Singapore is made up of 60 Islands. There are 3.2 million people who live here. I have visited here twice once for an International traded show and the last time with my Husband before we went to South Korea for the first time. I will combine what I saw the two times I visited Singapore.
In 1822 Sir Raffles, (of the Raffles Hotel fame), was concerned that racial strife might destroy the colony. He designated separate areas of the city for different ethnic groups. His legacy remains as there are clearly defined areas of the city: Chinatown, Little India and Arab Town.
THE SITES:
1) THE MERLION: This is a gold stature that has a Lions head and a Mermaids tail. It is near the River Queen Elizabeth Walk. We were told that this was the best place for us to come to do our jogging in the morning. The Walk is across from many Hotels such as the Pan Pacific Hotel.
2) THE SUPREME COURT AND CITY HALL: These are two Colonials styled Buildings. They are only a few blocks inland from the Merlion. In front of them is a grass square that we saw People Lawn Bowing on one side and having a game of Cricket on the other side.
3) ORCHARD ROAD: Our Tour began by going through the Business Area and then taking us down Orchard Road. You could not miss Orchard Road if you wanted to! It is the main Street to go shopping. You might not believe this but the high priced Couture Shops were not built for Tourists. The citizens of Singapore love to wear anything that has a brand name on it. They do not buy ’’knock off’’ items. You will find that the traffic moves both above the ground and below it and both are always filled with People. I should warn you that most of them will be talking on Cell Phones and not paying attention to where they are walking. I knew about this and kept my purse straps across my shoulders, (which you should always do in any City), and kept my hands ready to push away the person who was going to bump into me.
There are 13 Plazas, (Malls), on this Street. The two we liked best were:
a) The TAKASHIMAYA JAPANESE DEPARTMENT STORE, (the biggest Mall). It has all the things that American Malls have. We both liked the smaller Shops here and spent some time in the Stores that did not try to ’’pull us in’’. I hate when People ’’bark at me’’ like I am a dog! Even thought we have the neo-print picture Machines, (these are Japanese instant photograph Booths), we took a few for souvenirs. The Pictures are the size of a stamp and we exchange them with our Friends and Students. We paste them on our Cell Phones, Cars and on Mail. At Kinokuniya Book Store I bought a Leon Uris’ Book, (it was in the bargain bin and I paid about $3.00 American), that I had not read before.
b) We liked the SHAW HOUSE. This as a Mall designed in a circle. At the Silk Shop we bought silk housecoats for our both of our Mother, (about $16.00 American Dollars each). For My Brothers Children we bought silk Tai Chi P.J’s that cost us about $6.00 American Each. For my Sister-in Laws I bought each of them a silk Blouse, (about $10.00 each).
4) ARAB STREET: Arab Street is only a few blocks long. It has a Mosque, Shops and Cafes. You will find mostly Locals here. The Restaurants serve local food, (I did see one small Cafe that served Middle Eastern food but it did not look clean). There were Shops selling material and Middle Eastern trinkets.
5) CHINA TOWN: We had been to China Town on our Tour but we wanted to spend more time here. It is only a few blocks from Arab Street so we walked over to look at the Shops and to have dinner at a small Chinese Cafe, (the name was only printed in Mandarin so I cannot tell you the name). The buildings in China Town are very old.
6) LITTLE INDIA: If we had wanted to we could have walked to LITTLE INDIA but we decided to see that another day. When we were on our Tour the Guide told us that this area of Singapore once belonged to a few rich Cattle Men. One was Mr. Belilios, (a Jewish Indian from Calcutta, India).
We had been to Little India on our half-day tour. We came back to have a closer look at the most beautiful Hindu Temple I have ever seen. The Temple is like a ’’layer cake’’ with the largest layer at the bottom and tapering off at the top. Each layer has hand carved gods and the colors are all pastels. I had to lie down across the Street to try and get a good picture. I bought a Post Card in case I did not get it all in.
7) ORCHID FARM was magical. We saw it on our half-day Tour. There are thousands of species of Orchids that live in a man made rain forest.
8) THE SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM: We decided to see the Museum on Bras Bash Road. They have a wonderful collection Art done famous Singapore Artists.
9) ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER IS THE NEW RIVER QUAY DEVELOPMENT: One side has an Amusement Complex and the side is filled with small shops and wonderful places to eat and drink. You can take a half-hour Cruise or a Dinner Cruise. We did neither because we ate at one of the Cafes.
SOME THOUGHTS:
Do not bring gum into the Country or chew it on the Street.
If you do you will be arrested.
We did enjoy Singapore and would stop here again for a few days if we had the chance.
©LL2002