Singapore is well known for two things – food and shopping. The sheer number of malls that are crammed on this tiny island is incredible. For a recent assignment I had to write a narrative on one the nature reserves (one of the remaining patches of trees between concrete and glass). I visited the Southern Tiers and had an incredible experience. Here is my narrative.

The day began and ended with rain. It was not the kind of rain that freckles your face with moisture, it was the kind that soaks you to the skin in seconds. Even though my shoes squelched with every step, my day spent walking the Southern Ridges with a friend proved to be an incredible experience. Minutes after we exited the protection of the Harbourfront MRT station the skies opened. Yet, as suddenly as the rain began, it stopped, and sunlight flickered between the branches that stretched above our heads. We continued our ascent along the Marang Trail, its thick foliage reminding me of tunnels and exploration.

Soon the trail met the ridge of Mt. Farber. Bathed in the now warm sunlight, the panoramic views of Singapore were stunning. The southern islands, ships, and skyline seemed to have shrunk into a child’s play set. The skyscrapers that usually awe me with their domineering size now glinted like glass Legos, and the huge ships in the harbour seemed like toys floating in an immense bathtub. We then reached the Henderson Waves. This bridge seemed an impossibility – it was both organic and wholly unnatural. Wood and steel combined to form curves of striking beauty. We soon found ourselves sitting, not admiring the view as one would on other bridges, but admiring the bridge itself. Its gradual incline and rolling sides had an almost hypnotic effect. We could not help but pause, and found it difficult to pull ourselves away to continue on our adventure.

From there we headed toward the Forest Walk. Ominous clouds began to fill the sky, but we decided to keep going with the hopes of finishing before it rained once again. Upon reaching the Forest Walk I was glad we decided to continue. On the hill beneath us a series of pedestrian walkways zigzagged and sliced their way down the hill through the canopy. With the help of my imagination, the treetops that crowded each side of the path formed intricate and beautiful green figures. Beneath us, a bike path provided a constant point of reference, and reminded us just how high we were. At times, the height of the path was slightly daunting, but it was thrilling. The end of the Forest Walk opened upon the Alexandria Bridge. As the bridge came into view we quickened our pace and felt the warning drops of the next downpour. As the raindrops thickened we found ourselves jogging across the outstretched leaf that is the Alexandria Bridge. We raced beneath the raindrops and managed to slip under the nearest bus stop right as the skies opened once again. 
 

About a week and a half ago (sorry for the delayed post) I got back from my incredible 10-day trip to Vietnam. Our trip began on Friday morning when we flew into Ho Chi Mihn (Saigon) and then continued as we traveled north through Vietnam stopping at Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Ha Noi, and the Halong Bay.

In Ho Chi Mihn city we explored the War Memorial Museum (it was really interesting to learn about the Vietnam War from another perspective), market, and had a boat ride up the Saigon River. The following morning we flew to Nha Trang (a beach town) where I was able to eat snake, crocodile, and wild boar – snake was my favorite. 

We spent Sunday on a boat tour of the islands surrounding Nha Trang. After cruising, swimming, and exploring our beautiful surroundings, our captain then declared that our boat was going to engage in a “cultural exchange” – karaoke. Chris (New Zealand) did a haka, Carmela (Canada) was forced to sing Celine Dion, and somehow I ended up singing Backstreet Boys. The day was good fun all around, and then we boarded the night bus for a not-so-restful night aboard a sleeper bus to get to Hoi An.

We arrived in Hoi An really early in the morning and began the day with some street hawker noodles – they were delicious! In fact, all the food in Vietnam was great!! Then the girls and I went shopping because Hoi An is well known for its tailoring. It seemed like every 2nd shop was a tailoring place. After shopping, we went on a bike ride around the surrounding area and it was stunning.

In Hue we went on a tour of the citadel, tombs, and Perfume River. It was ok but was one of the most expensive days (I think we spend $20 USD – a small fortune in Vietnam!).

While in Ha Noi went to Ho Chi Mihn's mausoleum, the Prisoner's Museum, walked around the Old Quarter, and went to the Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s first university). We then went to the Halong Bay where we spent 2 days and one night on a junk boat. It was an incredible experience. The scenery was breathtaking and we were able to explore the caves, go swimming, and kayaking. It was one of my favorite experiences of the trip.

At the end of our trip we came to the conclusion that we preferred around the small towns rather than the big cities. The cities are just so big and busy that it is hard to get a real sense of anything.