River Otters and getting lost on a jungle run

Tuesday/Wednesday 20/21 February 2018

Almost every evening now Bren and I go for a run through either MacRitchie Reservior (10K cross-country/trail loop) or the Ang Mo Kio-Bishan park which has a variety of paved paths we can run.  Two runs this week were quite eventful.  The first was in Ang Mo Kio-Bishan park.  I wasn't going into school until the afternoon classes and after school CCAs (co-curricular activities) so I decided to run in the morning.  As I was running by the river that flows through the park, I noticed people looking over the railing down into the river bed.  So I walked over to the railing as well and got to see this cute otter family making its way up stream!  I mostly took videos, but here are some of the photos:

 

I mailed off the first set of postcards today too.  I bought more stamps afterwards at the post office and this time the lady gave me "airmail" stickers.  The first set of postcards didn't have airmail stickers so it may take 3-17 weeks to arrive by land or sea :)

 



On my way to grad school class on Tuesday evening, I stopped by the Botanic Gardens to buy a few more postcards (I read they had some pretty ones).  I don't know if I'll ever stop being mesmerized by all the jungle roosters, plants and flowers. 

 

 

 

Tuesday night when I got home from class, Sarah Marco and I FaceTimed!  It was just what I needed--she is the best!

 

On Wednesday after school, Bren and I went on a run through MacRitchie Reservior.  We decided to run it clockwise instead of counterclockwise like we usually do.  I have the worst sense of direction, but I thought I that it was only a few fork (precisely 2 hah) so I should be able to handle it.  Well Bren was a bit ahead of me and I got to the first fork in the trail and went the wrong way.  I knew I wasn't really sure which way to go but I couldn't see Bren ahead anymore and picked a direction.  It was the wrong direction.  And I didn't really realize it until I was too far to turn around.  It was getting darker and the jungle noises were getting louder.  I come across an Asutralian couple and asked them for some directions to the nearest way out of the park and onto a road I could catch a bus.  Bren called me back and was also still on the trail.  It was legit a bit scary because I could hear, but not see monkeys and boards around me.  When I made it to the road, I got off the phone with Bren who had made it to the edge of the jungle at that point too.  I really do have the worst sense of direction and had ran about 5 miles in the opposite direction of our apartment.  So I took a 40 minute MRT (two trains) ride home haha.  Maybe next time I'll turn the right way...no gurantees though.

 

East Coast Park, Sands Skypark, and Gardens By The Bay

Saturday, 17 February 2018

Pokemon Go is still very popular in Singapore and Bren has started playing again since we've lived here.  People here are really quite into it though.  We often see people with multiple phones playing.  Bren beat a gym across the street from our apartment, and then this guy rolled through with 3 phones...

After getting crushed in Pokemon Go, we headed down to East Coast Park becuase the weather was beautiful today. 

 

 

We got ice cream cones and watched lots of families playing games of cricket or bocci ball and games we didn't know that involved bound ankles and versions of rock-paper-scissors.  And the weather was so breezy and nice!  After exploring at East Coast Park we headed to the Skypark rooftop at Marina Bay Sands.  After taking the elevator up 54 floors, we reached an amazing view of the city skyline and Gardens By The Bay.

 



 

 

The view was incredible and I'm glad we decided to buy the tickets to go up there.  It was a pretty neat experience seeing a 270 degree view of the city and surrounding parks.  After the Skypark, we walked around Gardens By The Bay.  We ate dinner at an Indian Curry House that had happy hour $5 beers (the cheapest we have found yet in Singapore).  The nan and curries were delicious, and I definitely want to come back here.  We stayed for the light show at Gardens By the Bay and it was awesome! We had not been to it yet, and I can't believe this happens for free every night.  It was really a beautiful light show.  And there was a "spring surprise" on the stage to the side of the gardens afterwards with dragon and lion dances. 

 

 

 

MacRitchie Reservoir, Riverside Dinner, and River Hongbao

Friday, 16 February 2018

We got lunch at Roti Prata today with Eddie and Kara and then set out to hike around the MacRitchie Reservoir through the TreeTop Walk.  And saw some chill monkeys!

We ate some snacks and then headed to the city.

 

 

We went to dinner at a touristy spot on the river that was overpriced, but my thai green curry was spicy and delicious and the view was great!

 

 

After dinner we walked down to Marina Bay and the River Hongbao.  The River Hongbao has been on Singapore's festive calendar as part of Chinese New Year celebrations every year since 1987.  It is held at NS Square, the Marina Bay floating platform, and this iconic event has become an integral tradition of Singapore's Lunar New Year celebrations for locals and tourist.  The festival offers a special Chinese Cultural experience--from giant lanterns to tradition food, to giant inflatable "year of the dog" displays!

 

Haw Par Villa, Korean BBQ, and Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebration

Thursday, 15 February 2018

Kara and Eddie stayed at a hotel in Little India last night, but for the rest of their visit they are staying at our apartment.  They met us at the apartment this morning and we planned out our activities for the day:  Haw Par Villa (Bren's favorite place in Singapore), Korean BBQ (across the street from Haw Par Villa), and then Chinatown this evening for the Chinese New Year (eve) celebrations!

 

We went to Ju Shin Jung Korean BBQ Restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner before heading to Chinatown.  It was delcious!  Bren had eaten Korean BBQ many times while he visited Korea back when he lived in Japan.  It was interesting to hear about the different dishes from him--there were so many dishes! 

 

We headed to Chinatown after our filling meal.  It was so crowded on the narrow streets so we decided to watch the crowds and festivities from the hawker food center second floor.  It was a great, aerial view for everything going on below on the streets.  For midnight, we decided to walk to Marina Bay where there were fireworks at midnight to ring in the New Year!

 

 

Such a fun day exploring and celebrating with our friends!