I recently travelled to this country, situated on the southern tip of Malaysia, where i stayed for 3 days along with my parents. Singapore is a wonderful place that I’d advise anybody to see if time / money allows. I can tell you one thing for sure, I didn’t want to come home.
Singapore’s climate is very warm and the place has it’s own special kind of humidity – like none I’ve experienced before anyway. The country is one of the most densely populated areas of Asia, you can imagine what is it like walking in it’s heart, with the humidity like it is. The place has a very English feel about it. All the street names have English titles, and this is mainly due to the fact the city was built by an Englishman, Charles Raffles. The city is also very, very clean. It is an offence to bring chewing gum into the country, and the authorities don’t like groups of people smoking within the same space [don’t panic all you chimmney’s, there are designated smoking
areas all over the place]. Singapore is very much a multicultural abode, and you will find that almost everyone is bi-lingual, even more so with the native Singaporeans. The place has a very regulated feel about it. I never felt intimidated, I never felt as though I was being ripped off, and I always felt safe, no matter what time it was. The more and more I saw, the more and more I got the sensation that the government here run a pretty tight shop. Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not talking Tiannamen Square stuff [with all due respect of course]. I simply mean the authorities have definitely got they’re heads together and have the place sorted.
I managed to get to quite a few places of interest during my stay. I took the local underground train network [you must do this, it’s quite a good laugh trying to find out where the hell you’re going], and the local bus service [which were both very efficient] to reach a place called the Tiger Balm Gardens. This place was recommended to me by a friend of a friend so to speak, and it is where the historical Tiger Balm [soothing ointment for the skin] first originated. I actually purchased some of the stuff there and then, but in actual fact it can be bought at many shopping outlets throughout the city. I took a junk boat to Kutu Island, which is a home to a couple of religious temples [no camera’s please]. The Junk was rather like the one Mr Scaramanga owned in the James Bond film ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’ [all you sad Bond fans will know the one, like me]. Anyway, it’s good to see the city from a distant perspective, and on the way to the island you pass all the large Tankers, which carry various supplies and goods. An interesting fact about Singapore is that the government use a whole island offshore to deal with the importing and exporting of Oil. It is then pumped to the city. I thought this was a rather ingenious way of keeping the place clean.
Transport in Singapore is excellent. For tourists especially, is it quite cheap and easy to move across the city. The best way to do this is by Taxi – they are 1st class. The prices are regulated by the government, so the drivers can’t overcharge you. I had a lengthy conversation with one driver, and by the end of it I was actually feeling quite sorry for him.. As the government are so strict on these things, the drivers have to work long shifts in order to make any profit at all. Often with large families to provide for, this makes for no easy life for these people.
I took a walk into the commercial sector of the city. Now this place is awe inspiring. The buildings tower up into the heavens, and you wonder how in fact they were built in the first place. These buildings are a definite sign of the amount of business and trade that this city now attracts. By night, it is this area of the town that can still be seen. Most of these skyscrapers are lit up, with special lights attached to them that make the buildings change colour. They look fantastic.
By night the city is equally bustling and bursting with life. Boat Quay and Clarke Quay are popular night spots, with the locals and tourist’s alike. Both are situated along the river, with plenty of restaurants to choose from. It should also be noted that many bars have entertainment such as live bands, etc. One night I ate out at the Raffles hotel, with the food being absolutely fantastic. The hotel is very expensive to stay at, but the food was quite fairly priced and was well worth the money. Raffles is a place you should see, upon entering, you are greeted at the door by a man in a turban with a whopping great scabbard at his side!
I managed to reach Chinatown also. This place is full of sprawling markets, each with loads of shops and people crammed inside – it was just like I’d imagined it. Here is where you’ll find your traditional cuisine if you fancy it, as a lot of the locals do dine here. Orchard Road Is a famous shopping street right in the heart of the city. This is where you’ll find all you designer shops as you would in any city. This was right down my street, and I found some top gear that will never turn up back home.
Singapore is a magical place. If you should ever be travelling though Asia, I would suggest you stop to take in it’s many sights and sounds. In my opinion, Singapore would be the ideal place for anybody to go to with their partner, though I’m glad I’ve been lucky enough to witness it with my own eyes. It’s a place I know I will return to one day.
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Going there for the third time in two weeks to visit my dad - it's a fantastic place. xx
Roberts 01.01.2002 18:45
Welcome to Ciao Uk! What a brillaint opinion! Sounds like a terrific place! Happy Nu Yr!
Roberts
castlebinn 16.11.2001 00:18
Good op which brought back some memories of a stay in Singapore a few years back. The government party was the PAP (peoples Action Party) referred to as Pay And Pay by one taxi driver I met. Wonder if he was the same one you met!
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Advantages: Perfect for a unique cultural immersion and a wild food-attack. Excellent transport system means getting to anywhere is a breeze. Disadvantages: Hot (at least 30C everyday). Also, there is no natural scenery to speak of.
Axis 21.07.2001 ·
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Review of General: Singapore
Oct 20th, 2001
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