GRIP, Internships Abroad Bus 51

GRIP: Business Development in Singapore

Looking back on my camera roll, this summer in Singapore was truly a magical time. One of the last videos I took was a time lapse of my ride to work on a double decker bus. Like my time on bus 51, my entire time in Singapore was one where I put down my phone and enjoyed the view.

The entire bus ride was over 50 minutes long. Once the bus left the central business district, the first thing it passed by was a fruit stand. The smell of durian had always been rotting in my childhood memories, but it smelled better with every morning bus ride. Soon, I found myself eating durian with my coworkers outside our office. On the bus ride back from work, I would also pass by the streets of frog porridge vendors…

One weekend, our program also took us to Malaysia via bus ride. That trip made me realize that I prefer the cloudy, humid heat of Singapore over the burning bright sun of Malaysia. However once the night came, the only sun I could find was in the form of little egg biscuits sizzling in the night market. Although I wish I bargained a little more for my little rocks and trinkets, I did emerge from the market with an adorable frog hat, which I may or may not have the courage to wear on Locust walk. My friends and I barely made it out of the market with a charged phone, but if we could not call a Grab (the local taxi app), then we might have taken the singing pedibike donned in Christmas lights and minions.

Speaking of Grab, I think taxi drivers are always the first locals I get to know in any new place. One thing I remember about them is that they drive on the right side of the car. Another thing I remember is that they were always super friendly, and assured me that Singapore was very safe. Because of them, I ended up visiting Gardens by the Bay, where there were greenhouses full of rose arrangements, and sparkling trees. They took me to Santosa Bay, where you could see cargo ships lining the Southernmost point of Asia. They also recommended that I check out Clarke Quay at night, where couples sat together by the river lined with bars playing live music.

Like the time lapse, my memory of Singapore seems even shorter than it actually was. I will have to rely on the photos I took and the friends I made there to relive my experiences for now, but I really hope to visit again someday.