Dear Singapore,

I thought I knew what to expect. In some ways I did. You’re a big city. An unbelievably clean, big city. The world’s fourth biggest financial superpower. And the place to be in Southeast Asia if you’re into swanky shopping, fast cars, and luxury high-rise condos with spectacular rooftop bars. But it’s what’s in between that makes you so great. In between the pristine boulevards and glass towers, mosques and temples are tucked away. Bustling hawker markets serve local street foods. And pockets of Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian culture sprinkle the city with a colorful energy. Those are the parts I didn’t expect, but they’re just the kind of thing that makes me want to come back.

-Kristen