Our neighbourhood is growing on us, like this vendor of "Wonderful Durian". Durian fruit smells like sewage on the outside but the inner flesh is sweet and flavourful --- get the analogy??
When I was working here in 1986, the Singapore River was more like an open sewer. It was a no-go zone even for locals because it was dark and dirty with decrepit ramshackle ancient concrete warehouses. A far cry from early Singapura when the river was already bustling with trade sailing in on the four winds. Today, though it's all changed. Only the surviving bridges are landmarks to what was. The river is now a gem with eye-smacking restorations, creative additions, and gobs of colour. Respect is paid to the early traders and Brits who laid down the basic site. But huge bank skyscrapers now compete for your admiration, and shapely public halls are simply unique. Open-air bars, restaurants, and walkways seal the deal.
Some of the details: The only suspension bridge in Singapore. The water-spouting merlion, half lion/half fish, symbol of the city. One of the many new bridges for the hordes of Asian tourists already here and more expected. A model posing near the war memorial --- sacrilege or maturity? Statue of Stamford Raffles, the city's founder --- and the famous Raffles Hotel, creator of the Singapore Sling. And on and on.
We took a leisurely boat ride through the same sights, but with a breezy
perspective. More fanciful construction. For instance, they have dammed
the river so that the sea doesn't mix with the fresh water flowing out.
Voila --- a new source to create drinking water! Restored pastel
"go-downs" (you had to go-down to the water from the warehouse, get
it??) And to top it off, sure enough, there's a concert hall in the
shape of a --- durian!!
When I was working here in 1986, the Singapore River was more like an open sewer. It was a no-go zone even for locals because it was dark and dirty with decrepit ramshackle ancient concrete warehouses. A far cry from early Singapura when the river was already bustling with trade sailing in on the four winds. Today, though it's all changed. Only the surviving bridges are landmarks to what was. The river is now a gem with eye-smacking restorations, creative additions, and gobs of colour. Respect is paid to the early traders and Brits who laid down the basic site. But huge bank skyscrapers now compete for your admiration, and shapely public halls are simply unique. Open-air bars, restaurants, and walkways seal the deal.
Some of the details: The only suspension bridge in Singapore. The water-spouting merlion, half lion/half fish, symbol of the city. One of the many new bridges for the hordes of Asian tourists already here and more expected. A model posing near the war memorial --- sacrilege or maturity? Statue of Stamford Raffles, the city's founder --- and the famous Raffles Hotel, creator of the Singapore Sling. And on and on.
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