It is breathtakingly beautiful and feels impossibly utopian. Singapore, has the same addictive quality to it that large cities usually tend to have… Bombay, London, New York. Giants with a soul that brims with experiences that exist only because they
hide complex history, cultural nuances left behind as generations of traders passed through its alleys, food that seems to be from home yet flavors that you really cannot put a finger on,
colors and symbols that uniquely define the city yet have an appeal that is universal.
It is an economic wonder built on the back of its sovereign fund company, Temasek Holdings that holds majority stakes in companies across all key sectors – airlines, telecom, engineering, construction and media. A country so small it
is called the Little Red Dot on the map, Singapore is primarily driven by its services industry with major contribution from refining, finance, shipping and trade.
Given its geographical location and history it is no wonder that Singapore ended up being what it is today. A global melting pot that officially has four languages prominently spoken everywhere. The metro announces stations in
English, Standard Mandarin, Malay and Tamil as trains pull into swanky stations of a system that is again “impossibly” perfect. What is a shiny city today has a history that is steeped in its trading past.
Sir Stamford Raffles whose name is now understandably linked to multiple streets and buildings, was the governor of British Colony of Bencoolen when he founded Singapore as a port to overcome the trade route supremacy of the Dutch,
as the empire sought easier passage of its opium from India to China. Geographically it was a natural choice. What followed was a long history of trade, the Straits Settlements, the two wars and post war turmoil, Singapore became a country on 9 August 1965.
It flourished under its founding father Lee Kuan Yew who led a pioneer generation of Singaporeans who made what the city is today and famously said
“Over 100 years ago this was a mud-flat, swamp. Today, this is a modern city. Ten years from now this will be a metropolis. Never fear.”
The downtown cityscape is mesmerizing; I was told it is based on Feng Shui. I don’t know if that is true but after being told, it felt like it. The lotus shaped Art and Science Museum, the Marina Bay Sands boat, symmetry of the downtown buildings,
the Supertrees of the Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion spouting water, the Flyer. They all seem to be in the right place, aligned like stones of the henge, providing the right backdrop to each other and whatever else you are looking at.
It is easy to orient yourself to the city. The Singapore river flows west to east. You cannot miss Clarke Quay with its amazing dining experience and river side festivities. To the east is the Marina Bay and Downtown Core. And all the
attractions around the bay very walkable only if you don’t mind the stifling humidity and a temperature that never seems to go anywhere below 80 or above 90 F.
The Marina Bay Sands puts up a free light show every night. To see the light show you need to be near the viewing
arena near the sparkling Louis Vuitton showroom. But if you want to see the lasers, you should walk over the Promenade side for a grand display.
And you cannot miss the mesmerizing light shows of the Supertrees at the Gardens by the Bay
Take an early morning stroll in the same park and you will be transported to a tranquil oasis in a middle of a bustling metropolis.
Look for this strongly smelling Canon Ball tree!
I never went on the Singapore Flyer but found this amazing “Super8” view from across the bay.
I would go back, probably many times, and I hope I can explore this tiny jewel more and be amazed every time, on every corner.
