Last Day in Singapore

Has it really been 6 weeks already?  It seems like I moved to Singapore not so long ago and just settled in nicely.  I spent my last day going to a few places that I still hadn't gone to yet.

Infinity Pool at the Marina Bay Sands Resort

Singapore Skyline from the Marina Bay Sands Resort

Gardens by the Bay

I definitely won't miss the weather (way too hot) but the food and the people have been amazing.  I met some really great pharmacy friends along the way and we'll definitely keep in touch.

This was a fantastic once in a lifetime experience that I would recommend to any pharmacy student.  Living in another country, working with a different system, and stepping a little outside your comfort zone really helps make the pharmacy school experience that much richer and fulfilling.  Boarding my flight to my final destination (Hong Kong) before coming home, I think I will have to come back some time just to eat some more!

Airbus A380 Double Decker to HKG

 

Random Food Pics 8

The past few days have been really fun because I got to meet up with my cousin in KL whom I haven't seen in 12 years!  Of course we went to some more tasty restaurants but KL is just as hot as Singapore is:

Nasi Lemak

Ice Kachong

Chendol

Kuala Lumpur Skyline

Then when I got back to Singapore and nearing the end of my time here, my co-students and co-workers took me to the last thing I had to eat before leaving Singapore - chili crab!  The spicy, creamy sauce paired well with the sweet crab meat - very "shiok" as Singaporeans would say.

Bamboo Garlic Clams

Rojak Chicken

Fried Tofu

Chili Crab

Butter Crab

A few other places I had to try before I left: a cheap French restaurant and a Japanese specialty restaurant from Tokyo known for tonkotsu, both delicious in their own ways!

Dried Shrimp Pasta

Pan Seared Barramundi

Special Kuro Pork Tonkotsu Don and Croquette

I always feel the best way to explore a city is through its food and I think I will miss it when I'm gone.

Off to Malaysia!

I decided to save some money in going to Kuala Lumpur by catching a bus directly in Malaysia from the southern city of Johor Bahru instead of from Singapore but I had no idea how much work was involved.  First I had to take the subway to a station close to the border.  Then I had to take a public transit bus to the border, get off, go through Singapore customs, then get back on the bus.  After crossing the border, I had to get off again, go through Malaysian customs, get back on the bus, and finally go to the main bus terminal in Johor Bahru.

I boarded my bus to Kuala Lumpur (KL) but we actually ended up departing an hour late because here apparently, they don't like to leave on time unless the bus is full so we waited to fill the rest of the seats.  

5 hours later and I finally made it!  Traffic in Kuala Lumpur is horrendous and highly disorganized.  People jaywalk in KL all the time, directly in front of oncoming traffic!  On many roads, people walk right next to a slowly driving car.  Surprisingly, I was told this is the norm and no one really honks at pedestrians.  It really takes a iron stomach to drive in this city.

First, I visited the Batu Caves which is a historic heritage site here that is of particular religious importance to Hinduism.  There are a lot of roaming monkeys here that like to grab your camera or bottle or whatever you're holding if you're not careful.  It's actually a really unique place that I haven't seen anywhere else before although it took an hour to get here because it is on the outskirts of KL:

I took a quick detour to the Petronas Towers at night before returning to the hotel and it really lights up the skyline:

 

Tourist for a Day, Part 5

Mostly just pictures here of how I spent the day around Singapore before my side trip to Malaysia...

Nasi Lemak

Sentosa Waterfront

The Merlion

 

Tourist for a Day, Part 4

The past 2 days I visited Sentosa Island, south of the main city which is something of a resort destination with beaches, attractions, and shows.  I like aquariums so I had to go to the world's largest oceanarium that just opened 3 weeks ago (guess it was good timing!).  The best thing here is that they give students so many discounts.  I've been able to get free or reduced price admission just for showing my student ID!

Yes there's a Universal Studios Theme Park here but it was too expensive!

Bridge to...see below

View out to the South China Sea from the Southernmost point of continental Asia

Crane Dance Show

Then to the main reason I came to the island: