We flew to Singapore with nothing more than an Email that my brother had sent us and some copies of pages from our Lonely Planet book. We were told that we must eat chili crab, visit the ethnic neighborhoods, do some shopping on Orchard Road and enjoy the modern conveniences of the city. Needless to say, we loved it.
We started on Saturday morning with a trip to Orchard Road where I bought a Slurpee and enjoyed going into the frigid malls. Singapore is essentially a climate controlled city. The air-conditioning pours out onto the street, cooling the sidewalks as you walk past stores. We ate at a traditional hawker stand (more information and photos of our food experience to be provided by Leanne) and sat inside a Borders bookstore reading magazines. We ended the day with a nap in the Botanic Gardens and some Chili's, which is a company that I would like to personally thank for creating the Big Mouth Bacon Cheeseburger.
On Sunday, we walked through Little India and the Arab Quarter with a Starbucks break and a Khmer language study session in between. Each of these neighborhoods were very interesting but had their own unique Singaporean spin, meaning there was no trash anywhere. We also saw a movie for the first time in 8 months and ate some Chili Crab right on the Singapore River, per my brother's mandate.
Monday was a highlight for both Leanne and myself. We journeyed to the Marina Bay Sands, the new Vegas-like hotel in Singapore. The building is a marvel and the architecture is stunning. On the 60th story of the hotel is a "skypark," with an overlook onto downtown Singapore. There is also an incredible infinity pool that is only available for guests and, as we were told by the security guard, it is "impossible" for people not staying at the hotel to swim at the pool. We were taking pictures when a lovely German lady asked us to take her picture in the pool. When she found out that we were not guests, therefore unable to enter, she talked to the security guard and took us as her "guests." Long story short: we were able to swim in the pool and stayed in there for about 5 hours, watching the sun set over the city and viewing Singapore at night. It was one of those surreal moments, and I think it was an all-time travel highlight for both Leanne and myself.
On our last day, we took advantage of a breakfast at McDonalds, another Starbucks break and some hours under the sun at a nearby beach. It was a great end to a trip filled with relaxation and food.We ate dinner in the Arab Quarter and walked back late at night, a pleasant experience in a city with clean sidewalks, orderly traffick and crosswalks.
When we flew back, we were excited to return to Cambodia but had to negotiate the realization that Cambodia is nothing like Singapore. We do not live in a developed country, there is no easy transportation, Starbucks or Gap. Singapore is a spectacle, Disneyland for adults, and it allowed us the chance to feel like we were home for just a few days. Though it might sound like we vacation more than we work, Leanne and I both feel like these trips are essential to our happiness here in Cambodia. We love our home here but, because we are living in cross-culturally in a developing country, we do feel the stress and exhaustion that comes with that lifestyle.
Trips, like the one to Singapore, are a great way for us to be refreshed in order to continue our work in Cambodia. We are so thankful for the opportunity to travel, for the advice given to us by pastors and families that have worked abroad who explained to us the need for rejuvenation. Also, we are so thankful for the generous support, both financially and spiritually, that allow us to feel refreshed after just a few days of vacation. Singapore was remarkable and we loved the opportunity we had to experience that city.
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