Around the World: Day 54 -57

After leaving Japan I stopped in Shanghai for a couple hours and waited for my next plane with a destination of Singapore. I arrived in Singapore, and made my way through customs (this time without any excitement). 

After customs I had 2 options...I could pay for an airport shuttle to my hotel, or I could take the subway to the closest stop and then walk. I decided to ask about the shuttle service and it was going to take almost 2 hours. First, I would have to wait until the shuttle would leave and then the drive with drop off's at other hotels along the way. It was already 10pm and that makes a very late night. 

I opted for the subway...I could start right away and also possibly arrive sooner. I purchased my ticket, got on the train and went to my stop...then it turned into somewhat of an interesting adventure. I looked at the map and had directions, but I was turned around when I first came out of the subway so needless to say I walked the wrong direction. I didn't get far before I realized what happened and so I turned around. 

I was finally on the right road but then I missed a street sign so I walked to far and had to turn around, again...it would have been so bad if I wasn't carrying all my stuff with me. With the humid temperature even though it was after dark I was drenched in sweat by the time I arrived. Even though I was dripping in sweat they still checked me in and gave me the key to my room (which has AC). I'm in a really cute little boutique hotel (Hotel Kai), that I absolutely love.

My bed...I actually have a wind too...apparently not all the rooms have a window

It's a studio room and so space is limited...but they have used space in interesting ways

For example...the phone is tucked away in this little space, but if you pull down the wall

you end up with a desk... :) 

The next morning I walked around for a little bit, before jumping on the city sightseeing bus. Here are some of the things I saw. 

The Singapore Flyer (which I wanted to ride)

At the gardens by the bay

One of the many, many place you can find food...I think I've seen places for just about every ethnicity  

Around the streets

The three pillars are a very large and expensive resort

The Merloin

Around the streets

At the botanical gardens

Someone offered to take my picture for me...and this is it

I was able to ride the flyer after dark

Singapore at night

Another shot of Singapore at night

One thing that I wanted to do was take a ride the Singapore Flyer at night to see the city. I'm so glad that I did...but there is a story behind it. As I was riding the city sightseeing bus earlier in the day an older couple and I kept crossing paths. At one point, they asked if I had ridden the flyer or if I wanted to ride it. I told them I hadn't ridden it, but that I wanted to and so they said 'here, we have 2 tickets but won't use them so you take them and have fun.' I did! I was hoping that I would be able to find some random person that wanted to use the second ticket so I didn't waste it, but unfortunately that didn't happen. 

There are so many street venders to malls here that I find I want to go shopping. I have done a little bit of shopping but have kept in very tight control. That's pretty much what I did this morning. I meandered through one of the many malls. Soon it will be time to start re-packing some and leave again tomorrow. It's hard to believe that my trip is coming to an end and soon I'll be back in my own country.