Travel Story 3: Singapore and the comfort of the familiar

Some of my friends find Singapore boring or something they like but will not come back to because there’s not much to explore or it’s a bit too expensive (compared to other ASEAN countries probably). But a lof of my fondest travel memories are of this place, which is now officially the country I’ve visited the most (so far).

I like to refer to SG as a familiar and yet different place and every time I visit it, I feel like I’m coming home even though it’s not my home. Have you ever felt like that about any of the places you visit?

While I’ve gotten to know most of the streets and the areas and the tourist spots and the train lines and stations and the hawkers and the escalators that I think are out to kill me, there is still room for adventure. Whether it’s because of an event I’m going to or the people I’m going with or even if I’m traveling alone, I still feel this excitement bubbling up within me whenever I’m planning a trip there.

You’ve probably heard and read things about the country’s economic boom, the consequence, and fallout of a rigid society, the criticism of the government, the sorry situation of some of our countrymen working there and other issues facing this country, and I’m not discounting all of that as they are very real and they’re very complicated.

But when I think of Singapore, I think of

…walking around the Botanical Gardens heartbroken and crying my eyes out

…attending my first international conference and learning about people’s struggles from all over the world

…discovering nice little indie bookshops and then being overwhelmed by the National Library

…walking around the downtown area with a friend/officemate, listening to her tale of burgeoning love (she ends up marrying him a year or so later)

…attending my first international concert festival and seeing The 1975, Chvrches, and other musical acts fro the very first time

…watching my first international football game even though I was so sad coz Messi wasn’t playing

…getting my first taste of Nandos

…bringing my mom and brother around and showing them all my favorite places

…crying at the National Gallery as I beheld my first Impressionist artists “in person”

…meeting up with friends that I rarely/never see in Manila

…the endless walking from train stations to various places which I don’t really resent

…the joys of Ikea

…attending my first Formula 1 event

…ALL THE GOOD FOOD (and even the meh ones)

So the travel lesson is this: adventure doesn’t always mean skydiving or spelunking or getting lost in places and finding your way back. Adventure can also be found in embracing the comfort of the familiar but always looking out for spaces to explore. Adventure can be experienced not just in new things but also in the ones that you’ve previously done or been to. Adventure can be both big and small.

Singapore, see you really soon again.