Out and About in Singapore

For such a a small country, Singapore has a fair bit of diversity not just in terms of demographics but also in neighborhoods. Once you get out and about to different areas it’s easy to compare how different the central business district (CBD) is to Chinatown or to Little India or to Marina Bay.

Singapore - Chinatown

The massive Buddhist temple in Chinatown

Chinatown is famous for its discount shopping both in the form of malls and a night market, huge Buddhist temple, Hindu temple, and of course the food stalls. It’s also one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and boasts many shophouses of historic significance. There are lots of food options available, from hawker stalls to proper restaurants. For a more local experience, head to the upper level of the Chinatown mall. There you’ll find a maze of hawker stalls serving up delicious meals that are budget friendly.

Singapore - Chinatown

The ornate spire of the Hindu temple in Chinatown

Little India is another well-known and frequently visited part of Singapore. I haven’t been to India since 2010 but when I exited the Little India metro station I was immediately taken back. The people, the food, the shops, the noise. All of it instantly transported me back to the subcontinent. Of course, there were some obvious differences like the complete lack of touts and cows. But I’m definitely not missing those 2 elements all that much. The food here is also delicious and cheap, provided that you duck into a place that doesn’t have a menu like I did. The waiter there showed me what they were cooking, I pointed at a few things and my meal was complete.

Singapore - Chinatown

Statuettes at the Hindu temple in Chinatown

The Haji Lane / Arab Street area is lined with boutiques, coffee shops, bars, and restaurants occupying the ground floors of the shophouses that dominate this area. It’s a popular area for the creative set and a stark contrast to what you’d find in the CBD. Oddly enough, no one actually lives here, it’s a purely commercial area.

There are so many more areas of the city that I didn’t get a chance to explore, but I did manage to take lots of pictures of the places I get over to… enjoy!

Singapore - Chinatown

The Chinatown Night Market

Singapore - Chinatown

Raise the red lantern

Singapore - Chinatown

Inside the Buddhist temple in Chinatown

Singapore - Chinatown

Inside the Buddhist temple in Chinatown

Singapore - Little India

The Sri Veeramakaliamman temple in Little India

Singapore - Little India

It looks a bit bigger from up close

Singapore - Little India

That’s certainly one way to advertise

Singapore - Little India

Little India

Singapore - Chinatown

In front of the Buddhist temple in Chinatown

Singapore - Chinatown

Lanterns for sale in Chinatown

Singapore - Chinatown

An outdoor dance / fitness class in Chinatown

Singapore - Lau Pa Sat

That sounds appetizing… doesn’t it?

Singapore - Metro

Seen in the metro… breaking the rules is an expensive habit in this country

Singapore - Tanjong Pagar

An old horse and carriage terminal along Tanjong Pagar Road

Singapore - Arab Street

Arab Street

Singapore - Raffles Hotel

The famous Raffles Hotel

Singapore - Sunrise

Good morning CBD

What is your favourite neighborhood in Singapore?

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