I was visiting relatives in the distant part of Singapore called Marine Parade, where the closest MRT (train) station is at least a 5-10 minute bus ride away. This is somewhat rare in Singapore because most residential areas have an MRT station within 5 minutes walking distance, but my relatives are by the beach so that makes up for the annoying public transportation factor. I stayed at my relatives place for about 5 hours, helping my little cousin with her English homework and allowing my aunt sometime to get her hair done while I entertain my cousin. Towards the end though, it was my little cousin who was doing the entertaining. She showed me the beach (when my aunt returned and chaperoned) and then did a magic show for me and my aunt. Then I said good-bye and made my way back to the closest bus stop.
To get back to my grandparents place, (where I am still residing at the moment), I needed to do one bus transfer. Its a scary thought for a person who has always used a subway system her whole life. Train to bus - ok. Bus to bus - NOT ok. When I had made the transfer the first time, going over to my relatives' place, it was quick and easy because the bus I needed did come right on time according Google Maps. Going home, however, the transfer bus (number 28) went missing. I thought I had missed it so I waited for another round of the same buses. 155, 2, 7, 26... Fifteen minutes passed and still no bus 28. So instead of going by Google Maps, and not asking for directions, I made the decision to go on the next bus that said they were going to Toa Payoh Interchange: Bus 26.
For the first couple of minutes I watched on my Nexus 7 the blinking triangle (my location) on Google Maps move in the direction I was suppose to go. (Side note for travelers: The Nexus 7 really is a GREAT travel tablet for the price, however it does get annoying with the camera. It's front-facing only and it has low-grade pixelation. Good for Skype, bad for travel pictures for your photo album.) Then I headed into unknown territory - literally. I put away my Nexus 7 and enjoyed the ride of Bus 26. We first went through a crowded area that looked like I had accidentally crossed over into Malaysia. The shops on both sides of the street looked like they were from another decade in Singapore's history and pathways were so uneven that I wouldn't advise handicap people to visit the area. However, the stores and food stalls were crowded with people eating, buying, and mingling. I looked up the area in my trusty Lonely Planet travel guide and it said that the area, Geylang, has some of the best local food around, however the area used to be the red-light district of Singapore. I can believe it...
The bus continued through residential areas on roads with names like Boon Keng Road and Whampoa East. I forgot that Singapore has rivers flowing through the metropolis and on my ride I see several canals and rivers cemented into a permanent position. Residential apartments boarder both sides probably for a good view of "a river," however I'm sure people regret the mosquito bites that come with the view. When the bus turns onto a road called Jalan ("Jln" on maps) Toa Payoh, I almost freak out thinking that I had read the bus sign wrong. I've never heard of Jalan Toa Payoh in my area! I take deep breaths to calm and remind myself that I chose to be on a journey of the unknown. If I get to the end and it's not familiar I can always get on another bus. Thank God for my Nexus! The bus made another turn onto Lorong 6, a road I was familiar with and I gave a huge sigh of relief. I rang for the bus to stop at one of my new favorite landmarks - the community pool - and decided to walk the rest of the way home. I told myself that I was done exploring for the day. That bus ride was one and a half hours long.
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