This is part of a series of posts on Singapore. Did you miss the previous walkthroughs? Click here to access them all.

With only a couple days left to explore Singapore, I felt that since I had already bought the ticket to the Singapore Zoo, and been deprived of my entrance by a mere 2 minutes, I should try and go back. A part of me didn’t want to, and was more interested in trying out the Jurong Bird Park, but that seemed so far away, and I didn’t feel like spending my day on public transport, so went back to the main day zoo. Pro Tip: I’ve said it before, but when traveling, always listen to your intuition, it doesn’t steer you wrong. Wish I had listened to mine…

I should have learned from my disappointment with the night safari that I probably wouldn’t like the main zoo that much better. Indeed, it did disappoint. I started with the main tram, once again, to get the lay of the zoo. It’s a lot larger than I realized, and I will say it’s laid out in an interesting and logical way. After a full loop, I decided to get out at the stop with the orangutans. 

I walked up a ramp and spotted three of them. A couple snoozing in a hammock and one hanging from a line. I wanted to be really excited, but, as I snapped their photo, I kept wondering what their life might have been like in the wild. I believe they are rescues, at the very least, but I still couldn’t help but feel they were trapped and want for them to be in their natural habitat. I felt like I was dragging myself through the zoo with a sense of obligation to the money I paid and the long journey I had made, twice now. Animals I wanted to see were either sleeping or looking somewhat bored. Or, maybe they just mirrored my own feelings. After a while, I realized the zoo is wonderful for kids – it’s really set up in a way that caters to them with fun signs, activities, and more. As an adult on her own, though, I wasn’t impressed.

Getting To The Zoo

After a couple of hours, I gave in to my intuition and got out. I decided to go to the bird park as I had wanted to in the morning. It was early afternoon so still plenty of time. I tried to get an Uber, but there weren’t any, so I waited infinitely long for a bus back to the train station where I could catch another bus to Jurong Park. 

On To A New Discovery And Singapore Satay

Once at the train station, it took some work to find the right bus stop, heading the right direction. It had started to rain, and I was tired of waiting, so got an Uber. Obviously, as soon as I confirmed it, the bus pulled up. I almost jumped on, but decided, given the weather, and my luck so far, I’d just get the Uber. Once in my cab, the weather was approaching monsoon rain. My entire time in Singapore, I had not witnessed rain like this. The driver told me it wasn’t worth going to the bird park in this weather because it was all outdoors. I was disappointed, but had to agree.

Out of disappointment, we ended up chatting after I changed the destination for the ride. I mentioned that I really like nature and my driver suggested an island called Pulau Ubin. I had never heard of it, and it’s definitely not something I would have looked up online. He told me it used to be a small village and that now you can take a ferry over, get a bike, and go around the island. It sounded like exactly what I needed for my last full day in Singapore, and I made a mental plan to go there.

With unplanned time before dinner, I checked out a shopping mall, though wasn’t in the shopping mood. I decided to try my luck with a satay dinner. A friend of a friend recommended Lau Pa Sat. I thought it was a restaurant, but upon arrival, learned it’s a food hall. It was much classier than those $5 cafeteria style ones, and the prices a bit higher. I walked around and around two or three times, but couldn’t find any satay restaurants.

I was about to give up and order some Thai food, when I saw a sign for “satay street” and an aisle. A-ha! Then I noticed that each aisle, leading to the center, had a number. Once I got to aisle 4, I found satay heaven. Men and women wondered the aisle with menus. I grabbed one and sat at an empty table. The cheapest item on the menu was $35 for 50 skewers and some sides. Way more than I could eat! So, I asked the food vendor if there wasn’t something smaller. He took the menu and said, 1 skewer, 70 cents, minimum of 10 skewers. Hell yes! I ordered 5 chicken and 5 beef.

Several minutes later, a woman showed up with a plate of skewers, some vegetables and satay sauce. She took my $7 and I dug in. The marinade was delicious but what really got me was the satay sauce. I’ve had other ones, but this was, honesetly, the best satay sauce I have ever tasted in my life. I savored each delectable bite, and, even dared to order another plate of 10 skewers because they were so delicious. It was the perfect ending to an imperfect day.