Singapore is Often Described as Asia Lite
In the past few years, Singapore has gone through a kind of renaissance, it was once considered quite dour, but now offers a wide choice of activities both familiar and exotic. The arts are booming, the theaters are vibrant and the nightlife is pumping. Locals enjoy a high standard of living, and ‘fun’ is always on the agenda. Outdoor activity is not something that’s immediately associated with this small south-east Asian nation, but the Hast Coast Park, with its 11-kilometer stretch of beach and parkland is perfect for rollerblading, jogging, swimming, wake-boarding, or relaxing in one of the restaurants and bars that line the strip. This whole area is built on reclaimed land, about one third of Singapore’s land mass was once actually sea, and it continues to expand into the surrounding waters. Locals often joke that pretty soon they’ll be able to drive to Hong Kong.
Singapore is often described as ‘Asia Lite’. That’s not to say it is any less Asian than its neighbors. In fact, with its incredible diversity of cultures, Indian, Chinese, and Eurasian (to name just a few), it might be argued that it is the most Asian of Asian states. The ‘lite’ tag is applied because it is one of the most hassle-free nations in the region. Eating is a very important part of life, everyone here has an opinion about where to find the best food. They think serves the most authentic pepper crab in town and you will hear three different answers. The best rule of thumb is to eat in the food courts known as hawker centers. They are cheap, clean and totally delicious. Hawker centers are basically a whole lot of small stallholders under one roof, each specializing in a particular style of cooking. If you spot a stall with a long queue, join it. Don’t worry if you have no idea what you’re going to eat. Your taste-buds will appreciate you stepping outside your comfort zone. Have faith that the people lining up know what’s what in the culinary stakes. You’ll either be very pleasantly surprised or end up with a good dinner party story.
The Republic of Singapore lies one degree north of the equator, so it’s always hot and steamy. In the absence of changing seasons, locals tend to mark the passage of time with festivals. There are religious, cultural, food and music festivals, even a shopping festival. The great Singapore sale from May to July has taken on festival status. Of course, no festival is complete without lots of lights, and Singapore never disappoints on that front. The best ‘light-ups’ are during Hari Raya Eid ul-Fitr (the celebration at the end of Ramadhan), Deepavali (the Hindu Festival of Lights), Christmas and Chinese New Year. The lights tend to migrate like stars from east to west over a period of four or five months. It all starts in Geylang Serai during Ramadhan, which takes place this year from August 22. The streets around Kampung Melayu are packed with markets and late-night cafes, where you can try all the delicacies associated with the season.
Hari Raya is a time to visit family and close friends. Hat, talk, laugh, eat, give green packets of money to the kids and eat some more before having one last nibble and staggering home. After Hari Raya it’s time to hit Serangoon Road, Little India. As the name suggests, the Hindu Festival of lights is one spectacular illumination. Little India is always colorful, but during Deepavali it sparkles like a million electric jewels. Next, the light show heads up to Orchard Road, the designer label epicenter of Singapore, this area a little lacking in soul. However, at Christmas it’s obligatory. The lights, Christmas trees, robot Santas and high-tech visual displays make Times Square look positively dowdy.
Thaipusam , this somewhat grisly Hindu festival is held in honor of Lord Subramaniam. Devotees carry their burdens (kavadi) on a long procession from Serangoon Road to Tank Road. Some are children whose burdens may be represented by bowls of fruit or jugs of milk. In more extreme cases, the practitioners pierce their bodies with skewers and hooks and carry heavy steel frames decorated with feathers, fruit and pictures of the deities. Soon after Thaipusam, when the lights have been pulled down at Orchard Road there’s a whole different bunch getting hung in Chinatown. Dragon dances and huge parades mark the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Then, a few weeks after the New Year celebration, Singapore’s biggest parade takes place, Chingay. It’s a huge multicultural display that takes place around Orchard Road or the Colonial District. As you’ve probably guessed by now, Singaporeans genuinely respect the tenets of multiculturalism, you have to in a society so crammed with diverse cultures, it’s a good base for traveling around Asia.
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