It was very hot and very sunny and very beautiful. But I will let the pictures speak for themselves:
 |
| Doesn't that building in the background look like it belongs in Gotham City? |
27 February 2011
Sunday afternoon jaunt
It's been a while since I've gone on an independent adventure of the exploring/walking/photo-taking kind. So I was very happy to fill my otherwise empty afternoon with an excursion to Arab Street. It's a neighborhood that is exactly what it sounds like: Arab. There are mosques, tons of little stores with carpets, fabrics, and lots of Middle-Eastern-esque items, and lots of restaurants and hookah bars.
It was very hot and very sunny and very beautiful. But I will let the pictures speak for themselves:
It was very hot and very sunny and very beautiful. But I will let the pictures speak for themselves:
Making the most of the commute
Today as I was riding the train to go take pictures around town, I was playing with a Rubik's Cube. Ever since I got one for Christmas when I was in middle school, I've gone through phases of taking it with me wherever I go. It's compact and entertaining, so when one finds oneself in a situation where they are waiting for something (i.e. a bus or train), it's easy to whip out and dispel boredom.
I didn't bring my Cube with me to Singapore, but Caleb has one and I borrowed it today for my train ride. I got on the train, pulled it out, and started twisting and turning.
The first time I solved it (I'm averaging 2 and a half minutes), I noticed a lady smile as she was watching me. Then I realized that normally, all you see on the train is a whole bunch of zombified people trudging through their daily commute staring vacantly with their headphones on. That or fingers typing furiously into little pocket sized gadgets. It's certainly not every day that you see a white girl playing with a brightly colored cube.
After the second time I solved it, I noticed a man watching me. He caught my eye and asked if he could have a go. Of course, why not? I handed it over, and his hands started moving the layers back and forth quickly and methodically. Three minutes later, it was done and he handed it back.
I couldn't help but smile. It was such a ridiculous situation--two strangers interacting with each other over a toy on the Singapore MRT. I solved it one or two more times, and the same man suggested we do a race. As the train pulled into the next station, he took the Cube and started as soon as the doors shut. The goal was to finish by the time the doors opened at the next station (~2 min).
I watched in awe as he turned the last layer just in time. Then it was my turn and I am sad to say I wasn't as successful. He was very gracious and we had a quick little conversation about it. When he got off the train, we exchanged "Have a nice day!"s, and that was that.
I spent the rest of my train ride today solving my Cube, hoping that it would cause some smiles and a little bit of entertainment for my fellow commuters.
I didn't bring my Cube with me to Singapore, but Caleb has one and I borrowed it today for my train ride. I got on the train, pulled it out, and started twisting and turning.
The first time I solved it (I'm averaging 2 and a half minutes), I noticed a lady smile as she was watching me. Then I realized that normally, all you see on the train is a whole bunch of zombified people trudging through their daily commute staring vacantly with their headphones on. That or fingers typing furiously into little pocket sized gadgets. It's certainly not every day that you see a white girl playing with a brightly colored cube.
After the second time I solved it, I noticed a man watching me. He caught my eye and asked if he could have a go. Of course, why not? I handed it over, and his hands started moving the layers back and forth quickly and methodically. Three minutes later, it was done and he handed it back.
I couldn't help but smile. It was such a ridiculous situation--two strangers interacting with each other over a toy on the Singapore MRT. I solved it one or two more times, and the same man suggested we do a race. As the train pulled into the next station, he took the Cube and started as soon as the doors shut. The goal was to finish by the time the doors opened at the next station (~2 min).
I watched in awe as he turned the last layer just in time. Then it was my turn and I am sad to say I wasn't as successful. He was very gracious and we had a quick little conversation about it. When he got off the train, we exchanged "Have a nice day!"s, and that was that.
I spent the rest of my train ride today solving my Cube, hoping that it would cause some smiles and a little bit of entertainment for my fellow commuters.
22 February 2011
Unexpected gains.
Time does amazing things for relationships. The more time you spend with a person, the more you learn about them, and the closer you become. I think that this also applies to our own selves. I am the person I spend the most time with, and it's always exciting to see how I change as life goes on.
For those of you who know of the Myers-Briggs personality types, I am an Extrovert to the extreme. I am motivated and energized by being around people. One of my absolute favorite parts of being a traveling extrovert is meeting and befriending people from all over the world. Not only does it mean that soon I won't have to worry about having a place to stay wherever I go, but it also means that I get to learn and experience all sorts of cultures and worldviews that may be different from my own. All of these new friendships have a great impact on who I am and have helped me grow and change in many ways.
Last week I went on vacation to Thailand. My dad was coming for work, so I met up with him in Bangkok and then we went up north to Chiang Mai together. Coincidentally enough, one of my friends (Mairead), whom I was with in Senegal, lives there now. It would probably be an understatement to say that we had a blast together.
It rocks my world to think that two years after Mairead and I met in Africa (and knew each other for a mere two months), we can get together in a completely different country and have the time of our lives. Over the last two years we have kept in touch through email and skype, but this was the first time we've actually seen each other.
Mairead has an incredible group of friends in Chiang Mai, that I had the honor of meeting and spending time with throughout the week. Besides going on adventures with them to the Night Bazaar, a jazz bar, and the coolest waterfall ever, I especially enjoyed just sitting around, talking, and getting to know them. Little did I expect to come home with a whole new group of friends in another country.
Which brings me to one of the curses of being a traveling extrovert with easy friend making abilities. After a week with my new friends in Chiang Mai, I didn't want to leave. I wanted to be able to stay and cultivate these new relationships, to make life-long friends of mere acquaintances. Hopefully, through the power of email, we will be able to stay in touch and see each other again in this lifetime.
Seeing as I gained a whole new community while on vacation for a week, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I find myself with many amazing friends here in Singapore. Friends that keep me accountable, encourage me, inspire me, challenge me, and keep my life as fun as ever. But these friends won't be around forever either. It is the nature of living here that people come and go more often than they rightfully should.
One of my best friends here recently moved back to the States, but she is only the first in a long line that will be moving before me. As heartbreaking as it is to think about them leaving, I am learning how to be present with the people I'm with and not waste the time I've been given with them.
I am blessed to have so many friends in so many places, and I love to see how I am growing and changing through all of these relationships.
So here's a shout-out to friends whom I have left, and who have left me: I miss you and love you and would love to hear from you whenever you have a chance.
P.S. Check out pictures from my vacation on my Picasa Web Albums by clicking the link on the right!
For those of you who know of the Myers-Briggs personality types, I am an Extrovert to the extreme. I am motivated and energized by being around people. One of my absolute favorite parts of being a traveling extrovert is meeting and befriending people from all over the world. Not only does it mean that soon I won't have to worry about having a place to stay wherever I go, but it also means that I get to learn and experience all sorts of cultures and worldviews that may be different from my own. All of these new friendships have a great impact on who I am and have helped me grow and change in many ways.
Last week I went on vacation to Thailand. My dad was coming for work, so I met up with him in Bangkok and then we went up north to Chiang Mai together. Coincidentally enough, one of my friends (Mairead), whom I was with in Senegal, lives there now. It would probably be an understatement to say that we had a blast together.
It rocks my world to think that two years after Mairead and I met in Africa (and knew each other for a mere two months), we can get together in a completely different country and have the time of our lives. Over the last two years we have kept in touch through email and skype, but this was the first time we've actually seen each other.
Mairead has an incredible group of friends in Chiang Mai, that I had the honor of meeting and spending time with throughout the week. Besides going on adventures with them to the Night Bazaar, a jazz bar, and the coolest waterfall ever, I especially enjoyed just sitting around, talking, and getting to know them. Little did I expect to come home with a whole new group of friends in another country.
Which brings me to one of the curses of being a traveling extrovert with easy friend making abilities. After a week with my new friends in Chiang Mai, I didn't want to leave. I wanted to be able to stay and cultivate these new relationships, to make life-long friends of mere acquaintances. Hopefully, through the power of email, we will be able to stay in touch and see each other again in this lifetime.
Seeing as I gained a whole new community while on vacation for a week, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I find myself with many amazing friends here in Singapore. Friends that keep me accountable, encourage me, inspire me, challenge me, and keep my life as fun as ever. But these friends won't be around forever either. It is the nature of living here that people come and go more often than they rightfully should.
One of my best friends here recently moved back to the States, but she is only the first in a long line that will be moving before me. As heartbreaking as it is to think about them leaving, I am learning how to be present with the people I'm with and not waste the time I've been given with them.
I am blessed to have so many friends in so many places, and I love to see how I am growing and changing through all of these relationships.
So here's a shout-out to friends whom I have left, and who have left me: I miss you and love you and would love to hear from you whenever you have a chance.
P.S. Check out pictures from my vacation on my Picasa Web Albums by clicking the link on the right!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)