This is a bit of a long post, but only because there's so much fun to share :)

Day 17

The adventures begun before I’d even got to work today. As I walked into the kitchen to get my breakfast, I saw all my apple cores from yesterday’s apples thrown across the kitchen as if it had been hit by the wildest thunderstom. But after a moment, I saw the culprit. A rather large bird had managed to get into the kitchen through the window and was flapping around like crazy. So for the second time in my life, I took on a bird until it eventually flew out. (The first time was when a pigeon flew into my room at uni and I forced it out using my big clock, and this time, I had to use someone else’s frying pan... So again, almost like the Friends episode where Rachel manages to capture the pigeon! But I wasn’t quite so skilled sadly).

Work was slightly less eventful – I worked on my report about student engagement and read some really interesting theories about how to (sneakily) change people’s behaviour. For lunch our office decided to have a staff outing, which was quite exciting actually. We got into a car and off we drove out of the university campus and to a huge traditional food court, which was (of course) very yummy.

And the evening was equally tasty, as I went back to the Thai restaurant which I’d visited in Holland Village in my first few days here. This time, I was with another friend from home (Singapore is definitely the meeting room of the world at the moment!) We had a really great catch up and exchanged every thought and impression of life in Singapore whilst laughing away and sipping ridiculously bright pink dragon fruit juice.

Day 18

I actually managed to finish off some things at work today, which felt quite good! Over lunch time, we somehow managed to develop an extensive spy plot about one of our colleagues, which may sound a bit random but for some reason was absolutely hilarious (because it involved him stealing one of the huge paper owls from the university’s sustainability campaign along with other equally GREAT plot lines – I think that says it all about our novel writing ability really!)  

After work I went to an exhibition about heritage in Singapore which my friend had taken part in. It was so interesting to read more about some of the areas which I’d been to, and to hear the narratives which have been sidelined by my guide book!

I can’t stay in my room for too long because it’s quite warm, and this meant that it was time to find yet another new place to explore. Everyone keeps saying that Singapore is so safe that I could just get off at a random train station and see what I find. I was also getting a bit tired of using the map and planning routes, so I decided to test this theory out! In terms of safety, it was 100% true. But in terms of what I found... I found a huge area of warehouses, cranes and other building related things and ended up walking along a footpath lining the motorway for quite a while. I guess it was yet another side to Singapore which I hadn’t seen yet! But eventually I came to a cool area which I recognised to be close to the centre, where there were lots of very fancy hotels and elaborate buildings (so the plan wasn’t completely silly J)

Back at home, it was after midnight – the perfect time to do some laundry! I wondered around the crazy accommodation until I found the washing machines. The machine swallowed up my money several times without switching on (who knows what I was doing wrong) but was happy to take money from my transport card – I don’t know what the link between transport and washing is, but my clothes emerged clean!

Day 19

The weekend was here again, and the sky was a brilliant blue (it had been a bit stormy the past few days). This was great news because we’d arranged to go to the beach today, so it was sun cream on, sun hat in hand and off I went. We strolled across the footbridge to Sentosa, the island which is home to the Universal Studios along with many other things, and there we found Palawan beach. The sand is all imported, but when I saw how wonderfully white and soft it was, I didn’t really mind. And there were palm trees of every shape and size! J

I was introduced to another lovely local and the four of us just spent the day relaxing on the beach until our hearts were content. The water was refreshingly gentle and they decided to bury me in the sand (which was very hot, but also very funny). As the day went on, we walked along the shoreline to see the other beaches of Sentosa. We stopped at Siloso beach, where we watched a sunset which looked just like the postcards of incredible tropical beach sunsets which I’d seen (only much better!)

When it got late, we wondered back to mainland Singapore and had an amazing dinner on the roof of the Vivo shopping centre, from which we could observe the flickering lights of Sentosa along with the perfectly clear night sky.

Day 20

Today I took a trip back to the Botanical gardens, which seemed like a different world to the gardens which I’d got lost in on a night at the beginning of my trip! This time, they appeared pristinely maintained and filled with plants to suit every personality. My personal highlights were definitely the healing garden and the ginger garden (who knew that there were so many different types of ginger!?) My friend and I had fun following the winding paths until it was time to find retreat from the scorching sun (in the form of lunch J)

I spent the afternoon in a café with my book, which was exactly what I needed. I’m reading Memoirs of a Geisha, which I’m finding to be a beautiful and very moving read. Then I met a friend from home to explore Geyalng – an area in which everyone seemed to be relishing life amongst the colourful market stalls and endless local eateries. As well as seeing a few temples, here I experienced a tropical fruit education like never before. I finally tried Durain (which is considered ‘the king of fruits’ here), along with so many delicious others (longan, lychee, mangosteen…), some of which I previously didn’t even know existed!

We took the train to another station – Lavender – for a deliciously nourishing noodle-soup dinner and then wondered through the residential area, getting a feel for local life. After a weekend of basking in the sunshine and yet more Singaporean fun, a long sleep was very welcome indeed.  

Day 21

Hmm I think I managed about one hour of proper work today. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, we had the whole week ahead to get things done (and the boss was on leave... Not that this last reason has anything to do with it J)! At around 10ish, the girls from our office and I went out for a yummy fruit snack, then I replied to some very important sustainability-related (and Facebook mediated) correspondences and before I knew it, it was lunch time. Naturally, to fit the mood of the day, we had a rather long lunch and used our time wisely to discuss every world issue which came to mind. I’m finding Malaysian politics especially interesting (mostly because of the entertaining way in which one of my colleagues tells all of his stories)!

After work I'd arranged to meet a local Singaporean friend who I study at uni with. Him and his friend promised me a 'foodie adventure', which is exactly what I got! Not that I want to keep writing about the food here, but it's just so good J I especially loved the presentation of rice in woven palm leaves! After several stops at different munching places, we walked through the local area and I enjoyed the relative peacefulness of the place compared to the busy and exciting central areas. The evening flew by, and luckily I just made the last train home!

Day 22

Back to work today! I had a mini meeting with my boss in which I filled her in on some of my ideas and findings, and she gave me yet more things to work on. At least having lots of things to do means that I can choose which ones to work on depending on my mood... However, sometimes online research is very conducive to distractions, especially when I click on the 'related pages' which are only veeery distantly related to the topic I'm working on.

To celebrate a colleagues birthday, we went to a fancy Chinese restaurant for lunch. My food education is deepening further as I'm learning that there isn't just 'Chinese food', but different types of food in different regions (food + geography = perfect!) 

I've brought my flute to Singapore but somehow only got round to playing it today. And even that didn't last long because my room was just too hot! So I went for a lovely long walk around the university campus instead, and then had a great skype chat with my super-sis.

Day 23

Having lots of projects to be working on means that I have to decide which one to start with, which is tricky! First I worked on developing some 'sustainable living tips' for their sustainability postcards (which are so cute!) and then did some work on my Eco-foodcourts project.     

I decided that I couldn’t abandon my bunny hopping buddies, so despite the ridiculous heat, off I went into Clarke Quay after work. I survived another week, even though everyone admitted that today’s routine had been even more of a killer than usual. BUT I didn’t mind because tonight I had something to look forward to afterwards – I knew that I would be spending the evening at the club at the top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Now, this is no ordinary hotel, but arguably the most iconic and architecturally stunning hotel in Singapore. The club is in the sky park on the top, which is floor 57, and I think that says it all. The view of the night-time Singapore was absolutely mesmerising! And to add to the greatness of it all, it was ‘Ladies Night’ which meant free entry and a free drink, to a place which is usually very expensive. What can I say, go ladies, and thank you very much! J

I met two wonderful girls in the lift on the way up and we had an amazing time dancing before I found my other friend. We moved on to another club a bit later (bearing in mind that this is Wednesday!) and had fun there too, but there is nothing quite like that view on the top of MBS...

Day 24

I actually woke up before my alarm and made it to work before 8.30am. Who needs sleep? But I dooo... My level of productivity wasn’t great today, but I tried my best (haha) J I had delicious Indian food for lunch (and they again laughed at me because I ate it with chop sticks, which is weird... apparently!)

In the evening I went to see a film screening of Les Miserables, which was just the right thing for tonight. I wasn’t convinced by the singing at first, but then I got into it and enjoyed it very much... And of course my friend and I walked home filled with emotion and a strong desire to sing all the songs rather loudly (which is exactly what we did.)

Day 25

Today was the actual birthday of one of my colleagues, so we went out for a great lunch (again!!) For his birthday I made him a mini person/robot out of fully recycled materials J so today was quite chilled once more (again, this is clearly unrelated, but our boss was on leave today too...) On the way to the lunch place, my colleague and I actually managed to come up with some great Eco-foodcourt messages, so let’s assume that some important work got done today. And anyway, it’s Friday, which means that there needs to be a work pause (even in the world of eco-warriors, who have a duty to spread their message wherever they go and whatever day it may be... which is what I’m trying my very best to do actually).

In the evening, I realised that life can be a very funny thing; even though I’ve thought this many a time before, I never cease to be amazed at some of the things which happen.

I’d seen a poster for a soloist violin concert for this evening, and at the last minute decided to go along. I went straight from work and it took me a while to find the place, but finally I arrived (10 minutes late, having ran from the train station and having managed to step in some paint and slightly anger the painters in the process). The venue was a wonderfully cosy music and arts centre which had only recently been set up. Luckily the concert hadn’t started yet, and a lovely lady welcomed me in and showed me around the place.

The concert was very moving and a real treat, both to the ears and to the soul. Then, as I looked around, I soon realised that the event had a rather familiar Russian feel to it. As it turned out, the performer was Russian and that many Russians were behind the setting up of this centre. The violinist’s Dad is a professional flautist (yay!), and on top of all of this, the performer’s friend who came to watch the concert is a Singaporean who now lives in London!! Such a small centre, and so many unbelievable links... So I chatted to everyone (in Russian and English) and enjoyed the grandma’s delicious Russian cooking – so now I’ve had Russian food here too!!

After the concert there was an art workshop, in which they sat us all down at easels and taught us about drawing apples (of all things!) It was fun, and really interesting to learn some proper drawing theories and techniques. Then the violinist, his London friend (who also turned out to be a musician) and I carried on our conversations in a great little bar, where there was soothing live jazz and tropical cocktails. So there we are, I’ve now met the Singaporean-Russians, and what I’d planned as a short concert and a quiet night in, turned out to be a really special evening after which I only just made the last train home (again!)   

Around the world and back

Day 12

For the first part of today I honestly forgot which country I was in. I went to an area called Little India, and was exposed to a whole new side of Singapore. There were endless market stalls selling fruits and vegetables of every colour of the rainbow, people and cars competing for the roads, mouth-watering aromas of spices coming from every house and the most dazzling saris whichever direction I looked in. I strolled through the area in amazement of the vibrancy and buzz of Little India, with everyone buying, selling or shouting something or other. The area was also home to numerous temples and mosques (the names of which I could list, but I’d only be copying out of my book! For example... Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple). They were all so intricately decorated with stunning colours and creatures, and I felt warmly welcomed inside each one.

I then ventured into Kampong Glam, which was once home to the Malayan aristocracy and then became an area for Arab and Malay merchants. Located here is the beautiful Sultan Mosque, the largest mosque in Singapore, which exhibits both elegance and opulence with its cream exterior and perfect golden domes. The area was bustling with activity, music and Middle Eastern delights (mmm J). To better understand the origins and intricacies of this area, I went to the Malay Heritage Centre, in which everyone had to take their shoes off! So my feet enjoyed a good rest while I read all about the sultans who settled here originally, Malay music and the gossip which permeated, and still probably permeates, the local cafes.

On the way home I decided to stop at a place where, according to my map, there was meant to be a park. Only after I’d spent some time in there did I realise that it was actually a private and super exclusive golf course (with signs saying ‘no trespassing under any circumstances!’). I made myself look like I belonged (I clearly didn’t!) until I finally found my way out, and made it home safely. In the evening, I continued on my journey through the world and this time... in German style! They’d drunk all the beer by the time I arrived so I was given water, but it was fun anyway J So, it seems like whoever you are in Singapore, wherever you’re from and whatever your religion, you can surely find your niche.  

Day 13

After a long and lazy morning, I decided that today was the perfect day to reconnect with nature. I chose to get off at an underground station which was relatively close to a huge nature reservoir, but I had no map of the area and hadn’t really figured out the directions (sadly not all geographers have inbuilt GPS systems!) I wondered round a residential area for a while, which was also interesting, before eventually finding the Machritchie Reservoir and nature reserve. Without planning to, I ended up going on a pretty long circular hike around the nature reserve, which was part jungle and part very well maintained park. My route featured an amazing tree top walk in which I could see across the whole canopy and beyond. It also featured numerous wild monkeys who swung through the trees and strolled across the paths freely. The adults looked really wise and judgemental, and the babies looked super sweet (and very mischievous!)

When I was ready to say goodbye to the monkeys, I went to explore a new area called Joo Chiat. This is yet another place where the atmosphere is what counts the most, but there are also things to see. Several of the streets are lined with traditional shop-houses (narrow houses which originally had businesses on the ground floor and living areas above), each of which is a different colour and features its own intricate designs. They looked so quaint and picturesque! There was also a beautiful Buddhist temple and a Hindu temple in which I was very lucky to see an Indian-style wedding. These places take colourfulness to a new extreme, even for me!!

The day seamlessly rolled into a wonderful evening as I met up with my local friends for dinner and chit-chat. We wondered through a market and right onto Arab Street, which featured lots of quirky shops, shisha bars and more. We also saw the most stunning chandelier, made up of many multi-coloured little lanterns. I think it semi-hypnotised us, and I promised the shop keeper that I’d come back and buy it if I ever earn that much money. But for now, I was more than happy to just enjoy yet another Singaporean evening.    

Day 14

The weekend seemed to fly by and before I knew it, it was time to get back to work. For some reason I felt really sleepy at work today. But that’s not a problem - the chairs are really comfy so I managed to have a five minute nap without anyone noticing J I plodded along with my research, looking into ways through which to engage staff and students in environmental issues. It would be so great if they could just engage themselves somehow. Come on people!!

After work I went to the cinema with two of my lovely colleagues to watch White House Down. That certainly woke me up, and I came out feeling like I seriously need to take a self defence class. Who knows what tomorrow might bring? I might need to climb up an elevator shaft or drive a limo across the White House gardens or step up to be the president’s body guard.

But bed time for now I think...

Day 15

Back to more efficient work today! Although the chair was equally comfy and a nap was equally tempting... Today I designed something which (in my mind) was the perfect cycling scheme for NUS. However, over lunch I was told by my very funny (and much more experienced, pragmatic and realistic than me) colleague that my bike scheme would never be accepted because it would be very expensive, it wouldn’t be approved by the safety department, and so on. Well, it’s good to think idealistically sometimes I guess. But I went back to the drawing board after lunch. I also did some online bike shopping and comparing, which was fun, but I think that my choices were a bit too far skewed towards the girly-city bike style. Maybe they need mountain bikes here with all the hills... And a fan attached to each bike to decrease sweating J

After work a friend and I decided that it was time to check out the university swimming pool. It was so great! The water was perfectly refreshing and as it’s an outdoor pool, we could observe the constantly changing sky as the sun set. It also temporarily calmed my hair down! We had a delicious alfresco dinner followed by freshly squeezed kiwi juice, and I went to bed with my muscles feeling wonderfully relaxed.

Day 16

I think I’m slowly developing an addiction to avocado milkshakes... They’re just so scrumptiously smooth. Although I’m still finding it a bit strange that here they hand you your drink (which is in a plastic cup) either in a plastic bag or in something else made of plastic which resembles a harness with a handle. Surely it would be easier to just hold the plastic cup! Anyway, avocado milkshakes are wonderful, and I just say that I’m okay without a cup harness today, thank you.

Today we had a tour of the School of Environment and Design (which is mostly architecture from what I gather). We were shown all the cool machines – the 3D Styrofoam cutters, the laser cutters, the etching machines – and were told about the various processes which architects have to go through in order to design a structure, building or city. It was really interesting and by the sounds of it, the students (and probably real architects) are likely to have several moments of madness before they are able to produce their final models. Back at my own desk, I decided to start putting together some of my research into something more comprehensible and useful. Of course this meant that prior to any writing, I had to get the fonts, borders and colour scheme juuust right J

In the evening it was time for yet another crazy exercise routine. Each week we run past a cool laser show which looks and sounds very dramatic, but I haven’t actually watched it properly! I’m thinking that next week I might go to the area to chill and watch the show instead... Don’t get me wrong, the exercise plan is amazing and pretty entertaining, but chilling is great too, and I’m not sure how much more bunny hopping (or crazy bird-like arm flapping) I can handle... We’ll see though, I wouldn’t want to let my fellow bunny hoppers down!  

I survived my first full week at work!

Day 7

Back to work today, and I’m still feeling very surprised about how much independence they’re giving me. However, it’s really not because there isn’t anything to do – they’ve given me so many projects to work on and I guess it’s up to me what I do with them. Responsible adults and all that! I met my final colleague today and now our office is complete – the boss, four others and me. So it’s a very cosy office, it’s appropriately green coloured and I get my own little booth just like everyone else (I’ve already started decorating it of course). The irony is that the air conditioning inside can sometimes be so extreme that I get cold and have to go outside to warm up!  

In the evening I met with a friend who I study at university with (who turns out to be staying in my crazy accommodation as well!) She introduced me to her friend, and only after I’d told him some things about England and the Cambridge college system did he tell me that he also goes to Cambridge! So I’ve made a ‘home friend’ in Singapore - what a world! J Over a lovely dinner at U-town, they filled me in on the traditions of the various countries in south-east Asia. Many people from Malaysia, Singapore and several other countries in the region eat with a spoon and fork (rather than a fork and knife and rather than chop-sticks) but I opt for my favourite chop sticks every time!  It was so interesting, and opened my eyes to the intricacies of each culture, dish and country of this fascinating region.

Day 8

I decided to talk to my boss today and ask for some work clarification, but she mostly just confirmed what we’d already spoken about. So it’s time to organise and develop a plan of my own I think... Or perhaps in a few days J We had a delicious Korean lunch today - my food education is definitely coming along well! I don’t know what food they don’t have here (a challenge could definitely be to map the world through food without leaving Singapore...)

After an afternoon of work, I was very lucky to be invited to see some of the NUS students graduate (my colleagues were going to congratulate one of their past interns on graduating). It was such a great event, and the buzz of pride and happiness was very special. A graduation tradition here, which I really think should be adopted by everyone, is that students who are graduating (both boys and girls) receive huge teddies and lots of beautiful flowers. Of course we still need teddies as we enter the working world, you can’t go wrong with flowers and the photos were brightened up no end! They even put the mortarboard on me for a bit, which definitely made me forget (temporarily) that my study days are not over just yet!

After the ceremony, I decided to see what lay beyond the university campus and was pleased to find the huge Kent Ridge Park. This area is very hilly (which makes it rather tricky to develop any sort of bike scheme!) but once I’d climbed the hill of the park, the view that opened up was very much worth it. As the night was clear, I could see the whole harbour and beyond, filled with shimmering little lights and delicate waves.

Day 9

I had to venture into the ministry of manpower before work today to get my documents verified, and now I can officially work (yay!). The finger printing took a while because apparently my thumb was too dry, so the guy had to go and fetch some moisturiser! But thankfully all went smoothly apart from that. Then it was back to work, but not for long...

Today I’d been given the exciting task of going to a huge corporate gifts fair to choose some ‘sustainable’ prizes for various competitions along with some other goodies for the university. There were so many stalls, each trying to sell us their pens, note pads, flasks, bags... I went with another girl from the office, but as I was technically using my boss’ ticket, I was given a badge labelled ‘director’. So, I wondered through the fair with people assuming that I was in charge and thinking that I could make the decision to order 1000 of this and 700 of that (I didn’t of course, but it was a very fun role to play!)

As the fair was in Clarke Quay (the place where I made my bunny hopping friends last week), I decided that this was a sign that I had to take them up on the exercise invitation... J Well, be careful what you wish for I guess, because that was the most intense exercise plan I’d done in a veeery long time! It was fun though, and I survived.

Day 10

For me, the best form of office work is when you get to do things outside of the office, and today was one of those days. In the morning we had a meeting with a professor from the Engineering department so that he could show us what eco-projects they’re currently working on. There was a very cool eco-sports car! We also had to present our findings from the corporate gift fair to our boss. Then, the forces of nature meant that we had a slightly extended lunch hour - the heat here is occasionally interrupted by intense storms which appear to come from nowhere, and the only way to stay dry is to wait them out inside. In the afternoon we went to see some presentations and projects about ‘Future Cities’, which were really interesting! I loved the creative vibe of the event and it certainly put me in the mood to design a funky city.    

Then I hopped on the train/underground (I’m still not sure what it is – both I think!) and met some buddies for yet more delicious local food near the harbour front. What shocks me every time here is that so much can be built on what is actually reclaimed land – there is a lighthouse close to the centre of Singapore which used to be on the original coastline! We walked across the footbridge to Sentosa, which is the lively and exciting island to the south of the mainland. There was a very impressive fountain show which also featured flames and music, and I enjoyed being swept along by the evening sea breeze. I am told that there is much more to explore on this island, so I’ll be back...  

Day 11

What would we do without the internet nowadays? My research would be so much harder if I couldn’t just type in ‘successful university campus bike schemes’ or ‘social enterprises in Singapore’ into Google. I also came across the work which past students have produced after this program and realised that I have A LOT of work to do – their reports were incredible, very long, very professional and very detailed. Hmm... I’ve still got plenty of time though J The university has a free campus shuttle bus service, which means that it’s possible to explore a different canteen everyday – today was lunch with the scientists. And then I spent the afternoon designing posters to promote sustainable consumption and cycling. I got so into it that before I knew it, it was already the end of the day!

The great thing about working a full time week is that the weekend becomes something very special. As Friday draws to an end, the restless atmosphere builds up and the sense of freedom approaches... Tonight, a colleague (friend!) and I went for sushi followed by a talk by the Singaporean minister for foreign affairs. He spoke about the future of Singapore in the context of a changing world, which was really interesting and once again reminded me how important, dynamic, competitive and exciting south-east Asia really is. My first full week at work has been a great one, filled with fun and variety, and I was definitely ready for a deep, long sleep...

It's so hot!!

Day 4

So at work they’re just letting me do my own thing really. They haven’t told me exactly what they want me to present to them at the end, so I’m just chilling with some sustainability research at the minute – different types of food digesters to recycle organic waste, different bike schemes, different products from recycled materials, etc. Interesting stuff J and there were some yummy snacks at work today, although it was slightly unlucky that my boss saw me hanging out (‘networking’) by the snacks and coffee machine several times (and it’s only my second day at work, oops!) I also had an incident with the soap machine today - I put my hands under the automatic soap machine in the toilets, and then it just wouldn’t stop!! So I ended up putting both my hands under the machine and trying to capture all the soap to put back in the machine. Oh technology! The lady who was waiting to use the toilet must have been very puzzled by what took me so long... After lunch I was introduced to a green surprise in the form of an avocado milkshake. I was a bit sceptical at first, but it was actually really great (for those who like avocados and milkshakes of course).

To celebrate the start of the weekend I decided to go on a mini adventure to the botanical gardens. They seemed endless, and I had so much fun wondering through the healing garden, the ginger garden, the orchid garden and so on... And the sounds of the flowing water and birds were very calming as the night approached. Suddenly I realised that it was super late and felt like I was Tarzan (in girl form) fighting my way through a jungle to find civilization (oh the things which you can convince yourself of when you’re alone!) I’ll definitely be going back there though! Once I’d reached ‘civilization’, I had a yummy Thai meal which featured five different coloured vegetables, each of which is considered lucky for various reasons (exactly my style!)

Day 5

The sun was blazing hot today as I headed into China Town. This China Town was different to any other China Town I’ve ever been to, because I could picture how the original Chinese immigrants who came here in the 19^th century lived. The Heritage Centre (museum) recreated their tiny rooms, opium dens, taylors and street vendors so well, and the various temples around the area were beautiful (you can’t go wrong with so many vibrant colours!) The vibes of the narrow bustling streets gave the area so much character, but it was also great to find some retreat in a tiny quiet restaurant in the home of an old Chinese man, who I had a great chat with.

I walked and walked through various neighbourhoods and parks, stopping occasionally for an air conditioning break (there are SO many fancy shopping centres here, and what seems like infinite munching opportunities.) Eventually I reached Clarke Quay, where I chatted to a friendly local about life in Singapore. I hadn’t realised but it turned out that today was a practice for National Day, which meant that there were concerts, celebrations, music, and more (including a long parade of army tanks which meant that I had to wait for ages to cross the road). So without planning to, I’d ended up at the spot which was definitely the place to be tonight, yay! There are so many modern and crazy shaped buildings in this area – I definitely felt like I was living in some futuristic technological paradise. I wondered through the crowds and crossed a long bridge to the other side of the harbour, where there was yet another huge designer shopping centre.

More excitingly, located here are the Gardens by the Bay, which are mostly an exhibit of  natural beauty (with some unexpected humongous man-made trees – photos will have to follow here, because these things were definitely beyond me!) Anyway, the views were stunning, especially as it got dark and the infamous Marina Bay Sands hotel and the whole area lit up. Mmm the summer evening air was ideal.

And the night got even better as I made some friends - they were so sweet and adopted me wholeheartedly, taking me to all the cool places in the area! We listened to some Malay music, saw the Merlion (the symbol of Singapore – a mermaid fused with a lion), strolled into the fancy Fullerton Hotel as if we belonged, chilled along the river... I got the last train home and congratulated my feet on such an exciting day of trekking through the city.

Day 6

I can’t believe that I’ve only been here for 6 days! Today I was lucky enough to explore Singapore through the eyes of a local, as a friend who I go to university with kindly took me around. It was so great to see some of the residential areas and to eat in the local food courts – such a delicious noodle soup (although almost impossible to eat gracefully!) We went to the National Art Gallery, where there were some very unique exhibits, most of which were modern and quite futuristic. I probably shouldn’t describe all my thoughts about them here, but some definitely stuck in my mind, either because of their message or because of their craziness (in one piece of art we had to sit down on a sofa attached to a wall and were spun round into a different room where we had to walk around in 3D glasses!) We wondered around some more and I was really enjoying not having to whip my map out every five minutes. Then I tried a drink which had green grass jelly (!?) in it, by which I wasn’t very convinced.

Then it was time for some more solo exploring, this time in the area of Tiong Bahru. This was a really cool area where the buildings were low rise and instead of big global brands, there were local craft shops, arty cafes and a really quirky independent bookstore (where I decided to support the local business J).

On the way home I stopped off to buy some fruit (which I washed reaaally well, don’t worry mum). As well as the usual apples, I bought a Vietnamese Dragon Fruit, which looked pretty insane, but tasted yummy. In the evening I decided that I wasn’t making enough use of the accommodation facilities and went exploring (in the hope of finding a TV to watch the Wimbledon final). Instead, I discovered some real tennis courts, an amphitheatre (!), two ponds, lots of cafes, and lots of young Chinese children screaming at a pantomime...

And so the journey begins...

Day 1

A big welcome to all from the mini sauna which will be my home for the next six weeks. I’m in Singapore doing a project about sustainability on the university (NUS) campus. I can’t tell you much (or anything really) about the work at the moment, but the adventure has definitely begun and there are already stories to tell!

The journey here, from London, to Dubai, to Singapore, felt surprisingly quick. That’s probably due to my slightly irrational love of airports. It’s definitely not because of the duty free or the sitting around with nothing to do, but mostly because of the idea of airports – they are the gateways through which we can reach any country in the world. So the flights were quite fun (and rather entertaining when I woke up and realised that I’d unintentionally fallen asleep on the shoulder of the German boy who I was sat next to! I guess that’s one way to make friends...).

Never seeking the easy option, I decided to take the underground instead of a taxi from the airport, which meant trailing my suitcase around, but otherwise was not a problem at all. The diversity of people in Singapore is just incredible! And it really is as clean as everyone says - I’ve probably only seen one piece of rubbish on the floor since I’ve been here. And people seem really friendly - after only a few minutes on the shuttle bus on the NUS campus somebody already approached me to chat and offered to help me! Yay J I met the really lovely lady in charge of my exchange and she helped me to settle into my accommodation (which is by far the most humungous and confusing, but quite exciting, building I have ever seen!) Then, sleep was one option, but exploring seemed like a better option. But first, I had to figure out how the key, which looks more like a mini space ship than a key, works. Unlocking the door was fine. But locking my door was a different issue altogether. Anyway, after 45 minutes of fiddling and clicking I was good to go. As I walked out of my room, in the near distance I saw a vending machine, and realised that I hadn’t had a drink since the airport. On a sudden mission to avoid dehydration, I walked towards this vending machine. But given the 3D maze which is this building, half an hour later I was still searching. Eventually I wondered into a room which had a different vending machine and happily sipped my 7-Up, still slightly perplexed by the location of the first vending machine. The next challenge was to leave the building, which I met only after another hour or so of wondering round (and venturing into a multi-storey car park which was attached to the building). Let’s pretend that it was all part of my exploration plan!

I hopped on the tube to Holland Village, which is a vibrant and exciting area of restaurants, bars, shops and so on. As I wondered around and soaked in the vibes, I was already overwhelmed by the extensive choice of food available. Thai, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Indonesian... You name it! I can definitely get used to so much yumminess. Although this means that I really have to become more decisive... On the way home I met a beautiful new friend, who said that I looked and sounded like Emma Watson. Definite brownie points for her!

Day 2

Sleep was very welcome indeed! I woke up at 11.30am (4.30am in England – not too bad at all!) and decided to explore the NUS campus, which seems like a mini city in itself. There’s a really convenient free shuttle bus which I took to the University Cultural Centre, where I checked out the NUS museum and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (which was rather empty, but I’m sure provides amazing concerts and facilities). I was feeling quite warm, and whereas in most countries the last thing I’d want to do is go on the underground, the underground here is so wonderfully air conditioned that a journey into town was much appreciated. I got off at City Hall (there’s such a range of street and station names here, from all over the world) and walked to the Raffles Hotel. I guess this simultaneously represents past colonialism, and the present beauty and wealth of Singapore. As well as the hotel, Raffles is home to abundant expensive boutiques, antique shops and galleries, and many serene courtyards and gardens which are adorned with palm trees and other greenery. The flora in Singapore is just incredible... I feel like I’m living in several parallel worlds – an exotic jungle, a sphere of powerful finance, a land of unlimited food...

I walked to Clarke Quay, the beautiful river side, through Fort Canning Park. Here, in the spice garden, my nose received a gift like none before. As I came to each new bush or shrub, I was overpowered by a new intoxicating smell, which lingered before being replaced by a new, equally exotic smell. I reached the Quay just as the sun was setting and the atmosphere was perfect. As I walked along the riverside, I was immersed in the lively buzz and laughter of the streets and restaurants. The ripples on the water and the multicoloured quaint houses lining the river were lit up beautifully by the fading sunlight. After a delicious rice and seafood platter, I sleepily wandered back to the station, lost in my own thoughts.

All of a sudden, I heard ‘Come on, join in!’ and looked around to see a group of five or so very sweaty people on some exercise routine. Now, this area is the Singaporean equivalent of London’s City, and is pretty upmarket. I was wearing a dress and sandals, but as I was in no position to turn down friends, I said okay! So the guy told us all that we were going to bunny hop and before I knew it, I was bunny hopping along with what turned out to be a group of bankers (female and male!) who do a weekly exercise class after work. I was certainly entertained, they were entertained by my attempts to bunny hop, and I’m sure that everyone around us was equally entertained. And the craziest thing is that they’ve invited me along with them again next week!!

Just to add to the excitement of that evening, I got lost in my accommodation once again. When I got back, I persistently tried to get into a room which I was convinced was mine, but turned out to be the equivalent room on a different floor! The people who came out to deal with me were very confused at first (because I told them again and again that this was my room), but were surprisingly understanding considering that one of them had been woken up to sort me out...

Day 3

Today was my first day at work, where I had to be at 8.30am. I was slightly apprehensive about such an early rise, but all went to plan. My shuttle bus journey was brightened up by another new buddy who wanted to ensure that I got to where I needed - he said that he had some time and could do another round on the circular bus route, so he missed his stop just so that he could deliver me to the right place!

And the day pretty much followed in the same jolly way. I was given a great tour of the building where I’d be doing my sustainability project, which is designed to be wonderfully sustainable itself. The roof garden is especially cool! The work which I’ll be doing also sounds really exciting, and I’m definitely ready to start researching. And while I’m on the topic, these are issues which we can and should all research – reducing energy use, recycling, reducing food waste, decreasing our emissions of greenhouse gasses, reducing our water usage, preserving biodiversity... These issues affect every one of us every single day, and should therefore be on our minds every single day. I feel very lucky to be in such an amazing place doing such interesting and globally important work.

Lunch was characterised by an ubiquitous choice of food and laughter with my three new colleagues, who I already like very much for their friendliness, helpfulness and humour! After a few more briefings and meetings, we were released at 6pm. Feeling quite proud of myself for surviving a full day of work in the real world (although a very exotic version of the real world), I headed to U-town, which is a new part of campus dedicated to yet more cafes, restaurants and shops. There I experienced how Starbucks has adapted to local tastes – a green tea frappuccino!! The air con in the office had actually made me rather chilly, so I relaxed on the grass for a bit before navigating my way back to my room, making sure to get the right room this time.  

Note to self: no volume of anti-frizz shampoo can save my hair from this humidity!! See Friends episode where Monica plays table tennis for reference...