Travel lessons learned on the spot.
Introduction:
Ni Hao!
I have always wanted to travel. The ability to appreciate other cultures and their customs was a value my parents instilled in me at a very young age. Traveling alone at an age of 15 was terrifying and unsettling, but it prepared me to travel as an adult. Now I am much too intrigued by wild looking fruits and ruthless desserts to be frightened of a different zip code. I’d like to share this experience with the people I care about who happen to live on the other side of the planet. If I can persuade just one of them to visit me, this blog will be a success.
Why Polka Dots?
After learning that Singapore is the kind of place one needs to have an umbrella on hand always, my mother bought me this polka dot umbrella. It's important to have a cheery umbrella, and this one certainly brings a bit of sunshine to a rainy day. When I can’t find my keys or I’ve forgotten to pack a pen in my purse, I’m sure to have my umbrella.
History:
Since the colonization of Singapore by the British Empire, this small island at the tip of Malaysia has taken advantage of its watery location and made itself into an incredible port of commerce. Singapore declared its independence as a country in 1963. Since then it has flourished as a city characterized by cleverness and efficiency. There are practices here that literally put the way we do things in America to shame.
Purpose:
1) Hopefully, this blog will be witness to something exciting and interesting.
2) "You don’t learn anything until you write it down.” Lessons are all around us, everyday. It is a matter or recognizing what one has learned that prevents it from being lost.
3) Ultimately, and if all other goals fail, the most important goal of this blog is to entertain my eccentric and internet surfing mother.
These shoes were not made for walking
My most beloved pair of walking shoes, which stitch comfort and style together seamlessly, are unfortunately not what they appear to be. Actually, I think they are still great walking shoes, just not in Singapore, where the walking never stops.
The public transport here is incredible. Think Carte d’Orange in Paris, but you can use it on the metro as well as all of the buses. No tripping over quarters and dimes here, one little prepaid card can get you around the city above and below ground.
