Day 7 : Singapore Botanical Garden

My last full day in Singapore is upon me 🙁

On this day I chose to visit the Singapore Botanical Garden, Vegan Burg and Marina Bay. Check out the photo story below.

At the botanical garden I felt consumed by all the beauty and nature and wonderful floral scents. I wanted to do a picnic and layout with a book but those plans did not pan out.

There were so many couples and families in the park. I smiled at everyone that passed by and felt all the love that was in the park. Even though I appeared to be feeling good on the outside, I was struck with a bout of loneliness while wondering around.

It was the only time I had felt like this during the week of travels. I sat down on  bench to rest my feet (and sulk). Suddenly I saw the most colorful butterfly I had ever seen. It was white, yellow, orange and black. It seemed very content floating around by itself and expanding its beautiful wings for me. I tried to snap a good picture but it wouldn’t stay still long enough.

I watched the butterfly weave away into the flower bush near by. Watching it felt like a really symbolic moment.

Something I was supposed to take note of and internalize.

The butterfly was so content wandering around by itself exposing such exotic and unique colors as it whispered to each flower and bush.

It’s as though it wanted me to always remember the beauty of traveling and exploring my surrounds. Regardless of whether I am alone or not.

It wanted me to remember to stay comfortable in my dark brown sun kissed skin no matter how many people stare or even glare as I walked by.

And you know what? I came out of the sulky feeling quickly haha. I am happy and I am doing what I love to do most, by myself .

Hmmm….that is one really cool butterfly I thought. 🙂

Before Marina Bay I went to find to Vegan Burg. It’s a vegan burger place I read about online. I really wanted to try it. I took over and hour on the bus ( and walking in the rain) to get to the restaurant. But it was so worth it!
Here is a picture of what I ate.

inside and outside the restaurant 🙂

Stuffed liked a Christmas day chicken I headed back to take the train station to find my way to Marina bay.
It was really nice and cool out there. The Marina Bay Sands hotel looks even better in person. This picture doesn’t do it much justice. I stayed in this area for a few hours. I enjoyed a Milk tea and Iced Horlicks! I love Horlicks. I can’t find it in Korea. But I have found Milo in a “foreigners mart” in Korea.

After enjoying the bay, I got in my last bit of shopping. I went to Burqis street and Halji lane (which is very close to Arab street). I got a pastry snack and lychee bubble tea. I wanted to get rid of the last coins that  I had.

You can’t change coins at the currency exchange counters. I headed back to the hostel and thought  my last night in Singapore was just as good as the first.

When I returned to Wink my room was blazing HOT!. WHY??? Apparently the air conditioner broke. Are you serious?! The place was booked solid so they could not change my room. The guy at the front desk was so understanding about it. He gave me and my roommates free beverages and said they would have someone come by and fix it, hopefully tonight. Now I’m a pretty calm person, or at least that’s what people who meet me say, so I was like “meh whatever”. But don’t get me wrong it was BLAZING HOT! Haha.

I showered and repacked my bags. Thank goodness I didn’t buy too many things. Just some spices, soaps, henna, a pair of shoes, a dress and a skirt. Everything fit nicely into my bag. I was covered in sweat when I was done and the repairman came, yay! I went out to the lobby and read a magazine while he fixed the air con.
They told us he was done an hour later so we could return to our room. I don’t know what he did but our room felt like Antarctica afterwards. Or like my office in Korea. I wonder if the “Korean office ghost” did that on purpose as a way to remind me I was returning back to winter 🙁

I got into my cozy bed and fell quickly into a deep slumber after midnight.

My shuttle bus pickup to the airport would meet me at 7am the next morning in front of the hostel. My return home was pretty uneventful and the stop over in the Shanghai airport was very boring.

Update: I am back home now and back at school. I enjoyed my time away so much! And to think I wasn’t going to go anywhere. I literally planned my trip the week before I left and it was still under budget. Anyone can travel and experience  a great time abroad with the right planning and motivation.

If I can do it…so can you!