24 hours, 2 flights, a stopover in Shanghai and a few hours of unsuccessful sleep later and I’m back. With memories of a chilly New York fall just beyond, I’ve assumed a far balmier climate just one degree north of the equator. Palm trees line the highway leading from the airport into town and at just past 6am on the Wednesday I arrived, I witnessed the day slowly creep to a start. The ethnic diversity I’ve come to expect is abundant at every turn. Westerners jog through neighborhood streets, Malay women in Islamic hijabs are just nearby and the Chinese majority are present at every juncture. Milling about tourist heavy Little India may lead to one weaving in and out of one of many air-conditioned malls that dot the island. Singapore is perpetually cloaked in summer temperatures, but from the buses to the MRT (the subway), malls, shops, eateries and back, there’s no shortage of chilling indoor intermission.
Singapore was the first nation practically forced into independence just 46 years ago. The colonizing British decided to leave and neighboring Malaysia passed on the opportunity to join forces. Though possessing few natural resources, being just over 3 times the size of Washington, D.C. and barely a few decades old, this island-nation possesses one of the strongest economies in the world. Fruits of this can be seen within the towers of the Central Business District, estates of Bukit Timah, skyline alongside the iconic Marina Bay Sands and resorts of nearby island Sentosa.
I’ve taken a peak at them all. But just barely two weeks in and with more cuisine to explore and acclimation to assume, I feel I’ve barely seen a thing.
October 19, 2011 at 9:08 pm |
Looks like the beginning of another great adventure. Thanks for sharing, Steven.
December 31, 2011 at 9:37 am |
Singapore is looking like a trip, would be in order …………more info needed, keep in contact young man. Be safe.