Monday, February 15, 2010

Singapore Snippets

1. It seems as if Singapore was initially a forest and buildings have been carefully placed around without disturbing the natural flora and fauna.
What this really shows is how well buildings and the city as a whole is planned so as not to disturb the natural balance of the environment.
2. Traffic bottlenecks are just not here and it is equally difficult to spot a policeman in Singapore unless of course there is an emergency.
3. If you visit Singapore in the gap of three to four years, the city will look different, there will be new buildings and old ones will be redeveloped to cater to the increasing needs.
This is because the country has so little space, the government has to constantly innovate and build and rebuild to maximise the land utilisation for the increasing population.
4. 25 percent of Singapore is reclaimed...but isn't this against the environment or is this justified?
5. The old buildings in Singapore, the Supreme Court, the City Hall etc is all redesigned to be included in the National Art Gallery. The whole street is being redesigned so that the these old buildings meld into the new forms...a big push for culture and a sight to behold for sure when complete.
6. I love the modern buildings in Singapore...all of them have a character of its own and it seems to me as if I am opening the pages of an architectural magazine, with the who's who in the field of architecture having designed a building to represent them and their design. Be it the big dish like new Supreme Court Building by Norman Foster or the tall residential tower by IM Pei...Singapore has it all...
7. At the Singapore Art Museum I found contemporary art that literally shocked me...A long table with a black cloth hanging over it and words spelt out in locks of hair spread on the floor below the table...Whatever the explanation, this was art that truly left me wordless...
8. After all the culture gupshup, I thought I would love the Opera, after all it was in the Esplanade, the architectural model and a place that has a 'feel' to it...
I had even imagined if Amir Khan liked it in Dil Chata Hai, well I would surely like it...after all I like him a lot and we have so much in common (and that's in by imagination...)
But sadly, I found out that I am just not cut for the Opera kind of entertainment, I had to pinch myself to keep my eyes open and the loud snores from the person sitting next to me, didn't help me either...
9. Malls and restaurants...look anywhere and you will never find any shortage for both...
10. People are so committed to their work...and you can instantly bond with them, they come with a dose of 'goodness', of genuineness ...
A visit to Singapore recommended to those who want to revive their belief in mankind...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really wish someday atleast some parts of India are like this...
*high hopes*?:(
Fascinated by this glimpse of Singapore:)

LOL@Aamir liking opera and thus you too:D:P


a question..if govt there constantly has to renovate for the reasons given by you then wont it reach a stage one day where there would be room for no more?


PS:-love your header:)

Swaram said...

We missed the Art Museum and the Opera .. well, got to hv something for the next trip :P :P
Agree with u on the planning part though .. very impressive :)

sindhu said...

Indyeah:They plan for 5 years in advance...and reclaim land too...to make up for the shortage...it is a constant innovation process.
Swaram: True...but is is good u missed the Opera!

Rekha Baala said...

yes, sindhu, singapore is a nice place. What struck me most was the punctuality... of the people... and how well they have planned every part of the city to attract the tourist...

Anonymous said...

Wow! Singapore is in my wishlist. Visiting it keeps getting postponed as it is so close to India, the logic being, when we go back to India, it would be really easy to fly to Singapore :)

The things you have listed makes it sound so interesting.

The govt there seems so proactive and aware of everything.

ublues said...

Hey Sindhu, thanks again for another lovely entry! As you can see, we've become regular visitors to your blog! So sorry to have made you sit through the opera though! Btw, the person snoring beside you was James? ;p

sindhu said...

Yes, it was James without doubt...:)
And u should visit, Smitha, it is worth it!

ublues said...

I think it was amazing how he managed to wake up in time to clap on cue! I kept waiting to catch him sleeping!

Reflections said...

Loved ur candid take on the country Sindhu:-)!!!

"I had even imagined if Amir Khan liked it in Dil Chata Hai, well I would surely like it...after all I like him a lot and we have so much in common (and that's in by imagination...)"
LOL for me its Salman Khan...;-D

mahesh said...

Singapore is definitely a nice place to live. I was there during the beginning of my career for a year and i really njoyed my time there.
At the same time i wish they had a slightly better record w.r.t freedom of speech and allowing public dissent.