THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… IN SINGAPORE
After four days in Singapore, it’s time to reflect. How did we experience this journey? What were our joys, disappointments, questions, doubts, and discoveries? This is not merely an assessment of a country but rather of a trip—how we perceived it individually and subjectively.
We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
François’ Travel Reflections
Integrating Singapore into our eight-month journey was a mutual decision. This city-state is typically a transit city. In fact, we had planned to stop there during a layover to Australia that was supposed to happen… in the summer of 2020. However, the Universe had other plans at that time, and the trip to Australia never happened, nor did the layover in Singapore. Making Singapore the ninth destination of our world tour is therefore a triumph over fate. Additionally, since this time we are much more flexible with time, it seemed pertinent to allocate more than 24 hours to the country. This way, we could take our time to visit every corner of it.
The images that come to mind when thinking of Singapore are not numerous. We inevitably have the one of that lion-fish statue, emblem of the country, which spouts water into the bay. We can also have the one of that huge hotel, on the opposite bank, at the top of which sits a boat, or even the one of those large tree-shaped constructions that offer a sound and light show once night falls.
Let’s say it straight away, these images you may have of the country are also its main tourist attractions. Singapore doesn’t have much else to offer. It’s far from Dubai, another important hub where layovers are common. 24 hours in Dubai might not be enough if you want to enjoy all the activities available to you (provided you’re willing to pay the price, of course). Between the desert road trip and skiing down slopes, you might run out of time.
Singapore doesn’t have all of that. The country offers more of a connection with nature. Of course, if you feel like spending money, you won’t have any trouble doing so between luxury shops and Michelin-starred restaurants. Expensive bars, restaurants, or shops in Singapore are not lacking.
However, if like us, you have a rather limited budget, the range of possibilities is rather limited. Once the main attractions mentioned above have been photographed from every possible angle, there is a risk that boredom will set in.
In reality, that’s what I thought too. But no! Singapore is a beautiful city. Its downtown area contains skyscrapers whose beauty and originality of architecture can easily rival New York’s. The particularity of Singapore is also this dense and lush vegetation found everywhere. Vegetation that even becomes an integral part of the buildings. Walking the streets with your head held high is a real pleasure.
Singapore is also a multicultural city. The fact that half of the country’s population is made up of immigrants and allowing everyone to live according to their customs and traditions is very attractive to foreigners and makes the country more welcoming, but also fosters communalism. We saw very little mixing between peoples, and neighborhoods such as Chinatown and Little India (mostly frequented and inhabited by Chinese for the former and Indians for the latter) do not contribute to creating a common Singaporean culture. As tourists, it’s enjoyable to move around these neighborhoods. They are typical, lively, and the culture of each of the original countries is well represented through food, smells, clothing, etc.
However, if I were Singaporean, I think it would bother me a lot. I would find it difficult to daily interact with people who refuse to adapt and integrate into the culture of my country. I wouldn’t understand their motivations for staying in my country while refusing to live like the majority. This culture of communalism is indeed present in Canada and the United States, so I shouldn’t be too disturbed by what I saw in Singapore. However, after nearly ten years in France, my perceptions have changed. Especially since I believe I have succeeded in my immigration by integrating into French culture, and it happened without (too much) pain. I’m happy to live there and I generally feel good about it.
Singapore is not France, I know. Immigrating to France is probably not the same as immigrating to Singapore. However, Singapore is a developed, wealthy country that partly functions thanks to its foreigners. Integration should therefore not be so difficult there. I am convinced that good integration of foreigners promotes social peace and ensures better functioning of the country. All that remains is to hope that the very strict laws in place in Singapore will endure for many years to preserve the current calm. Otherwise, I fear that multicultural coexistence may become more complicated.
Check out Benjamin’s Travel Reflections:
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