Singapore
The flight was uneventful. I was seated next to a Chinese guy at the last row of the plane. I had to ask the lone Japanese girl on the row in front of me if it was okay to dim the window on her row (she was on the aisle seat).
It was interesting to find out that when I went through Singapore immigration, all the officers were of Indian descent.
After I exchanged money, I looked for a shared van ride to the Beary Best Hostel in Chinatown. When I got to the hostel, I couldn’t figure out how to open the front door. I found out later that there’s a button you’re supposed to push on the side wall. Anyway, the front desk staff opened the door from the inside. I told him that my sister was supposed to have arrived earlier and he assured me that my sister is upstairs in our room. He made me fill up some papers, asked for my passport and then showed me around the hostel. There are no elevators and access to the rooms are restricted by our room cards. I also asked him if we could ask for fresh towels daily and he said we can get fresh ones. Since we booked a private room, that must be one of the perks.
The bathrooms are shared but segregated. Although he mentioned that the female can use the male bathrooms if they are so inclined. When I saw one of the male guests come out of the bathroom, I was very tempted to use it (RAWR! BWAHAHAHA!). There was also a bathroom on each floor and we’re welcome to use whichever floor we want. Our room was in the 3rd floor. He was kind enough to carry my luggage for me.
Breakfast is free every morning - cereal, bread, coffee and tea. You wash your own dishes. Free wifi, there’s tv and wii in the common area. Bears is the theme of the hostel, thus the name.
The room was very small, barely enough to fit a double deck bed. My sister chose the top bunk. I messaged Rowena to let her know I arrived at the hostel. She was supposed to meet us at the hostel and go to dinner together.
Rowena, along with her 2 cousins, took us to Makansutra Glutton’s Bay which is across the Marina Bay Sands (across the bay). This is an outdoor eating area. There are plenty of kiosks of restaurants to order from and you seat at whatever empty table you find. There are also other cafes, restaurants and pubs along the waterfront. Pretty nice area, actually. I would have loved to linger more there after dinner but we walked along the promenade to the Helix Bridge and to the Marina Bay Sands mall.
Marina Bay Sands Hotel Glutton’s Bay Restaurant counters Food porn ahead…. All the gluttons at glutton’s bay Rowena, Lanie (my sister) and I. Rowena and I haven’t seen each other in 12 years or so. Lanie and I Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Helix Bridge on the left Me at Helix Bridge lookout
I was surprised when I heard Rowena talked to the taxi driver in English with a Chinese accent. Lanie told me that our cousin who also lives in Singapore (who picked her up at the airport and accompanied her to the hostel, thanks Ruel!), speaks the same way. It was a good enough accent (or bad depending on your perspective), that when our aunt and her family came to Singapore for a visit and heard him talk, they thought he was speaking in Chinese.
We walked through the Helix Bridge and straight to the mall beside Marina Bay Sands hotel. I was not tired at this point but my feet and their hundred thousand blisters were clamoring for rest. So, after a detour at a pharmacy to stock up on band-aids, we called it a night. Ah… I would have loved to stay where we were earlier at one of the cafes or bar and watch the lights from MBS and the people walking by.
The mall was connected to the subway station. My reunion with Rowena was short but sweet. Thanks for the dinner, Weng! I enjoyed the Seafood noodles I got you. Next time, dinner’s on me, whenever that is.