The last leg on our trip is Singapore, a city and country in one. My friend Jason lives here with his family and he’s picking us up from the airport. As we’re on our way down on the escalator I suddenly hear “Up Dog” (related to a joke he used to make when I last saw him 9 years ago) and immediately I know it is him. Singapore Airport is like no other airport I’ve seen so far: it has amazing art and amenities like a pool, a movie theater and water fountains. Jason shows us around the airport (a sight by itself) before he takes us home and introduces us to his family.
Jason is on a temporary assignment in Singapore and found himself an apartment with an amazing view. We quickly drop our stuff and head out to explore the city. Singapore is very different from what we’ve seen in Indonesia. It is more ‘westernized’, way more expensive and there is no trash to be found on the streets. You can’t smoke, eat or drink in public spaces without getting fined heavily. “Singapore has some very strict regulations”, according to Jason. “As a result the city is very clean and there is hardly any crime or corruption”, he continues.
As we’re walking through the city center we notice a lot of interesting buildings. This place seems to be an architectural dream. The surroundings are often so surreal that I feel I’m in some kind of theme park. We visit the Gardens at the Bay: a futuristic fusion of nature and urban life spanning 250 acres. It houses the worlds largest glass greenhouse and indoor waterfall.
Twice each evening the ‘trees’ light up for a show while opera songs fill the air. When we walk to the harbor afterwards we’re right on time for the most amazing water fountain show I’ve ever seen. Soft melodies are mixed with hard drums and the water is ‘sprayed’ into the air in different shapes and colored with lasers. The show is telling a story about Singapore’s journey to becoming the cosmopolitan city of today. I thought the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas put on a nice show, but this is on a whole new level!
The next day, we start with some delicious home made pancakes and get ready for a 8km TreeTop walk. Like every day here it is pretty hot, humid and sweaty. Most locals appear to prefer the inside of the malls (where there is air conditioning) over nature as there is hardly anyone else on this trail. It is a beautiful walk and we encounter monkeys, wild pigs and many lizards.
The six of us have only been hanging out together for two days, but it feels much longer than that. When the time comes to say goodby I feel a little bit sad. It was so much fun spending time together and playing with Jason’s kids. Something tells me this feeling was mutual as we get sincere hugs from the whole family and questions from the kids about why we have to leave.
Koen and I check in to a hotel for our last night and go bar hopping. The only bars in the neighborhood of our hotel seem to be karaoke bars. After we order a beer an old man approaches us: “Welcome guys! I’m the boss of this place. Do you want to sing?” Before Koen can decline his offer I reply: “Yes sir, yes we do! How about some Celine Dion?” We hop between three karaoke bars and treat the audience to some outstanding performances of Frank Sinatra, John Denver, Michael Buble, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and yes... Celine Dion. “Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you!”
Like all great things, this trip comes to an end as our flight takes us back to Amsterdam. We’re switching shorts for jeans and sun lotion for scarfs. Ah well..
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