I arrived Singa Pura (singa = lion, pura = city) on a bright and spirited afternoon which made me see the city as beautiful as it has always been especially during the day. The cleanest and most orderly cities I’ve ever seen. Of course, Singapore at night is vivacious as we all expect it to be being one of the modern and developed countries of Asia.
My first meal was a bunch of chili crabs and chicken satay! I was so hungry before I realized the tour guide has brought us first to Chinatown. When I got full, then I remember the amazing airport, all the 3D and massive screens everywhere, the literally free internet all over without any difficulty of connecting, and the free massage!
Then I spent the afternoon enjoying the pastries and tea at Raffles Hotel. Everything was free flowing from tea, cakes, sushi, etc.
The next day I went to Little India alone. I got there by MRT, an amazing underground train system. The trains are just one very long carriage that somehow weaves through the tunnels. Public transport in Singapore is very reliable, frequent, cheap, and fast – even the escalators are fast! LOL!
In Singapore’s Little India, there were virtually no Asian or Western looking people anywhere, just hundreds and hundreds of Indians. Obviously, it is the focal point of Singapore’s Indian community. This is one of the most colorful districts of this country. It’s on Serangoon Rd. where I can just walk from where my hotel, Raffles, is at.
Like any other Asian food, I love Indian dishes’ taste, its spices and aroma. It’s very rich and delicious. This spice-scented street is a treasure trove of silverware, brassware, ethnic jewelry, jasmine garlands and silk. From the large Tekka Centre (also called the Zhujiao Centre) to the small provision shops, from its Cultural Corner (next to the food court in the Little India Arcade) which transports you back in time through an archival display to the Mosque and to their famous Deepavali, the Indian Festival of Lights where the street transforms into a fairyland, Little India is packed with interesting things to discover.
Southeast from Little India is Singapore’s traditional Arab Quarter squats in the intersection of North Bridge Rd. and Arab Street. This is Middle Eastern version of Little India and Chinatown where the majority of men have wee white caps and beards while the women all have scarves on their heads.
On my third day, I get to walk through the street going Mustafa Shopping Complex where the locals buy anything from fruits, vegetables, jewelry, etc. Then went straight to Sim Lim Square where I haggle over prices of every electronic device you can imagine!
Then there was this Hindu Temple where I saw people smearing white and red paint on their foreheads each time they move onto another statue where they pray as they stop to each of them.
I dropped by Clarke Quay and saw a lot of tour boats on Singapore River just before I went back to Raffles Hotel.
And almost every night I wander around Orchard Road, few bottles in some bars and enjoyed the great Singapore-food!
