We had a day in Singapore, then 3 in Bangkok, then 3 more in Singapore to end her trip.
Day 1: After picking her up at 7:00am, we checked her into her hotel and then headed to NTU. I showed her around my dorm and the academic facilities, and she even met Teh Bing! Well, she didn't get to meet him but we saw him sleeping from afar. From there we headed back to her hotel, and then went to Marina Bay at night. We saw the light show at Gardens by the Bay, looked at a lot of stores we couldn't afford to shop at in the mall, and then walked around the waterfront.
Days 2-4: Bangkok! I hadn't gone earlier in the semester with the other students, so it was completely new to me. Our hotel was awesome, but in some district that I assume is affiliated with Japan (based on the stores and restaurants located around it). Although it was essentially Little Japan, we found some unreal pad thai to eat.
I think Wat Pho was one of the cooler temples I've seen this semester. Our tour guide was hilarious, and I learned a lot about Buddhism that I definitely did not know before. He even gave Stephen Hawking a few years ago!
I also witnessed my mom's first tuk-tuk experience! These ones were a bit safer than the ones in Cambodia, but still dangerous nonetheless. We were taken around to two more temples, one of which we climbed to the top of to get a great view of Bangkok. It was called Wat Saket!
There was some down time in which we didn't know what to do, so we relaxed at the rooftop pool at our hotel. Also, I ate the dinner buffet at the hotel like an absolute champion. Seriously, I had like 8 plates of food. It was gross.
Days 4-7: Back in Singapore! I had class all day on Wednesday, but we met up for dinner! I wanted to take my mom to a place called Din Tai Fung which is famous for its dumplings, but when we got there it was closed....the only day of the year where it's closed....just my luck. We walked around a small trendy shopping area, and called it an early night.
On Thursday we went to Din Tai Fung! After that we headed to the Tiger Beer Brewery for a tour, which was not very eventful because a lot of the plant was shut down that day for "routine maintenance." Just my luck again, but the beer tasting at the end was fun! After that we headed to the National Museum, which i probably should have visited earlier in the semester to learn about where I was living but I hadn't gone yet. Better late than never!
On Friday I showed her Haji Lane and Arab street, we got a famous Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel ($31 cocktail), and had dinner by the bay. At the bay we took a 45 minute boat tour that went around some of the keys, another thing I probably should have done sooner but oh well. We didn't eat meat on Friday! Go us!
I had lots of fun with Elisa B that week, I just wish she could've stayed a little bit longer! I love you, Mother!
There was some down time in which we didn't know what to do, so we relaxed at the rooftop pool at our hotel. Also, I ate the dinner buffet at the hotel like an absolute champion. Seriously, I had like 8 plates of food. It was gross.
Days 4-7: Back in Singapore! I had class all day on Wednesday, but we met up for dinner! I wanted to take my mom to a place called Din Tai Fung which is famous for its dumplings, but when we got there it was closed....the only day of the year where it's closed....just my luck. We walked around a small trendy shopping area, and called it an early night.
On Thursday we went to Din Tai Fung! After that we headed to the Tiger Beer Brewery for a tour, which was not very eventful because a lot of the plant was shut down that day for "routine maintenance." Just my luck again, but the beer tasting at the end was fun! After that we headed to the National Museum, which i probably should have visited earlier in the semester to learn about where I was living but I hadn't gone yet. Better late than never!
On Friday I showed her Haji Lane and Arab street, we got a famous Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel ($31 cocktail), and had dinner by the bay. At the bay we took a 45 minute boat tour that went around some of the keys, another thing I probably should have done sooner but oh well. We didn't eat meat on Friday! Go us!
I had lots of fun with Elisa B that week, I just wish she could've stayed a little bit longer! I love you, Mother!
