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I can’t think of a better way to spend a few hours on a hot afternoon than having a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel. He had been walking around Singapore for most of the day and felt a great need for a long, cool drink. The sweet pink concoction was exactly the right solution when I sat under the Raffles electric fans and enjoyed the cool breeze.
This was my first day in Singapore. I arrived very early that morning and slept a few hours before facing the hot, smoky city that never seems to stop. When I woke up I was very hungry and went to one of the many hawker centers around Singapore. I looked at the options and realized that Cornflakes was out of the question, so I pointed out what looked good. I ended up with a very tasty selection of vegetable curries and noodles, not my standard breakfast fare, but when I was in Singapore …
I decided that the best way to see the city on my three-day layover was to do some walking tours. I started in the bustling Arab Street neighborhood of the city. Arab Street is lined with stalls selling everything from silk and handwoven baskets to fishing tackle. My senses vibrated with the vivid colors, pungent smells, and impatient car horns. I had never seen such beautiful fabrics and wanted to buy meters but unfortunately my excess baggage was already too much.
After recharging at Raffles I headed to Little India for sightseeing and traditional Indian curry. Little India was as active at night as Arab Street had been that morning. The cars gave way to crowds of pedestrians, both tourists and locals, who were buying clothes, watches or food, or simply enjoying the show. I felt alive as my eyes moved from one stall to another and looked at the people passing by.
The next morning I decided to tackle the largest neighborhood in the city: the historic district. Here I saw the buildings that documented Singapore’s past. I started at Fort Canning, a park built around the fortified WWII underground operations in Singapore. There was a registration office next to the park and I watched sentimentally as friends and family greeted a newly married couple and then headed to the park to take their photos. From the park I could see the glorious juxtaposition of ornate old buildings representing the rule of the British Empire, against a backdrop of gleaming new skyscrapers.
From Fort Canning, I wandered past many museums and art galleries, including the Singapore Philatelic Museum and the Singapore Art Museum. I wanted to learn more about the history of the island, so I spent a few hours at the Singapore History Museum enjoying the historical dioramas, the Jade Room, and the war rooms. During the afternoon I covered the Cathedral of St. Andrew and the “Chopsticks”, the 70 meter high Civil War Memorial that commemorates the Singaporean civilians who died during the Japanese occupation in WWII. I ended my day with a relaxing cruise on the Singapore River to the port where I saw the symbol of the country, the Merlion, a creature that is half fish and half lion. Hiked to Clarke Quay and enjoyed a cold drink by the water and then walked downstream to Boat Quay, which was jumping with young Singaporeans enjoying Friday night in the multicultural restaurant district.
On my last day in Singapore I decided to go to Chinatown. Each of the city’s neighborhoods had its own personality made up of the monuments, the landscape and, of course, the people. Colorful temples were spread throughout the area, some beautifully decorated with gold and others with intricate wood carvings. The neighborhood was also home to impressive rows of brightly painted terraces and there seemed to be a market on every corner, the best of which was Chinatown. I finished my time in Singapore in the shopping mecca Orchard Road. Here the street was not lined with small stalls, but with department stores and brands such as Harrods, Rolex and Tiffany’s.
I was exhausted after getting so stuck in my three days and the airport provided much-needed rest while I waited for my 3 a.m. plane. The taxi ride to Changi Airport was very interesting as I saw the bustling streets of the city center give way to palm tree lined avenues and then the urban sprawl of apartment blocks catering to those who cannot afford the city but they want the lifestyle. I flew off watching the Singapore lights dim below me.
