Singapore: The Real Deal

Great cities and countries are known for their unique landmarks and monuments of historical and cultural importance.

Rome has its ruins:













Kyoto has its temples:

















And Maple Ridge has me:

















Singapore is no exception to this trend. Despite the fact that Singapore's colonial history begins only a couple of hundred years ago, and all that existed on the island prior to that was lush, beautiful rainforest jungle teeming with life, it has managed to capture the essence of the customs and values of Singapore's multicultural mix in a series of landmarks that stretch from one end of the country to the other. These landmarks are commonly referred to as "shopping malls."

















Placing exaggeration aside, when I first moved to Singapore I actually questioned whether or not there was more to the country than just shopping. I had seen pictures of a zoo, rustic looking bumboats on the Singapore River, and a giant mutant lion that looked like it was in a continuous state of vomiting. Where were these things? Furthermore, where did the actual people of Singapore spend there time, meet with friends, have dinner, go grocery shopping, commute? The answer: in shopping malls.

Yes, the shopping mall is the cornerstone of Singaporean culture. Just as in the Toronto area all roads lead to Brampton, or in the Vancouver area all roads lead to gridlock, all roads in Singapore lead to enormous shopping complexes. Even points of non-interest are marked by some kind of shopping centre, albeit perhaps a little less enormous and a little less complex. In fact, it is entirely possible that one could visit and even live in Singapore without once having to expose oneself to the natural elements, as most major malls are linked to MRT stations, have covered taxi stalls and/or bus berths, and some can even be accessed through underground tunnels that connect several malls along a city block.

What more could you possibly need, you ask? How about more malls? It would seem that every developable inch of land in Singapore is currently being converted into larger, even more elaborate shopping complexes that will undoubtedly revolutionize the overall shopping experience here in Singapore, and quite possibly the world. At least that's what the ads plastered along the sidewalks of the city tell us.












As one of the objectives of this blog is to provide you, the faithful reader, with a comprehensive look into life in Singapore, I thought it would be appropriate to cover at least a sample of the many shopping malls in Singapore, especially ones in the Orchard Road area. This is by no means an exhaustive list (see the entire second half of the Lonely Planet guide), however, the following malls are located at the center of the shopping district and are closest to where I work.

1) First up is the Wisma Atria, which has a fantastic food court that serves a variety of local specialties. While slightly more expensive than visiting a Hawker Centre, a solid meal can still be found for around S$5. This was actually the first food experience Laura and I had in Singapore, since at the time all we could find were shopping malls and McDonald's outlets. The food court at Wisma Atria is also one of Laura's all-time Singaporean food destinations, specifically the "mix-'n-match" stall that let's you pick what meats, vegetables and rice you'd like to order.












2) Next we have the tres chic Ngee Ann City, a gorgeous mega-mall and office complex that casts a shadow on the rest of Orchard Road. This is the destination for your high-end shopping needs, as most shops tend to cater to the fabulously rich. There are, however, a few gems to be found, including an excellent Indonesian restaurant, and more importantly, one of the most impressive bookstores I have ever been to: Kinokuniya. Covering nearly an entire floor, Kinokuniya has one of the finest and most comprehensive graphic novel sections I have ever seen. Clearly someone on staff knows their comics, and whoever that person is, they should be getting a raise.












3) Lucky Plaza and Far East Plaza, while nearly a block apart, seem like the same kind of mall: the kind you don't really want to be in. Bargains galore can be found in both of these "dirt" malls, but sometimes finding a $20 fake Rolex just isn't worth it. Unless your desperate for a good deal, which if you're white ain't gonna happen, stay away. It all smells a bit funny in there anyway.





























4) Tang's. Never been in. But it does have a Disneyworld/EPCOT type feel that I can at least appreciate with the faux-Chinese pagoda rising above the shopping complex itself, as well as the stone lions marking the entrance to what promises to be an enriching shopping experience. There is, however, an HSBC ATM and an American Express booth that doesn't charge commission on Travellers' Cheques, both of which have been very convenient for me.