Singapore

I read the sign again.
The Last Train Will Leave At 11:10
I look at my watch.  11:30.
Sweet.
I walk to the nearest McDonalds buy a McFlurry and sit down to use the Wi-Fi.  (A handy tip)  I check to see how far the walk is going to be.  4 hours walk back.  Fantastic.  I stop a cab driver and see how much it would be to get a cab back.  He tells me $30 and I pass.  Singapore is safe enough right?  I'll just walk back.  I begin the walk back and that's just it.  No drama happened.  No crazy stories or anything.  I walked through Singapore in the dead of night by myself and nothing happened.  I stumbled upon a raging night market and was persuaded to get my Singapore style on by taking a shot of snake bile vodka.  Although it was disgusting I made friends from it.  Took some more pictures of night in Singapore and loved it.

It was however exactly what I needed.  After what happened in Jakarta I needed safety and calmness.  Singapore boasts that it is the city of the future and I couldn't agree more.  It is a $5000 fine if you are caught littering. A $500 fine if you eat food on their subway system.  All this might sound harsh but it works because everyone abides by it.  The city is spotless. Seriously you can eat off the streets.  And don't get me started on eating. 

The two past-times in Singapore are eating and shopping.  Traveling around the world on a budget does not leave room for shopping but it does mean eating.  They have what are called Horker Stalls.  Picture the food court at the mall.  Now put it outside and put plastic lawn chairs everywhere.  But the food there is outstanding.  From duck inards to the greatest dumplings you have ever had.  Sushi made extreamly fresh and some Indian veggie dish that was fantastic.  I have completely stopped questioning what I eat and it seems to be working just fine.  The most interesting thing I ate however had to be bone marrow soup.  Imagine the color red.  Pure red.  Now put that as the color of the soup.  Not tomato soup red.  Red.  You fish around the bowl till you come across a bone.  Nibble the meat off the end, break it in half, and suck the marrow out.  Sounds grusome but it was delicious.  If I want to feel like I'm really traveling then I need to immerse myself in the culture and eat what they eat. 

So while this stop was not the most interesting, it was exactly what I needed.  I stayed 8 days there and got my Vietnam visa.  Meaning my next stop will in fact be Vietnam.  One of the countries I am most excited for. 

Thanks all for the support and love, you don't know what it means to me.

Picture Time