Thanks to my doctor, physical therapist, and a lot of work on my part, I was able to survive yesterday. I walked more in a single day (including stairs) than I used to be able to walk in a month. Mind you, much of it, especially the stairs, was at a snail’s pace, but even so…
Here’s where all the walking got me. I started on the MRT (subway) to get to the Art Science Museum. When I got off the train, I entered what can only be described as an endless mall. It started underground and led to the Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands. That’s where you go if you want to do some very high-end shopping. I didn’t even do any window shopping, the store brands gave it away—Armani Exchange, Tiffany, Prada, Balenciaga and so on. It’s a gorgeous space, overlooking Singapore’s Bay, light and airy.
The Art Science museum is a very distinctive building designed by architect Moshe Safdi. From a distance it resembles a lotus blossom floating on Marina Bay, but Safdie has said it was conceived as two welcoming hands, cupped to receive light and water. Surrounding the building are water lily ponds, making it look like the building is just an exceptionally large flower in their midst. The museum’s ten “fingers” (or petals) contain some of the galleries, the remainder are underground. The museum’s mission is to explore the intersection of art, science, technology, and culture. The museum definitely did that, presenting thought-provoking and beautiful exhibitions.
Then it was outside into the super-saturated air for a walk around the bay. I stopped frequently to take photos, sit on benches taking it all in and ducking into air-conditioned buildings for some relief from the heat and humidity. The skyline is dramatic with the city’s futuristic architecture. The dome in many of the photos is an Apple store. There’s also a pedestrian bridge that resembles a strand of DNA.
I stopped at the Red Dot Design Museum, a compact but striking glass-and-steel building. The angular structure, wrapped in bold red panels and sharp lines, feels appropriately modern for a museum devoted to contemporary design. Inside, the exhibitions highlight winners of the international Red Dot Design Award, everything from sleek furniture and lighting to clever household gadgets and high-tech innovations. Objects are accompanied by brief explanations of what problem it solves or how it improves everyday life. It made me reconsider the design of the many ordinary things, from a teapot to a bicycle helmet, and appreciate the ingenuity behind them.
Chat-GPT helped me with the next leg of my walk. I asked it to plot a route to where I was meeting a tour in the evening. It gave me a map that highlighted unique architecture and public art on the way.
A few of the highlights: the solar-powered tree-like fans, the Merlion statue, and the Esplanade theaters. The fans were a welcome stop to cool off. The iconic Merlion is half lion and half fish and spouts water into Marina Bay. It seemed like every tourist in Singapore had gathered there for a photo of the Merlion, which symbolizes Singapore’s origins as a fishing village and its lion-named identity.
Further along are the spiky domes of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. They are nicknamed the “durians” for their resemblance to the tropical fruit. When I entered to see the interior, I was greeted by live music. I sat for a half hour listening to a free concert by a trombone octet. They were terrific.
More walking, heading to the night tour of the city. Once again, much of it was through a mall, a wonderful, air-conditioned oasis.
All along the route (about four miles with my wandering), I stopped frequently to buy something to drink. I could barely keep myself hydrated.
The night tour was both wonderful and a nightmare. Wonderful because I got to see the grove of Super Trees do their nighttime show. A nightmare because the crowds were hellish, the pavement dark, and lots of crowded staircases. In truth, I’m not sure it was worth it for the seven-minute show. That was a once and done experience.
Back at my hotel, I took a much-needed shower and immediately went to sleep.