SWIFT LOVING - Nanyang Technological University

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18 LIFESTYLE THE NANYANG CHRONICLE VOL. NO. 17 08 WALKS IN THE CITY According to a report by CNN in 2007, Singapore has the world’s fastest walkers. Have we forgotten the pleasures of taking a nice, leisurely stroll in this urban rush Malvin Chua visits three attractive walkways—Dhoby Ghaut Green, Marina Bay Waterfront and the Sentosa Boardwalk—places of respite in the heart of the city to take a loved one for a chat or a drink. RELAX: The timber boardwalk, with its lush palm trees and shrubs, gives the Sentosa Boardwalk a resort-like atmosphere. Sentosa Boardwalk THE Sentosa Boardwalk opened in January for visitors to get to Sentosa Island from the VivoCity waterfront promenade on foot. Despite traffic on the vehicular bridge running parallel to it, the walkway is tranquil. Soft jazz playing in the background, the many palm trees and shrubs, and the timber boardwalk create a resort-like atmosphere. If you are too lazy to walk, a series of travelators will take you to the entrance of Sentosa Island. Marina Bay Waterfront THE Marina Bay Waterfront has been evolving with the development of the Marina Bay Sands resort. Three iconic structures have been added to the picture, namely the Helix Bridge, the Marina Bay Sands Singapore, and the newly-opened ArtScience Museum. Stepping into the Waterfront is like entering a scene on a postcard—stand at the Walking, however, offers a better view and allows you to stop to admire the scenery. Small boats occasionally pass by and cable cars traverse the skyline. Up ahead, the Merlion peeks out from behind the colourful buildings on Sentosa Island. Enjoy the sunset at The Wine Company over a glass or two, or people-watch at Ooh! Crepes, a small and quaint café on the boardwalk, with crepes and coffee. You can also indulge your sweet tooth with Queens’ cakes and pastries or Italian Gelato at Gelateria Venezia. PICTURE-PERFECT: Stepping into the Marina Bay Waterfront is like entering the scene of a postcard—stand at the Esplanade for a panoramic view of the cityscape. PHOTOS | TERENCE LEE Esplanade for a panoramic view of the cityscape spanning from the Fullerton Hotel to the Singapore Flyer. Alternatively, stop at the “balconies”, or viewing galleries jutting out along the Helix Bridge, which links the Esplanade to the Marina Bay Sands. Seating is plentiful along the steps and railings of the Waterfront. JUXTAPOSITION: The landscape surrounding Dhoby Ghaut Green is an eclectic mix of old and new—with the blue glass facade of the Atrium@Orchard contrasting with the faded red bricks of MacDonald House. Dhoby Ghaut Green DHOBY Ghaut Green was launched in October last year as a place for arts events and bazaars. It is the most accessible of the three locations as three MRT lines converge at Dhoby Ghaut. Dhoby Ghaut Green is smack in the middle of four stretches of roads. The surrounding landscape, however, makes up for all the noise with a picturesque view of the eclectic mix of old and new architecture— the blue glass façade of the Atrium@Orchard contrasting with the faded red bricks of MacDonald House, the beige exterior of the MDIS building and the School of the CENTRESTAGE: The outdoor amphitheatre outside the Esplanade is a popular meeting place where friends gather to chat and enjoy the scenery. The place is generally quiet in the day, but is filled with throngs of friends and lovers come evening. The outdoor amphitheatre outside the Esplanade also transforms from a meeting place to a live music venue at night. Small shops along the walkway sell tidbits and cold drinks you can take along on your walk. The Marina Bay Sands resort has many expensive restaurants, but fret not, The Shoppes also has a food court in the basement. You can also have affordable hawker fare at the Makansutra Glutton’s Bay which is nearer to the Esplanade. Arts, with lush greenery spilling down its sides. The landmark of Dhoby Ghaut Green is the sculptural amphitheatre, which resembles a rattan basket in shape and texture, sitting in the centre of the space. In the evening, it lights up like a glittering lantern and is a great subject for photographs. The park has an on-site restaurant, Sakura International Buffet, for hungry visitors. You can also visit more restaurants and shop at Plaza Singapura, The Cathay Cineplex and Park Mall nearby. “Must-dos” on your walk about town Free ConcertS Catch free concerts at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre (at the Marina Bay Waterfront), where local acts often perform. See http://www.esplanade. com/whats_on/index.jsp for the year’s schedule of events. Romantic Picnic Pack a picnic before heading to Dhoby Ghaut Green in the evening. The lit-up façade of the outdoor amphitheatre creates a glittering backdrop for a romantic evening. You can lay out a mat on the grass by the theatre or in the theatre itself, or do away with the picnic blanket and sit along the theatre's steps. Sight seeing People-watch or enjoy the scenery at the window seats at Ooh! Crepes (at the Sentosa Boardwalk), which is the only eatery along the stretch with seats facing the waterfront. Its cosy cafe atmosphere also makes it conducive for conversation.
VOL. NO. 17 08 THE NANYANG CHRONICLE travelogue LIFESTYLE 19 Sincerely, Myanmar It is isolated, undeveloped and poor, but that's exactly why you should visit Myanmar, says Wallace Woon. THE GOLDEN ROCK: The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda boulder sparkles in the sunlight as numerous Buddhist faithful apply layers of gold leaf. PHOTOS | WALLACE WOON Myanmar is one of the world’s poorest nations, but the air is full of gold. Flecks of gold leaf floated on the breeze around me and sparkled in the sunlight at Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. More commonly known as the Golden Rock, this seven-metre high boulder balances on the edge of a cliff, dramatic against the backdrop of the Mon mountain range, and the Buddhist faithful apply layers of gold leaf until it glows in the sun. Nothing is put on for the tourists; it is the real thing, which is rare enough in Asia and can set you wondering what is the value of development and tourism when much will be lost. Travelling in Myanmar presents this dilemma. Visiting the country means that the locals are able to learn more about the world, but it also means that a burgeoning tourism industry will corrupt the purity that makes Myanmar such a joy to visit. This Catch-22 situation was fuel for debate between other travellers and me as we sat down after a day of touring. The consensus was that, with responsible and sustainable tourism practices, the benefits of visiting Myanmar outweighed the possible drawbacks. That said, my tour of the country was a valuable experience and I am grateful for the chance to have visited it before the influx of tourists changes it irreversibly. As I walked its streets, I felt a real sense of being transported back to a time when Asian culture had not given way to Western modernisation and people were not preoccupied with achieving financial success. In the former capital of Yangon the buildings are reminders that the country was colonised by the same nation that gave the world afternoon tea and the Premier League. Myanmar has more than its fair share of British government buildings, like Singapore. The stark difference is, unlike City Hall and the Fullerton Hotel, these buildings need a good scrub. Myanmar bears some similarities to Singapore. The population constitutes a THE "LAND OF SMILES": Get ready to be greated by friendly faces. multi-ethnic stew. Deep colonial influences, both in habit and in policy, live on more than half a century after the British pulled out. But from this similar starting point, the recent history of Myanmar has played out almost in opposite of Singapore’s. The country, at one time the ricebowl of Asia, slid downwards to become labelled Least Developed Country by the United Nations. Restricted areas and heavy media censorship ensure that visitors and locals alike remain ignorant about the government’s ill doings as well as international affairs. That was exactly why I chose to visit the country. With all of its mishaps in human rights and economic development, Myanmar has kept its local flavour very much unspoiled. Claude Baronet, a French travel photographer I met, proclaimed his idea that the “Land of Smiles” title should also be given to Myanmar. Because, smile PHOTOS | WALLACE WOON the people do. Everywhere I went I was greeted with betel-stained teeth. European hospitality is married with Asian family values in Myanmar. It is all too easy to be invited to someone’s home for a meal after a short conversation. Very often I would have a local snack pushed towards me by a smiling stranger, until I began to question if these generous people were really as poor as we were told. But appearances can be deceptive. I marvelled at the Myanmese children, who seemed to lead a carefree life. Most are content to be running around their neighbourhood with careless abandon, with a posse of friends in tow. More than once I came across kids playing an impromptu game of football and joined them for an afternoon kick-about session. Idyllic as it may sound, being a kid in Myanmar is not all fun and games. Although the country boasts a relatively high literacy rate at the primary level, it plummets at the secondary and tertiary due to the high cost of school fees. Left to wander around home or in town, many kids take up menial service industry jobs to ease the burden on their parents aging. A highway stop near the capital Nay Pyi Taw was staffed by kids looking as young as seven or eight. The sight of the eatery looking like a playground can be disturbing, and a reminder that there are deeply rooted problems in Myanmar still. The country rides a rollercoaster in and out of the spotlight. The world stops and gasps, then quickly catches its breath and continues on its way. That gives us another reason to visit. As residents of an advanced nation, who are privileged to pursue a university education and enjoy first-world comforts, we are ambassadors in our own right. Interaction with the locals is a two-way exchange. Our knowledge of the world can help reverse the effects that governmentimposed isolation has on the people—as well as giving a chance to see a beautiful country before the progress that comes with tourism changes it forever.
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SWIFT LOVING - Nanyang Technological University

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