20th of December, 2012
The banks of the river are lined with the towering skyscrapers, stacked masses of steel and concrete reaching up to touch the azure sky. The water is slightly murky, but clearer and definitely cleaner than the rivers back in Jakarta. My eyes are drawn to the black lampposts that are spaced at even intervals. Something about them seems regal, almost out of place as the old-fashioned design is laid against a background of urbanity. I instantly think of Victorian England, and perhaps there is something to that comparison. Singapore is the mini-London of South East Asia, perhaps with a touch of New York about it too.
The Singapore River Walk was incredibly reinvigorating. We started with classes but that soon passed quickly as our excitement mounted and our time of departure loomed closer. We headed out together, taking the MRT from Toa Payoh to the Raffles Place station.
We emerged to a street, posh and modern to the highest degree. Men in suits and ladies in heels walk along the sidewalk, looking professional and busy.
A few statues are scattered here and there.
There's one dedicated to Isaac Newton. A gaping hole can be seen in his head and chest, an artistic expression of 'open-mindedness' and 'open-heartedness', two qualities one requires to survive in today's world. Another is one of a large, non-proportional bird. It's supposed to signify optimism and serenity to propel Singapore's future development.
We walk a littler closer to the riverbed, leaving behind some renowned buildings such as the Maybank Office building and Raffles Point. Another point of the interest that catches my eye are the beautiful white bridges that span the width of the Singapore River. The Cavanaugh Bridge looks like something plucked out of the heart of London. The Anderson is more minimalist in design. A large bumboat passes underneath this bridge carrying a band of tourists with sunglasses on, cameras in hand. By the side of the bridges aforementioned, a sculpture of young children jumping into the river makes one reflect on those days gone by, when Singapore was a humble fishing village with a filthy river and stands as a reminder of the immense progress this country has made.
We encounter more statues on our scenic route, this time catching a glimpse of Singapore's diverse cultural history. There's a display of three people, standing and sitting round each other, engaged in a conversation. One of them is a foreigner, someone from the West; the other of Oriental descent; and the third, a man wearing a Peci, hailing from the lands of Malaysia.
We also took a look inside the Fullerton Hotel, one of Singapore's most elegant establishments. Christmas was just around the corner and so the lobby was decked with holly and merry devour. Again, something about the Hotel's architecture gave me a sense of colonial Britain while offering something modern to the senses as well.
We soon come across a statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, a prominent figure in Singapore's modern development. There were these men with snakes nearby, offering passersby a chance to be adventurous and take a photo with the large, scaly creatures. It was a chance I didn't pass up.
The highlight about of the trip was reaching the Marina Bay area, where the island's iconic Merlion is situated. Though it's a site I've previously visited there's something about the breeze, the sight of the water expanding towards the horizon, the close proximity of architectural feats such as the Marina Bay tower, the Arts and Sciences Museum, and the Esplanade that makes me feel like there's a whole world laid out in front of me, waiting to be explored.
The walk, as I've pointed out, acquainted me with Singapore's culture. It was appropriate then that our final destination was The Peranakan Museum. The term 'peranakan' refers to the new generation of Singapore, those who became the embodiment of different cultures, coming from a mix of different backgrounds and ancestry. We marveled at the antique items on display, each telling a story of tradition that collectively makes up Singapore.
Two hours were spent in that museum and to be honest they passed by in a flash. The idea of living in Singapore continued to grow on me. And if living her meant getting to see, learn and experience new things, then I just might like it here.
--Karin Novelia, Soaking in the Culture
