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OpenTaste
The Curry Culture
Heavy humidity. This was the first thing I felt on my skin when I arrived at Changi Airport for the first time in 2017. It was very strange – like I’d been suddenly transported into a hammam.
Then the feeling transformed itself into one of ease, like I was still comfortably tucked under my blanket in my comfy bed. This would be the way Singapore would greet me each time I came back following holidays in Europe. It would feel like home.
Upon my arrival, I was a newbie – I knew no one. But I didn’t feel isolated, because the people are friendly and they don’t look at you like a stranger. I found the people beautiful, too; the hot weather here makes outfits look effortlessly chic, because you don’t have to wear a coat or extra layers of clothes like you do in Europe.
And then I discovered the luscious, exotic nature of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The leaves were bigger than anything I had seen before, in endless varieties and shapes; the almost flashy colours of the flowers and trees under the scorching sun was like a dream. I could never get enough of walking along the pathways and discovering new plants, ferns and flowers at different times of the year. There are, per se, no seasons here, but nature has a calendar and displays a range of beautifully coloured fireworks all year round.
Each time I went, I’d find a new species that I didn’t know. I took hundreds of photos, promising myself I’d make a photo album… (That’s something I still have to do!)
It has been and continues to be such a delight. For me, it’s a paradise on earth. During the Circuit Breaker, the grass patches were left alone and now an array of butterflies and dragonflies has appeared. It seems like magic and I sometimes wish we’d leave their habitat alone permanently so they continue to thrive.
The different songs of birds are also a highlight, each one with a specific song for a different time of the day. It feels like the song of Singapore.
I love the architecture too! Ancient shophouses beautifully decorated with flowery ceramic tiles tell us about the past; modern buildings like Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade show us we are indeed in the 21st century.
And how can I not mention the rainbow of local tasty dishes? Chicken rice, laksa, and the peppery pork soup that I especially love, bak kut teh.
So, in these few words, I want to say thank you, Singapore. I have discovered so much with you, and I have felt my heart grow bigger thanks to you. I love the world even more than ever before – and especially you, Singapore!