheapest place to buy souvenirs!

Lace fabric from the Arab Quarter.

That picture of lace has a story.
My stepmom had been searching for a type of lace that is supposed to be cut into strips. She had been able to find them online--and only through a Chinese seller. Since I'm in East Asia, I thought I'd take up the search as well.
To make an odyssey short, I found them in this one shop in Singapore. This was the only place I was able to find these. At all. I had to buy a few yards (this shop sold by yards, not meters, which surprised me) of them. I kept them for when my stepmom visited me the following month.

That short story wasn't enough to capture the extent and frustration of my search, but the reward of finding it made all that bitterness worth it.
Anywho, I finally finished my series on my photos from Brunei and Singapore. Only 2 months after I returned. No biggie.

SIA Hop-on Bus (21. Jan. '19)

This was now my last day in Singapore--and I was ready to call it quits. I'd say I was tired from the trip by then and didn't really care to see anything more in Singapore (that could have well changed if I had found a however-small nature spot that I'm sure exists somewhere).
Nevertheless, I still had a day to kill. What's more, since I flew in on Singapore Airlines, I was entitled to some privileges. One of them was going on the SIA Hop-on Bus at a discounted rate (about SGD 20, as opposed to SGD 40 +/- at other venues).

Meh, why not? Let's do it.

I didn't even take that many pictures. I just wanted to enjoy the ride on the open-top, double-decker bus, while battling sunburn and heavy rain (had both that day). Also, if I remember correctly, my plantar fasciitis was acting up again. So it was best to walk as little as possible.

Suntec City's Fountain of Wealth

Did you know this is the largest fountain in the world?

Little India

As you know, Singapore is truly cosmopolitan with people from EVERYWHERE. Indians make up a large percentage, having traveled, moved to, and lived in Singapore for generations. This one bus route took us through Little India.

So lovely

Had to make sure we came around again for another shot.

The main road--and something was going on.

Do you know about this festival? Because I don't.

This just made me think about how near Little India is to Chinatown.

Suntec City/City Tour Bus Main Stop

This is where you wanna be if you're getting on the major city tour buses.
There are others, but you'll find Big Bus Tours (and SIA, which is the same).

Oh. My. Word. (I want to call them "empanadas").
These are soooo savory! Soooo good!

One last trip to the bay area

See the rain clouds? Boy, did they come down!

I enjoyed the Garden Rhapsody so much, I wanted to watch it one last time on my final night in Singapore. I also video-called a friend so we could watch the show "together," even though we were on the complete opposite sides of the globe at that point.

Don't remember seeing a snail that big and alive before.

Oh, like those fake flower hair accessories, but these are real!

How cool is that architecture?

From here (after the Garden Rhapsody show), I returned to my Couchsurfing host's apartment, picked up my stuff, said my final thank yous and farewells, and high-tailed it back to the metro to make my way back to the airport. My flight left early the next morning, but I wouldn't be able to get a ride to the airport (except by taxi) that early in the morning (and I might have had to disturb my hosts, which I didn't want to do either).

So spend the night in the airport I did. I barely slept all night, even though I tried in a few different places. At least I found the butterfly garden (all asleep, unlike me), the free 24/7 cinema, a transit hotel and transit hotel express (?), and how much I loathed staying up all night (family and a few friends helped me stay awake). I will say, I never slept so deeply in an airplane. Get this, I slept so deeply, I did not feel the take-off AT ALL. Was I dead, or was I dead?

So I made it back to Korea. Five hours on the airport limousine bus later, I returned to my city. About 30 min. after that, I arrived home. What a lovely ending.

Gardens by the Bay--Nighttime (20. Jan. '19)

I didn't walk around the Gardens by the Bay very much at night, except to get to and from the Supertree Grove for the Garden Rhapsody.

Seeing my phone's camera does not have the best quality (it was an old model when I got it almost 2 years ago), I tried to not make any photographic abominations.

Trying to not photograph this place at night proved to be difficult, even with my camera's poor quality. I'll limit to 3 pictures taken during the Garden Rhapsody show.

I was lying on the grass. This is a poor panoramic intent of my (literal) point of view.

Yes, I like blue.

Below is a video of four clips I took of the Garden Rhapsody.
Just keep in mind, I never promised filming quality. You've been forewarned.

Singapore River Cruise (20. Jan. '19)

I knew about the Garden Rhapsody show every night at Gardens By The Bay, but I didn't want to stay until then. That, and I had already walked out of the park via the bayside path. This path brought me to the Helix Bridge, ArtScience Museum, Shoppes By The Bay, and the like. I noticed there were a port and an office. The office stated "Singapore River Cruise."

Hmm, so I can take a ride that would bring me straight back in time to make it for the Garden Rhapsody? Perfect.

A little info

The Helix Bridge and a couple of river cruise boats.

Are you tired of seeing these yet?
Apparently, I wasn't tired of taking their pictures.

Business (waterfront) district

We're going in.

The captain

Just looking out straight ahead of the boat's door.

That building with the colorful windows was the police station & prison back in the day.
Did you know, the policemen's families lived there too?
How do you like that, to live with your family under the same roof as those you arrested.

Clark Quay

So this is where the nightlife is.

A rainbow bridge, that's quite nice.

The captain said I (and another guy) could sit at the bow & take pictures.
Meh, I do what I can.

The Merlion as night begins to fall.

The Merlion at dusk.

Once more, but as a night shot.

Can you make out the Singapore Flyer
and the Helix Bridge here?

Alright, made it back. Now it's time to return, get a spot, and enjoy the Garden Rhapsody!