Once again, the Lion City bursts into life with its 23-year-old Christmas Light-Up tradition, a grand display of lights that draws local and foreign visitors for the holiday season.
A walk along bustling Orchard Road at night will take you to a street that glistens with high-powered Christmas lights set on trees, walls, malls and all.
With the enchanting lights come other attractions like visual arts exhibits, food feasts and late night shopping sprees.
Upbeat music along the crowded streets played by local alternative bands, solo performers, and a band of foreign musicians from as far as Peru promoting their “music of the Andes”— grabs the audience, too.
Symbolized by the Merlion icon (half lion, half fish), Singapore was a British colony that became an independent republic in 1965. It is considered one of the 20 smallest countries in the world with a land area of about 682 square kilometers – only about a little more than twice the size of Cebu City.
However, small as it is, it’s notably known that the Lion City roars, holding its own in the world’s business and tourism map with its highly developed economy and tourist attractions.
Merry mix
Singapore is a mix of different cultures, cuisine, arts and people. Early immigrants from the Malay Peninsula, China, the Indian sub-continent and Sri Lanka were its first settlers.
With that as a backdrop of the country’s profile, it offers a rich experience of contrast and color — literally, in terms of language, food, music, skin tone and clothing style (some still wear their national costumes like sari for Indian women, sarung for Malay men, qipao for Chinese women).
In this multiracial country where religious harmony is valued, you can find a Chinese temple, Muslim mosque, Hindu temple and Christian church, all in one neighborhood. A day’s walk to its civic district will also treat you to a view of modern skyscrapers as well as a taste of the country’s history as you pass well-preserved colonial houses and heritage areas.
Depending on your curiosity, you can take a trip to its ethnic enclaves like Chinatown, Little India, and Arab Street. Filipinos longing for home have a place, too. Lucky Plaza, one of the malls along Orchard Road, can also be called ‘Little Philippines’, where most Filipinos in Singapore shop (for Philippine-made goods), meet up with friends, and send remittances to their families.
Though a 100% litter-free Singapore is an exaggeration (they have litterbugs, too!), one obvious trait of this country is its “green-mindedness” that drives pro-environment efforts. While towering buildings and flats fill its precious land, young and old trees and well-cut grass softly frame the city.
Heritage trees called “green walls” are protected by law to maintain Singapore’s cool and green roadside.
A hoot for night owls
For a nocturnal adventure, the Night Safari, the world’s first night zoo, is a top choice. A tram ride will bring you to a dense forest where one can find rhinos, elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions, and other wildlife creatures quietly bathing in their shadowy territories.
Flash photography is not allowed (so as not to disturb the zoo’s residents), so enjoy the sights and sounds with your bare eyes, ears and heart. Once in a while, it’s uniquely magical to behold nature without the aid (or distraction) of technology like digital cameras.
Exploring (and getting lost) in Singapore is easy. You don’t have to be a travel guru to be able to find your way. They have excellent bus services and “one of the world’s most modern and efficient” Mass Rapid Transit systems.
Singapore is a city that never rests. It dazzles all year round. Definitely, the Christmas Light-Up is just one of its wonders. (ALC/SunStar Cebu)
