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When I first arrived in Singapore, I had a hard time realizing where I was: in Asia, yes—because of the heat, the humidity, and the people. But I was also surrounded by modernity, order, and cleanliness—so much so that, especially in the early morning hours when there was no traffic, it felt like I was in a large Canadian city.

It really is a world of its own, situated as it is among such diverse countries: Singapore is unique. The many modern buildings—many of them spectacular—aren’t as overwhelming as in certain other metropolises, because they’re so varied. Moreover, the city has preserved and enhanced its older areas, such as Chinatown and the riverfront, where the former warehouses of shipping companies have been renovated.

Visiting Singapore is like seeing different cities

Order is everywhere, even in neighborhoods as diverse as the aforementioned Chinatown—where I was staying— Little India, the Arab Quarter, and the area with the white colonial buildings. All of these neighborhoods are surrounded by modern areas with tall high-rises.

Since I was practically limping—unlike my usual self—I relied heavily on the subway to get around. Plus, I found a way to justify my frequent stops during the classic, frequent thunderstorms. Speaking of stops, I was surprised to find “pasteis de nata”— a wonderful legacy of Portuguese colonization—in several pastry shops. The frequent downpours and the crystal-clear air obviously contribute to the abundance of greenery, but the city officials have also played their part. Starting with the Gardens by the Bay, to which I’ll dedicate a separate article. But if I had to name one place that I liked the most of all, it would be the Botanical Gardens. In particular, the section dedicated to orchids (highlighted): spectacular.

Sleeping in a capsule

Singapore is very neat and modern, but also very expensive, especially compared to other countries in the region. I clearly remember being ripped off at a riverside restaurant—located where the old warehouses used to be—and the food was questionable, to say the least. In general, in Southeast Asia, the food sold at street stalls is the same as what you’d find in restaurants, with the difference that it costs much less and you’re not often freezing from the air conditioning.

So housing in Singapore is also pretty expensive, and I took the opportunity to try something I’d been curious about for a while: sleeping in a capsule. At my age, it’s a much better option than sleeping in a dormitory. From the outside, it doesn’t look very inviting, and I imagine some people might have trouble with claustrophobia.

But the bed was comfortable, and the niche was quite spacious, as you can see in the video. If the opportunity arises, it’s an experience I’ll definitely repeat.

Travel Home: Trip to Malaysia and Singapore

Next Stop: Video from Singapore – Gardens by the Bay

Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent

Countries visited in my travel stories

Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives

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Fabio Viroli

Ho sempre avuto tante passioni, ma da sempre più o meno latenti, le principali sono viaggiare e scrivere. Tra le altre cose ho una laurea in psicologia; ho fatto per più di 30 anni l’allenatore di basket; leggo tanti libri; sono stato molto appassionato di sport e di musica rock; e faccio improvvisazione teatrale. IL mio primo romanzo, che non parla di viaggi, si chiama LE TUE GAMBE SONO BELLE COME LE TAGLIATELLE

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