Singapore

Our visit to Singapore was both entertaining and enlightening.  Singapore is unusual as it is both a city and a country.  Under tight rule of what one could cal a Socialist Democratic government the reigning party which has been in power for many decades has tight control.  Eighty two percent of Singaporians own apartments in government housing.  These housing projects are huge high rises and citizens must be couples in order to buy a unit.  The units in all the projects are essentially the same ranging from two to five rooms and one purchases a shell and finishes the inside yourself.  The purchase is a 99 year lease and one can sell after five years but can only purchase once from the government and all other real estate is extremely expensive.  The units are sold before the buildings are built and to keep racial peace it is dictated that a precise percentage must be sold to Malay, Chinese and a small number to remaining nationalities.  Interesting approach.  An interesting fact we learn is that medical tourism is huge in Singapore and 60% of the surgeries performed here are done on tourists!

Singapore is definitely a city of contrasts with hundreds of high rises sharing space with with old colonial buildings that have been well preserved and turned into museums and grand hotels.  Even the old buildings in China town have been well preserved and this is a vibrant area to visit.  Singapore is the first city we have visited where we have not hesitated to eat any of the street food as every stall is very regulated and inspected regularly.  We did not see a single street person or begger anywhere.  There are wonderful walkways along the river and the ocean,many with covered walkways to protect one from the hot sun and the pelting rain that seems to occur daily. Though Singapore is densely populated they have done a magnificent job of providing plenty of green space throughout and have planting’s everywhere including on many of the buildings and on most of the walkways.  One never feels like you are in a concrete jungle.  Shopping is obviously a favourite pastime and the malls and stores are plentiful and over the top. The architecture of the buildings is fascinating with some giving the illusion that they are bent. Very interesting when one realizes that 30% of Singapore is land they have reclaimed from the sea, with more yet to be claimed.

The Marina Bay area of Singapore,built entirely on reclaimed land created a large fresh water reservoir needed by the city, and is a wonderful place to spend many hours .  Using walkways and bridges one can walk around the 3.5 kilometre promenade which houses shopping malls, a stadium built on the water, the unusual Marina Bay Sands Resort and the Merlion statue which symbolizes the union of the lion city and the sea.

Definitely the cleanest city we have ever seen and one well worth visiting.

Beautiful flowers adorn the walkways

Playful elephants welcome visitors into the Indian portion of Singapore 

The architecture was stunning with many buildings having the illusion of being bent



One of the many public housing buildings.  The fabric flying outside the units is actually laundry as every unit has special poles for this purpose to keep down energy consumption 

The greenery on some buildings was quite astounding and lush. Of course the plentiful rainfall most days makes for easy watering.

Historic old buildings along the river have been beautifully restored with no changes allowed to the outside and now are a busy area of cafes and nightclubs.

An old bridge from 1868 leads to the historic Fullerton Hotel

The round building is the courthouse and was apparently designed in this manner so no one would ever feel cornered by the judges or lawyers.

An interesting view of a river bridge

A river boat touring the unusual looking theatres on the bay

The Marina Sands Hotel. The views from the top deck of the 56th floor were absolutely panoramic.  There is also an infinity swimming pool up there which I think many may find a bit difficult to take

The food court in China town

China town was so bright and clean

Singapore food carts

All the old buildings are so well restored and maintained they almost look new

The harbour outside the city had literally dozens of frieghtors waiting to either load or unload

The malls were definitely fancier than what we are accustomed to at home

The helix bridge was inspired by the structure of DNA and leads to the science museum as well as the Gardens by the Bay

A view of the walkway along the waterfront with newer buildings dwarfing those in front

The merlion is the symbol of Singapore representing the union of the city of the lion and the sea



The river winds through parts of the city with low rise older buildings along its shores and more and more high rises the further away you get

The lotus flower shaped building is a museum.  I wonder how many balls are lost to the water in the unusual stadium built over the water

The financial district of Singapore