| If you plan on holidaying in an Asian city, you | | | | Today, Singapore's Malays continue to converge |
| might want to consider Singapore. | | | | at Kampong Glam because the Sultan's Mosque - |
| There may be many good reasons to make | | | | Singapore's largest mosque - is located here. |
| Singapore your first ever destination in Asia. First | | | | The Sultan's Mosque has a fascinating history. It |
| of all, the city is clean, orderly and safe for | | | | was rebuilt in 1928 after a major fund-raising |
| visitors to move around on their own. Then, if | | | | project. Many of the poorer folks who donated to |
| you are traveling to multiple Asian destinations, | | | | the building apparently raised funds from collecting |
| there is a bewildering range of full-service and | | | | and selling used bottles. If you visit the mosque, |
| budget airlines from Singapore Airport. Also, | | | | you'll see its main dome sitting on a black rimmed |
| English is widely spoken here. | | | | structure made up entirely of glass bottles. It's |
| But above all, Singapore offers the cultures of | | | | not difficult to explain why they are there. |
| three ethnic groups: the Chinese, the Malays and | | | | Also worth doing here are the workshops at the |
| the Indians. What can be more rewarding than | | | | Malay Heritage Center. You may spend a day |
| seeing three Asian communities in one destination? | | | | molding your own pottery or creating your own |
| Indeed, the descendants of Asian immigrants | | | | batik art. Else, go to nearby Arab Street and get |
| have made Singapore a melting pot of cultures, | | | | yourself a nice rattan laundry basket, an Afghan |
| where age-old traditions still hold sway. | | | | carpet or an exquisite piece of silk for that |
| Discover these unique traditions in Singapore by | | | | head-turning dress. |
| visiting the so-called 'ethnic enclaves': Chinatown, | | | | Little India: |
| Kampong Glam and Little India. Each of these | | | | The main road in Little India is Serangoon Road. Till |
| lovely spots may be enjoyed on a leisurely | | | | today, it remains the focus of Singapore's Indian |
| walking tour. | | | | community. |
| Chinatown: | | | | A nice walk starts near the Tekka Center. Here, |
| When Singapore's founder Stamford Raffles set | | | | prepare your nostrils for the overwhelming aroma |
| aside land for Chinatown, he dictated that the | | | | of myriad spices and jasmine garlands, which the |
| buildings should be made of permanent material. | | | | shops sell in abundance. You'll also find a baffling |
| Thanks to Raffles and some conservation effort, | | | | assortment de-husked coconuts, limes, clay |
| Chinatown today remains a place to admire | | | | receptacles and the like, all of which are used for |
| early-Singapore shophouse architecture. | | | | worship at the temples nearby. |
| Many of the original trades here, however, have | | | | Linger a while and admire the women in their |
| been replaced by more upmarket activities like | | | | blazingly colourful sarees as they haggle with the |
| Chinese restaurants and tea houses. And as well. | | | | stall holders over the prices of groceries. This is |
| Opium dens, brothels and death houses (where | | | | as authentic as Singapore gets. |
| the dying were condemned to) used to take up | | | | If you've never walked into a Hindu temple, the |
| many of the shophouses here. Today, you'll only | | | | Sri Veerama Kaliamman Temple on Belilios Road is |
| see pictures and mock-ups of these trades in the | | | | a must-see. Here, you'll first be awed by the |
| Chinatown Heritage Center. | | | | realistic sculptures of Hindu deities. Inside, Hindu |
| Nevertheless, Chinatown retains a strong sense of | | | | music creates a conducive atmosphere for |
| 'Chinese-ness'. | | | | devotees to worship. Visitors may join the |
| Chinatown's restaurants used to serve only local | | | | proceedings, or simply marvel at the incredibly |
| and southern Chinese food. Today, however, you'll | | | | life-like statue of Hindu goddess Kali. |
| find many restaurants offering cuisines from | | | | Bollywood music, curries and multi-colored sarees |
| other parts of China. These are run by | | | | will also not escape your attention in Little India. If |
| first-generation immigrants who have come from | | | | you love to shop and eat, you'll be spoilt for |
| various provinces in China. Singapore's oldest | | | | choice. |
| Chinese temple - the very elaborate Thian Hock | | | | The Melting of Cultures: |
| Keng Temple - is also found here. Worth a visit | | | | These ethnic areas are of course not mutually |
| also are the quaint shops specializing in Chinese | | | | exclusive and there is a lot inter-mingling among |
| calligraphy, antiques and traditional costumes. | | | | Singapore's ethnic groups. For example, you will |
| Kampong Glam: | | | | find a Malay-frequented mosque standing gloriously |
| Kampong Glam is so called because the gelam | | | | in Little India and a major Indian temple smack in |
| tree - a relative of the eucalyptus - used to | | | | the heart of Chinatown. All these make for an |
| proliferate this area. | | | | enchanting visit. |