Singapour au finish

The Last City to Finish - Singapore 

Derniere etape de 10 mois de voyage menes tambours battants, Singapour s annonceait une destination parfaitement adaptee pour la ceremonie de cloture. Situee sur les trajectoires, Brisbane-Paris et Brisbane-Hong Kong, c est egalement la ville de naissance de Jen et une ouverture vers la Malaisie pour decouvrir Kuala Lumpur. Pour rendre le tout encore plus interessant, les parents de Jen ont decide de nous rejoindre lors des 3 derniers jours de notre sejour a Singapour.

Sur place, nous sommes heberges par un ami du pere de Jen. Il se trouve que nous arrivons juste apres son depart pour Shanghai et que sa maison nous est laissee grande ouverte avec 2 de ses nieces. Apres une journee de visite, le constat de notre visite de la ville est sans appel : Singapour est fortement similaire a Hong Kong. Les 2 megalopoles sont bien evidement ancrees dans leur culture asitique, mais sont marquees par une forte influence occidentale. On ne vient pas pour visiter des rues typiques ou des architectures du siecle precedent, mais pour se plonger dans un mixe culturel venu de Chine et d Europe (ainsi que de l Inde et du Moyen Orient pour Singapour).

Dans la ville du “Lion de Mer” (traduction directe du mot Singa PuraL), l anglais est une langue officielle, mais egalement le malais et le mandarin. Les points touristiques les plus interessants sont : Raffles place, la ou les anglais ont mis pied a terre pour la premiere fois avec le Commandant Raffles a leur tete, Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street et Orchad Street. Sous une chaleur humide et etouffante, nous faisons le tour de ces quartiers touristiques a pied pendant 2 jours. Noodles a Chinatown pour le dejeuner et poulet au curry pour le dinner sont a ne pas manquer. Si l envie vous prend de fumer une shisha, il passer quelques heures a Arab Street sur le chemin du retour. Orchad street est le quartier shopping pour les plus fortunes, une sorte de Champs Elysees en mode Asie du Sud Est. ici, les prix sont similaires a  ceux qu on trouve en France, meme en periode de soldes.

Le palace du Sultan a Singapour

Apres ces 2 jours bien charges, nous manquons d activites et decidons de partir en Malaysie. Pas besoin de visa et le trajet de bus est peu cher et confortable. Seul inconvenient, il faut compter 5 bonnes heures one way, surtout en periode scolaire... Au programme, visites de Chinatown et Little India (encore !), la palais d un sultan dont il est impossible de me souvenir du nom et et les Petronnas Tower, tour jumelles qui font partie des plus grande du monde. Chinatown est un copier-coller du Ladies Market a HK, mais Little India vaut vraiment le detour. Quant aux Petronnas, il faut se lever tot et faire preuve de patience. Nous sommes arrives a 9 heures du matin et tous les tickets pour la journee etait deja vendus. Ceux qui ont un ticket en main font la queue depuis 6 heures du matin...  Impossible d admirer KL d en haut, petite deception mais on s en remettra. Au final, notre sejour sur place est court puisque nous sommes restes moins de 2 jours. Les parents de Jen arrivent bientot et il faut compter le temps de trajet retour.

Apres une derniere nuit chez l ami du pere de Jen, nous nous rendons a l aeroport pour receptionner les parents de Jen. Le fameux ami est depuis rentre de son voyage en Chine et il nous accompagne a l aeroport. Ce que je ne vous ai pas encore dis, c est que Rick et Suzanne (les parents), ont reserve 2 nuits au Ritz Carlton pour marquer en beaute la fin de notre globe trotting. A notre arrivee dans l etablissement de luxe, nous etions tout troubles d avoir quelqu un pour porter nos sacs a dos... Je n entre pas dans une description pompeuse des lieux et vous laisse libre cours a votre immagination. Juste pour vous dire que la conclusion de notre aventure n aurait pas pu etre plus agreable. Pendant 3 jours, nous avons enchaine les repas avec les amis de Rick (du temps ou il etait en universite a Melbourne), entre buffet japonnais, pratas indiennes, tablees chinoises et traditions culinaires de Padang (en Indonesie, on y etait passe lors de notre visite de Sumatra). Un peu de shopping et remise en forme dans la salle de fitness de l hotel, et les 3 jours touchaient deja a leur fin.

Le moment tant redoute, que nous essayions d ignorer mais qui restait toujours dans un coin de nos tetes, arrivait sournoisement et sans faux-pas. On ne s en rendait pas vraiment compte jusqu au moment de prendre la voiture en direction de l aeroport. C est la que notre tour du monde allait prendre officielement fin et que Jen et moi devrions etre separes pour la premiere fois depuis 10 mois... La douane m a contraint de rester en arriere, pendant Jen et ses parents rejoignaient leur avion qui les menerait jusqu a hong Kong. Il fallait vite m habituer a cette situation pour trouver mon chemin tout seul comme un grand et faire passer les 4 heures d attente qui m attendaient avant d embarquer pour mon vol Air France a destination de Paris, case depart.

Je viens donc de terminer le dernier article decrivant les etapes de notre aventure, mais je vous rassure tout de suite, ce n est pas le dernier article du blog. Bientot, vous aurez une conclusion detaillee de cette experience qui restera gravee dans nos memoires pendant un bon bout de temps ! Ne supprimez donc pas tout de suite le blog de vos favoris...

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Literally the last foot of our 10-month journey ends in Singapore. We flew in from Brisbane, and having just spent four months living out of a car, it was a relief to be invited into one of dad's best friend's home. But it is not completely new surroundings. I was born in Singapore, and coming back 22 years later felt like reaquainting with a long lost friend. I had been back when I was 10 or so, and to be totally honest, my memory of Singapore was of intense heat and sparkly cleanliness. I think this reunion really set my opinion of Singapore straight. 

We flew in on a Tuesday and flew out the next Wednesday. We spent 3 nights in Singapore, 2 nights in Kuala Lumpur, and another 2 nights back in Singapore. Of the time in Singapore, we visited China Town, Little India, Arab Street and the westernised Orchard Street. Singapore is truly a melting pot of different cultures and it was great to see all these different communities, so different in tradition and custom, within walking distance of each other.

If there was one thing that made the biggest impression on me in Singapore, it would be 'Food Court'. Glorious, glorious food courts. Cheap, cheerful, crowded and crave-worthy! The food there definitely does not lose out to the restuarants, and there are so many cuisines to choose from. Now, I am no foodie, but when you see a food place so chocked up with people, you really can't go wrong.

Another worthy thing to do in SIngapore is to visit the Asian Civilisation Museum. Highly recommended our guide book, we went through a huge and elaborate museum that took us through priceless jewellery, honoured traditions, weapons of ancient war, and religious treasures. There were also interactive sections where you are introduced into the room by prerecorded men/women who can answer desgnated questions which you select on the screen. But our favourite part of the museum turned out to be the children elements. There were costumes to wear, stamps to chop, character holes to put your face in, and even turbans to put on! Let's just say, it was "amuseum" (ahem).

Moving back into modernity, we wandered through Orchard Street. The hub of Singaporean shopping. Malls lined up next to each other, stretching all along Orchard Road. But, as with all backpackers, it was a sight to admire, but not to get involved in. The icon of Singapore would definitely be the 'Merlion'. 'Singapore' actually means 'Lion City', and since it is a country surrounded by water, it was fitting that their national symbol (for tourists) be a half-lion half-fish statue. Actually, you can't technically call this statue a tourist attraction, but since it is so well known, one could not help but go take a picture with it anyway.

Seven full days in Singapore proved to be just ever so slightly too long, so we decided to take a weekend away to Kuala Lumpur. It was much easier than we thought possible. A cheap S$55 return/person, on a luxurious, massage chair, all-frills bus, took us from Singapore right into the heart of KL. It took five to six hours each way and we just needed to hop off once for immigration and customs. KL, I must say, was not a very inspiring city. We had been looking forward to the Petrona Towers, world famous for its architecture and size, but when we arrived and discovered the mile-long queue (they had given away all the tickets already), it was just a matter of taking photos outside and finding another attraction in the city. Maybe I was dreaming, but I could've sworn that KL was hotter than Singapore. KL is definitely not looked after as well as Singapore, but the vibrancy and its chaotic crowds makes up for character.  

Petrona Towers

Kl also had its moment in the spotlight with the wonderful food. Famous and a local favourite, padang food is a sort of pick and mix, Indian cum Chinese style of cuisine. It is a sure way to satisfy any cravings. 

Coming back to Singapore, I contacted some of my Singaporean friends whom I had met at University in England to meet up. They took us to Laguna Food Village, a centre of food stalls selling absolutely everything that represents the tastes of Singapore. It was an evening of good food and even better company. We had a good time reminiscing University days and catching up on what we've been up to. I even got a sneak preview on what I'm heading for in the future. Phew, home was just days away!

My parents joined us to share the last two days of traveling with us. And they made sure we were well looked after! They checked us all in into the Ritz Carlton, glitzy and glamourous - a place where Antoine and I stood out like a sore thumb! Wearing muddy, torn trainers with a backpack strapped onto our backs, we were actually surprised that no one asked us if we were lost. Our room had floor to ceiling windows which looked out to the city. When evening rolled in, Antoine had the greatest satisfaction of being able to watch the World Cup live from the bed. What a celebration for our trip!

When the final day of our journey started, Antoine and I spent the time together to talk about the past 10 months. It was truly bittersweet. On one hand, we were in the closing moments of our adventure, but on the other, we were anxious to get back into work, to bring our experience into real life. We were actually craving routine and settling down. 

Antoine and I had agreed that the first 3 months after traveling, we should go back to our respective homes, and see family and friends. So, at the airport, we parted ways as I went back to Hong Kong with my parents, and Antoine took another flight back to France. It's so strange not to be with him everyday. I felt slightly lost at first, in terms of both orientation and decision-making. We made a great team together and I am so glad I made this trip with him. 3 months will go by really quickly, and it will be a great way for us to make a fresh start when he gets to Hong Kong. Another adventure awaits!

P.S More articles to come! I know you're excited.