Travel to Singapore
There is no denying that Singapore is now a busy commercial city, a place of traffic and tall towers. But take some time to look, and you can also find a place offering a surprising numbers of ties to its past-a past rich in colourful characters and bloody battles.
Having first settled on preserving its Civic District, Singapore’s government is setting about making it a peopled area, transforming the uses of historic buildings to reflect today’s needs.
The process is not without pain. Given a stock of just 682 square kilometres nation-wide, the demands for land are enormous. Feathers get ruffled when a Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus becomes a venue for bars and restaurants – or a leafy city park becomes a construction site, in a bid to house a new tertiary institute.
But given a choice between pragmatism and gleaming new sky-scrapers, Singapore’s solution for its Civic District has been to have these historic places serve new contemporary purposes – making them places for today’s people.
As a tourist, visiting and enjoying these beautiful buildings is not only enjoyable – it’s also another vote for their ongoing preservation.
In the tropics in particular, enjoying history should not be about rushing through a long list of statues and commemorative plaques. As in a visit to the theatre, historic places give you a brief chance to try on other people’s lives for size.
Absorb the atmosphere at your own pace. On an island of sometimes fierce temperatures, holidays in Singapore demand that you obey the rules of the weather. If you tire, slow down in the heat of the day and escape inside or to the shade. You’re on holiday after all, so bring a book with you and read within a quiet leafy courtyard. Or sit beside the river and soak in the rhythms and smells of Singapore. Notice the slow path of the sun and the ebb and flow of the water – so at odds with the busy paths of people rushing to work.
PRACTICALITIES
Wear: A light short sleeved shirt, light long pants, walking shoes. If possible, wear something you can sweat in, yet still appropriate ftr formal environments like churches.
As in many South-east Asian cities, shorts, sandles and t-shirts are usually best left for parks and beaches.
Bring: A light bag with a hat, sunglasses, bottle of water, insect repellent and camera. A mobile phone may be useful to call a taxi (see below)
Taxis: Once your feet are sore and you’ve sweated it out enough, you may want to hail a taxi. Beware of long waits however. Many Singaporeans use taxis instead of a personal vehicle, and due to its proximity with business and dining centres, the Civic District at night can be hard to hail a cab especially at night. Comfort is the biggest chain, call (6552-1111).
Maps: Explore this interesting district on foot with the help of the Civic District Trail walking tour map which is available at the Raffles Hotel Museum, National Museum Shops and Visitor Information Centres.