15 days in Singapore. Some would say it is too brief to fully understand the country, but I felt that I was there long enough to get a strong sense of the place. Singapore is a very interesting country, one that is very different from others in the Malay World. Singapore was taken over and colonized by one of the great powers of the time, just as its Malay neighbors were.

Although most Southeast Asian countries fell victim to colonization and exploitation in the 19th century, and suffered slow economic growth in the 20th century as a result, Singapore did not end up like the “most.” Singaporeans turned British rule into an opportunity. Singapore now sports the seventh largest GDP per capita in the world. Together with Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea, Singapore is known as one of the “Asian Tigers,” a group of the most outstanding Asian economies.

From the City of Lion to Asian Tiger

Little was known about this city before British colonization; Only a few thousand occupied the island before the British arrived. First founded and named Singapura (“City of Lion”) by a Sumatran prince, Singapore started off as a small port. It was primarily ruled by the five kings of ancient Singapura. Then came an Englishman, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who established Singapore as a regional trading spot on Jan. 29, 1819. With his efforts to open up Singapore as a free-trade zone, Singapura soon attracted merchants and immigrants from China, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the Middle East, who settled into the country as it is now known.

We also visited the Asian Civilizations Museum, right next to the Raffles statue in the Old City. There, I could get an overall understanding on how the Malay Peninsula was established and influenced by different religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam over the course of many centuries. Although the British rule brought drawbacks for the people of Singapore, such as heavy taxes, Singaporeans were ultimately subject to more benefits than losses. Singapore holds not only one of the most active trading ports and the busiest markets in the world, but it also has gained better transportation and a more diverse culture that came with the opening of these places.

Small Country, Big Diversity

Singapore’s ethnic diversity is nothing like that of Korea. With Chinese taking up more than 70 percent of the entire population, Singapore is home to many Malays as well as Indians and Europeans. Due to its population diversity, Singapore, unlike many other Asian countries, is not a closeted society. A case in point would be the annual Hindu festivals honoring the Indian god, such as Thaipusam festivals. Although it is a commemoration for Hindus, it is not difficult to find those with different religions enjoying the event as well. Another example is public signs. As soon as we got off at Changi International Airport, we could soon notice signs written in at least three different languages to facilitate the understanding of different races.

Children learn their mother tongues at home to make sure they keep their traditional roots while English is the main language taught in schools. What is the most Singaporean of all is Singlish, which is a unique combination of English, Malay, and Chinese. This informal language is used in daily conversation and understood by most as it consists of many terms derived from other languages.

Singaporeans have a huge appetite considering their petite physiques. We could easily spot many people sitting and eating their noodles at 2 a.m. at Kopitiams, local restaurants that are run 24/7. So the cuisine brings me back to my initial question: What is Singaporean about its cuisine? From Chinese noodles and dim sums to fishhead curry from India and Arabic murtabak, nothing seemed Singaporean enough to my eyes.

The aforementioned cultural diversity can be reflected in the local dishes - Chinese, Malay, Arabic, Indian, and Peranakan, just to name a few. Because we only had half a month of time to experience the food there, I tried to make the most out of it. The best part about Singaporean cuisine is the price. Some of the best meals we had were often the cheapest. Among the many we ate during our stay, I picked out just a few to introduce our readers to the world of Singaporean cuisine:

Although almost all of these dishes originate from different countries, they are what make up Singapore now. If you asked me what Singaporean cuisine is, I would answer that it is a number of great dishes that you can eat there. If there is one tip I can give regarding eating in Singapore, it is to be bold and try anything on the menu — except anything with durian!

At the City Gallery in Chinatown, I was able to understand how the city developed over the years. Organized by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the City Gallery showcased a 3D view of the city and the Master Plan. Only a few places in the world are like Singapore: a country, a state and a city all at once. Singaporeans packed all of their needs into the small land they inhabit. Within a limited amount of land, they must cater to the needs of a city; such needs include housing, recreation and businesses. In addition, there needs to be room for power generation, national defense, waste disposal and water catchment.

To make their city a livable one, they must be responsive to changing needs, while planning and developing every plot of land. They planned Marina Bay Sands, Merlion Park, and Clarke Quay as their famous tourist destinations for sightseeing, Orchard Road for shopping, Downtown for a financial hub, and Sentosa Island for holidays.

In the midst of all this development, what Singaporeans value the most is retaining as much of their natural heritage as they can. It was amazing for a tourist like myself to be able to see old Chinese temples or mosques coexist with modern buildings.

One such example can be found in Chinatown. When we arrived at Chinatown, we could see banks and shopping centers on the main street, often in the form of traditional buildings. Next to these was the nation’s most beautiful Chinese temple, Thian Hock Keng Temple which easily blended into the rest of town. I think this is one of the best parts of Singapore: you will not be surprised to find traditional traces of the past in the middle of a very busy and modern city.

During our trip, I felt that civic awareness is a big issue in Singapore. This may be due to the strict law in Singapore. Spitting and littering in public places can easily get you a fine of up to a few hundred Singaporean dollars, not to mention drinking and eating on public transportation. Public transportation is probably one of the best parts of Singapore to tourists — especially Korean tourists with “Sparta” mindsets who wish to experience everything in a short time. Because Singapore is such a small country, only covering an area similar in size to Seoul, public transportation is systemized very well.

Other good things about the public transportation were the service and the people using it. Signs were drawn on the ground to guide people to stand in uniform lines at the MRT station, and transfer machines on buses functioned when the bus was fully stopped. I would say people using this service had good manners, and it was hard to find anyone who made their fellow passengers’ experiences unpleasant.

What t hese 15 d ays t aught me is t hat Singapore is t ruly a multicultural country with different ethnicities, cuisines and heritages. Having already lived in Australia, I thought multiculturalism in Singapore would not come as a surprise.

However, I was wrong, and very wrong indeed. Ethnicity was far more diversified and tangible, which made my experience there very special and enjoyable. If I were to describe the country in one word, the word I would choose, without hesitation, would be “salad bowl.” In this bowl called Singapore, there are various components that give the country a unique flavor and appearance.

Jeong Sae-hee saeheejeong1@uos.ac.kr
All photos credited to Jeong Sae-hee and Kim Soo-yeon