Before we start, here is a brief intro you’ll find at the start of all of my blogs!
This is a story-style travel blog featuring my adventure through Southeast Asia in the fall of 2024. I spent 1 week on my own in Laos, then joined a 14-day tour called Ultimate Cambodian Adventure from the company G Adventures, and a final 3-day solo stop in Singapore. You can read the blog in order, or about whichever destination intrigues you! Within my stories, I’ll offer some recommendations and some tips and tricks for a smooth journey. When I travel, I mostly do group tours and the reasons are:
* As a solo woman traveler, it is much safer especially if traveling long distances or to countries that can be dangerous in some areas
*The itineraries are amazing and usually include all of the things you’d want to see and do…and if not, there is free time to do as you wish
*You don’t have to worry about booking transport, finding hotels, etc. Sometimes that can contribute to the adventure, but it’s also nice to sit back and relax and let your Tour CEO be in charge
* And finally…the new people you meet on your tour become your family, and I’ve made lifelong friends in these journeys. For myself, this has equal importance with exploring new countries.
Singapore is a vibrant island city state in Southeast Asia. Despite its small size it boasts a powerful economy, world class infrastructure and a reputation for cleaniness, safety and efficiency. It is a global financial hub with its iconic skyline, but is also known for its lush green spaces and amazing culinary scene. The cultures mixed here in Singapore are Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western. You’ll find a dynamic mix of tradition and modern progress. It is also reallllyyy hot here with high humidity but luckily you’re never far from an air conditioned building to get that blast of ice cold air for the rescue!
Today I decide to be brave and try a traditional Chinese breakfast. I head over to Maxwell Food Centre, a giant hawker centre that serves up street food. It’s pretty quiet here this morning, and I’m on the hunt for Zhen Zhen porridge.
I don’t really know how to order since no one here speaks English; luckily a local guy sees I need help. The porridge is called congee, and you can get it with fish or chicken or century eggs(yuck) and I know I won’t like any of those options. I just want it with a regular egg. The guy tells the older woman who’s cooking up the congee and she seems really annoyed. I would have preferred a sweet porridge over savoury; mine comes with some green onion and some other really salty brown stuff..possibly a kind of meat? Haha I have no idea.
I eat as much as I can, but I really don’t care for it. I won’t be doing this again.
I pop on the train and head over to Koon Seng Road – it’s a bit of a farther train ride and it requires a bit of walking in the heat. It is a renowned street that has vibrant and historically significant Peranakan shophouses.
It’s mostly 2-3 storied houses built in the 20’s and 30’s , painted in bright colors with ornate tiling and intricate wooden shutters.
There’s nothing else to do here, but it’s a nice neighborhood for a stroll and there are lots of cool murals to admire.
Now it’s time for more culture and history at the National Musuem of Singapore, the oldest in the country. It’s nice to get out of the heat and learn about Singapore’s history through British colonial rule, Japanese occupation during World War II, to its emergence as a modern independent nation.
Here are some more shots of some cool things I found around the museum…
For lunch I head over to the Arab Quarter, also called Kampong Glam. There is a large mosque at the center, and many Middle Eastern restaurants.
I take a stroll down Haji Lane, a trendy narrow alley abundant with history, cool boutiques, bustling nightlife, cafes and eateries, and dynamic street art.
In the past, this area was where Muslim pilgrims lived and worked. I love it! There is a new Mexican restaurant here that’s been getting some hype so this will be my lunch stop. It’s called Piedra Negra. I’m not feeling great today and my appetite is being kind of funny, so I just order a plate of nachos.
They’re fine, but not awesome. Even though I already have a headache I decide it will be a good idea to finally order a Singapore Sling…it’s one of the cheapest prices I’ve seen so far so I take the plunge. It is really strong; no wonder it’s not cheap! It takes me forever to finish it and now I have a serious buzz.
And then it’s back on the train and over to the hostel for a rest and afternoon nap to see if I can shake the headache.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, tonight is the big Formula One race, so I wander over to the racetrack area to see if I can catch a glimpse. It’s mostly paid seating areas; apparently there are some places you can catch it for free but I don’t have the patience to go look for them tonight. I can hear the racing cars though. I walk through the downtown central business district which is along the Singapore River.
I end up back at Clarke Quay for dinner, and I go to Harry’s Bar and sit outside on the patio and I watch the race on TV. Next best thing!
I head back to Chinatown and do a bit of souvenir shopping, and then I check out the karaoke bar I find just down the street from the hostel . The drinks are WAY too expensive and I’m not feeling great anyways so I skip it tonight. Instead I grab a Thai iced tea from a shop on the corner, and this is probably not a smart move due to the caffeine.
I stay up late. Haha. Stay tuned for more on my final day in Singapore!
Everywhere On Earth With Erin 