Hi there,
I have been inspired today and I wanted to share about my day of breakthrough. I think that today was one of my most favorite days I've had in Singapore...and it was so SIMPLE. This morning, I had the intention of going to the Chinese Gardens and then coming back to campus to get my textbooks situated and read a few chapters for class this week and just more-or-less exist. I have had a hard time adjusting to being here. I think it was quite a shock spending 3 weeks in India and then coming straight to Singapore..they are so vastly different. My motivation levels have been incredibly low for my normal adventure-seeking self and I seem to spend countless hours going in circles about what my purpose is here in Singapore, yet not actually getting anywhere or figuring anything out. Today...today was different. While I still went to the Chinese Gardens as well as the library and did my textbook reading, I went in a different direction and followed a way cooler path.
I took the MRT on the yellow Circle line from Kent Ridge to Buona Vista where I had to change lines to the green East-West Line in order to get to the gardens. As I headed for the escalator, I peered out through the glass windows and saw a really impressive glass building bulging with shapes that I have never seen before and I felt compelled to go check out. It was like the winds shifted and had a whole other set of plans for my day. I exited the MRT station and walked along the concrete path to this building and found a set of stairs to go up. As I walked up, I saw a few restaurants and as I walked passed them, this huge, empty but wide-open mall appeared before me. I am not a mall kind of girl...I actually really don't like going to the mall...but this one was different. There was 5 stories that were completely open to the middle and standing on any floor, one could see a different part of each level. It was all glass and the sun shone through like a brilliant light. It was decorated in flowers as part of the "Spring Garden" theme here in Singapore. It was about 10am and I meandered down the halls of each floor, passing by lots of restaurants, coffee shapes, travel stores, a book store, a flower store, and a huge Production Stage.
I love coffee. I love coffee shops. One day, I hope to open my own coffee shop with all kinds of special twists. There is something that makes my mind think clearer...I get inspired...I come up with creative ideas...I reminisce...I just love it. So, I took this awesome opportunity to sit in a mostly empty and beautiful mall when I found a coffee shop that just seemed to call my name. It had a huge open area that was designed perfectly for studying, reading, meeting friends, etc with amazingly comfy and clean chairs, chess board tables, and lamps. It was a perfect setting. I ordered a cup of their daily brew and added a bunch of vanilla to it and it was pretty good. I found a chair and snuggled up and opened my book. I found this book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin yesterday when I went on a hunt for a bookstore in Holland Village (where I ended up leaving the store with 3 different books!! And found a delicious bakery.) Anyways, I sat in this chair underneath the sun shinning but in good balance with the A/C that was on, drinking my coffee and reading my book. I have been dreaming about this kind of morning for...like all of college. Ha, it sounds so simple..and that's the beauty of it. I spent almost 3 hours sitting in that chair reading this amazing book that I fully relate to, laughing on most of the pages, tearing up on a few, and thinking on just about every page.
I got up at one point to use the restroom and when I came out, I noticed this bus/travel agency booth...and it was one that I had been looking at online so I was super thrilled to see it in person. I couldn't believe the timing. I got a bunch of different travel ideas and some info on a specific bus route I was looking at.
By around 12:30, there was a lot more people around and the chairs where getting filled up, so I eventually left. As I headed back out, I stopped at this bakery lining one of the isles and I bought this sweet dough raisin bread that was SO GOOD! I got back on the MRT and headed to the Chinese Gardens.
When I got there, I was really impressed. I was really surprised that I haven't heard more people talk about these gardens. I walked in and went up the first tall pagoda, I think there was 5 floors. It was beautiful and I could see the whole garden from up there. I strolled through the rest of the gardens at a pretty slow pace, walking over little bridges, on beautifully placed stone pathways, and saw 2 of the biggest Monitor Lizards I've ever seen....they looked like baby alligators! I climbed up a smaller pagoda and watched a jet do some practice laps for a few minutes. I saw the statue of Confuscious...super cool! I enjoy many of his sayings and wisdom. After an hour or so of walking here, I headed back for the MRT to go back to school. Funny thing is, I thought I went to the Japanese Gardens while I was there but apparently I didn't even make it that far, so I shall have to go back!
I got off at the Dover station, which is relatively close to my school, but I didn't know which direction to go and ended up getting lost and taking a long-long round-about way of getting back, but none-the-less, I did make it back. I got some bubble tea to cool off with! Still on a mission to accomplish what I set out to do today, I went to the library where I intended to find my books for class. I went to the Central Library first but was then sent to the Business Library. K, you have to respect a school that has a library just for Business. I went in and found my textbooks which are in a special section that have a 2-hour rental period. I got the books I needed and photocopied several chapters that I needed for class. It's quite convenient, they have an entire photocopy room just for students. I bought a NETS card to pay for the copies ($10SD) which I didn't know, but you don't have to buy that card and can just use our MRT card....so for future students going on exchange, remember that secret. Just use your EZ Link card and don't buy a new card. I'll blog about my classes and show off the business school soon!
After getting all of that figured out (with quite ease), I came back to my room and unloaded my bag and sat for only a few minutes before my friend and roommate, Danielle, came home from class. We had planned to plan our trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this evening. We sat for a good while picking our hostel and bus..and after taking a dinner break, finally got it all settled and have a planned trip to KL for a long weekend!!!!
I have been inspired today and I wanted to share about my day of breakthrough. I think that today was one of my most favorite days I've had in Singapore...and it was so SIMPLE. This morning, I had the intention of going to the Chinese Gardens and then coming back to campus to get my textbooks situated and read a few chapters for class this week and just more-or-less exist. I have had a hard time adjusting to being here. I think it was quite a shock spending 3 weeks in India and then coming straight to Singapore..they are so vastly different. My motivation levels have been incredibly low for my normal adventure-seeking self and I seem to spend countless hours going in circles about what my purpose is here in Singapore, yet not actually getting anywhere or figuring anything out. Today...today was different. While I still went to the Chinese Gardens as well as the library and did my textbook reading, I went in a different direction and followed a way cooler path.
I took the MRT on the yellow Circle line from Kent Ridge to Buona Vista where I had to change lines to the green East-West Line in order to get to the gardens. As I headed for the escalator, I peered out through the glass windows and saw a really impressive glass building bulging with shapes that I have never seen before and I felt compelled to go check out. It was like the winds shifted and had a whole other set of plans for my day. I exited the MRT station and walked along the concrete path to this building and found a set of stairs to go up. As I walked up, I saw a few restaurants and as I walked passed them, this huge, empty but wide-open mall appeared before me. I am not a mall kind of girl...I actually really don't like going to the mall...but this one was different. There was 5 stories that were completely open to the middle and standing on any floor, one could see a different part of each level. It was all glass and the sun shone through like a brilliant light. It was decorated in flowers as part of the "Spring Garden" theme here in Singapore. It was about 10am and I meandered down the halls of each floor, passing by lots of restaurants, coffee shapes, travel stores, a book store, a flower store, and a huge Production Stage.
I love coffee. I love coffee shops. One day, I hope to open my own coffee shop with all kinds of special twists. There is something that makes my mind think clearer...I get inspired...I come up with creative ideas...I reminisce...I just love it. So, I took this awesome opportunity to sit in a mostly empty and beautiful mall when I found a coffee shop that just seemed to call my name. It had a huge open area that was designed perfectly for studying, reading, meeting friends, etc with amazingly comfy and clean chairs, chess board tables, and lamps. It was a perfect setting. I ordered a cup of their daily brew and added a bunch of vanilla to it and it was pretty good. I found a chair and snuggled up and opened my book. I found this book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin yesterday when I went on a hunt for a bookstore in Holland Village (where I ended up leaving the store with 3 different books!! And found a delicious bakery.) Anyways, I sat in this chair underneath the sun shinning but in good balance with the A/C that was on, drinking my coffee and reading my book. I have been dreaming about this kind of morning for...like all of college. Ha, it sounds so simple..and that's the beauty of it. I spent almost 3 hours sitting in that chair reading this amazing book that I fully relate to, laughing on most of the pages, tearing up on a few, and thinking on just about every page.
I got up at one point to use the restroom and when I came out, I noticed this bus/travel agency booth...and it was one that I had been looking at online so I was super thrilled to see it in person. I couldn't believe the timing. I got a bunch of different travel ideas and some info on a specific bus route I was looking at.
By around 12:30, there was a lot more people around and the chairs where getting filled up, so I eventually left. As I headed back out, I stopped at this bakery lining one of the isles and I bought this sweet dough raisin bread that was SO GOOD! I got back on the MRT and headed to the Chinese Gardens.
When I got there, I was really impressed. I was really surprised that I haven't heard more people talk about these gardens. I walked in and went up the first tall pagoda, I think there was 5 floors. It was beautiful and I could see the whole garden from up there. I strolled through the rest of the gardens at a pretty slow pace, walking over little bridges, on beautifully placed stone pathways, and saw 2 of the biggest Monitor Lizards I've ever seen....they looked like baby alligators! I climbed up a smaller pagoda and watched a jet do some practice laps for a few minutes. I saw the statue of Confuscious...super cool! I enjoy many of his sayings and wisdom. After an hour or so of walking here, I headed back for the MRT to go back to school. Funny thing is, I thought I went to the Japanese Gardens while I was there but apparently I didn't even make it that far, so I shall have to go back!
I got off at the Dover station, which is relatively close to my school, but I didn't know which direction to go and ended up getting lost and taking a long-long round-about way of getting back, but none-the-less, I did make it back. I got some bubble tea to cool off with! Still on a mission to accomplish what I set out to do today, I went to the library where I intended to find my books for class. I went to the Central Library first but was then sent to the Business Library. K, you have to respect a school that has a library just for Business. I went in and found my textbooks which are in a special section that have a 2-hour rental period. I got the books I needed and photocopied several chapters that I needed for class. It's quite convenient, they have an entire photocopy room just for students. I bought a NETS card to pay for the copies ($10SD) which I didn't know, but you don't have to buy that card and can just use our MRT card....so for future students going on exchange, remember that secret. Just use your EZ Link card and don't buy a new card. I'll blog about my classes and show off the business school soon!
After getting all of that figured out (with quite ease), I came back to my room and unloaded my bag and sat for only a few minutes before my friend and roommate, Danielle, came home from class. We had planned to plan our trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this evening. We sat for a good while picking our hostel and bus..and after taking a dinner break, finally got it all settled and have a planned trip to KL for a long weekend!!!!
Below is a gallery of photos from the Chinese Gardens. I thought it was really pretty there and it was very enjoyable to walk through. As Chinese New Year quickly approaches, it was nice to take a step back and appreciate a little Chinese history. By the way, its the year of the horse which is why the picture with the horse has the red ribbon tied all around it. (click the image to make it bigger)