This time yesterday I would have written an amazing, very melancholic, grammatically correct essay slash "first-eva-blog post" on journeys, with a particular corny emphasis on friendship and familyship (that should be a real word). I would have written about goodbyes, and lessons that I have learnt or hope to learn in this new page I'm turning in my life as I go abroad for months, not knowing exactly when I'll return. That sounds gay when I put it like that. Nonetheless, I still think it's a good (albeit borderline cliche) topic that I really want to write about in the future.
But right now, I"m sitting in McDonalds of Changi Airport in Singapore. I've bought no souvenirs, no real meals, and the only photos I have are three screenshots of maps, one of an eccentric building, and the other of the shrine to Our Lady that I spent so long looking for. I'm such a brat. I've been in the country not even 24 hours, and here I am clinging to my familiar surroundings of McDonalds. Call me close-minded. But I still maintain that this McDonalds is different from my Australian one.. I just bought a chocolate sundae for a bargain price of AU$1!! Scoot Airlines wanted to charge me AU$4.70 for a 150ml bottle of water! I wanted to just feign dehydration on their flight and see how they'd react.
But right now, I"m sitting in McDonalds of Changi Airport in Singapore. I've bought no souvenirs, no real meals, and the only photos I have are three screenshots of maps, one of an eccentric building, and the other of the shrine to Our Lady that I spent so long looking for. I'm such a brat. I've been in the country not even 24 hours, and here I am clinging to my familiar surroundings of McDonalds. Call me close-minded. But I still maintain that this McDonalds is different from my Australian one.. I just bought a chocolate sundae for a bargain price of AU$1!! Scoot Airlines wanted to charge me AU$4.70 for a 150ml bottle of water! I wanted to just feign dehydration on their flight and see how they'd react.
I just did a double take on the table next to me to see if they had leftover food. Kill me now. Yes I'm a bargain hunter. I do go out of my way to get the cheapest thing (with the exception of quality clothes). And that's saying a lot given how much of a lazy butt I am. And that's what got me into this mini mess. I booked an awesome hostel close to the beach in January this year for my one-night Singapore stopover. A few months later they changed it and transferred me to another one but what got me was that they'd give a complementary one-way airport transfer. DUMBEST thing ever. There were no airport shuttles after my delayed flight had arrived last night so I had to take a taxi and pay anyway. I arrived in my hostel, feeling so stupid for having carried such a heavy backpack (more on this later).
The people were nice but to be frank, the place I stayed at was a hole. I loved it because it reminded me a bit of the Philippines. 33 degrees, insanely humid. Poverty, but not to the extent of Manila's. For this trip I just wanted natural scenery, but "Little India" just had random small food stalls everywhere. Anyway it was really cute. I love the Philippines, but I'd hoped to experience something a bit different. The girls in my hostel dorm were awesome. They were straight out of high school gap-year kids from Nottingham, England touring around Australiasia. When I told them I was from Australia, I naturally had to put on my best Aussie accent and ask them how they liked my country. But really they were great, and it was great talking to backpackers - so easy to get along with.
I've decided I'm planning on talking to a couple of the backpackers I encounter in this trip. I reckon we've already got at least something in common, not just being in the same destination, as a backpacker (forget friendships with wheelie-bag-carriers hah), and there's already that desire to see the world, and their having done something about that desire. I don't expect lifelong friendships, or even Facebook exchanges, or free accommodation this time. Just simple and short conversation to exercise my voice box about what they've been up to, and where they're headed to next and why. These girls in particular were into Singapore shopping. Even though that's not what I was there for, it was still great to know, and sort of experience vicariously.
What did I do today? I wanted to go to Sunday mass. Really that was all I planned to to do. One thing. I got lost, turned around, and when I went back a couple of hours later (after actually having glanced at a freaking map), and realised I was literally 50m away. I can't believe I thought I was they type of person that could get "lost" in an unknown city. This romantic notion of doing so at the back of my head. Not cool. Oh it was sort of romantic actually, if you reckon it's cute that some random Singaporean dude starts following you and starts saying "excuse me, excuse me" repetitively for about 30 seconds! He somehow knew I was a tourist but I kept walking until finally I got possessed to turn around but pretended to not know English and was doing pretty well doing that until he flat out asked me to be his girlfriend, in which I replied with a fluent English "no". Haha.
Back to backpacks. Oh. My. Gosh. What a terrible experience! I am so naive. How could I possibly think for a moment that I could be one of those cool trekkers that carry backpacks like they weighed nothing. I didn't realise how heavy it was till I picked it up from Singapore airport but I've had so many comments on how "it's even bigger than me" or whatever. I almost died today, getting so lost in the city looking for an "MRT" (I thought it was a bus station... Alas it's a train station - who knew), literally dripping with sweat, under a backpack that actually was bigger than me. And I hate being so small and fragile looking! Talk about body image issues. But I hate being expected to lug a around a stupid wheelie suitcase just because of my small frame! I thought I could bypass the expectations that others made, their snide comments that I couldn't do months of living in Spain with only 15kg. Heck, 15kg is ridiculously heavy!! How can you bring any more?! I hate clothes!!!
I thought I got back into clothes again when I was packing on Friday night, visualising outfits and colour schemes, etc. But no, if anything I now hate them more! Who needs them?! Jokes, but seriously, I just want to drop half of what I brought, but I'm far too stingy to leave them in some hostel just because of how heavy it is. I'm going to brave on, but I've realised my physical limitations. There's this idea that women can do anything boys can do, they say. Ugh I hate politically correct feminists. It's not even true! Can everyone just accept that everyone is different? People can do some things better than other people. Men are better than women at certain things. But women are better than men in others. It's not so difficult!! Lol all this stemming from an idea of a backpack... I sound like a retard. But I do hate expectations. That's what this trip has been about, wasn't it? I would even have slept in the airport instead of booking a hostel just to see if I could do it. To see if it was within my limits. Why do I feel the need to fulfil these expectations. It's boarding time to Abu Dhabi like now. Will return. This one even has a meal included, and movies! I even checked-in online and booked the window seat this time. The most organised thing I have ever done on this trip.
Back to backpacks. Oh. My. Gosh. What a terrible experience! I am so naive. How could I possibly think for a moment that I could be one of those cool trekkers that carry backpacks like they weighed nothing. I didn't realise how heavy it was till I picked it up from Singapore airport but I've had so many comments on how "it's even bigger than me" or whatever. I almost died today, getting so lost in the city looking for an "MRT" (I thought it was a bus station... Alas it's a train station - who knew), literally dripping with sweat, under a backpack that actually was bigger than me. And I hate being so small and fragile looking! Talk about body image issues. But I hate being expected to lug a around a stupid wheelie suitcase just because of my small frame! I thought I could bypass the expectations that others made, their snide comments that I couldn't do months of living in Spain with only 15kg. Heck, 15kg is ridiculously heavy!! How can you bring any more?! I hate clothes!!!
I thought I got back into clothes again when I was packing on Friday night, visualising outfits and colour schemes, etc. But no, if anything I now hate them more! Who needs them?! Jokes, but seriously, I just want to drop half of what I brought, but I'm far too stingy to leave them in some hostel just because of how heavy it is. I'm going to brave on, but I've realised my physical limitations. There's this idea that women can do anything boys can do, they say. Ugh I hate politically correct feminists. It's not even true! Can everyone just accept that everyone is different? People can do some things better than other people. Men are better than women at certain things. But women are better than men in others. It's not so difficult!! Lol all this stemming from an idea of a backpack... I sound like a retard. But I do hate expectations. That's what this trip has been about, wasn't it? I would even have slept in the airport instead of booking a hostel just to see if I could do it. To see if it was within my limits. Why do I feel the need to fulfil these expectations. It's boarding time to Abu Dhabi like now. Will return. This one even has a meal included, and movies! I even checked-in online and booked the window seat this time. The most organised thing I have ever done on this trip.
One of my two photos of Singapore...
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