Short, Sweet, Singapore

May 18, 2018 — May 20, 2018

May 18, 2018: At the Future World exhibit presented by the Singapore ArtScience Museum and teamLab.

And then there was Singapore, with its immaculate sidewalks, futuristic buildings, and the most diverse population I’ve ever seen. I feel like I say this about most countries I visit, but I truly wish I could have stayed longer! Three days was not nearly enough. But to be fair, I was mentally and physically drained, and my homesickness was at its prime. I was ready and not ready to go home.

Luckily, my aunty and cousin, Natasha, happened to be in Singapore for the weekend. I seriously almost cried when my aunty offered that I stay with them in their hotel room for a night… And then again when I walked into the hotel room’s bathroom… This was not some shared bathroom situation in a dingy hostel. This was our own bathroom with our own toilet, and as my favorite tiger mama/idol Ali Wong would probably say, a place that I can privately shit in “ASS to SEAT!” When you’re traveling on a shoestring, it’s the little things that excite you.

As much as I enjoyed shitting in a private toilet, the best part about my aunty and cousin being there was I had a buddy to play tourist with. I thought I was ready for alone time, but I was *really* homesick. Not to mention, the last time I saw Natasha she was around eight years old, so we had some long overdue catching up to do.

Overall, Singapore surprised me. I really thought I wasn’t going to survive. I thought maybe my exhaustion was going to cripple me from wanting to do anything, but we ended up making the most of the few days I had there. We walked around the city, ate a lot of good food, caught an exhibit featuring my favorite artist collective, teamLab, saw the lazer show at the Marina Bay Sands (thankfully it stopped raining right as we got there), visited Gardens by the Bay, and I even got a chance to attend Singapore’s largest annual night market, the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar.

Phew!

Are you tired just reading this? Because I am. Or maybe it’s because I’m currently typing this in LAX where I’ve been stuck for eight hours since 5am… True story. Thank you aunty for taking care of me. I am excited to see you and Natasha again tomorrow (if they ever let me on my flight to LGA).

Singapore, it was short but sweet. Goodbye for now lahhh!

May 18, 2018: Natasha and I exploring Singapore. We initially wanted to go on the Singapore Flyer, but realized it was too expensive upon arriving at the ticket counter, so we just ended up walking around the area.

May 18, 2018: At the Future World exhibit presented by the Singapore ArtScience Museum and teamLab.

May 18, 2018: At the Art from the Streets exhibit in the Singapore ArtScience Museum.

May 19, 2018: At Gardens by the Bay.

May 19, 2018: At Singapore’s largest annual night market, the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar, which celebrates the beginning of Ramadan.

May 19, 2018: Otah at the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar.

May 19, 2018: SO MANY PEOPLE at the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar.

May 19, 2018: A “Treat Yo’ Self” moment after getting stuck in the whirlwind of people in the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar.