The View From My Beer
A half yard of Tiger Lager at the infamous Long Bar at Raffles Hotel in central Singapore. Note the time on the wall of the famous Long Bar clock. St Kilda have just announced the resigning of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera just as I ordered a beer. Couldn’t have wished for a better occasion to enjoy one of the largest beers (and views) I’ve had for a while. He was definitely not being paid in peanuts
Singapore
With my Northern European cruises finished, I enjoyed a three-day stopover in Singapore before returning to Australia. With a population approaching six million, Singapore is one of only three remaining city-states, the others being Monaco and Vatican City.
My Walk
Little India
My hotel was located in the Little India area of Singapore. I made my way by train to a nearby station and then had a 1km walk to my hotel. That would have been OK, but for one thing – the weather! As I started my walk it started to rain. And not just a little rain, but a LOT. It was early evening and the streets were narrow and crowded. As the rain started to teem down, I decided to seek cover. Fortunately the shops extended out onto the street and there were covered walkways in front of many shops. The weather app on my phone suggested there was little no chance of rain at this time. This unexpected interruption gave me a chance to observe my new surroundings and the people who had gathered in this area of town. As you might expect, a lot of them were Indian! After a wait of about an hour, I was getting anxious about the delay. I had no local currency, so I didn’t want to risk a txi. I decided to pull my raincoat out of my suitcase and walk the remaining 500 metres to my hotel.
The next morning I got up and took a walk around Little India. There were lots of temples in the area and even more flower shops. Their main purpose was to supply fresh flowers for sacred offerings and prayers, provide intricate garlands for weddings and festivals, as well as decorative elements for homes and personal adornment.
TEN Square
My one and only goal for the day was to have a beer at the Long Bar of Raffles Hotel. I filled in a few hours before it opened walking the streets and looking at the stunning architecture of this very modern city. One of those was the TEN Square Landmark of Good. The distinctive building is both a giant vending machine for luxury cars and a giant screen which is used as a platform for initiatives that benefit the community. It is worth reading about the story behind owner Gary Hong.
Chijmes
Built in 1841, this building was acquired in 1904 to be used as the Convent of The Holy Infant Jesus Christ. Today it is known as Chijmes, a rather interesting collection of shops, bars, and restaurants. It felt strange to see the chapel now being used as a bar! Chants of The Lords Prayer have now been replaced with “give us our daily beer…”
Raffles Hotel
For me there has always been a fascinating about Raffles and the Long Bar. It had been 26 years since my first (and last) visit to Singapore. The above are two shots taken of Raffles from my first visit to Singapore in 1999. It may be the home of the ‘Singapore Sling’, but for me this place represents the era of British Empire and the Orient. There is nothing like sitting at a fancy bar drinking beer out of a yard glass. The whole character of the place fits in with that era.
Singapore City
Central Singapore contains a collection of buildings and parks that remain from the colonial era. It is also filled with lots of modern buildings that produce a powerful towering skylines. After my beer at Raffles I walked around the city for a while making my way towards Marina Bay.
Marina Bay
The area along Marina Bay has changed a lot since my last vsit. The Merlion was still there spitting water out into the bay. A new Esplanade Concert Hall had a very distinct shape like a Durian (see below). Across the bay was the Marina Bay Sands hotel, featured in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’. I wanted to return to my hotel for a rest so I headed towards the Esplanade Station. This was when I realized I had been doing Singapore all wrong. Instead of spending so much of my time melting in the hot sun and humidity, I could have been walking below ground in one of the many subterranean walkways that link stations with office buildings and shopping malls.
Durians
For anyone that doesn’t recognize these, the fruit above are called Durians. Known as the ‘king of fruits’, they are native to South East Asia. They are famous for their strong, distinctive odor, which is described as a mix of onion, cheese, and gym socks. My curiosity about these fruits were peaked when I noticed the sign above travelling on the trains in Singapore. It seemed odd to call out one fruit to ban on public transport.
Marina Bay At Night
I ended my first full day in Singapore back at Marina Bay. As beautiful as it was during the day, it was simply stunning at night. I can’t seem to get my iPhone to work too well with night shots, so you’re just going to have to come to Singapore to see its magnificence yourself. The highlight was the 15-minute Spectra Light and Water Show at Marina Bay Sands, which is held 2-3 times an evening and can be see from across the Bay. The show was put together by an Australian company, Laser Vision. Tomorrow night I plan to go and see it up close.
China Town
On the way back home, I took a diversion to China Town before getting some sleep. It was bright and vibrant with a large collections of shops and restaurants. A perfect way to complete my day in Singapore City.
