If there was one country that’s hotter than the Philippines, it’s Singapore. I still remember the stinging heat when I visited the country a few years ago. The weather didn’t feel foreign; it felt like I never left Manila. The difference ended there, however.
The travel from the airport to the hotel gave me a glimpse of how extremely different this country is compared to mine. They’re rich, and very organized too. It’s clearly seen in how they’ve thought about their urban planning and how they’ve implemented the division of their land area – residential area here, business area there, industrial area that side, theme parks and shoppings mall at the other side. It’s fascinating.
Different areas in Singapore
One of the things that I was really amazed about is how every establishment accept credit cards. Yes, for someone living in a third world country, a cab accepting credit payments is omg-this-is-amazeballs-like-for-real. Oh, it was also nice that we didn’t have to negotiate the fare, and worry about taxi drivers charging us more once we get to our destination. I guess this is first world living.
First world living comes with a price though – like paying for water, and that tissue, oh and yes the extra ketchup. I guess these were the things I usually take for granted, especially when I dine in. It was a learning experience when we got the bill the first time we ate out. “WHAT $2 FOR WATER?! $1 FOR THE KETCHUP?” Yeah, something like that. These are the things you don’t really read about when you research on “What (not) to do in <this country>”. Afterwards, we were more careful of what we request when we do dine out.
Aside from the heat and all the first world quirks, one thing I can’t forget about this trip was our (mis)adventure at the Night Safari. I can still remember how I’ve stretched my patience that day just to ride that Night Safari tram. Nevermind the long wait, or the standing up, or the heat, it was the rude and rowdy crowd that got me really really annoyed. People were shoving, pushing and cutting the line just get ahead of everyone else. It was terrible.
the (mis)adventures at the Night Safari
Fortunately, that nightmare only lasted an hour and half. Once we got on the tram, it was *heaven*. I enjoyed seeing the animals up close. I was really fascinated on how they were able to set something like this in the middle of a city. Ah, I still regret not taking pictures. So, if you do plan on going here, take pictures! It’s allowed. It’s probably also best not to go on a peak season.
Besides the Night Safari, we also visited the other touristy parts of the city such as the Singapore Flyer, Sentosa, Marina Bay area, Botanical Garden, and, of course, the infamous Orchard Road. All were, of course, nice, and very well-maintained.
everywhere at Singapore
To sum it up, the trip was not that bad. For me, Singapore is one of those places that you’ll go to because it’s convenient, it’s peaceful, and it’s different but familiar. If I were to visit again, I’ll probably pick a cooler season.
