After months of planning, I finally arrived in Singapore on a hot, muggy January afternoon. My first couple of weeks were filled with orientations, getting to know my flatmates, meeting other exchange students from around the world, and exploring a new part of Singapore everyday.
One of the most iconic spots in Singapore, Marina Bay, has become one of my favourite places to visit. It’s the perfect area for a stroll along the water, with a beautiful view of the downtown business district. At night, there is a light show projected on the water that showcases Singaporean nationalism. If you come on the weekend, there is even live jazz music that sets the scene quite nicely. Right behind the Marina Bay Sands hotel is Gardens by the Bay. It has incredibly tall trees that change colours, and also has a light show at night.
Singapore is also famous for its cheap food at food courts called “hawker centres”. Here you can find a variety of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese, Korean, and western dishes. Large portions only cost between $2-5! Because the hawker centres are usually packed during lunchtime, Singaporeans often save seats by leaving a packet of napkins on the table.
Clarke Quay is a popular place to go shopping, have great food, and go out at night. It’s home to bars, restaurants, clubs, and malls. It is quite easy to get here using Singapore’s transit (MRT) from my flat at the National University of Singapore. Getting around the country is pretty simple as there are 5 MRT lines and frequent buses that go everywhere.
Singapore is right in the middle of Southeast Asia, making it very easy (and cheap!) to travel to nearby countries. I spent the Chinese New Year weekend in Thailand, exploring the Grand Palace and Khao San Road in Bangkok, and getting a real Thai massage and feeding rescued elephants in Chiang Mai. My next trip was only a week after, during the middle of February, where I spent eight days exploring Cambodia. In Siem Reap I saw the sunset and sunrise at Angkor Wat, and spent the rest of the days exploring the other temples in Angkor. I also saw traditional Apsara dancing and visited a silkworm farm! Next up was Phnom Penh, to visit the Killing Fields and S-21 to learn more about the Cambodian genocide. Afterwards, I visited the beach town of Sihanoukville and went snorkelling during an island tour. The past two weekends I travelled to Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia. Travelling to Malaysia is quite cheap and it’s close enough that one weekend is a good amount of time. Next up, Bali!
I have had the time of my life on my exchange term! Experiencing different cultures, trying new foods, seeing historic temples, learning about the history of these countries, meeting new people from around the world, and having fun every single day is what made me fall in love with Asia and travelling. I encourage everyone to go on an exchange term in order to see more of the world, and learn something new everyday!
Nazanin is a 3rd year student at the Beedie School of Business, currently on exchange at the National University of Singapore. She has travelled to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam throughout her exchange. Travelling has allowed her to step outside of her comfort zone and truly experience what the world has to offer.