Singapore Sea Stories
It’s impossible to spend even a moment in Singapore without picking up at least a small taste of its magic. It has a magnificently contemporary cultural scene, and is one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world. There is a kind of fascination with pop culture here that is coupled with a splendid sense for the best in high art. This combination makes for a fascinating destination, where travelers will find many exciting distractions. Many cultures collide and come together here, and the products are evident in the design, in the art, and in the cuisine. Through all of these, there is also a terrific sense of local flavor, which speaks to a blend of the East and the West, and world-views that are truly at the forefront of global culture.
In the cuisine, there are reflections of the multiple cultures that make up the population of this island city state. There is always a tremendous variety of foods to choose from, making it a kind of diner’s paradise. Because of its geography, of course, seafood restaurants are particularly sumptuous, with a ready supply of fresh fish always near at hand. If your hunger for the sea is not satisfied by the food, you might want to visit the nearby islands of Subar Laut and Subat Darat, the Sister Islands.
Of course, you may also decide to listen to some local stories about these islands, and save the travel costs in favor of eating more Singapore seafood. There is certainly more than one story about their creation, but the favorite one goes something like this. Two sisters, Minah and Lina loved each other dearly, and never wanted to be separated. When a band of pirates were passing through, a certain sailor saw Minah and fell in love with her immediately, and kidnapped her so he could marry her. Mortified, she threw herself off the boat and into the sea. Lina, upon hearing the news, threw herself into the sea as well. The sisters were never found, and instead, these two islands rose up where they drowned. Every year, on the day of their death, there are storms and rain on the island, because the universe itself is still in mourning.
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