Singapore: Day 3

On Monday, we had registration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and orientations with the university as well as AIC. Emily, Laney, and I woke up early to head to NUH to grab breakfast before the flurry of events... but of course the journey there also turned out to be a flurry. There are two free NUS buses that we use to get around our side of campus: the A1 and the A2. Both these buses circle the campus, but in opposite directions. Of course we got onto the wrong bus, and NUH, which is very close to PGPR, turned into a long half an hour journey. Because of this, we were short on time and had to order and eat quickly. I ordered the roasted chicken noodle, while Emily and Laney also had chicken dishes. I noticed that most of the dishes in Singapore contain meat and that vegetables aren't very popular with foods, which worries me. Everything tastes great and all, but I am concerned that nutrient deficiency and dehydration from the heat may be issues in the future.

Roasted chicken noodle

We then headed to the registration and orientation for NUS. The coordinator went over the logistics of the university, and we received our NUS student ID after submitting our documents. At the end, we were split up into groups, with a NUS student leading each one, and given a brief tour of the campus. We were brought to a different side of campus (I believe it was the engineering area) and had lunch at the food center there. The NUS guide told us that Yong Tau Foo & Laksa was a popular choice, so a majority of us ordered the laksa. I have tried laksa twice so far, including this time, and it's definitely a favorite (but then again almost everything has been a favorite so far!)

After finishing our meal, we grabbed fresh fruit juice from a different booth in the food center. Another interesting thing about Singapore is that the juices are completely natural and fresh. The Singaporeans just throw in the fruit and some water and viola! Juice! No sugar, no additional additives, nothing. It's definitely different from the sugary drinks I'm used to in the United States, but it's a fresh change! I ordered the guava juice, and I could feel the healthiness.

Fresh guava juice

After a brief tour of the area, we had the chance to return to our rooms for a bit before our boat tour later on in the afternoon. The AIC planned a boat tour along the Singapore river, so we took the MRT down to Clarke Quay, which was an upscale area filled with bars, fancy restaurants, and a mall. This was truly a beautiful experience, as we got to see the wonders of Singapore in one single go.

 

Halfway through the tour, it started to rain.

Clarke Quay!

After the boat tour, we grabbed dinner inside the mall at a restaurant called Pasta de Waraku. It was a fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisines, and served Japanese pastas. I ordered the sukiyaki pasta, because sukiyaki is a favorite Japanese dish of mine and why not try it in pasta form? When the pasta was served, I was not disappointed at all with the presentation and taste! I dislike the thickness and unhealthiness of Italian pasta, and the Japanese variation of it was light and healthier.

Inside of the mall

Sukiyaki pasta

After dinner, we grabbed ice cream from Azuba Soba Hokkaido Ice Cream, and it was the most delicious ice cream I've EVER had. I cannot convey how this ice cream makes me feel! I ordered the green tea with chocolate and black sesame flavors, and both were incredibly amazing and tasty. I've never had better green tea ice cream, and the black sesame flavor tasted just like black sesame. The flavors and texture were heavenly, and I am definitely returning for more!

Black sesame (left) and green tea with chocolate (right)

A happy Christine!

We delighted in green tea and black sesame deliciousness while gazing over the Singapore river. This moment was perfect. The combination of nature, city-life, amazing food and company made me feel the part of myself that I so often neglected during my academic life. I am usually immensely stressed and busy, always rushing from one place or task to the next and unable to appreciate the fine things of life. However, in that moment, I felt so comfortable with myself, so present... so infinite (mind the corny reference to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, no better word can describe the emotion I felt at that moment!) I felt at home with myself, and the culmination of these experiences in Singapore made me realize this.  I snapped many photos of the beautiful views: 

The view was absolutely breathtaking and I felt complete in that moment.