Singapore!

"It is a place that cherishes its past as it looks to the future."

The earliest known mention of Singapore was a 3rd century Chinese account which described Singapore as "Pu-luo-chung" ("island at the end of a peninsula"). Little is known about the island's history at this time but this matter-of-fact description belies Singapore's colourful past. By the 14th century, Singapore had become part of the mighty Sri Vijayan empire and was known as Temasek ("Sea Town").

This was no less accurate than the 3rd century name. Located at the natural meeting point of sea routes at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore had long known visits from a wide variety of sea craft, from Chinese junks, Indian vessels, Arab dhows and Portuguese battleships to Buginese schooners.

Next day we took a fast whip around the city (aka a bus tour) where we did at least stop at a Chinese Temple, atop Mount Faber and in the orchid section of the botanical gardens. On Mount Faber the futuristic aspects were evident as the gondolas to the "fun" island of Santosa traveled through a skyscraper en route to the island.

The orchid garden was beautiful. We would have spent more time there, as we were fascinated with the variety. There was even a celebrity section where orchids had been named after celebrities who had visited. The Nelson Mandela orchid was interesting, while appropriately the Margaret Thatcher blossom [right]had petals that twisted like a screw. Hmmmm.

In the afternoon we met up with former Guelph-ite Alan Madras and his wife Ruth for a mandatory Singapore Sling at Raffles [left - The fountain in the courtyard at Raffles. Did Somerset Maugham et al. sit near this on the visits long ago?]. (An interesting side note: we asked two young women where Raffles was. They pointed to the Raffles Shopping Centre. We said we meant the Hotel. Their blank looks indicated that there was something other than a shopping center called Raffles??

It was good to see Alan and to meet his wife Ruth [below]. It was she who described the island state as Disneyworld. Disneyworld with unlimited spending capability. I really expected to see a bumper sticker "Have you spent your limit today?"

That night we ate earlier that night at a sushi restaurant, where the sushi was on a conveyor belt passing by tables. One could pick off any plate that caught their palatal attention. From there we again entered the future by trying to read our mail at a Cyber Cafe. The clerk would not talk, only point to signs. The noise of the games being played was deafening! The speakers at each station were turned up to the max.

This buying frenzy became truly apparent on Sunday when we walked across the Fort Benning Hill to the river front, visiting the Fullerton Hotel and the Merion there, and taking a subway (very, very clean - there are doors not only on the train but also on the platform. No one could be pushed onto the tracks). We emerged at the top of Orchard Street and proceeded along this avenue. It was Sunday and all stores were open. The streets were packed with people out . . . shopping. Wall to wall malls. The exit signs inside a mall simply meant that you were entering another mall! It was a rather sickening sight to see: it seemed that this was the pastime of Singaporeans: shop, shop, shop. One part of the street there were BUY, BUY, BUY signs interspersed with "At Chinese New you should have EVERYTHING new".

We had checked out a 5pm check-out from the hotel and were duly transported to Changi for our overnight flight to Sydney. Upon take off we passed out of the Northern Hemisphere and back to the present.

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