Brain stuffs, KeyePhone memories, and emotional diarrhea : Singapura: Lion City, Garden City, Little Red Dot.

I don't remember much of what my pre-visit impression was. I'd heard that it was a very clean place (gum is illegal! ...kinda. I believe you can chew it, but nowhere sells it) and sort of expensive. Changi airport is rated as one of the world's best as it has a movie theater, swimming pool, gardens, and probably a bathroom as well. Getting from the airport into the city is very easy with an MRT stop at the airport. With their MRT card you have to top it off if it gets too low (under 3 Singapore dollars, I think) and you have to top off with a minimum of 10 SGD, but you can get that refunded when you return the card. Unless, of course, you developed an emotional attachment to the card and would rather not part with it.

This being my first stop, I was pumped and ready to venture out! Kaya (Keye-uh?) toast, I come for you! Kaya spread is like a coconut jam they smear in your toast, matched with two legit slices of butter. But the butter doesn't end there. You can get it in your coffee, too. As a first meal of a 6 week trip, I "butter" not overdo myself, so I had my coffee black, HOW I LIKES IT. Submerge your kaya toast in the runny, soft-boiled egg (soy sauce, optional) and you're set for the day. Or at least until next feeding time.

Singapore is a relatively walkable city as the MRT will take you to most of the tourist spots. I really dig the "green" in the city-state also known as the "Little Red Dot." They call it a garden city, but are actually striving for it to be a city in a garden. One of the main attractions would be to check out the Gardens by the Bay. There you'll find greenhouse-y domes (that sort of reminded me of the domes in Wisconsin, but like, cool.) that contain indoor gardens, an indoor waterfall, and it's also the area where those supertrees are.

Splash.

Super duper.

If you're the type that enjoys strolls, hit up the Southern Ridges.

History and hipsters? Hit up the Tiong Bahru area. The residential complexes in the area have a history of being a part of an affordable housing development plan following WWII. The market offers some shopping and is also a hawker center for delicious foods.

chwee kueh, 水粿; the well-known hawker didn't want me to take pictures of her stand

This was one of those "I'd-already-eaten-but-I-was-strolling-by-and-I-saw-a-queue-so-I-had-to-eat-again" type situations.

And it was grand.

It's kinda like Chipotle/Subway for curry! You pick the types of toppings you want on your bed of rice and curry and pay per item.

Took a picture of the sauce 'cause I smiled when I ate it. Don't think I'll ever find it again. No more smiling.

And here's some of the hipster-ism I'd mentioned.

Dope ass bookstore

Erudite cat in dope ass bookstore

Ok but real talk, how many Asians are actually able to get beard designs

foh-dee hands?! Where them King Cobras at?

Truf.

Different flavored 養樂多?!?!?!??!

One of the landmarks to see in Singapore is the Merlion - head of a lion, body of a fish. Dude was on vacation when I was there.

Hibernation time

A traveler friend of mine had been eager to see the Trevi Fountains in Rome and when she finally got there, it was also under construction. I told her, you know what, hundreds of thousands of people have seen the Trevi Fountains, how many people can say they've seen them under repair? We are perhaps more blessed to see these iconic landmarks at such unique moments under scaffolding and many many square feet of tarp.

Close up of awesomeness

When I talk to Singaporeans most of them say that there's nothing really to do in Singapore, which is why many will plane/bus on over to neighboring, (way) cheaper Malaysia. I found that interesting to hear because at seemed like there were activities/landmarks/foods abound. They have Universal Studios, theater/concert halls, museums, even a damn casino (interestingly, residents have a cover fee while foreigners don't; Singapore is genius, they'd rather snatch up foreign money and deter their residents from the downward spirals of gambling). Compared to the rest of Southeast Asia, it didn't feel different enough for someone who wants to really explore a new, adventurous place. Even language-wise, English is everywhere.

Singapore is really quite impressive though. This was their 50th year of independence (happy SG50, Singapore!) and so quickly it developed to such a modern city-state-country thanks to big time game-changers like Lee Kuan Yew. Amazing night views, diverse, good/cheap traditional hawker foods, easy public transportation, trendy restaurants, tons urban runners getting their fitness on, Singapore would be a great place to grow up, or visit with friends and hear some fun Singlish filled with lah's and ah's.