Singapore - Arrival

Our first in a new country was spent outside, again.

This time, we traded in public benches and vending machines for fine cut grass beaches and sanitary public restrooms. If my first night in Malaysia was an uncomfortable last resort; my first night in Singapore was an alternative paradise type resort. 

Even crossing the bridge over to the island nation of Singapore was an adventure. Granted, we did have to cross highways, freeways, and tollways to get there. I even wheeled my bike down the wrong customs lane; the immigration officer did not like that. Must have brought on suspicion too because we were escorted off to the side and hurried into an immigration office.

The documents in my passport were reviewed and the typical questions asked. "How long do you plan to stay?" and "Where is your departure flight?" I've grown patient in reminding these people, despite seeing me on my bike an explaining to them my route back up to Thailand (never mind that the answers to these questions were already disclosed in writing on the arrival/departure card also handed to the officer), that I have no departure flight. "We're doing it all by bike." 

Still somewhat confused as to why someone would punish their body into cycling from Singapore to Thailand (forget trying to explain the completion of Indonesia and ambitions of China), the immigration officer told us to be careful, stamped our passports and showed us the door. Free! 

Free to travel into a nation of five million people on an island just bigger than the San Francisco peninsula. Though SF's population is growing at a healthy rate under the presense of the tech and start-up industry, it's overall population has yet to reach a cool million. So, I was expecting to see, talk, inyeract with five times as many people as I am used to. But, I never got that chance. 

The Singaporeans were purposefully absent in the public streets and shoping centers those days. Ive written about this issue, read more under the PSI post for full story. 

So, like I said, our first night was spent outside; this time in relative luxury.

The view from my tent. The Sun you see is the morning Sun, hence the East Coast Park name given to our settled plot of land. 

 We were not alone. Camping is not only popular, it's completely free! Which probably contributes to it's popularity. This was on a Monday night amidst a haze invasion; you can imagine the interest here on a clear skied weekend. 

That's the Singapore Straight ahead. Pollution sucks.

Bikes need rest too. Go on, relax under a coconut tree. 

After waking up and devouring a free lunch, it was time to see what this town had to offer. We already had a tour of the City, managed by our great host Joni. She's awesome. No other way to place it. Loving mom, active cyclist and advocate, she somehow knows everything there is to know about even the smallest building and narrowest alley. Complete and wholehearted thank you to her. Wait, why don't I have a picture of the three of us? Hold on.

Nevertheless, there is nothing like exploring a new place on your own. Everything is absolutely new, every turn never a wrong turn.

Here we found ourselves on an unmarked bridge (literally, it's not on google maps) overlooking the city scape.

Singapore is a beautiful city if you're into slick avant-garde architecture, science fiction form, and modern modes of visual style.

That's all for now. Singapore is calling me and I'm really starting to love it here. Don't believe the hype.

Love,

-A