Singapore

It took about ten hours to fly into Singapore. I think I arrived around 8pm and then I had to catch a bus to find my hostel. I was trying to save money, but I think from now on, when I travel at night to a hotel, it might be wise to take the taxi cab. I asked the bus driver to tell me when I reached my stop. He was kind enough to do so, but I was expecting my hostel to be within eye sight. It was not. In fact, it was across a huge complex of residential housing on the next busy road.

I asked a nice man who was waiting at the stop to direct me to the hostel. He informed me that he did not live in that area and was not familiar with the hostel, but that I needed to go over to the next big road. I would have to walk through a large housing development until I reached a large road which I had never been on and drag my luggage along with me. I think the nice man sensed my hesitation, because he offered to lead me there. My mom always told me not to talk with strangers when I was little and usually following a strange in a new country would fall in the same category, but somehow I knew that I could trust him.


Our walk to the next big road took about thirty minutes (I would have never found it on my own). The conversation was pleasant. He spoke perfect English as he asked about my travels that summer. I still couldn't believe his kindness and was eager to make a new friend. Eventually we arrived at East Coast Road, but still could not find the hostel. My new friend and guide was nice enough to walk around the housing complex to look for numbers as I patiently stood by the side of the road. After walking by a few shops I finally saw the sign for the hostel. My friend walked me all the way to the door. I thanked him for his kindness and he walked off, probably to return to his original bus stop.

I was so happy to be at my new home for the next week. It wasn't all that much to look at, and the showers were gross, but I had a feeling it was all going to be okay. After a brief intro to the hostel I was left at my bedside. I unpacked a few things, took a cold shower, and fell right to sleep.

The next day I decided to wander around the city. I wanted to get my bearings. I quickly learned that Singapore is a big city. My hostel on East Coast Rd. was about an hour's bus drive to the city center. It would take at least two hours to get to the other side of the city if I needed. I took a cheap bus tour through Singapore Airlines (it cost $3 for hop on/off day access with my boarding pass). I also got lost on my way to Chinatown only to discover some fun roads. I even ate my first ice cream from a street vendor, it was red bean flavored...hmm, delicious.


I also made a trip into the Asian Civilizations Museum on the first day, which gave a discount when I showed my international teacher card. My favorite part of the museum as the special exhibit on nomadic tribes. They had a whole room set up with tents. That night I got back to the hostel exhausted. I had been walking all day in the heat and humidity with very little water. It was then that I made a new friend. He just got in from Thailand and was hungry like me. So we went out looking for food at a nearby hawker center. From that point on I enjoyed a special treat for my stay in Singapore...and his name is Craig.