in first person

Hello Singapore!
Jyotika J. Thukral

EVER since the terrorist attacks in the US, the immigration officials in many countries look at the people coming into the country with a lot of apprehension even if that boosts their economy.

My husband’s work took us to Singapore recently and I was in for a surprise when I arrived at the Changi airport. While struggling to open a candy for my three-year-old daughter, the immigration official actually offered a scissor to make the job easier and said Welcome to Singapore. That was not the end of my surprise for barely a few minutes after landing as I progressed toward the baggage counter mentally prepared for a minimum of 20 minutes wait; I found the bags already on the belt. Probably this is the only airport in the world where your baggage awaits you by the time you are through with your immigration.

Once in the taxi, the breathtaking beauty of the city awed me. Well finally I am in Singapore and feel good about it! It is very green here. I noticed that in contrast to the towering buildings, Singapore’s remaining land is packed with leafy tropical plants. Under every highway is an instant rainforest; even the lampposts are lush. No sign of dust anywhere.

It’s hard to imagine Singapore as anything but perfect. I assume the laws banning chewing gum are still in place as the pavements are flawless. Soon I am at the Redwood West, the service apartments that we were to stay at for the next four days. Quiet and serene and very spacious is how one could describe them. Two bedrooms, a living room and a dining room, three bathrooms, a kitchen – all well furnished with independent air conditioners in every room. Home away from home. Almost. And a pool view. Things couldn’t get better. My daughter was delighted to see the pool and also the play area. After settling in, I took a walk to the nearby grocery store and grab a bite. A shop opposite offered two pizzas for the price of one and I decided to take that. Sadly, the local cuisine doesn’t have much to offer for vegetarians.

But one cannot help appreciating the efficient and safe public transport system. It is also without a doubt the cleanest, safest and most well planned city I've ever seen. Wide, palm tree-lined streets; spotless pavements; beautiful, manicured parks; clean water; an easy-to-use, ultra efficient subway system; English-speaking natives; awe-inspiring high rises … almost an architect's model of the perfect metropolis rather than an actual, living city.

That could also be the reason that tourism in Singapore is a major industry and attracts millions each year. A lot of its cultural attraction can be attributed to its diversity that reflects its colonial history and Malay, Chinese, Arab and Indian ethnicities

As English is one of its numerous official languages, it further makes things easier for tourists. Transport in Singapore exhaustively covers most, if not all public venues in Singapore, which increases convenience for tourists. This includes the well-known Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. In 2004 about 28 million people used the MRT.

Most people relate Singapore to shopping, but there’s more to Singapore than just upscale shopping centers. During our stay here, we met some friends based in Singapore who suggested a walk along Boat Quay (and the similar Clarke Quay), which is a scenic boardwalk along the banks of the Singapore River that features a variety of restaurants with their tables set right along the water’s edge. The restaurants offer a large assortment of Asian cuisine.

It’s especially enjoyable at night, with the neon signs and lanterns lit along the esplanade and the illuminated Cavanaugh Bridge is reflected on the river. There’s a lot to do and see in Singapore including a variety of parks and projects which feature its natural tropical environment.

The Singapore Zoological Gardens and its Night Safari, for example, allows people to explore Asian, African and South American habitats at night. And Sentosa, another attraction of Singapore, is a relatively large island located to its south. Along with a beachfront resort, the island's tourist attractions include Fort Siloso, its historical museum, the Underwater World aquarium and the Carlsberg Sky Tower. We went there by Cable Car since our daughter wanted to experience the ride. Here you can also find the landmark of Singapore, The Merlion.

And I couldn’t possibly have missed a stroll along the most popular Orchard Road, the heart of the central shopping district that houses a variety of grand label shops, top designer boutiques, shopping malls and food centres. Then there’s China town and Little India, the latter offers reasonable Indian food.

The cuisine of Singapore is often viewed as a prime example of the ethnic diversity of the culture of Singapore. Apart from the local cuisine, there is also a proliferation of fast-food chains, such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King apart from the ice-cream chains like Ben and Jerry’s.

Talking about the tourism industry in Singapore, as per the data, in 2005, the tourism sector generated an estimated S$10.8 billion in tourism receipts. Singapore registered 8.94 million visitor arrivals last year. The Singapore Tourism Board for 2006 aims to achieve S$12 billion in tourism receipts and attracts 9.4 million visitors.

India to stay on the global tourism map could surely benefit with some tips from a small city state like Singapore.