A lot can happen in one day … Since the trip was one day in Singapore on the way to India, I had printed a list from the internet of the attractions I wanted to see while I was there. Arriving in the middle of the night at Singapore Changi International Airport was what I would call a top-notch airport experience. Tired from a long sixteen hour flight, I made my way to the Ambassador Transit Hotel inside the airport. Many international airports have lounges, day hotels, and showers, but Singapore really does it right. Since it was 2:00 am, I needed a place to shower and sleep for a few hours. The shower is beautifully decorated in Asian style, simple, modern and pleasant with bamboo and flowers. A single bed for a nap was perfect, quiet and private. What better way to start a day in Singapore – clean, rested and ready to visit the city.
Just checking my bag for the day at the airport, I grabbed my lightweight shoulder bag that I like to wear to walk around town and was ready to go. At around 7:00 am, I took the bus to downtown Singapore. As I looked through the large clean windows, I saw beautifully lined streets of exotic palm trees and blue skies, with two- and three-story tall buildings with unique designs and colors. The beauty of Singapore was beginning to reveal itself to me. After a short twenty minute drive downtown and a short walk, I was at my first stop, the truly majestic and famous Raffles Hotel, now a national monument. In the soft tropical air and the morning sun, this colonial-style building gleamed in white. I stayed there, taking in everything.
Raffles Hotel was the place in Singapore that I wanted to visit the most, for its architecture and incredible history. It is named after the founder of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles. Just by being there, you can begin to feel the connection to the past: tremendous history, mystery, romance, bygone times, stories of war and political takeover, of English gentlemen in white jackets smoking slim cigars, of summer nights and a flavor. drink called Singapore Sling.
As I entered the majestic lobby and lounge with carpeted stairs leading to a second level, I felt like I was stepping back in time. The hotel was frequented by renowned writers such as Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway, and James Michener; celebrities like Jean Harlow and Elizabeth Taylor; royalty, including Queen Elizabeth II. Many have graced its grounds for more than a century since it was built in 1899.
The hotel was under Japanese occupation during World War II and was even used as a transit camp for prisoners at the end of the war. In the 1990s, the hotel was renovated and has changed ownership several times along the way, but it remains the same. The service is impeccable and I am escorted from the dining room to a breakfast bar with fruits and exotic foods, many of which I am not familiar with. There is a great variety of eastern and western foods, cappuccino and teas, delicious hot Indian dishes, Asian delicacies and all served in beautiful first-rate service. Breakfast itself is something to see and the dining room is a pleasant place to eat, relax, and read the morning paper. Honestly, the place was “great”. I walked through the spacious grounds and visited the shops, fully enjoying the entire experience. If I hadn’t done anything else in Singapore, this would have been enough.
However, the day awaited me so I went to Chinatown. My first impression is that this is by far the cleanest and most organized Chinatown I have ever seen. In fact, some have criticized Singapore for its super-clean demeanor and lack of bohemian-style settings that often make things more interesting. But honestly, having toured the planet, I found Singapore cleanup quite refreshing. Chinatown had restored many of its shops preserving the history of the Chinese in Singapore. Heading to the Buddhist Tooth Relic Temple, I was able to see the fifteen foot Maitreya Buddha on the first floor and also visited the Buddhist Cultural Museum. About 40% of Singaporeans practice Buddhism. Interestingly, the Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple is also located in the Chinatown area. It was founded in 1827, eight years after the British East India Company established a trade agreement in Singapore. Both temples are architecturally unique and are active with devotees spending time in prayer. I decided to do the same, grateful to be in Singapore.
From there I headed to the Singapore River to take a “Bumboat Ride”. A bumboat ride on the river is impressive and it is a very pleasant and relaxing three hour ride. The Singapore River flows under twelve bridges with up-close views of Singapore’s majestic business district and numerous historic buildings along its shoreline. The river meanders in, around and through the city and it is truly fantastic. You can see a lot and learn about the city in no time. Singapore is a city-state and is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. It is located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula and has a diverse population of about 5 million people made up of Chinese, Malays, Indians, Asians of various descent, and Caucasians. Almost half of the population are foreigners working and studying in Singapore. English is spoken on the bumboat ride and it is very easy to communicate with the locals as English is learned alongside the Malay language in schools.
The journey returns to Boat Quay, which is Singapore’s famous and picturesque row of international shops and restaurants. You can literally walk the line, shop after shop, and choose dishes from various cultures around the world. I decided to go North Indian Punjab style. The restaurant was two stories tall and I could sit outside on the balcony overlooking the river and admire the city of Singapore enjoying a spicy sag paneer, raita, and garlic naan bread. The food was excellent with delicious Indian Chai tea.
I also visited the City Hall building, where a history of Singapore and its political government was provided. Singapore has a unitary system of government. It no longer has a mayor or city council, but instead has five Community Development Councils established in 1997. The City Hall, together with the neighboring former Supreme Court building, will become the National Gallery of Art of Singapore in 2013.
Singapore presents itself well, and every place I went to was interesting and enjoyable. Honestly, I have no complaints about this amazing city, known as a major international port and financial center. With just a little time left in my day, I stopped by the large Suntec City Mall with 350 outlets. Its Fountain of Wealth is the largest fountain in the world. It was huge, beautifully designed, and the mall had all the famous designer department stores with busy shoppers. There are also many beautiful boutique hotels within the city. With great places to stay and shop, Singapore is an entertaining and enjoyable destination.
As I took my bus back to the airport for an overnight flight to India, I saw buildings and palm trees pass by. Although there is no place in the world without problems, I felt that I had experienced a bit of what utopia could be. I will always think of my day in Singapore as a perfect day and felt enormous satisfaction with this vision of such a beautiful and successful global city.
