Conclusions

After 2,5 months of travel I am now back in Germany, settling into my old life, family and university.
I had a wonderful time and would like to say a big thank you to everyone I met and everyone back here that supported me.
Someday I'll return to New Zealand and continue this Blog, especially now I know how great travelling on your own is with no real plans whatsoever! It will always be my second home even if it's so far away!

THE END

Singapore

On Monday the 2nd of October I flew from Sydney to Singapore. The flight was long but Singapore Airlines was great, we got good food, could watch the newest movies and series and even got hot towels and a toothbrush! I had a whole row to myself so I could actually get some much needed sleep.
Once at the airport I got really confused and it took me some time to even find the baggage claim. This is the worst airport I've been to... At least I found the correct train to the city. There I was met by Soon Fen, a friend of Theo's who offered to host me for a few days. After the damp heat outside I was relieved that she had a working air conditioning in her room!

The next morning we walked through one of the parks and I nearly died from the heat. I'm just not used to that and I was sweating just by standing there. I didn't give up though so after a few hours we finally arrived at the train station on the other side. We had seen many squirrels jumping around us but unfortunately no monkeys.

No, that's not all sweat... I just used every chance to hold my head under a tap.

Henderson Waves

When Soon Fen had to get back to university I continued to Chinatown. It was awfully crowded and everything was so loud, colourful and kitschy. Everyone actively tried to lure you into their shops and although everything was so cheap and exotic that just made me want to escape the crowd.
I went to visit the Indian and Buddhist temple and for both I had to dress up in traditional long-sleeved clothes. It was weird but of course I respected their culture and it was definitely worth it. The paintings and decorations are amazing!

Chinatown

Sri Mariamman Temple

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Still I was a little wary of the Singaporean food in particular and after a long search I finally found a place where they sold pizza. I might have missed some great experience but with no recommendations and as vegetarian I just wanted to be on the safe side.
To end the day I walked to the Flyer but by then it had started to rain so I didn't go up. Instead I went to see the two free light and water shows in Marina Bay, very impressive! On the way I probably got my tenth smoothie from Boost for the day, it just helped me to survive in this tropical weather.

The Merlion

A canal through a shopping mall?!

For the next day I didn't have any particular plans so I just went to Wild Wild Wet Waterpark. Although I was on my own I had great fun and the slides and rafts were really cool, especially the free fall where a trap door suddenly opens below your feet.
Timo, a German exchange student I got to know in the last two days, accompanied me on my next adventures. We met for breakfast on Thursday and went to Sentosa Island. There we first visited Adventure Cove Waterpark. It wasn't as cool and big as the other one and the queues were pretty long but they had a maze and a tiny high-ropes course. We also went snorkeling in a fish pool for about 20 minutes. They came so close that I actually touched a few of them just by drifting past. That was cool!

We also got a Fun Pass which gave us discount on five different activities on the island. The MegaJump was pretty boring because it was only 15 meters high and after my bungy this was like a stroll in the park. The 4D Adventure Cinema was cool though and the Luge as well although we had to wait for ages.
Timo also went surfing at the Wave House but by then I already noticed that I had a huge sunburn and I didn't feel all too well. To conclude the day we went to the Wings of Time Show after dark. The acting was very exaggerated but the lights and special effects were very well done. I was really exhausted in the evening but we had had a great time!
The next day it was time for me to leave and get back to my university in Germany. I boarded the plane in the early morning and was on my way back home. I didn't really miss Singapore but I realised that this was the end of my holidays and that didn't exactly lift my mood. I also had a cold from all the air conditioners (it had actually been freezing cold in all the buildings and the contrast to the temperature outside was far to big!) and when we landed in Dubai and later in Frankfurt my ears really hurt. I probably shouldn't have flown while being sick but I didn't really have a choice.

Look at this structure in Dubai!

At Frankfurt airport I had to discover that my suitcase was missing a roll and I told them straight away. And can you imagine, a few days later I received a new suitcase! Just like that, without a note or anything. That was a surprisingly quick and great service, thank you Emirates!
After arriving back on German soil I took another train and was finally home by 11.30 pm on the same day. I just wished for some sparkling water, real bread and sleep.

Sydney

In the evening of the 28th of September 2017, the day I had to leave New Zealand for the second time, my plane landed in Sydney. I had a stop-over here anyway and had decided to stay for a few days and visit a friend of mine. I was fairly nervous at the airport whether I would be allowed to take the shells I had collected into the country. In the end it wasn't a problem though and I was very relieved.
I guess I must have looked a little lost because three people asked me if I needed help finding the correct train. As a matter of fact, I did... One guy even gave me his Opal Card (very useful for public transport) so I didn't even have to pay for my ticket! Finally I arrived at Asylum Backpackers in Woolloomooloo and although the people were friendly I immediately disliked it. It was pretty dirty and I didn't feel comfortable in the area either. Together with a French roommate I cooked some pasta and then went to sleep pretty early.
The next morning I took a walk through the city and Botanical Gardens. They were absolutely beautiful! In general walking was much more exhausting than in New Zealand though, already I couldn't really cope with the heat difference. I went on to see St. Mary's Cathedral, Mrs Mcquairies Chair and of course the famous opera house at the harbour.

A beautiful white Cuckatoo

At 12.30 pm I had booked a tour with ThunderJet (use Bookme for that!) which was just the cooling-off I needed. I was allowed to sit at the very front where the ride is the bumpiest and enjoyed every single second of it! It was a fun way to get around the harbour while getting completely soaked in sea water.

After spending some more time in the gardens to dry I headed to Government House to participate in the next free guided tour. It was a nice building and I got some insight in the Australian politics.

Again I walked through the whole city, past the Queen Victoria Building, to the Sydney Tower Eye. It was a perfect clear day and from the top I had a great view over the city. Still, it was just like every other Skytower.

Queen Victoria Shopping Centre

Once again I raced across the whole city to join the 6 pm free guided tour through The Rocks. It was really interesting and we passed many historical sights and observed fruit bats in the trees above us. Unfortunately my phone died though so I actually came back the next day to revisit the locations in daylight.

The next day would be full of tours and museums. First I had booked a tour through the opera house for the shows had all been sold out already and this was the only way to go in. Afterwards I bought a Sydney Museums Pass, a very cheap way to see everything you want to.

I started with the Justice and Police Museum. There were great old photographs of crimes and suspects and interesting stories. Susannah Place was next. They had left the house as it had been built and furnished for the first European settlers. The living conditions must have been horrible! The Museum of Sydney was next on the list and I learned a lot about the history of the first settlements as well as modern architecture. Hyde Park Barracks were last and gave an insight into prison life. I made it just before closing time at 5 pm and was even rewarded a virtual golden star for doing them all in one day.

Oktoberfest in Sydney?

One of the oldest pubs... apparently they served free drinks and then sold the drunk people into slavery so be wary!

A thousand dirty footprints on the Bridge Tunnel walls.

Susannah Place toilet

The Opera House design

Hyde Park Barracks

After resting my feet for a short while I headed all the way back to the Conservatory of Music. I must have walked sooo many kilometers in the last two days! At 6.30 pm I met Alice whom I still knew from Burnside High School Orchestra. We listened to her new university orchestra playing Wagner and Bruckner and it was wonderful music.

Shortly after we took the bus to the city center for we had reserved a table at the Mjölner Bar & Restaurant. We didn't find the door at first for it was hidden and there was no sign on the streets but eventually we saw the hammer of Thor on the door. The whole bar is Viking themed with many interesting cocktails and swords and armour on the walls. I was glad we reserved a table for it was fully packed and they even had to send some people away again.
When we could finally sit down we got to choose a real steal cutting knife that looked like a dagger. We got a free shot of something not too unpleasant in horn shaped glasses that you had to drink in one gulp for you couldn't set them down. The only vegetarian meal on the menu was also the cheapest by far so it didn't take us long to decide. We got baked eggplant and caramelized pumpkin with Ricotta cheese and nuts. It was absolutely delicious! I would definitely recommend this to everyone passing through Sydney!

On Sundays you only pay 2,50 AU$ with the Opal Card no matter how far you go. Alice and I met up in the morning and took the train to Featherdale Wildlife Park. There were many weird animals and it looked like some school children had just drawn something and it had come to life. Wallabies were jumping around through the visitors, fat Wombats were sleeping in the sun and one of the many colourful birds actually pooed on my head. Great, thanks... We decided to get the full experience and take a photo with a koala. His fur was unbelievably soft!

Kookaburra

Baby Wallaby

Wombat

He looks like an evil vampire...

On the way back we stopped at Elizabeth Farm that still looked like it had 100 years ago but it wasn't really worth the long way. We then continued to Bondi Beach, the typical tourist spot. Although it wasn't even real summer the beach was quite crowded and you were only allowed to swim in a tiny spot. There were lifeguards everywhere but when I went in I could finally understand why. The waves were extremely high and strong and jumping them was really fun. I didn't see any sharks though.

From there we walked along the cliffs to Bronte Beach where we had a burger and enjoyed the sunset. It got surprisingly cold afterwards so we went back to the hostel soon afterwards.