Different sides of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur & Phuket

30th March to 3rd April Blog Post 20

Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. Designed by Moshe Safdie, resembles a deck of cards balanced across three towers. Lotus inspired ArtScience Museum next to it. Night picture taken from across the bay.

New adventures in this vibrant region’s incessant heat and humidity.

“Surely we must plan the plan of the plan”? a question, jokingly asked from back of Dr. Kabat’s 1977 strategic planning class, after he explained that first step is to plan the plan.

All this and more in Singapore, ultimate planned country. Every aspect: housing, transport, infrastructure, green space designed through long-term, top-down, centralised, coordinated, integrated planning enforced through authoritarian, heavy state control. Things work in Singapore! Flawed democaracy: Low representation and participation. Yet phenomenal economic growth sustained over decades, transformed from low-income nation to one of world’s wealthiest.

Wonderful visit 15 years ago with our children Yair and Maya. Then, 2023, we home visited people living in subsidised housing, opportunity to converse, understand a bit more about their life. Shul on Friday night and dinner enjoyed with local community.

This time the awe-inspiring globally recognised Marina Bay Sands. From 55th floor observation deck, panoramic view across Singapore. Magnificent Gardens by the Bay, futuristic nature park including world’s largest glass greenhouse: “Flower Dome”, towering vertical “super tree” gardens, Cloud Mountain elevated walkway: 35-metre indoor waterfall, incredible forest and flora. Astounding integration of architecture, ecology, advanced green tech, urban engineering, living “classroom”, tourism.

Kuala Lumpur (KL) means “muddy confluence” (of rivers), symbolises Malaysia’s ethnic, cultural diversity. This time walked Little India’s vibrant array of stores, food outlets, Hindu Temples. Delectable local Indian lunch. These the places we enjoy, rather than KL’s fancy Malls, similar across cities everywhere!

Previously in Phuket: Ultimate tropical escape on boat and kayaks to ‘James Bond’ and Phi Phi Islands. This time lavish temples, Promthep Cape, colourful Phuket Old Town, tea at over 100 years old family home. A blind woman skillfully played the guzheng (traditional Thai string instrument). Perfect setting to reflect, drink it all in together with Thai tea and refreshments. 

“Tiwaporn” our guide’s name. “Porn” for short. Another small demonstration of how norms, words, meaning, context differ across far flung countries. We see, hear, experience so much during these short fascinating visits. But must be careful. Much deeper immersion needed to really “get it”!

One of the 18 Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, ranging from 25 to 50 meters tall.  They support live plants from more than 200 species, with dense vegetation on their vertical panels.
A warm welcome by dancers when disembarking at Port Klang harbour, Malaysia. One hour’s drive to Kuala Lumpur. Note the vibrant traditional costumes representing Malaysia’s diverse ethnic groups: Indigenous Groups, Malays, Chinese, Indians.
Little India, Kuala Lumpur (KL) the focus is on Veg. “Non-Veg” the exception! In a small, simple roadside food joint:  “61 varieties of dishes during lunch”. The veg meal we ate: last “leavened bread” before Pesach.
Iconic Petronas Towers prominently visible from almost everywhere we walked. Classic KL experience when visiting previously. This time we chose lively, authentic, colourful, communal Indian – Malay neighbourhood at Brickfields’ “Little India”.
Our guide: Tiwaporn with Sheryl, at Promthep Cape, Phuket’s southernmost tip, with vista over Andaman Sea.
Lighthouse at Promthep Cape. Message on the marble slab, written in Thai, (roughly) says: “This place is sacred to the King and to the sea”.
Inside Wat Chalong, a Thai Buddhist Temple in Phuket: Large, ornate complex with multi-tiered roofs and golden stupas (dome shaped monuments). In this picture a few of the golden Buddha statues inside.
Kio Keng Chinese-Taoist Shrine in Phuket dedicated to Taoist deities. This temple quite different from Wat Chalong. Modern, highly decorative, multiple altars, Taoist statues, red lanterns and dragon themed décor!
Phuket Old Town: Colourful Sino- Portuguese buildings, atmospheric stores.