bye singapore~

day 8&9

day 8

7-11 coming in clutch again with a snack and pocari sweat before we moved hotels one last time to be a bit closer to the airport and just things on the east side. we could even spot the sea!

we met a family friend who has lived here for many years. she seems to know the area like the back of her hand (once lived nearby) and led us to the Peranakan houses in and around joo chiat lane. i'm kind of surprised that these houses are so well known because honestly, the style is sprinkled around the city. then again this strip of them was particularly colorful. Peranakan defined by the Peranakan Museum is "the status of cultural identity and refers to a range of mixed heritage communities. their unifying trait is the melding of ancestral cultures - chinese, indian, arab, european, and others — with the indigenous cultures of the malay-indonesian archipelago." there are even subgroups/communities: Chinese Peranakans, Chitty Melakans, Peranakan Indians, as well as Jawi and Arab Peranakans.

as peak of day was approaching, our friend took us to authentic Muslim food.

afterwards, we checked out east coast park which is really lively with picnics/gatherings everywhere, bicyclists, rollerbladers and the fun of swimming and the cool sea breeze. i could also finally make out some of the text on the ships "cosco, baltic, MSC..."

we then had dinner on the beach. mom got laksa and i got mie goreng along with a spiced iced chai!

day 9

the next morning, we had a late start to our last full day here. but eventually, we got around to riding the double decker bus to the Peranakan Museum. i think it was really well done and the perfect amount of museum, in that you're not standing for so long when you like to read everything like mom and i do.

they had oral histories, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, cloth and beadwork. ah, it was so good!

afterward, we met with our local friend again for snacks at a bar on emerald hill, a super cute alley situation.

and then it was already time to pack and organize for our flight tomorrow. it went by so quickly but we did so many cool things. see ya later singapore~

for your enjoyment: round mirror selfies

also, just got to the airport and at changi, they do security at the gate! idk, seems much more efficient. then again you can't take food and drink in....which would you prefer?

謝謝新加坡~

thanks singapore it's been real

♡蘇晨

pov: JV

Oh I guess I misssed commenting on River Hongbao - another Chinese New Year celebration we went to on New Years Day at Gardens by the Bay (sorry for jumping back a day!). On the way there we walked past some free public cultural performances and went into a mall to try to escape the heat. The mall was so crowded that it was hot inside, as hot as outside! There was a really cool light and crystal art installation though, fun to watch kids chase projected images of butterflies, flowers, and frogs around on the floor.

At River Hungbao we watched the light show at the Super Trees, then enjoyed another lion dance and major firecrackers - many really long strings of firecrackers. It was very crowded, we sat and stood on a cement planter for about 3 hours. It rained a bit before we left, but after we got back to the hotel it really poured - so although I am sorry that Sophia missed the rest of the show, I was glad we were not out there in the downpour. We finished off the evening at the hotel pool.

It was super special to see Kirsty Kelly, who we know from our time in China during Sophia's adoption. She is a part of our family's story! We have stayed in touch on Facebook and as fate and luck would have it, Kirsty is an educator in Singapore now. After 21+ years we were able to meet up! Kirsty gave us an insider's tour around the Peranakan Houses and the neighborhood, and lunch was delicious. Then on our last day, Kirsty helped me to fulfill one last Singapore wish, visiting a local bar. She selected a shophouse that had been turned into a bar full of cool antique architectural salvage. Delicious Early Grey martini and strawberry drinks. Big hugs and thanks to Kirsty - it was so wonderful to reconnect and learn more about Singapore firsthand from her.

There's so much more we photographed - architecture, murals, food. Ultimately this was a beautiful experience and I am so grateful that I was able to share traveling and exploring with Sophia - I'll never forget it!