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A lot has happened in the past two weeks that I had to separate the blogs. But, I’m currently in Bali after finishing up another 50-page study guide for MKT1705X. I guess you can call this trip my study break before figuring out how I’m going to cram a whole textbook again :) Before jumping right into my recent trips, I was fortunate to have a taste of home right in Singapore! Since January, ads for the Shilin Night Market SG had been popping up on my Instagram so I decided to check it out with Felice. My friend, Sharon, reminded me to really support these stalls because a lot of them flew straight in from Taiwan. And I did. From wintermelon lemon aiyu to braised pork on rice to fresh taro milk, I couldn’t have asked for anything better to do after studying. Though pricey, it was well worth every bite. The event gave me a chance to find new places to eat at when I return home! Jewel Changi also opened up, so hopefully if you visit or are flying into Singapore, there’s less foot traffic. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | April 16 - April 19, 2019 Wow, where do I start? At first, KL was only a one day trip to attend a funeral. But, tickets were just the same for two more days so I figured why not fly in a day before to explore. KL’s public transportation surprises me every time. Except the monorail, don’t take it if you have a choice. Wandered around Batu Caves first thing in the morning. Definitely a tourist hot spot (don’t go right at noon) but worth going to. That took up a good three hours and luckily you can reach the caves by the Komuter train for just RM 2.60 one-way from KL Sentral. Ramayana Caves is right off to the side of Batu Caves but don’t waste your RM 5.00 going in. Just keep walking straight when you get out of the station until you hit those colorful rainbow steps. I went to Chinatown and grabbed food from Koon Kee which specializes in Wan Tan Mee (RM 6.50). They’re hidden behind the many souvenir stalls that line up Petaling Street. Then, it was time for the Petronas Twin Tower. Though I didn’t have the money to go all the way up to the observatory, Klook has deals which you should secure early. KL Tower is near Jalan Alor Street where one of the touristy night market scenes are at. Although I can never call McDonald’s a meal, it’s a eye-opener no matter where. And cheaper in Malaysia too. Thailand had these pancake wrapped ice cream sundaes, Malaysia had sarsaparilla cones. I’d say keep an eye open for new dessert flavors when you arrive in Singapore as well as McDonald’s across Asia. You’d be surprised :) On a side note, KL is mostly a one-day trip and I’d suggest spending the rest of Malaysia in Penang. Dropped off my old, old friend to the airport afterwards to live in California for the next few months. Going to miss her but I wouldn’t be upset if she decides not to leave. Her IG stories better be filled with good food daily and of course street photos. And with that, I ended my trip to KL. Bali, Indonesia | April 23 - April 27, 2019 So far, I watched the sun set. And I can definitely say I miss Hawaii. Bali is as Jason put it, a cheat code :) Filled my stomach up with $2 worth of food, listened to the waves crashed back to shore, and reminisced all that’s happened thus far. The traffic in Bali is nuts, but there’s no better place to see cotton candy skies and the sunsets we see back home. For a moment, I thought I was sitting down at Sand Island. Because I haven’t ridden a motorcycle in a year, I didn’t want to risk my life in Bali so I hired a private driver for a day. For the day, I chose Ubud. Known for its art and wood carvings, you will see many stores lined up side by side. These art pieces are made to order which means you can expect really good craftsmanship. First stop was the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Batu Caves had monkeys too but they were more tame. These monkeys aren’t aggressive by nature, just don’t trigger them. And keep everything inside your bag because they’ll snatch anything from you if you get too close. Next was Ubud Royal Palace which I skipped to go eat lunch. Nearby is Ubud Market where you can haggle for cheaper prices for souvenirs. Then it was off to Terrace River Pool Swing which was also a coffee plantation. There’s free tasting for the coffees which I suggest you do first if you don’t want to do the swings. Sadly, I couldn’t do the swings due to my past health history though it seemed really fun. They are also known for their Luwak Coffee which is a staple in Bali (IDR 50,000). A few minutes away was Tegalalang Rice Terrace but the best rice paddies to me were the ones alongside the roads of Ubud. With the setting sun in the background, the lush green fields turned golden brown. At Pura Tirta Empul, a holy spring, you could see the water emit naturally from the ground which as legend has it, is how the shrine emerged from Earth. You’ll have to put on a sarong before entering and if a girl, must tie up your hair. There you can cleanse yourself spiritually with the holy water. Ended the day at Tegenungan Village Waterfall where I witnessed a ceremony that was being celebrated across Bali for the day. It was a day of offerings to the Balinese Gods. My tour guide said it was called odalan for a day of selfless acts in a self-filled world. As we drove back to Kuta, the sun began to set. And I was mesmerized all over again. Day two was full of surprises. Surprised my old, old friend at Pura Lempuyang Luhur, one of Bali’s oldest and biggest Hindu temples during her photo shoot. While I was waiting for her, one of the kids from a nearby group of Chinese tourists got restless. So she came up to me and asked that I play with her. One of the Balinese tour guides was with me and helped me watch over her while her parents were waiting in line for my friend to finish. Her name is Tang Meng Xiao, six-years-old, and bubbly as can be :) When she grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian because in Guiming, Guizhou, it’s filled with farmlands. She tells me she practically grew up with the farm animals and I really do hope her dreams comes true one day. In those short three hours, I taught her a bit of English (all she knows is apple, orange, and banana because that’s her favourite fruits) and answered her math quizzes. Played some soccer too with random branches I found and wrapped together. It was like I gained another little sister for a few hours and my only job was to make sure she laughed and was safe. She told me 2 + 2 = 3, I agree. But, I think she knew she wasn’t right so she hid behind one of the pillars and recounted. She told me don’t look and I didn’t. Then, she’d confidently tell me 2 + 2 = 4 and she would give me a high-five. Every time she gave me a high-five, my heart was full again. And when she played with the Balinese tour guides, they couldn’t communicate, but something about their smiles made me happy. I smile just thinking about it and writing it all down now. Definitely the highlight of my Bali trip. And if you know me, you’d know I’ll be that person to sit on a sidewalk in the middle of nowhere to eat. And I did. No tables, no chairs. Just the sidewalk as my seat, bakso pakjun (noodles & fishballs) in my hand, and the sun setting in the distance. I visited Tirta Gangga and Goa Lawah Temple but I feel like you could skip it. Just one trip to Lempuyang from Kuta is enough to drive you crazy. If you do have time, do go to Virgin Beach. From this trip, I’ve learned that I still can’t give up my habit of wandering around by foot even with a private driver. If there’s one place in Bali you should visit for sunsets, it’s Uluwatu Temple. My private driver, Wayan, managed to secure a good spot for me at the temple to watch the sun set. It’s like Hanauma Bay if you minus all the tourists and monkeys. Nonetheless, it is what it is and I did what I do best — captured my last breathtaking sunset in Bali, all worth it. As we drove down the mountain, it reminded me how much I missed the night views that you can’t get in Singapore :( Last day meant checking out of my AirBnB but also figuring out what to do before my flight. I bought a overnight flight into Singapore to keep everything within budget so I had a good six hours to kill. Wayan suggested we go to Tanah Lot and why not? In hindsight, this might’ve been a bad choice since Tanah Lot should’ve been done first before Uluwatu. Then again, when did I ever let logic stop me? I spent majority of the afternoon maneuvering through narrow, windy roads after Tanah Lot. But when I finally saw the airport against the setting sun, I realised this will be my last trip with my return ticket saying “To: Singapore.” With that means I’ll be MIA until Taiwan to take care of my health. And after a long but short semester of endless shenanigans with Anna, Felice, and Jonathan — it’s time to say see you later as well. It’s been real, thank you. Not my first and won’t be my last solo trip. But, it was exactly what I needed. I spent some time alone hidden in the crevices of a cove when I landed and let myself feel all that I’ve been holding back. I guess I’ve been pretty disappointed at myself about my academic results and being told I’m not good enough. A part of me knows that it’s true. I felt really defeated and still do. Then I receive a call asking that I attend an old friend’s funeral. Hearing these things were painful. I didn’t cry but every part of me wanted to drop to the floor. I’m not giving up and I’m still going to do the best I can. Let’s hope I don’t let anyone down. But I could really use this break right now. Bali is where I’m at and currently in — feeling free, disconnected, and smiling just a tad bit. Stepped in seven countries, soon to be eight. Nine cities, soon to be twelve. It’s been a rollercoaster of a semester, but I’ll focus on the small wins. Though nine cities might seem like nothing, some I returned more than once to. And that is enough. If you haven’t been able to fully read the blogs, do enjoy the photos under “Candids” They’re all my favourite sets :) I’ll be back in Singapore soon, take my final exam and off to Taipei I go. As much as I love traveling, being constantly on the go does get exhausting. At least I know I’ll be returning home for a few days. And by the end of this when I return to Hawaii, I probably won’t remember much of the touristy things or thousands of temples I visited, I’ll certainly remember all of the stories and conversations I had with every person I had the honor of meeting. Cheers to this insane journey and thank you for being right there with me! I hope all is well. - Irene small side story:
I had to attend a couple of funerals these past few days and when I read this post, it hit me hard.
Today, I was rushing at the airport to get to my gate but this elderly lady seemed quite lost. Within a few seconds, she came up to me and asked for directions to get her home. Remember when you were growing up, your parents told you don’t talk to strangers or mind your own business. It’s true that you should be careful, but sometimes you never know. Rather than her getting more lost, I said I’ll show you the way and she hesitated, asking “why would you waste your time?” I kind of lied that it was on the way, but I wouldn’t have mind wasting my time anyway. So I walked her to the train station and told security that she’s lost. Turned out she had Alzheimer’s and her daughter was looking for her too. Once her daughter arrived, it was nothing but a huge hug for her mother. Her daughter looked my age and I knew at that moment just how hard it must be for her because I understand. Her mother said thank you, and her daughter looked me in the eyes. I just smiled — a smile I’m sure she needed. She smiled back too. These moments are real. You really don’t know whose life you’ll touch. And so I tell everyone to have a day. Because we all have good days and bad days, I don’t think I need to remind someone who’s having a rough day to be happy. Instead, have a day. Feed yourself. Recharge a little. But, don’t give up on yourself and everything else just yet. Hopefully you’ll recollect what happened throughout the day and if you did something good, it must’ve made your day. If something went wrong, it’s okay. I just hope this at least tugged your face muscles upward a little :) As I wrap up my studies and enter in my final exams, I want to start off by saying this semester has been academically challenging in a way I haven’t felt in years. Before I left Singapore, I had to complete one last group presentation for MNO3303. Two of us were under the weather while another had to deal with family emergencies. And yet, the remainder of us managed to come together to pull through for the presentation despite knowing we might not be graded well. This is one thing I’ve noticed about most business students at NUS — teamwork matters & no one wants their personal issues to affect the team as a whole. If someone is missing, it’s up to us to fill in that spot. And that’s reality. But regardless of what happens to our final grade, I couldn’t have asked for a better team.
Same goes for my very talented best friend in Hong Kong, she’s the best person this world has to offer. I hope she knows that her hard work wasn’t in vain — do enjoy the fruits of your labour in your travels throughout Asia :) I’ll be waiting in Taipei. And you’re going to read this from me a few times but I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you. To the people who support me now. To the people who will support me in the future. To the people who I’ve met this semester abroad, who I’ve shared memories with, who I’ve explored with and who I’ve lived with, thank you. You’ve all made me who I am. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Seriously the best few days I’ve had are each time I’m on a trip with or near someone who’s made a difference. Catch up soon! Bangkok, Thailand | April 12 - April 15, 2019 Due to the scorching heat, it was a one-man trip in Bangkok for me. But, in between I caught up with an old, old friend and the first thing she does is splash me with water :) Honestly, I’m proud and sad. Sad that this might be the last time I see her. Proud that everyone is doing bigger, better things. But most of all, it’s the fact that I have those few amazing friends who have always been there for me. Regardless of where I am, wherever they are — I’m home. Whether that be Taiwan, Hawaii, or who knows — I doubt you guys will ever understand how much your encouragement and support means to me, but thank you. sawasdee pee mai! สวัสดีปีใหม่ (happy new years in Thai!) I flew in shortly after Jonathan on Friday which gave me three full days to explore Bangkok. My friend spent most of her time showing me around Chinatown, the Golden Buddha, and the huge water parties down at Silom Road during Songkran (Thai New Years). I actually didn’t realize this trip fell right on the start of the festivities which meant I had to fix my itinerary but you definitely can’t miss out on the water fights so protect your phone, grab a water gun, and get ready to get soaked! Just make sure if you’re at a temple to not throw water at the monks. You can also take part in showering the Buddha with water at the temples as a sign of respect. Also, Thai people might rub a white powder on your face as blessings, just don’t get it in your eyes. For food, we had tom yum and other Thai delicacies while hopping from street cart to street cart down Yaowarat Road :) I spent the rest of Saturday sitting at one of the banks along Chao Phraya River and watched the sun set with her. Tip: Thailand’s exchange rate is +/- the same as Taiwan so $1 USD = 30 something Thai Baht. It was easier for me to just use 100 Thai Baht as a marker ($3 USD) which I always do in Taiwan too. So if anything is over 100 baht, it might not be worth purchasing unless you know you really want it. On Sunday, I used Grab the whole day since Bangkok’s public transportation can get a bit overwhelming especially with the Songkran festivities. First stop was Bangkok’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) where I spent a good 2-3 hours staring at art. Then I took a short detour to Chatuchak Weekend Market for lunch. You’ll find a lot of good deals and coconut ice cream lined up along the market if you need something to cool down. The Siam area is a huge shopping district so if that’s up your alley, go for it! Ended the day hopping on and off the tourist boats down Chao Phraya River. I arrived just in time for sunset at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). People say it’s prettier during sunrise, hence its name, but sunset is pretty too :) And you can’t leave Thailand without visiting at least one night market. I ended up at Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market for dinner. This market is more known for its seafood which isn’t too expensive, but not when you’re on a budget. The only issue is the huge amount of people so if you hate squeezing through, Chinatown has a lot of good street food too. Monday, I just took it easy and went on a food adventure. A lot of things are closed on Mondays so plan accordingly or schedule your trip to Thailand between Tuesday to Sunday. Songkran festivities go from April 13 to 16, but it’ll usually last a whole week which means all the more fun if you come at this time! Braving the chances of getting soaked again, I had pad thai, thai tea, grilled meat and whatever I could stuff my stomach with before my flight. I squeezed in some last minute shopping along the many souvenir shops of Bangkok’s congested streets. And that wrapped up my first time to Thailand. On a side note, registration for classes back at UH Manoa fall around this time too. If you have any questions, don’t forget to email Rikki or [email protected] for help! Arriving back in Singapore on a late night flight meant waking up at 7:30 am to add my courses right before my final seminar for DSC3203. But, I managed to secure what I needed and am currently studying for my MKT1705X final. This final is comprehensive and comprises of 50% of my final grade, therefore, I’m going to get some extra reading in these next two weeks :) Overall, NUS taught me a lot about myself — more so my weaknesses. Through the high standards that NUS holds itself to, and as a business student at NUS, you’re in for really stressful, but eye-opening experience. For me, I’m very shy and timid which isn’t a good thing when most of your grade has some component of group projects to it. However, with the help of my teammates, I managed to pull through. I know I still have a long way to go before I learn to speak up, but I’m working on it. Now, it’s just the final stretch of exams left and I’ll be spending the rest of my time abroad in Taiwan. All the best to you, now and ever. — Irene side story:
After presentations, Prof Mel shared a couple life lessons with all of us. She reminded us that many of the principles we learned in organizational effectiveness can be applied to our own life. And it’s true. “What is your goals and what do you hope to achieve in life? What makes this life count — well-lived and impactful?” Though it sounds cliche, this is something we really have to figure out while we’re still undergrads. “Design you as your own organization.”
Prof Mel left attitude last as she shared her story of her recovery from being diagnosed with brain tumor. It didn’t matter what she achieved at that point in life or what she had yet to achieve, she’d never be able to enjoy what life had to offer if she wasn’t healthy. It makes you realize that what you’ve done so far doesn’t matter but how you lived your life and whether you left even the slightest of an impact on those around you. It might sound farfetched, but we’ll all eventually pass away someday and it takes courage. Fortunate to recover and be our professor for the semester, Prof Mel started a brain tumor society to raise awareness. She started with only 10 members and it has now grown to 370 members. It never occurred to her that she would be with us today, sharing her story, and supporting those who are walking the path she used to face financially and morally. And that’s the most meaningful thing Prof Mel has done with her life. “Impact others when they most need it, even the smallest action can become the most significant thing you do in your life. What is your value proposition? You are all on the path to gaining an enriching career, but remember to do something meaningful as well.” One last story is about a student at NUS and one of her beneficiaries. This student has been battling brain tumor for the past three years. Despite fighting and battling cancer, Prof shared this student only had a few weeks to live, no more than two months. But this student was so determined that they made the best out of these few years traveling. “This is happening amongst you all, in NUS, and your age too. None of you realized, did you?” Prof Mel’s last story to our MNO3303 class reminds us that we’re all human beings. We’re not invincible but we should always know that there’s more to life than just studying. And I think it’s safe to say that NUS as well as this semester abroad has taught me enough lessons again to last me a lifetime. A first chance could be a last chance so don't let it be a missed chance.
Friends: Much of the trips I have taken these past few months are due to the people I have met throughout my life. As my counselor, Jason Lee, from AID said, "when you're on the go, it's always hard to stop and take a moment to really see. Life is a one time offer, use it well and live everyday as if it's your last." And I've been very fortunate to forge a tight relationship with Jason as well as those around me, enough to ask for suggestions and see the world from their perspectives. I know that I don't own any expensive gear and most of the time, it's just my iPhone and I. But, Jason has taught me that the only way these pictures come to life is if the person behind these pictures see something. I see a lot of things — I see stories, I see my friends, and most importantly, I see myself smile. I still have a good four more weeks of stories to capture, so I hope you'll stay around for the remainder of my journey :) I love light and shadow, just as much as I love a good teh-o. Penang, Malaysia | March 30 - April 1, 2019 Beeeeeeeeeeep — that’s the sound of cars and motorcycles honking back and forth because of how congested traffic is. And that was the start of my Malaysia trip to Penang :) Although I flew in a day after Anna, that didn’t stop us from exploring the farther parts of Penang! If you’ve already been to Taipei or any Southeast Asian country, you’d know how bad the traffic is. Instead of taking the bus (Rapid Penang) to each location, we decided to take Grab as it was the most convenient and fastest way to get through since we didn’t have much time. To kick off the day, we went to Kek Lok Si Temple right after noon. It is one the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia and one the very few in Malaysia since the country isn’t really Buddhist at all. However, there is quite a lot of people who speak Hokkien, come from Thai or Burma in Penang which plays a huge role in the existence of these Buddhist temples. And although I speak Taiwanese, it’s essentially a variation of the Hokkien dialect which made it a lot easier for me to order food, figure out what’s honestly the best to eat and ask for directions on what to do :) Legend has it there’s at least 10,000 buddhas in the temple which is probably true — a tall Kuan Yin statue stands atop a hill which you access through an incline lift (RM 6 roundtrip). If you’d like to access the pagoda/prayer halls, it’s RM 2. Since we wanted to make it for sunset at Penang Hill, we decided to kill time at Air Itam Market to have some famous Pasar Asam Laksa (Penang’s version of Laksa). If you tried rojak (Indian salad) before, that’s what the laksa tasted like to me — tangy but spicy and refreshing at the same time. In Malaysia, if you want Singaporean style laksa, it’s actually called curry mee shua and there’s a stall close by called Sister Curry Mee but they close at 1 pm or maybe even earlier so best to eat there first! Across the street was another row of food stalls so we treated ourselves to some cendol (shaved ice with red bean, coconut milk, green rice flour jelly, and palm sugar syrup) to cool off. You could easily walk to Penang Hill Lower Station or bus it before catching the train up (RM 30 round trip) but it was too hot and traffic was still bad due to early Tomb-Sweeping Day so we took a Grab. From all four directions, you could see Georgetown, Penang Bridge and mainland Malaysia from the Sky Walk. If you walk some more, you’ll pass by a sign that says The Habitat Penang Hill. With your student ID, you can purchase tickets for RM 42.50 to walk around the nature trail right before sunset. The guides suggested we walk towards the Langur Way Canopy Walk first, hit some giant swings (first one was the best), then walk all the way back to Curtis Crest Treetop Walk right before sunset at 7:15 pm. The crest is the highest point in Penang with nothing above you but the clouds! Due to the thunderstorms, the sunset wasn’t too great but it was well worth the experience. Sadly, we missed out on a few local treats in Penang once we got back to Georgetown :( but everything else was delicious as well! I’d say Chulia Night Market in Little India has the best Oh Chien (oyster omelette) I’ve had since leaving Taiwan. Rather than mixing the oysters with a lot of rice flour and eggs like Taiwan usually does, Malaysia actually fries the egg instead & makes it without too much rice flour. Lok lok (steamboat) on the street is fun but not if you're hungry. Near our AirBnB was New Lane Food Stalls and Food-ker where we grabbed a couple more treats before calling it a day. Tip: Space is really limited in Malaysia so night markets with seating area or food markets all require you to purchase a minimum of one drink along with the food you buy. I’d suggest getting hot/warm drinks during the hot weather because too much cold drinks can actually make you sick quicker. Most kopitiam (coffee shops) sell a variety of drinks ranging from Penang white coffee, teh (milk tea), fruit juice, sodas, to herbal teas. I usually go for herbal teas to soothe myself as I hide from the heat (longan or barley are my go-to!) If I really want a cold drink, I grab fresh sugar cane juice instead. Anna left the next day, so we went to Chew Jetty right after sunrise to catch the first rays of daylight. After sending her off to the airport, I ran around Georgetown for the remaining of the afternoon to see if I could beat the crowd at the street art locations scattered across town. I lounged around at a kopitiam to cool off and waited until it was almost time for sunset before booking a Grab to Batu Ferringhi. Traffic was still bad but I managed to make it to the beach just in the nick of time. It was the first time in a long time since I sat at an actual beach and watched the sun set. Hawaii sunsets are definitely prettier, but I’d say nothing can really beat island-style sunsets anywhere. For a good hour, I just sat there and watched families, elderly, couples, and children enjoy their time at the beach. In the far distance, you could see horses freely galloping along the shoreline, too. I was at ease again — just me, my thoughts, and the sound of waves crashing. What makes Penang’s sunset stand out is how long the sky stays reddish pink even after the sun completely set. I was so mesmerized by the sky I almost forgot to leave. I woke up bright and early to see if I could catch the sunrise at Lee Jetty (one of the only jetties open at 7 am in the morning, but be extremely quiet and respectful if you go). Since the storms come and go, there’s been a lot of clouds which blocked the sun — that didn’t mean it wasn’t pretty :) I grabbed a quick breakfast (roti bakar) at the entrance of the Jetty and had a nice conversation with one of the owners. A lot of people who I spoke to on this trip were actually quite curious why an American who could speak Taiwanese and Mandarin studying in Singapore would end up in Penang. And I always had a hard time explaining, but it’s nice to be able to speak consistently in my mother tongue after these past few months abroad. I went on a food adventure for the rest of the day before I had to leave for the airport. The weather might’ve been bad, yet Penang was a nice getaway before I wrap up the last two-three weeks of presentations and finals. It was also nice being able to catch up with good company knowing that we’ll all be really busy in the upcoming weeks. Dubbed the food central of Malaysia, Penang is a quick place to get a taste of nature if you don’t have time for the rest of Southeast Asia.
Sorry for the lack of updates, life has been hectic — but I guess that’s good. I’ve been so distracted with school work that I just haven’t had the time to properly sit down and ponder on the last two weeks. This week was my last week of big assignments and group projects. Of course, NUS doesn’t make it easy because local students study and prep like crazy. But, I have really good teammates who I’m grateful for in helping me since the start of the semester. Here's a group picture for DSC3203 after we presented about new technologies in the hotel industry. Can you believe I’m leaving Asia soon? :( Before presenting, Prof has been sharing articles lately reminding us that it doesn't take much to be happy. I guess he knew that as finals approach, all of us would be scrambling to get through the semester. If you ever get the chance, definitely take a course with Prof Thompson :) Coursework is tough, but it's worth your time if you are a management major. Coming back from Malaysia meant I only had a week before two huge group presentations and assignments are due. And today, I finally completed all my course requirements (kind of)! I only have one more class (DSC), one last tutorial for MKT, and a final on May 2nd for MKT before I return to Taiwan shortly after. In-between prepping for all those presentations, Felice was kind enough to be my tour guide for a day around Bugis. She’s actually studying abroad in Singapore from Japan but she’s also half Singaporean which was really interesting to hear as I got to know her better. To hide from the heat after we spent much of the afternoon at the National Library reading books, we ended up at Lau Pa Sat Market for dinner (I only go there for carrot cake). It's also been a while since I last step foot in Gardens by the Bay - the Super Tree Grove is beautiful as always!
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Apa Kabar, Ni Hao! My name is Irene Chen. I am currently a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa pursuing a BBA in Accounting & Finance. Join me on this journey through Singapore!
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June 2019
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