A Walk Around Singapore

Singapore’s skyline above the Esplanade Bridge

I love walking; it’s one of my favorite past times, especially when exploring a new city. Walking gives me fresh air, exercise, and a chance to see things at my own pace. I think to truly appreciate a city’s unique vibe a person must walk through its streets, at least once, preferably without a destination in mind. It gives you a chance to look people in the eye, stop and smile, smell the food, fumble through your repertoire of words in that language, and glimpse down side streets that might just provide your next adventure.

The Marina Bay Sands

 

Below the Esplanade Bridge

 

Merlion!

When I visited Singapore I knew it was above my overall budget for my trip, especially compared to the rest of Southeast Asia, but I just had to see it.  When he was a sailor, Joseph Conrad used to pick up his mail at the Fullerton Hotel. Somerset Maugham and Ernest Hemingway used to frequent the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel, which also invented the Singapore Sling. As a bibliophile, that was enough to peak my interest to travel here. Sadly, I couldn’t even afford a glass of water in the Raffles Hotel, let alone a Singapore Sling, but I did take a wander through the building.

“The Window of Hope” by Sun Yu-li at Collyer Quay

 

“The Thinker” by Auguste Rodin

 

“Momentum” by David Gerstein

As a result of the high price tag on everything in this impressive city state, I spent the majority of my time in Singapore walking the streets, enjoying the views of the river, photographing the beautiful old buildings, and hunting down cheap hawker food.

Outside Capital Tower

 

Telok Ayer Park

 

Samsui Women sculpture

 

Ann Siang Hill Park

A simple walk around Singapore won’t  disappoint. There’s a Merlion (or three), free art and sculptures everywhere, a boat straddling the tops of three mighty tall buildings, beautiful parks, and memorable views of the skyline.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral

 

View of downtown and the Singapore River

 

Cavenagh Bridge

 

“The First Generation” by Chong Fah Cheong

And if you are feeling more adventurous you can always take a ride on the cable car or a walk through the notorious neighborhood of Geylang.

Beauty in the Beast

My visit to Singapore was short and not entirely enjoyable. Despite my high expectations for the city state, I found myself disappointed from the moment I arrived. I had read about the history, culture, and food before my visit and I was expecting something different than the flashy, snooty, rat race of a country I found. I think my disappointment came from my expectations and my poor choice of hotel in the sleazy neighborhood of Geylang. I’ve had time to reflect and I now use this experience to remind myself that part of traveling, or any event in life, is about appreciating the experience for what it is, not what I wanted it to be.

That said, I did spend an absolutely lovely day at the free Singapore Botanic Gardens. I even splurged and paid the $5 for admission to the Orchid Garden. I passed almost an entire day walking around, smelling flowers, admiring the black swans and other animals, and ducking out of the brief thundershowers into the restaurant to eat a piece of delicious, but overpriced, carrot cake. If you are in Singapore and need a mental pick me up, this is the place to come.