A Journey To Elegantly Futuristic Singapore

Words and photos ©Sandra Simić

Singapore Changi Airport is usually described as the most beautiful airport in the world. For a reason. This is where I landed from Kuala Lumpur and remained enchanted.

The magic of travel is always a journey from where I was to where I wish to be. Not literally. It’s all about the experience and how it changes the perspective. As a European, I love places steeped in history, a little bit of ivy on a stone surface, architectural gems which tell stories of ancient worlds, where the pulse of past generations is still felt. Where I come from, the modern is blended in traditional, maintaining the old charm of places. This is all in pure contrast with Singapore, where everything is brand new, like it was made yesterday.

It is this transformation from past to future that captured my imagination while walking through the streets of Singapore, observing people and places, enjoying the moment. However, let me first touch upon the travel memories before landing here, in order to understand my perspective better.

Try to go back in time to revive how you felt when watching cartoons as a child. It’s the similar warm feeling of happiness that I have while enjoying a boat ride through the lovely canals of Amsterdam, with fairy tale architecture. An echo from ancient civilization which left us Parthenon is felt in Athens, where you go to listen about Zeus and other deities. Or Dubrovnik – where the mayor symbolically gives the keys of the city to actors in July, which then hold performances during summer evenings. With salt in your hair after the beach, you walk through the narrow stone streets in the evening in order to find torches with fire – the sign that the art performance is about to start there. Ball seasons in Vienna, flamenco in Andalusian caves and so many similar European experiences are uniquely steeped in history.

In Singapore, I felt like being teleported through time into another dimension – elegantly futuristic.

From the top of Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay look small but the tropical feel transcends everywhere.

The silky water of the infinity pool looks like the people might swim over to the sky. This adds a particular excitement within such heights. Taking in the psychology of this place feels like anything is possible.

There is a romantic side to it as well, when the night falls and Marina Bay Sands starts turning on the lights on its many windows. I observed this scenery from the ground as well, immersed in scents of Gardens by the Bay at night, when the whole place becomes alive in a distinctive way. Every night, at a specific time, some of the tropical trees suddenly transform themselves into so called – the Supertrees! What this means is that they become alive in the darkness, delivering a show through lights and sounds, taking you to an amazing musical journey. This experience was so special that I watched it three times, even though I was caught up in a tropical rain while there. The magic of this moment lies in making you dream about the future. Thank you, Singapore!

I noticed a particular kind of perfection in everything. Not the one which enslaves, but a perfection which liberates. I am trying to find the most appropriate words for what I experienced, and this is what comes to my mind immediately. From the very first moment – at the Changi Airport – the carpet there looked so clean and new like it was bought a day before, even when millions of people regularly walk over. The whole space is so creative that you simply enjoy being there, observing in awe the walls through which green plants are growing, the serenity of the atmosphere where everything functions to perfection, smoothly, through combination of digital and human interplay. Of course, immigration is fast and efficient. Jewel Changi is a part of the airport designed for entertainment, while you are waiting for your flight and I noticed that people check in very early (including myself) simply to be there more. It’s where you can stroll around and enjoy the genuine tropical nature, creative art and shopping. The landmark of Changi is the Rain Vortex in greenery, where the water falls and gives the vibe of happiness, freshness and modernity. There are also beautiful sky trains connecting terminals which move behind the Rain Vortex, through the greenery.

The city is modern, clean, everything looks like it was built yesterday, the underground traffic (MRT) is easy to use and has a similar vibe like the underground in Washington DC. But, a bit different. Perhaps it might be described as an Asian variant of London, but more polished.

When I look at people, I see the spirit moving through space. The one that shapes their appearances, not the other way around. In this multicultural society, traditions are blended through kindness and good manners I could observe while being there. I am inspired by places where people can find their singular is the plural, sort to speak. Being a lawyer who researches world peace as a topic, multicultural places bring me immense joy. Therefore, I enjoyed discovering many parts of Singapore, like the Chinatown, the Arab Quarter, Buddhistic and Hindu temples as well as the beautiful Roman Catholic St. Joseph Church across the National Library of Singapore. World peace is as simple as that.

Returning to the transformational effect from past to future that I felt, this place will remain with me forever. I can always close my eyes and teleport myself to lovely Botanical Gardens or Gardens by the Bay and enjoy the tropical scent or the futuristic energy of music lighting up the  night. But I hope I might return one day, to enjoy the safety and freedom of Singapore once more.

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I am not using AI writing tools, believing that art is an expression of humanity ©Sandra Simić

Names and logos on photos are blurred in order to protect the non commercial nature of this article.

Article published on 17 April 2024