Submitted by Navleen Kaur the 2024 Spring program in Singapore, Republic of Singapore…
This week I had a great time exploring more of Singapore with my friend. I was really happy we got Friday off because it was Good Friday. My friend and I took full advantage of this and started the day by attending High Tea at the Raffles Hotel. This was my first High Tea experience and I had an amazing time. The servers very kindly explained to us what each dessert was made of and provided vegetarian sandwiches to me. I had scones with cream and sweet strawberry jam for the first time. After enjoying this ninety-minute luxury experience, we headed over to the National Gallery of Singapore. This museum was one of the best I have seen. Most of the museums in the US and Europe showcase art depicting life in those areas. This was the first time I saw art by southeast asian artists depicting life in southeast Asia. I learned a lot about how different countries in this region were affected by the world wars and subsequent Cold War. Never before had I learned the negative effects felt by these countries during the world wars. Afterward, I headed over to the Peranakan Museum to learn more about who the Peranakans are as well as the different facets of their culture. I found this museum to be beautiful with tapestries, beaded jewelry, and a traditional wedding bed on display for people to appreciate. After exploring both museums, my friend and I headed to Marina Bay Sands to watch the musical Matilda. The next day, I headed over to Sentosa and traveled to this island via a cable car. It was extremely hot so after heading over to the Skyline Luge, I went to the S.E.A aquarium. Something that surprised me about Sentosa was the number of Indian families I saw there speaking in Hindi. Even the restaurants and food stalls were offering wraps with Paneer Tikka Masala which is not something I see often. The S.E.A aquarium was one of the best aquariums I have visited. I liked how they talked about the organizations they support to ensure marine life stays as safe and healthy as possible. I took it slow and observed the marine life in this aquarium for quite a while. Today, my friend and I headed over to the ION and Paragon malls on Orchard Boulevard for some shopping. We had a great time exploring the food courts and shops in these two malls. Next week, I plan to go to a few more museums and malls for some shopping. (Submitted on March 31,2024)