Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Veloicaza | INGAPORE (Sept, 10, 2015) - Stephanie Davis, left and Chantry Davis, right feed their...... read more read more
SINGAPORE – For some, living abroad in a foreign country can be a bit stressful, and for others the excitement of being immersed in new surroundings can be thrilling. The latest group of newcomers to Navy Region Center Singapore (NRCS) recently enjoyed a cultural orientation tour that highlighted the sights, sounds and smells of Singapore’s melting pot of Asian cultures.
As part of the NRCS newcomer’s orientation, 24 military service members and their families embarked on a six-hour cultural tour designed to give newcomers a better understanding of the various cultures of the host nation, according to Christina Jones, Work and Family Life Specialist, NRCS Family Service Office.
“The tour is also designed to whet the appetite of the individual so they return to explore, more in-depth, the various sights at his or her own leisure,” Jones said. “It also helps newcomers learn some of the geography of the country.”
The tour is hosted by NRCS’ Family Service Office and conducted by a local Singaporean tour company. The itinerary includes a visit to The Malay Heritage Center on Arab Street, Little India, Chinatown, and a boat ride along the Singapore River to Merlion Park where the iconic statue of a Merlion stands prominently as if guarding the city-state’s Marina Bay.
Throughout the tour, Adeline Liew, the tour guide for the day, talked about Singaporean history, its growth and population over the last few decades, the strict laws and the country’s environmental initiatives in terms of water reclamation and the role of Singapore’s 17 reservoirs and desalination plants.
“My goal is to inform everyone that Singapore is a safe and interesting place to live,” Liew said. “While small, Singapore offers a lot of history and culture for everyone to experience.”
Highlighting that historical significance, the group’s first visit was to the Malay Heritage Center in Kampong Glam, which was formerly the home site of Singapore’s last Sultan, Hussein Shah of Johor who died in 1835. Adjacent to the perimeter of the old home site, stands a beautifully-adorned Mosque which rises above the Kampong Glam area. In Malay, “Kampong” means village and the village now encompasses a bevy of stores and restaurants that attract many locals and tourists alike.
From there, the group visited Little India, along Singapore’s Serangoon Road. This stop showcased the influence of East Indian culture where food stalls, Henna-hand painting kiosks and clothing stores were in full business swing amidst an arcade of colorfully painted Old-English architecture. A small museum, free and open to the public, provided patrons with historical information through its displays of photos and artisan crafts that are inherent to East Indian or Tamil culture. While in Little India, the group visited a nearby Hawker Market featuring Indian cuisine offered at very reasonable prices. From Murtabak to Fish head Curry, the smells and tastes of Singapore really come alive here.
“We really liked Little India for its shops and wet markets,” said Chantry Davis, Environmental Program Director, Navy Region Center Singapore. “Even more so, we liked the hawker food stands with the large variety of Indian foods available.”
From the old-world atmosphere to the modernity of Singapore, the tour traveled to Clarke Quay along the Singapore River and boarded a river taxi for a short ride to Merlion Park. Along the way, individuals viewed the downtown business district and its tall skyscrapers. The boats were a stark contrast between old modes of transportation and the latest in mass transit technology with Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit System which reaches communities throughout the entire city-state.
After arriving at Merlion Park, the group visited the statue of the Singapore Merlion which depicts the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Since 1972, the Merlion has been a mascot and tourism symbol of Singapore. In 2002, the Merlion was relocated from its original location to its current location approximately 120 meters away sitting just north of Merlion Park at the entrance of the Singapore River. The relocation was initiated after the completion of the Esplanade Bridge in 1997, which then blocked the view of the Merlion from the entrance of Marina Bay.
From Merlion Park, the tour group headed to Chinatown for lunch. Located in the middle of downtown Singapore, and amidst the bustle of the surrounding the business district, Chinatown is comprised of five districts: Telok Ayer, Bukit Pasoh, Tanjong Pagar, Kreta Ayer and Ann Siang Hill. Here, the tour group made their way to Smith Street where dozens of authentic Chinese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian food establishments were available. For one new couple Chinatown was the best highlight of the trip.
“Going through the market places in Chinatown was great,” said Lerida Lewis whose husband Eugene Lewis works for Military Sealift Command, Far East. “I liked the souvenirs in Chinatown the most but all-in-all it was an informative and fun day.”
As the day winded down, the last stop brought the tour to Singapore’s Armenian Church, the oldest Christian church in the city-state. Building of the church broke ground in 1834 and was completed by 1835. The church is aptly located on Armenian Street near the National Museum of Singapore.
For the NRCS Family Service Office staff, the cultural orientation tour is a must-do event, as it is one of the easiest ways to expand one’s first-hand general knowledge of Singapore.
“This tour gives a really good start of what it's like to live as a local in Singapore as it is a very diverse city-state,” Jones added. “If this is your first experience overseas, or in Asia, you will see the diversity that defines Singapore’s history and greatness.”
While no U.S. base exists in Singapore, the U.S. Navy has leased facilities from the Singaporean government for several decades, and many U.S. ships, aircraft and personnel visit Singapore each year to rest, relax and reset. Today, the U.S. military community in Singapore includes active duty personnel, government civilians, family members, and local national employees distributed among 18 commands.
Established in 2007, NRCS provides administrative support to U.S. commands in Singapore and to visiting U.S., allied and partner navies. It also manages 165 family and bachelor housing units and dozens of command, administrative and warehouse facilities to support the operational readiness of active duty military personnel and their families.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.17.2015 04:26 |
| Story ID: | 176320 |
| Location: | SINGAPORE STRAIT |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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