Travel
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT SINGAPORE
BY RICHARD CHIN
Let me admit from the start that , it ’ s taken three weekend breaks to Singapore for me , to warm up to the country . I have never had any huge negatives from any of my visits , so it was difficult for me to fully comprehend why after two visits I could not form a concrete opinion about the place . In fact , this article has been the hardest one to write thus far , and has involved multiple restarts . It was only after a chat with another friend who ’ d also been , that the pieces started to come together .
Singapore has a lot going for it . It is a multicultural society , with a stable economy and a high literacy rate . The infrastructure is well-developed and rivals any of the other major cities of the world . There is a low rate of crime and police corruption is almost unheard of , due to the enviable salaries that members of the police force take home . This tiny island state , situated at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsular , is the financial leader of SE Asia . It is for all means and intents , perfect .
My first visit to the country was over Chinese New Year . It was my first time experiencing this holiday in a country that has a Chinese majority population .
However , it seemed as if the whole country , not just the Chinese , were out on the streets enjoying the festivities . The celebrations were amazing and , though concentrated around Chinatown , were happening all over the city . The atmosphere reminded me of Christmas and New Year ’ s Eve rolled into one . The decorations , the sight and smell of foods , the cultural shows and the busyness of last minute shopping combined , to create a feeling of joy and happiness .
For that first trip , I managed to book a hotel in Chinatown . It was an older building that had been restored to the glory of its colonial past . There was wood everywhere , from the cream-coloured walls to the rich , dark brown polished floors , staircases and bannisters . The façade of the building and those around it , made me think of a scene from a period movie . This scene is repeated across the city and is in immediate visual contrast to the extremely modern structures that dominate the city ’ s skyline . Despite this disparity , they somehow exist in harmony , blending well to create the tapestry that I have come to discover typifies the Singaporean experience .
Trip number two was shared with a friend . My flight got in late and I was extremely hungry when I finally got to the hotel , so we took a recommendation from hotel reception and went in search of a local noodle house that closes late . We found it after a few minutes of walking and enjoyed a tasty and satisfying bowl of soup . This leads me to a point that I need to make about the food in Singapore . It is GOOD ! Every meal that I have ever had there , whether Indian , Malay , Chinese or Western , has been flavourful ! You can find meals that suit any price range and taste . My “ go to ” places to satisfy my hunger are the “ hawker ” ( street food ) eateries , where local cuisine is prepared and sold in a sparse environment and is at the lower end of the budget . However , if you ’ re looking for something a bit more upmarket , there are a few Michelinstarred restaurants around . A quick search on the Internet will point you in the right direction .
It was on trips two and three , that I saw a bit more of the sights . My friend and I , started our one day together , with a visit to the National Orchid Garden . We enjoyed strolling through the garden , admiring the exquisite beauty of the numerous varieties of the eponymous flowers that were on display . We both had our DSLR cameras with us and had a grand time practicing our photography skills . It took us about two hours to walk the entire property . From there , we went to the Marina Bay Sands , an iconic building that is world renowned for its infinity pool , which overlooks the city . This hotel ’ s pool is so iconic that people travel from all over the globe to take selfies in it . With flights so plentiful from the Middle East to Singapore , I would encourage you not to wait as long as I did , to enjoy the great things Singapore has to offer .