Sensational Singapore

The elevator stopped at the twenty fourth floor of Pan Pacific hotel that led to my room. There were thirteen more floors to go before the top that afforded a fantastic bird’s eye view of Singapore’s splendid skyline. The room was spacious and cozy with a warm, lively ambiance and was probably worth the $360USD. Still I would have thought twice as many times before reservation had it not been paid by my organization. One has to admit, these are some of the rare virtues of corporate life. Only objection I had was upon the menacing digital weighing machine lying on the thick carpet. Thankfully it was out of order and I had no intentions of getting it replaced.

The contrasting view was amazing. A cluster of towering buildings with varying textures, aesthetics and external elements surrounded the place, as if each one of them was competing for greater heights. Serene azure waters of ‘Marina Bay’ were visible close by. A Carrefour’ retail outlet asserted its presence in attractive prismatic shape reflecting the typical brand colours. Flyovers and smoothly carpeted roads with brisk and sparse traffic, converging at some points and diverging at others, formed a beautiful network.

I was enjoying the captivating view while my colleagues were having a tough time acclimatizing to the demanding regulations. Most smokers would agree that a penalty of 500$ for smoking a mere cigarette was a bit too much of an asking. In comparison, confining themselves to the cramped cantilevered balconies protruding outside their rented rooms to enjoy and puff a few cigarettes seemed a better deal. But then these fines apply to almost anything in Singapore barring perhaps eating in a restaurant or excreting in a washroom. This arguably is the secret behind the generally excepted notion that elevates Singapore to the level of the cleanest and most orderly state of the globe.

Singapore is a shoppers’ paradise provided you have got enough bucks and plastic money in your pocket and a spouse to do all the spending. Else you can spend a busy day window-shopping and roaming along the Orchard Road, Marina Square, Clarke Quay and Boat Quay like most of us did. Walking amidst the tall buildings on meticulously paved walkways along the busy roads and bays was wonderful as long as we could resist the temptation to trespass the lovely green belts. Tropical heat and extreme humidity were threatening at times, something we learned to cope with gradually. Maintaining strict discipline on zebra crossings was a challenge. No chewing gums, no snacks or drinks under the blue sky unless you are there to prove your mettle and are prepared to bear the brunt. Since that’s what we do at home on regular basis at a larger scale, being adventurous and risking a few hundred dollars a couple of times didn’t involve much of an effort.

Shopping malls are enormous and offer all assortments of products and merchandise. Visiting some of the leading branded retail outlets was worthwhile. Moreover, making a few classic purchases was amusing until we converted the value into the local currency. These purchases included items ranging from electronic goods to mobile accessories to clothing and shoes.

Mass Rapid Transit facilitated swift, economical and convenient experiences of exploring the splendour of Singapore. Waiting for the subway and rushing in through the mechanical doors opening just for the precise seconds with a horde of bustling crowd was exciting. Inside, there was exchange of warm smiles and sometimes notes. However, the eyes kept glued to the displayed station guide and the ears to the recorded messages in hunt of the destination station most of the time. Exiting was as much fun as embarking upon the train. Then there was peculiar excitement that always accompanied while every one of us reclaimed our customary one-dollar back, each time while leaving the last subway station. The same dollar that was overcharged earlier at the time of issuance of the ticket by the automated machine. MRT rides proved to be more enjoyable and preferable as compared to what taxis had to offer. Taxis always charged on meters leaving no room for bargaining and had no overcharged dollar to return that was even more disappointing.

Sentosa Island located in the vicinity of the metropolitan, is one of the major tourists’ attraction. A cable car ride from the lovely green hilltop of Mount Faber over the surfing blue waters was an absolute delight. Iconic statue of Merlion, half lion and half fish, considered the symbol of Singapore stands 37 metres tall and presents a lovely photographic background. What was even more exhilarating was ascending to the top of the structure to capture a panoramic view of the island and the surroundings. Amongst other attractions, one of the most significant features of the island is the Underwater World. It is an enclosure treasured with a vast variety of fish, sharks, seals and other marine organisms, ranging from microscopic in size to enormous. Drifting on the conveyor belt that circulates gradually through the transparent glazed tunnel, as if virtually roaming among that captured life form was an awesome experience. That’s where our cameras clicked the most and video shoots were maximized. The aquarium is proclaimed to be the largest of its sort in South East Asia. Bangkok has similar claims to make about its entertaining Underwater World but unfortunately I found myself short of any measuring tools or equipment on both occasions and the matter remains unsettled to date.

As it was incumbent upon us to waste a better proportion of the day by making our appearance in a business conference, it was sheer bad luck. All we could do was to let go of no opportunity to maximize our coffee intake. During the proceedings, we asked for frequent toilet breaks between the insipid and meaningless presentations based on wishful thinking rather than any hard facts. We made it a point to concentrate and focus for short spans intermittently between prolonged yawning and reverie sessions. Prepared some myopic questions during those brief attention spans, just in case, and hurled most of them as soon as any queries were invited and only expected equally misleading responses in return that were duly granted.

The city offered plenty of variety and spice to relish our taste buds. Seafood was heavenly and ‘Halal’ and ‘Vegetarian’ meals were delicious. ‘Desi’ food was savoured at the ‘Arab street’ and the ‘Little India’ had a lot more to offer. Surprisingly, it looked like all those appetizing delicacies together with awesome local and western offerings were least tempting to the warm and friendly natives of the state. What to speak of the teenagers, men and women of all ages with their toned muscular built, enviable figures and fresh and younger looks asserted complete disgrace to those extended menus. Whether it was a case of controlled intake in the face of most enticing flavours or balancing the consumption by healthy exertion despite busy and demanding lifestyles, it was highly commendable.

Night Safari offered one of the unique opportunities. A nighttime excursion aimed at, but not limited to, trailing amongst 120 species, with many of them endangered, was a lifetime experience. Cultural show and food festivities added more flavour to the overall expedition.

Vibrant Singapore has a mentionable nightlife that becomes more pronounced during the weekends. Locals as well as tourists swarm dance floors, restaurants, pubs and bars. In our case, alluring and absorbing atmosphere and the hangover that ensued as a direct consequence was part of the reason instigating greater coffee consumption and decreased productivity during the day.

In short, Singapore is a pulsating attraction buzzing with life and charm. Its unique aura and lively mood makes it a sensational place to visit _ A place that has got all the right ingredients to make your visit memorable.