I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a few hours on a hot afternoon than having a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel. I’d been walking around Singapore for most of the day and felt the urge to have a long, cool drink. The sweet pink concoction was exactly the right solution as I sat under the electric Raffles fans and enjoyed the cool breeze.

This was my first day in Singapore. I arrived very early that morning and slept for a few hours before facing the hot and smoky city that never seems to stop. When I woke up I was very hungry and went to one of the many hawker centers dotted around Singapore. I looked at the options and realized Cornflakes was out of the question, so I pointed out what looked good. I ended up with a very tasty selection of vegetable and noodle curries, which is not my standard breakfast fare, but when I’m in Singapore. . .

I decided that the best way to see the city on my three-day layover was to take some walking tours. I started with the bustling Arab Street neighborhood of the city. Arab Street is lined with stalls selling everything from silk and hand-woven baskets to fishing tackle. My senses were buzzing with the vivid colors, spicy smells, and impatient car horns. I had never seen such beautiful fabrics and I wanted to buy meters of them but unfortunately my excess baggage was already too much.

After recharging at Raffles I headed to Little India for some sightseeing and traditional Indian curries. Little India was as active at night as Arab Street had been that morning. The cars gave way to hordes of pedestrians, both tourists and locals, who were buying clothes, watches or food, or simply enjoying the show. I felt alive as my eyes darted from one stall to another and watched the people go by.

The next morning I decided to tackle the largest neighborhood in the city: the Historic District. Here I saw the buildings that documented Singapore’s past. I started at Fort Canning, a park built around Singapore’s WWII fortified underground operations. Next to the park was a registry office and I watched sentimentally as friends and family greeted a newlywed couple and then headed to the park for their photos. From the park I could see the glorious juxtaposition of the ornate old buildings that represented the government of the British Empire against a backdrop of shiny new skyscrapers.

From Fort Canning I passed many museums and art galleries, including the Singapore Philatelic Museum and the Singapore Art Museum. I wanted to learn more about the history of the island, so I spent a few hours at the Singapore History Museum enjoying the historical dioramas, the Jade Room, and the war rooms. During the afternoon I visited St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the “Chopsticks”, the 70 meter high Civilian War Memorial that commemorates the civilians of Singapore who died during the Japanese occupation in World War II. I ended my day with a relaxing cruise down the Singapore River to the harbor where I saw the symbol of the country, the Merlion, a creature that is half fish and half lion. I walked to Clarke Quay and enjoyed a cool drink by the water and then wandered down the river to Boat Quay which was packed with young Singaporeans enjoying their Friday night in the multi-cultural restaurant district.

On my last day in Singapore I decided to go to Chinatown. Each of the city’s neighborhoods had its own personality made up of the monuments, the landscape and, of course, the people. Colorful temples are spread throughout the area, some beautifully decorated with gold and others displaying intricate wood carvings. The neighborhood was also home to garish rows of brightly painted terraces and there seemed to be a market on every corner, the best of which was Chinatown. I finished my time in Singapore in the shopping mecca, Orchard Road. Here the street was not lined with small stalls, but with huge department stores and brand names like Harrods, Rolex and Tiffany’s.

I was exhausted after working so hard in my three days and the airport provided me with a much needed break as I waited for my 3am plane. The taxi ride to Changi airport was very interesting as I watched the bustling streets of the city center give way to palm tree lined avenues and then to the growing urban sprawl of apartment blocks catering to those who cannot afford the city but they want the lifestyle. I flew out and saw the lights of Singapore go out below me.