Singapore  Sunday morning birdsinging

Sunday morning birdsinging Sunday November 19, 2000 Singapore - I walk down at neatly kept street in a residential neighborhood, and fortunately the trees to the left and right provide plenty of shade from the burning sun. Finally, I arrive at the designated street corner. Here, vendors sell their singing birds, and the neighborhood cafes provide hooks on their terraces, where bird lovers can hang their bird cages, so that all the birds can sing together. The first thing I noticed in Singapore was the green in the city. Parks, medows, trees, and tropical plants are everywhere, and well maintained. Combined with the fact that the city is, indeed, one of the cleanest places I have seen, it's a plesant place to be. Down on the river, pretty much the most touristy spot of the city, I encounter a healthy mix of locals and foreigners, who watch a rowing boat race that's just going on. I met a French traveler at the hostel, and together we explore the city - first Chinatown, and then the alleys off the beaten track. While it is not true that all of Singapore is completely litter-free, there is very few rubbish on the streets, even in the most hidden away places. At night, I experience another Singapore highlight - the Night Safari, which is part of the Singapore Zoo. It's a peaceful, amazing place. You walk through trails in a huge tropical forest, where it's possible to see nocturnal animals from all over Asia. I didn't have time for much more, unfortunately. A day and a half was all I had. Oh, yes, and while the food I encountered so far in Asia was terrific, I now understand why Singapore is called "Food Capital of Asia". Not only is the food extraordinary good, it's the diversity that makes it so special. The famous "Hawker centers" are almost everywhere, where stationary food stalls are arranged around public siting areas. Every stall sells only one specialty, which is usually superb. Combine that with a freshly pressed tropical juice from another stall, and maybe a desert from a third one, and you have a complete meal.

Pictures Click to enlarge Downtown Singapore where a dragon boat regatta is about to start The beautifully decorated dragon boats A colorful chinese temple, with sky scrapers in the background The night zoo Sunday morning bird singing - can you see the cages under the ceiling?

December 2000
webmaster@jastram.de
Home