Singapore Slinging!

Do you know what may be called heaven on earth? With the risk of sounding like an alcoholic, I would say it is drinking a Singapore Sling at the sleek bar of the Raffles Hotel, or under an umbrella on the hot sands of Sentosa Island. Interesting how my choices both involve drinking and warm weather, which Singapore has plenty of.

Singapore is practically equatorial, and is thus graced with warm, if not hot and sticky, weather year round. Sir Raffles found this gem of an island on travels abroad, and accurately predicted its potential in terms of strategic importance for Britain. For one thing, the Strait of Malacca, the infamous narrow passage that merchant ships would have to traverse to get to the Spice Islands and the Dutch East Indies, is quite nearby. Yet this Strait was also seeping with marauders and pirates, so having a base on land was quite valuable. It was also the only British presence way out east, with the exception of Hong Kong, of course.

Indeed, many people like to compare Hong Kong to Singapore, so I will insert my own two cents here. Both are incredibly cosmopolitan cities, with Hong Kong having a much higher population density, but Singapore is more diverse, hands down. With a Little India, Arab Town and Chinatown amongst the mainly Malaysian population, it's quite a hybrid. Having said that, the authoritarian nature of the government also supresses the most mixed, or funkiest sides of town.

As one taxi driver informed me, strict fines are usually accompanied with canings of the highest order. When I looked shocked, he did not hesitate to show me a video of a man getting violently caned on his butt that was on his cell phone! I guess locals keep this kind of footage around to remind themselves not to get carried away!

The city was quite charming with its tropical trees, innovative architecture (which HK has surprisingly little of), lovely boat quays, delicious foods, fascinating temples, and sunny, albeit man made beaches. Yet somehow it seemed a bit sterile as well, a little artificial and a little too quiet. You can't even chew gum, you have to go to a pharmacy to get a similar substance if anything!

Ultimately, despite my enjoyment, I found myself glad to be back in Hong Kong, a magnificent city all its own.

Singapore Slinging!


Arab Quarter



Little India






Chinatown



Artsy Architecture