Articles
Travel
Singapore: where history meets modernity
If you have ever dreamed about the wonders of Asia, Singapore may have crossed your mind. Yes, Singapore has it all. It has the brands to shop till you drop, exquisite Asian and international cuisine, and lush vegetation that complements a sophisticated, modern and luxurious urban city. But this iconic Island in Southeast Asia is more than that: it is a country full of history and tradition.
Marina Bay Sands
When we think about Marina Bay Sands, we may wonder if it is just another luxury resort, but no, it is more than that. It has astounding architecture. The three towers united at the top resemble boats.
​
But that was not the idea behind building Marina Bay Sands. According to its architect, Moshe Safdie, the idea was to ensure the building would not block the sea views from the city. Hence, the three towers give enough space to enjoy the views.
​
Another interesting fact disclosed by Safdie is that the concept of a vast resort would not fit the scarcity of land available for the project. Thus, the high-rise building. It comprises 57th stories.
​
You will be amazed by the sky terrace on the top floor, which offers unlimited views from an infinity pool that is by far the largest in the world.
​
But there is another feature worth noting. Is the sky park asymmetrical, and why is it so? According to Safdie, this is because it promotes better feng shui.
​
This makes Marina Bay Sands a building that captures our imagination and takes luxury to new heights. One remark: If you are not a hotel guest, you cannot swim at the infinity pool at the top of the hotel, but you can head to the public observation deck and glimpse the skyline.
​​
One thing is certain. Even though this resort is not a beach resort, it attracts many tourists’ attention. Or just anyone who is not afraid of heights!
The Merlion
​
The Merlion Park spans 2,500 acres from where you can see the gigantic original Merlion statue, an iconic landmark of Singapore. There, you will find three Merlion statues. The original statue is as tall as 8.6 meters and weighs 70 tonnes.
​
A perfect curved line of water landing in the river emerges from its mouth to make the Merlion statue even more impressive. And this statue is not a recent one. To be more exact, it was unveiled on September 15, 1972.
​
Credit must also be given to Lim Nang Seng, the statue's sculptor, and Kwan Sai Kheong, the designer, both Singaporeans.
​
You may not know that the original Merlion statue was not always at Merlion Park. On 23 April 2002, it was moved from the mouth of the Singapore River 120 meters away to Merlion Park.
​
Interestingly, a long time had passed before this relocation in 2002. It was 1997, and the Esplanade Bridge was completed.
​
What many realized is that this new construction was somehow blocking the view of the Merlion statue. It was clear that something had to be done. So, in 2002, the Merlion statue was officially where it is today: in Merlion Park.
​
Today, the statue overlooks Marina Bay; when night comes, it lights up. It is a magical moment you will never forget.
​
Another intriguing fact is that the Merlion statue faces east. This could be a random fact, but it is not. Everything has a meaning, and this is no exception.
​
You may be surprised to learn that, in Chinese culture, Feng Shui is a way of life. The Merlion statue faces east because it is auspicious and brings good luck.
​
But this statue is not alone. Two smaller replicas of the Merlion sculpture stand just behind. They are 2 meters tall and weigh 3 tonnes each. A curiosity worth noting is that these two statues are considered the cubs of the original Merlion statue.
​
But after you have seen a Merlion statue, you cannot avoid questioning why there is so much interest in that statue. After all, it is an extremely strange creature. It has the head of a lion and the body of a fish.
​
But there is more than meets the eye. It isn’t just a statue made to impress visitors alike strangely. It represents Singapore itself.
​
And how is that? Let’s see. First, the head of a Lion. What does it mean? The answer is simple. In Malay, Singa Pura stands for the city of the lion. Now you understand why the name of the country is Singapore.
​
But what about the body of a fish? This has a deep meaning that goes back in time—to a point when Singapore was just a tiny fishing village. All of this makes us think of Singapore's origins, and it only reminds us that to know the present, we must look into the past.
​
Now, you may be thinking that this is it—that there are no other Merlion statues across Singapore—but no. They are everywhere—well, not exactly everywhere.
​
Another is at the Tourism Court on Grange Road, another at Mount Faber, and a pair of replicas are at a car park entrance on Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.
​
Another one stood on Sentosa, Singapore’s island, but it was sadly demolished. It was last seen on 20 October 2019. It had an impressive height of 37 meters!
​
But if you cannot take your photo next to the gigantic Merlion sculpture in Sentosa, you can still take one next to the original Merlion statue.
​
And this is probably the best photo you will take home with you. Next, you will discover one of Singapore's oldest and most enigmatic hotels.
Raffles Hotel
​
Raffles Hotel is the oldest colonial-style hotel that stood the test of time in Singapore. Today, it may seem like a luxury hotel everyone wants to stay in.
​
The truth is that the Raffles Hotel is more than a luxury hotel. It is a landmark of a past that began in 1887. It was built by the Sarkies Brothers, who were Armenians.
​
The curious fact is that they could have given it any name they could conceive, but no. They decided to honour the founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
​
But this is not when it all truly began. Its history can be traced as far as the 1830s. By then, it was simply a privately owned beach house.
​
But in 1878, it became a hotel. It was named Emerson’s Hotel.
​
Near the beach, with high-end services and rooms, this hotel was designed to be highly sought after by the wealthy.
​
With that in mind, Raffles Hotel was officially opened on December 1, 1887, with ten rooms! Meanwhile, in 1894, the hotel could accommodate 75 guests.
​
Fast-forward: The Raffles Hotel became a national monument in 1987, exactly one century after its grand opening!
​
The Raffles Hotel's renovation in 1989 cost $160M, and the result is simply stunning. Today, its style resembles that of the 1915 hotel.
​
Hotel rooms were upgraded to suites, and the famous Long Bar was opened. This is where the official national drink, Singapore Sling, was invented.
​
Today, the Raffles Hotel is a luxury hotel that hosts celebrities and all who can afford to stay in such a hotel with so much history. You can still dine or drink in this hotel if you cannot afford such luxury. It will be expensive, but it will be worth every cent.
​
How can you reach such a unique hotel? Well, you can take a short walk from the modern MRT station of City Hall and the Raffles City Shopping Centre, and you will be there. The Raffles Hotel reminds everyone that Singapore is an intriguing island between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea worth discovering.