Far Out? Far East! We’re in Singapore Baby!!! – Shubert’s Tennis Blog
Far Out? Far East! We're in Singapore Baby!!! - Shubert's Tennis Blog | 
(Above – Singapore: Marina Bay Sands)
Good evening/morning to you! I have no idea how jumping a day ahead across the international date line has affected what time you read these posts, but let me report on my adventure today in the city of Singapore!
We landed at Singapore Changi International Airport around 630am, having flown on a red-eye from Tokyo. All in all, the flights plus a little layover totaled around 20 hours from Hawaii. It has worked out perfectly however as I was able to sleep on the red-eye and “wake up” bright and early in Singapore, eager to explore and experience the city.
I really can’t describe in full detail to you what I saw in the 9 hours of wandering around except that I’ve tried to put away my Western perspectives and open up to everything I encounter. The smells, the sights, the feeling of the alleyways, roads, sidewalks, and numerous parks. Where there is open space, you really feel like you’re in nature as the humid climate creates lucious trees, grasses, and waterfronts. Everything is neatly designed and structured. Bridges, underpasses, freeways, highways, and causeways all have a unique and orderly fashion. In the city center, downtown, the great Marina Bay Sands resort is pictured (The one with the boat on its roof!). It is a sprawling economic powerhouse with banking and investment firms scaling the skyline. As we walked through old city hall and continued on into the business district, the little restaurants along the way with waterfront (Singapore river) seating areas tempt your senses. Live lobsters, crabs, fishes of all sizes line the little walkway, each prepared variously depending on the cultural restaurant. Thai, Indian, Malasian, Chinese, and Filipino to name a few. In the hawker stands of old chinatown, the smell of fresh meats, fruits, and cooked meals are intoxicating. You can’t walk 15meters without getting a sweet smell in your nostrils of roasted duck, pork, chicken, or sweet teas and vegetarian dishes. The curry aroma fills the air, tantalizing everyone to grab a seat on the patio/picnic style tables and petite chairs. I had 3 meals before noontime. We stopped for tea multiple times, it only costs $1 and it comes piping hot like the meals!
If you can get past the food, there are small retail stores selling all kinds of touristy items ranging from tailored suits to mobile electronics and antiques. The larger more established malls are indoors as opposed to the outdoor hawker stands, inside them are long corridors with expensive taste shops to delight the more exquisite tastes of consumers. I really shy’d away from these conglomerate mall settings and opted for the more personable individually run shops. I purchased a few small items that I can bring back with me to the states as well as some gifts for friends. All in all, it was absolutely incredible seeing the variety of cultures and races represented here in Singapore. Unfortunately I only saw 1 tennis court the entire day, so this country definitely needs to make up some ground in the athletics department. (I didn’t see a single football field, basketball court, athletic club or gym…)
Tomorrow I will try to go to the two tennis centers I know of to meet with friends and get some practice. It’s going to be really fun riding the subway decked out in my tennis gear, thus granting me odd stares from all the other passengers. The rail system here is excellent – everything is fast, effecient, and trains come every few minutes. I’m loving the humid weather, loving the food, and excited to see if I can get some tennis in tomorrow.
Can Singapore become a tennis hub in the future??
Shubert
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