After the leisurely pace of Thailand's beach life, Singapore came as a shock. It impressed us, amazed us, and completely won our hearts. What an extraordinary city/country. At times, we felt as if we were in the city of the future, while other times, we had regressed to days long gone. It is so progressive, so multi-layered, so well-thought out, yet reflecting its colourful past. We could describe so many instances where we could see the thought and planning which has gone on to make this city immensely livable.
No doubt, our perspective is coloured by our short 5-day stay (we could easily have stayed longer)
. Our suspicions are that those who live here might have a different perspective--a few we spoke to referred to it as a 'small city'. It's anything but. Turns out it's the second most densely-populated metro area in the world. We never got that sense, except during rush hours on the metro. Sure, there were crowds at times, but it never felt crowded. The Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations predominate here, but English is the common lingo, which made our trip here a breeze.
Business and money drive the city, as evidenced by the ostentatious over-the-top architecture, the huge and extravagant shopping areas (even super-shopper Bonnie was overwhelmed by the many 3-5 story shopping malls---no exaggeration here!), a lively waterfront pulsing with dining/entertainment options, nightlife, cultural events, opulent hotels, and people just out to enjoy the ambiance. This truly is a world-class city. Tourists and businesspeople from around the world abound, and we met people from everywhere
. My purpose is not to provide a travelogue of the city, but to give you an idea of how we experienced it.
First off, we always gauge a city by how easy it is to get around, and I can't speak highly enough about the metro here. We used it extensively as to travel from neighborhood to attraction to temple to shopping area. The 3-day passes we bought gave us unlimited travel. We found beautiful well-designed stations, excellent signage, reliable trains, and unusually polite rider behavior. The metro took us to large enclaves like Little India and Chinatown which buzz with activity, incredible food options (Singaporeans love to eat, it appears), and unusual shops. These areas ooze of history and tradition. We did walking tours where we found ourselves in the midst of religious ceremonies, encountered various and unknown foods and spices, and were immersed in the ebb and flow of street life in these neighborhoods. You might think that life in Toronto would have prepared us for this, but here, it is so much more intense
.
The cultural life here reminds us of New York City, with so many options to enjoy. We visited museums (e.g. Museum of Asian Civilization), art galleries, and even went to a symphony in their striking concert hall. Elsewhere, during our short stay, we also saw concerts ranging from traditional Chinese kabuki music to the blues. The National Orchid Garden was a glorious diversion, a beautifully landscaped oasis of tranquility in the midst of the hustle and bustle.
One day, we were in the lobby of a historic hotel and watched as a major land deal was being negotiated over drinks. Suits yes, ties, no!
Ever hear the term 'hawker'? We became big fans of the hawker markets, where dozens of small stands offer all types of foods at ridiculously low prices. We feasted at these places, having 3-4 delicious local dishes and drinks for well under $20. We avoided dishes featuring pig organs and fish heads, although these are popular here.
Singapore was an unending series of surprises, and we shall be singing the praises of Singapore until we are able to return.
SENSATIONAL SINGAPORE
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Singapore, Singapore
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Comments

2025-02-16
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Rita
2014-03-10
Wow. Thank you for your blog... Glad u r safe and having fun. I guess now we have another place on our bucket list! Be safe. Where to next?
Vicki
2014-03-10
I just love reading your blogs. They are so detailed and I really get a feel what each country is like. What's the next country? Stay safe and enjoy.
Suresh Chawla
2014-03-10
Your talents should have been directed to TRAVEL. You are an amazing presenter.
Hope
2014-03-10
Another fantastic blog! Thank you for taking us to Singapore with you! Look forward to reading about your next fabulous adventure! Love, Hope
Joseph Benezrah
2014-03-10
Wow - I feel as if I am there with you sharing every bit of the food and sights- Thanks for sharing. Be safe
cissie.retired
2014-03-10
Loved this blog about Singapore. I've always heard great things about visiting it. Now I know some details thanks to you and that's even better. So glad you are landing at interesting spots, great shopping places for Bonnie and having English known all over. Makes life so much easier.
Keep them coming and keep enjoying.
Cecile
Melissa Gold
2014-03-11
Wow, I never thought Singapore would be so amazing. I need to learn more about this incredible city. I'm really happy to hear the main language is English as...just saying I'd want to avoid pig organs and fish heads in the street food, too! I wish you a wonderful remainder of the trip. Where to next??? Usually you tell us, but you didn't this time. Hints?