An all day city tour is the perfect introduction to Singapore, and under the direction of our tour guide, Edna, we fell in love with the city. Our first stop on our tour was the iconic Merlion statue, a staple of of Singapore. Half-lion and half-fish, the statue is a major tourist attraction and is a personification of the city itself. As some of us tried to capture pictures pretending to catch the water in our mouths, others opted for purchasing cool drinks and taking in the views of the bay.
Even at 9:30am, the heat is intense, and we were glad that our next stop was the lobby of the famous Fullerton Hotel, located right on the mouth of the Singapore River. We took our time exploring the atrium and taking pictures with the hotel’s Chinese new year decorations, definitely enjoying the AC.
After returning to the heat, Edna proposed an appealing idea, that we take a quick break and stop for Ice cream. Our treat resembled an ice cream sandwich, a block of ice cream stuck between 2 wafers. More adventurous folks tried unique flavors, such as Yam and Durrian, while other stuck to more classic flavors of mint chocolate chip and mango.
Our next stop was Arab street, which was filled with an array of stores selling brightly colored fabrics and textiles, as well as numerous ethnic restaurants. Arab street is also home to the island’s largest mosque, the Sultan Mosque. With its majestic golden dome and beautiful architecture this place of worship is definitely worth a visit, no matter what one’s religious beliefs.
Then it was time for lunch. Our group descended upon The Banana Leaf Apolo for some authentic India food, enjoying, butter chicken, naan, and a whole assortment of other delicacies.
For the second half of today’s adventures. The group journeyed to Little India where we saw a festival celebrating the people and the process necessary to put food on our tables. There was a dance with two small children presenting each step, from planting to cooking, the food takes on its way to you. One particular thing we noticed was the rich culture along the streets and within the festival. While we were semi-familiar with their culture, being in Singapore seemed to uniquely blend cultures from all around Asia while still staying true to the roots of each.
Next stop was Chinatown while most of the group was quite exhausted at this point, we were able to see a beautiful temple that held the tooth relic of Buddha. It was truly incredible to see the sheer size of the temple with gold everywhere. The traditions and depth of religious practices were clear as we sported skirt wraps and shawls to meander through the levels. A tranquil orchid garden was also on the roof overlooking Chinatown below.
After a brief break at the hotel, we took an open air bus to a food market that had multiple different types of food and drinks all within the 5-10 dollar range. We had Pad Thai, dumplings and then ventured back to the bus to ride through the sea of skyscrapers at night with the warm breeze on our faces.
We turned into Gardens by the Bay and walked through to view the changing lights of the super trees with dramatic music to make it all the more breathtaking. The lights spiraled around the trees with the panoramic view of Singapore in the background.
After hustling to the bus, where it was only able to stop of a few seconds before being fined, we rode to the riverside to take a riverboat into the bay. Learning about Clarke Quay and history of the bridges in relation to Singapore and their separation from British rule in 1965. The cruise was what concluded the night. A group of friends journeyed to the riverside with a plethora of bars. From Irish to Hindi, there were vibes to suit everyone’s taste.
By Claire Cromley and Hannah Chapman
business and culture of the pacific rim 