Top 6 Outdoor activities to do in Singapore

Have you ever arrived somewhere and thought, "what is this perfect place and why isn't everyone talking about it every day?!" Those were my exact words when I landed in Singapore. Fair warning to those of you that don't enjoy hot sweaty humidity, you might not love it as much as I did. I LOVE hot weather...the sweaty glow on my skin and the extra hydration in my hair... come on, it's awesome guys. Due to incredibly humid (and amazing) weather, Singapore feels like they built a city within a jungle. That is my dream living scenario...minus the monitor lizards walking around and being terrifying (sorry lizard fans). On top of living in a jungle, there are some of the best restaurants, bars and activities in this city. Time for the rundown!

1. Gardens by the Bay - The Gardens by the Bay includes the Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and the Super Trees. If you're going to Singapore you should definitely set aside a few hours to see these breathtaking iconic sites. You can spend the afternoon wandering through the massive park and see art sculptures, lakes, different exotic plants and flowers that are specific to the region and even stop at some of the restaurants for a quick snack. You could spend an entire day in the park, so I've listed my favorite spots in the park below.

2. The Cloud Forest - The Cloud Forest is an indoor area, almost like Bio-Dome (shoutout to Pauly Shore), that contains the Cloud Mountain. The Cloud Forest maintains cool, misty, fresh air similar to what is found in tropical mountain regions and houses unique plants, moss and flowers. The Cloud Mountain has an elevator in the center which takes you to the top and you can walk your way down past all of the waterfalls, plants and skybridges to overlook the entire forest. This is such a one of a kind experience!

3. The Flower Dome - The Flower Dome is right next door to the Cloud Forest and you can purchase a ticket for both when you enter the park. The Flower Dome is exactly as it sounds, a large dome filled with flowers from all over the world. Pull out your phone and get your Instagram ready for all the flower photos you'll be posting. You can wander through each section of the dome and see plants and flowers from different continents. I was lucky enough to visit during Chinese New Year, so the Monkey King was prancing around in the gardens as well. Both domes are definitely worth a visit and a welcomed relief from the humidity.

4. Super trees - These are the iconic electronic trees that range between 80 - 160 feet tall and serve as an irrigation system for rainwater, a source of solar energy for the lighting and even have an elevated walkway between the trees so you can get a full panoramic view of the city from the top. Don't miss out on the light show after sunset too! 

5. Botanical Gardens: It's easy to find yourself getting suckered into walking through every Botanical Garden whenever you're traveling, but this one is definitely worthy of your time. And to make it even better, it is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites! While walking through the gardens I saw everything from turtles, fish, swans, spiders (yuck) and even a giant monitor lizard. I'm going to be honest, he scared the life out of me - those things are HUGE. Once you're done catching all of the beautiful exotic plants and animals, you can't miss out on the Orchid Garden. There is a small entrance fee, but once you're inside, you get to make all of your Alice and Wonderland dreams come true by walking down the orchid archway. It's feels like something out of a fairy tale. The Botanical Gardens in Singapore might be my favorite worldwide. 

6. Southern Ridges - If you're looking for a relaxing walk through the treetops, the Southern Ridges canopy walk from Mt Faber Park to Henderson Waves bridge is my top pick. If you head into the forest an hour before sunset, you can walk the trail that takes you weaving through walkways and leads you to the Henderson waves bridge that lights up at sunset and provides phenomenal views of the skyline and jungle. If you're not so lucky (like me) and get stuck out there during torrential downpour, trek onwards, because it's worth it!!

Musings

Top 3 best neighborhoods in Shanghai

There is so much to see and do while you're in Shanghai, but you definitely don't want to miss out on an afternoon of exploring these top 3 incredible neighborhoods.

1. The French Concession: If you couldn't tell by the name, this area used to be heavily populated by the French, however, these days it's populated by almost every expat in Shanghai. You can find all of the comforts of home in the French Concession, from grilled cheese sandwiches, cold pressed juice, fun outdoor bars and beer gardens and tons of cute shops to wander in and out of. You'll definitely feel right at home in the French Concession!

2. Jing' An: Jing' An is also known as the Soho of Shanghai and when you arrive, you'll know why immediately. Jing' An is filled with luxury shopping malls and high end restaurants. If you take the metro to Jing' An you'll be right in the heart of town standing underneath a temple and surrounded by luxury. If you travel north on Wuning Road you'll find the area of Jing' An where more expats live. Yanping Lu specifically! There are many cafes, bars, restaurants and shops that will make you feel like you're wandering around a Chinese Williamsburg.

3. Xintiandi: This area is known for fantastic restaurants and great bars. If you're looking for a nice area to sit down, relax and enjoy a glass of wine and dinner, look no further.  You can find all of the hip new restaurants in Xintiandi and all the chic night owls wining and dining the night away before they head out to the glamorous nightclubs. 

Standing on Yan'An elevated road in Jing'An!

Living Abroad - Expat checklist

I've spent a large portion of my life being an expat. If I see an opportunity for adventure, I end up packing my bags and disappearing for a while. My expat life has led me to live in beautiful places like Barcelona, Melbourne, Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing (a lot of China - what can I say?!), a few months in Germany and Mexico. Like I said, I'm a sucker for adventure. For those of you wondering whether you should take that leap and move overseas, GO FOR IT! You only live once (ugh i hate saying Yolo, but YOLO). You'll learn so much about yourself, grow exponentially and create everlasting experiences!  And don't worry, your friends, family and favorite bars will all be there when you get home.  

Here's a quick list I've prepared for those of you starting your new life as an expat!

1. Clean the apartment and always get new sheets - You never know who was there before, so do a massive clean to start fresh in your new place!

2. Study a map of your neighborhood - Even better, walk around the neighborhood and get familiar with your new hood. I always make a note of which places I would like to explore more. This will give you a better understanding of the vibe in your neighborhood...and we all know how important vibes are right?!

3. Find your local EVERYTHING - grocery store (and do some shopping asap), laundry, dry cleaners, subway entrances and post office.

4. Get a local phone - I know we all want to keep our iPhones (and you can!), but it's smart to invest in a local phone as well so you can call all of your new local friends at no cost to either of you. Depending on your new country, you'll need a local phone to log into wifi at cafes and you KNOW you NEED WIFI!! 

5. Sign up for local language courses - If you’re living in a new city where English is not the main language, always sign up for a local language course and get to studying and practicing. No matter where you go, people LOVE when you try to speak their language. It shows respect and consideration - plus it's great to learn a new language!!

6. Get a local bank account - I know this one sounds boring, but believe me, it will make your life that much easier and save on all those fees. 

7. Buy a metro card - Unless you're buying a car or you've got the money to Uber everywhere all the time, you'll be needing a metro card. Head to your nearest subway station and buy a monthly card or put enough money on a new card to get you around for your first month until you can figure out how much you actually need to budget for subway transportation. 

8. Unpack, take a deep breath and embrace your new home! Congrats on your big adventure! 

* Here's a photo of me on Day 1 in Shanghai doing my big SHOP - new sheets, groceries, EVERYTHING! 

Be sure to share your your expat checklist with me below. Anything you would add? Where would you want to live if you were moving overseas?! Join the expat community!