Sometimes when we plan a big vacation to somewhere exciting we think about all the main attractions we are going to see. The Eiffle Tower and the Louve in Paris; or Big Ben and Harrods in London (seriously if you have not been to Harrods in London and you love shopping book a flight STAT!). Or personally I can’t wait to visit the Great Wall or Terra Cotta warriors in China (I might be going this summer fingers crossed). Anyway, you get the point. There are main attractions which draw us to that particular place we have chosen to pay a lot of money to visit. But often times we overlook the every day things that make up this completely different culture we are visiting. It’s the everyday stuff that actually makes these places unique yet we are so focused on the big things that we miss it. So this weekend I decided I was going ot go out and just walk my new city. No real plans, just hit the pavement. And even though I actually live here now and used to live here when I was 14, I constantly miss some of these fabulous little details that just make Singapore fascinating.
Singapore has a mix of cultures here from all over the world, seriously ALL over the world. it is the biggest melting pot ever for business. But some of the main historical areas of the city are Chinatown, Little India, and the Arab quarter. There are a ridiculous number of other parts of the city and even more that just make up downtown alone, but these are some of the areas I hit on foot this weekend. And here are some of the things I usually miss as I rush from one meeting to the next.
The Dali statue at the UOB building right across from my office
The Marina Bay Sands is actually a really big tourist spot but I never just stopped along the river to see how Amazing is looks againt the old colonial Fullerton hotel building. Old meets new is a reoccurring theme in this city
Old temple right in the middle of the city
They sell these stunning flowers in front of the temple for the people to lay as offerings
Fungi For sale!
Or perhaps some nice dried squid? I have lived in Asia on and off for years and this is pretty much a staple food group, and I still cant bring myself to try it. I pretend to be all fearless, and then I cant even try one little squid. Commence with the disspointed groans.
I found these little eggplants to be absolutely stunning. During my walk I discovered that Little India clearly has the best produce on the street on the weekends! All of it fresh and beautiful!
No building has ever made me happier to look at than this. I was walking down a totally deserted back road and I happen to turn my head and this was burried between two relatively colorless shophouses. Now the real question is… will I ever be able to find it again. Probably not.
I have no words for this, I love it. The guy eating his lunch on the patio behind this gate sure had some words for me though.
What you looking at… Mate? (I picture him with an Australian accent… and possibly requesting the shrimp be on the barbie and not crab.)
And because no walk through a city in Asia is complete until you see a great and utterly confusing sign. Why is she talking on a Pepsi can? And why does Jackie Chan have Farah Fawcett hair and dress like David Bowie?
I hope you enjoyed this little tour. While not your typical tourist photos, these are part of my everyday life here. These are the reasons I feel truly blessed to live somewhere that I can constantly be in awe of the things around me as long as I stop to really appreciate them. Next time you take a vacation instead of looking up at Notre Dame or The Statue of Liberty even, stop and watch the old woman carrying groceries across the cobble stone streets or the Hot Dog vendor crying out for a sale. These are the people and sights that really make the destinations special. They live and breath the city and help make it the exciting place you chose to experience. Take it all in and I hope you have a lucky day like this guy!!
so fun to see the city through your eyes. thanks for the tour
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