The weekend of the 25th was a relaxing breather after the busy week. I decided to use my Saturday to explore the area around our hotel, which included the Bugis shopping mall. The mall was massive, spanning across two blocks, going up six stories, and down into a basement that connected with the subway system. Looking around was amazing, seeing all the unique new shops as well as familiar stores as well. I love seeing what brands expand over seas and which ones are more local. I visited a Starbucks in the mall, to try the local flavors that they sell. I tried the mixed Berry frappichino with pomegranate pearls, which was tasty but extremely sweet. I loved seeing how the boba pearls, which are popular in Asian drinks, made their way into this Starbucks' drink.
On Sunday we visited the National Gallery, which showed Singapore's significant art history. The country has a rich history with many cultures coming together, which made for unique styles and paintings that are special to Singapore. My favorite part of art history like this is learning the cultural impact of the pieces, as well as hearing about the area they came from. The most interesting thing was learning about a style of art in Singapore that comes from Asian artists, who where trained in Western painting styles, that draw subjects in Singapore. This collision on cultures is what created a lot of the unique art in the gallery.
