Life-a learning experience: Slinging our way through Singapore

We left the chaotic city of Jakarta behind and made our way over to the pristine and fine city of Singapore. Our stop in Singapore would allow Jon to see a new country while I enjoyed a visit with my friend Joyce and her husband Francis.

We arrived with just enough time to check into Mandarin Orchard, our hotel, and turn right around to make our way to East Coast Hawker Center for dinner.

A trip to a hawker center is an absolute must when visiting Singapore. In these open-air food courts, you can easily find dishes influenced by a variety of cuisines, from fish noodles and roti prata to nasi goreng and pad thai. A walk through a hawker center can feel like a culinary tour through Asia, with a Singaporean twist. While Singapore is one of the most expensive cities to live in, it's relatively inexpensive to eat well there, especially with the low prices and delicious dishes found at the hawker centers. The East Coast Hawker Center is located in a water front park, boasting beautiful views of the city skyline and a cool breeze.

After getting such little sleep the night before in Jakarta, Jon and I hit the proverbial wall during dinner. Before heading home for the night though, we strolled along the banks of the man-made beach which is the main attraction at East Coast Park. There was a family near the waters' edge preparing to send some Chinese sky lanterns, each filled with a wish, off into the night sky. Realizing that catching this moment was probably more important then catching a few extra minutes of sleep, there we stood as the lanterns were erected, lit and set free. The weightlessness of the lanterns as they glowed bright and rose through the night sky was a moving sight. The scene provided the physical reality for the mental image you have when you think about how a softly spoken whisper can carry a wish.

After recharging our batteries for the night, it was time to show Jon some of the sights in Singapore the next day. Our first stop of the day was the Botanical gardens which also included a visit into the famous orchid house. The entrance fee to the orchid house was relatively inexpensive by Singapore standards, a mere five dollars. However, in an effort to get one over on the man, Jon pulled out his fake student ID card and received a reduced rate of one dollar. Oh my how things change from your late teens into your early thirties...fake IDs to make you appear older and gain access into a bar are replaced by bogus student ID cards to save some money and relieve your youth. Hats off to Jon for bringing his card with him though. In my effort to minimize my packing and reduce the contents of my handbag, my real student IDs from Italy and Lebanon did not make the cut.

We left the respite of the Botanical Gardens behind and made our way over to the Singapore Flyer, the world's largest observation Ferris wheel. Sadly they did not offer a student discount and we just didn't want to shell out the 33 Singapore Dollar asking price. So after walking around the marina for a bit, we decided to stop up to Ku De Ta which is located on the roof top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino. The city view from Ku De Ta was fantastic and we had the added benefit of enjoying a Singapore Sling cocktail as we took in the skyline.

Once the sightseeing was over, it was time to head back to the hotel and get ready for dinner. As we got ready, Jon and I received the first indication that we might be spending too much time with one another...Jon exited the bathroom dressed in his pink polo shirt to find me dressed in the bedroom with my pink dressy shirt. We laughed off the coincidence of selecting the same color palette for the evening when we realized how well we would match in the photos.

We met Joyce to enjoy a traditional steam boat dinner and then Francis joined us for after dinner coffee and dessert at a little cafe. After laughing the night away, we said goodbye to Joyce and Francis since it was a work night for them.

No stop in Singapore would be complete without visiting Orchard Towers. I took Jon there for a night cap so he could witness the strange and weird four floors of girls, lady boys and nightclubs. Orchard Towers is definitely more enjoyable with a few drinks in you but we were there long enough for Jon to understand why it is so popular with tourists and locals.

We left Singapore behind the next day, next stop Cambodia.

Nadia and Jon taking in the Singapore skyline.