We boarded the bus towards the National Museum from there.
We disembarked and headed towards the museum buliding. Only thing is, we weren't exactly there. The bus had dropped us off somewhere that is nowhere near the main entrance. Still, it's not the end of the world so we started searching for the main entrance. But not before we started looking for a trash can to throw my now-finished cup(??) of milk tea in. I could just throw it on the ground, but I didn't want to clean the entire museum area ( this is a legit punishment in Singapore).
So we walked along the building. I remember asking her on how to spot madrasah students in public. We saw a short flight of stairs. She suggested that we take a few photos before moving on, so we did. It was nice to try my hand at taking photos and reducing my general awkwardness. After we took each others' photos, we moved along a bit more to find a huge trash can near the building. We threw in our cups.
After a little more walking, we finally saw an entrance to the building. Near the entrance, the floor is elevated by using a wood floor(?), so we took this chance to take even more photos. We asked an ang moh lady to take photos with the both of us in them. After that, we moved on into the building.
We were skeptical about going in since apparently we needed to pay to go in. As we were trying to go about doing this trip using as little money as possible, we sat around for a while. It was around 1600 hours. I leeched off the free wifi and read my WhatsApp messages. Some of myy classmates went for a preparation course for their Middle East studies. Lucky jerks.
We both took some photos of the interior. During this time, we noticed that everyone came in and out just like that, so we just went in. We started exploring the museum. The first section that we went into was the World War 2 section. It was pretty unnerving.
Then, we went to the colonial era section. Truth be told, although I hated imperialism and colonialism, one thing that the English did do right was to make improve women's rights. Then we moved on to the other sections. One particular conversation I remember was when were in the 1960s section (is it?). We talked about Singapore's secession of Malaysia and how most were still bitter about it; most are paranoid that Singapore would somehow conspire with someone to conquer Malaysia or something.And there's the time we talked about childhood games...
After we were finished, we went to the toilet before heading out of the building. I hate toilets in Singapore due to the fact that they don't have water hoses. Blergh. After we were done, we headed to the bus stop to go to Chinatown. We chatted about a typical madrasah student's life; unlike their northern counterparts, they're much more closer to secular students than they are with Malaysian religious school students, with the Islamic education the only thing setting them apart.
We boarded the bus to Dhoby Ghaut MRT. When we arrived, I informed my friend. My friend asked how did I know where the MRT station is. I said that I saw it. She was apparently impressed of the fact that I could since I was talking to her at the time. I said that I could focus on a few things at the same time, as long as it was easy for me. The conversation then turned into one about car driving and licences.
We took the North-East line towards Chinatown MRT. I took out the flyer and chose to go out to via exit A.
Unfortunately, I don't remember much of our conversations at Chinatown. There were a few; I talked about wanting a cap, but never got one there because I prefer plain caps. And there's one where I compared Chinatown to Petaling St. for getting cheap touristy stuffs. And Chinese stuffs. (But Petaling St. is more inclined towards bootleg stuffs LMAO). Other than that, we also took a lot of pictures, as per usual.
At around 1830, we went back to the MRT station to head to our last downtown destination : Gardens By The Bay. We disembarked at Bayfront MRT. After that, we had to use the toilet yet again and did so before we advanced into the Gardens.
Holy crap. The view was impressive, even during a time where's there's still daylight. My friend chose to visit this at this time because according to her, the view is way more awesome at night. After walking around for a while, it still wasn't dark yet, so we decided to sit around and wait. We talked about debates, social issues, our countries problems... until 1930 hours. Then we got a move on again.
We continued walking until we were closer to the supertrees. At this time, they had started a light show of some sort, so we just sat there and watched. After the show was over, we continued on walking; as the park wasn't compeletely dark yet, we decided to go to the elevated ground above our level.
As we walked through the plants and trees, it grew darker to the point where we could barely see anything. We also realised that there's not a lot of people going around this area. We were starting to feel creeped out. But still, it did not dampen our spirits, and on we went. There's this time where we were at a place which had something to do with insects, or whatever, so the both of us started talking about our hate for those dastardly things.
We had to start heading back towards Bayfront MRT by 2015 hours, so we attempted to track back. My friend didn't exactly know how to read a map, so I had to do the navigating duties. I remember kneeling down near an orange-lighted post to read the map. After a while, we were on the path back towards Bayfront. We snapped our last few photos on the way back. After we were out of the Gardens, I remember telling my friend that we should go to Bayfront via Marina Bay Sands 'cause air-conditioning. She was weirded out by that.
We arrived back at Bayfront just in time. While we waited, she told me the reason why we were to return slightly earlier than expected (The original plan was 2030 hours) : We were going to change trains a lot; From Bayfront, we were to go to Marina Bay, then change lines to the red line- which is the line that I'll finally disembarking from - then disembark at Marina South Pier, which was the southern terminus for the red line. From there, we bounce back all the way to Woodlands MRT, then finally disembark there.
Her reasoning for bouncing trains was that so we could sit; as the trains from Marina South Pier were usually empty. She told me a lot of madrasah students living in the north were willing to spend extra time bouncing trains, like this, so I concurred with her.
We stepped on the train. The trip was comfortable, we killed time by talking crap about my school systems, which I highly disliked since I entered it last year. It was good to let it out to someone.
I also spent time looking out the window. Eventhough it was dark and the train windows prevented me from seeing the views clearly, whatever view I got from looking out was enough to make me think one thing : "Could I ever see views like this everyday one day?"
No worries about my own safety. Or finances (ok that might be a bit far fetched but...).
We disembarked at Woodlands MRT. We planned to have dinner before I was to depart at Woodlands Train Checkpoint, so we decided to just eat at Causeway Point near the MRT station. I asked my friend - "Why is there seem to be at least one mall near every MRT station?" She answered that the location of most MRT stations were designed with at least one mall nearby. I could see how that made sense.
We decided to have dinner at Burger King, but before that we had to go to Popular bookstore first so I could get a pen just in case I had any "official documents" to fill out. But the truth was - and I never told it before I wrote this... I'm so sorry - I had lost my Embarkation/Disembarkation slip the day before. When I woke up earlier in the day, I did a check, and that was when I realised I had lost it. Nit wanting her to worry for the rest of the day, I shut up about it. Stupid me. I should've always brought a black pen with me in my external pocket.
So I went into popular, bought a black pen for 80 cents, and continued on to Burger King. We lined up, and as we waited to reach the counter, I tried to get free wifi in order to know the traffic situation at the border. My plan was if the border isn't jammed, we'll spend a bit more time and I'll go off at 2245 hours. She noticed this, and she logged on the free wifi for me using her credentials. The border seems like it's jammed. Crap.
When it was the time for us to place our orders, we did so. I ordered a Cheesy BBQ Turkey Bacon Burger. We both sat down at our reserved spot (I forgot what did she reserve it with) and started to eat. We didn't actually talk a lot because we were trying to finish our food. I only finished my french fries. The portion was really filling to for some reason. I reserved the burger for my early morning train journey. While she finished her stuff, I checked the border cameras again. Still jammed. Crap. I had go past Singapore customs and immigration before 2230.
We packed up our unfinished meals and started going over to the Woodlands bus interchange. We boarded the 170 bus on the way to Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
We chatted in the bus. I don't know what exactly led to this conversation (and what was in it- before, during and after), but I all I remembered it was about family and friends. I talked about how there's not exactly a lot of people and things in my life back home, I had nothing to lose even if I migrated. I choked up a few times before letting my tears fall. When she realised that, she told me to stop crying ,as she was starting to tear up as well.
I tried to hold everything back and compose myself together. apologising : "I'm sorry it's just... the past few years..." "Everything I've been doing for the past few years, in one way or another is so that I could get out of here," with teardrops in my eyes. She tried to reassure me, telling me that I have a place back home and possibly I was meant to just stay there.
I know it was a lie. Before all of this, I swore that I'll be the last person to leave Malaysia if there's anything. Now? The complete opposite. I believed that I was meant to stay, I don't think the feelings would've changed so drastically and so fast. And my desire to leave would've never been this strong.
I told her, people like me don't belong back in Malaysia, citing my percieved contradicting careers as a reason. She told me that I have a strong passion, and thus I can make it work.
I agreed. I could make it work. If I could still want all of this after more than four years of difficulty, trials and hardships, I truly believe that this is what my life is for. And I'll make it work.
Just not in Malaysia.
Unfortunately, I don't remember any of our conversations after that before we stopped at Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
We got off from the bus and waited for her dad, who is there to give me clothing that I accidentally left at their house that morning. (oops.)
We crossed the street and waited at the Sheng Shiong supermarket building. Her dad arrived, gave me my plastic bag of clothing, and wished me good luck and farewell.
We crossed the street, entered the checkpoint building to go to the departure hall. We walked in the opposite direction of scores people moving into Singapore. As we moved I remarked to her that this is quite a long ways away from the actual exit, and it's no wonder it her quite a while to double back during yesterday's miscommunication fiasco. Finally, when the both of us reached the glass doors. That was the farthest that she could go, since she didn't have a passport with her. I said goodbye and wished her luck. We hugged, and that was the last thing I did before I continued on pass the doors.
As I walked down the bridge/corridor, I started to cry. Hard. Looking back, I wonder if she saw me crying and wiping my tears or did she just leave after I passed the doors.
I continued crying all the way to the immigration section. I wiped my tears away before I went up to the officers, and continued on. When I reached the counter, I told him I lost my embarkation slip. The officer called his superiors on the phone, and thankfully, I was only let off with a stern warning.
I continued on into Malaysia, where I got myself sorted out, though I still did cry a bit.
When I reached my train platform, I checked the time. 2307 hours. Dammit....! I was angry... We could've spent more time. I should've checked the time before we bid each other farewell just now. I almost cried again. But I barely managed to pull myself together. The tears were still welling up.
Finally, at 2330, I boarded the train to Gemas. The train departed at 2340. I tried to sleep, but I keep fading in and out of consciousness. By the time I fully woke up at 0130 hours, I tried to recall yesterday's events, but it felt like it happened a year or two ago. My head hurt. At that time, I realised... "Oh crap. I'm not going to remember a lot of things from this," I tried to sleep again, and I did so successfully. I woke up when the train stopped at Gemas.
It was so cold in the train to the point when I got out, I was greeted by a rush of warm air. I sat down at the platform and finished the burger I had bought at Singapore. It was cold, but I was hungry. It was the only thing at the time that reminded me that everything happened yesterday. I finished it, and went to the toilet after that to relieve myself. I dragged all of my bags everywhere until I stepped foot insdie my home; I didn't want to lose a single thing from the trip.
I waited until the train arrived. I sat down at my designated seat. Thank God I sat alone on all of these train trips...! To prepare myself better for the cold, I took the used pair of socks that I have and wore them over my sock-ed feet.
When the train departed, I tried to sleep again. I woke up at around 0545. I tried to stay awake from then on, since the train did not terminate at KL Sentral, but instead in Padang Besar. A small mistake and that means I'll end up somewhere in Thailand.
The train arrived safely at 0640 hours. My family won't be home until that afternoon, so I spent my time at KL Sentral, eating a KFC breakfast. Then I went to KLCC so I could stay at the park for a while to process everything. After that, I returned to Subang Jaya, had lunch downtown, and took the bus back. I stepped foot inside my house at around 1330. I dropped my bags on the floor before plopping onto the mattress.
It was done.
The trip was my best experience in Singapore so far. I visited a lot of places and spent time with one of the best friends I've ever had. What's not to like?
It was good to see her one last time before she left to further her studies. And although I think certain parts of the trip could've been better (all my fault - poor planning and rushing; I should've gone back on the morning of the 30th had I known my family would be back later than expected), I can only say one thing about this trip :
It was all worth it.
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