Singapore Travel Guide: Nice To Know Facts About Singapore.

The Mythical Merlion

The Merlion has come to represent Singapore. Although the origins of the Merlion are purely fictitious, a combination of legend, some history and savvy marketing, the current image known today is actually a product of the Singapore Tourism Board. The figure has become part of the country’s mainstream culture and can be found in many souvenir shirts and items such as key chains, mugs and shirts.

The Merlion is a mythical figure with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The name is from a combination of two words: mer meaning sea, as a tribute to the city-state’s origins as a fishing village; and lion, since the country’s name literally translates to lion city. It represents both strength and pays homage to the city’s close ties to the sea. Lion city is the definition of the name Singapura, since it was said that a Javanese prince saw a lion upon landing on the island’s shores. Ironically, the lion is actually a tiger since no lions are natural habitants here.

The legend of the Merlion begins with the story of the island’s discovery, according to the Malay Annals by Prince Nila Utama or Sri Tri Buana of Sumatra. He was from the Sri Vijaya Empire and the son of the king of South India, Raja Chulan. Hunting and partying were his favorite past times. One day he got bored with and decided to explore the area nearby so he will be able to find new adventures. He saw a group of islands called Tamasek, and he decided that he wanted to rule that island. Upon his return to the islands, there was a violent storm. His ship captain threw most of the cargoes into the water to stabilize the ship but the storm was too violent. He persuaded the prince to throw his gold crown into the water, which seemed to appease the gods and the sea became calm to them to reach the shore of Tamasek safely.

While exploring the island, the prince encountered an animal he had never seen before and was told that it was a lion, although its head was black, its chest white and its back covered with reddish fur. Legend has it that upon making eye contact with the fierce lion, the brave prince was able to gain an unspoken understanding with the creature. The lion didn’t attack the prince or his party and instead left. The prince then decided to name the island Singapura, meaning lion city. In Sanskrit, Singa means lion and Pura means city.

In the 1960’s, the government saw the need to boost its tourism industry. As part of its marketing ploy, the tourism board was tasked to create something to capture the attention and imagination of travelers to bring more tourists to Singapore’s shores.

In 1964, Fraser Brunner, a member of the Singapore Tourism Board, created and marketed the Merlion as a mythical symbol of Singapore. In 1972, Singaporean sculptor Lim Nang Seng created the figure using cement and porcelain plates for the body and teacups for the eyes. The white painted figure weighs a hefty 40 tons, measures about 15 feet tall or over eight meters high and constantly shoots a stream of water from its mouth onto the river. This was placed at the mouth of the river. At the background is the Anderson Bridge. Singaporean leader Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew had the statue installed and led its inauguration. This is the original Merlion that the world has come to know.

In 2002, the original Merlion was transferred to Merlion Park at Marina Bay. This is because with the construction of the Esplanade Bridge in 1997 at its original location by the Singapore River, the view of the Merlion became obstructed. The new auspicious location affords travelers many opportunities to have their picture taken with the iconic Merlion.

Today, there are a total of five Merlion statues in Singapore. Aside from the original Merlion now located in Merlion Park, there is also a two-meter tall version placed behind the original statue. The third statue is found at the tourism office. Finally, there is a three-meter replica on Mount Faber’s Faber Point.

There is also a 37-meter (110 feet) tall replica found on Sentosa Island. Standing over 11 stories high, this Merlion is unique because given its size, travelers can go inside the structure since it also serves as a small museum. Travelers can ride the elevator to the 10th floor and from the mouth of the lion, enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city. Further up is a viewing deck that affords travelers an unhindered view of the landscape.

Part myth and part marketing savvy, the Merlion today proudly stands and remains a symbol of strength and courage. It grandly welcomes travelers to Singapore. Tourists can bring home a piece of the Merlion since there are many affordable souvenir items for this iconic symbol.

Mouthwatering Hainanese Chicken

Singaporean cuisine is a reflection of various influences from its Malay, Indonesian and Chinese neighbors, resulting in a cuisine that is fresh, easy to prepare and full of flavor. One of the most popular food items to come out of Singapore is the Hainanese chicken. Chicken rice is often considered the national dish of Singapore. This dish has Chinese origins, hailing from the Hainan province of China, and has similarities with other dishes from other Southeast Asian countries. However, the Hainanese chicken served in Singapore is truly delectable, with subtle flavors that are sure to delight the taste buds of foodies around the world.

Hainanese chicken is boiled or steamed chicken slices served with white rice and some dip. The dip is usually crushed ginger, chili sauce, or in some cases, soy sauce with garlic. While this may sound simple enough, the preparation does take some time to come up with chicken that is tender yet flavorful. Some places also serve it with a bowl of the chicken stock used to prepare the chicken.

Historically, Wenchang chicken, a free-range chicken mainly raised in the province of Hainan in China was used by the Hainanese in the preparation of the dish. The bony structure of the chicken gave the stock its intense flavor. The chicken’s skin is yellow and contains more oil. Hainanese immigrants who moved to Singapore brought with them their food preparation methods and favorite recipes, including Hainanese chicken. Originally a dish of the masses, the savory chicken rice has found its way to dinner tables all across Singapore. It is said that the food stalls in Purvis Street, Koek Road and Middle Road brought the dish to the mainstream.

To prepare the dish, a whole chicken is boiled in water with ginger and garlic. Other Asian nations add pork or beef stock to the mix, although the Singaporeans remain purists when it comes to their chicken rice dish, preferring only chicken. Many chefs stop the cooking process by dipping the chicken in ice water immediately after boiling. The chicken is then chopped into slices, garnished with sliced spring onions and accompanied by a side dish of sliced cucumber and served with steamed rice cooked in the broth used to boil the chicken. The dip consists of crushed ginger or garlic. For some additional flavor, soy sauce, sesame oil or chili oil are added.

Travelers can enjoy Hainanese chicken from just about anywhere in Singapore. It’s an immensely popular dish so travelers can get a taste of it from food courts, food carts and fine dining restaurants in the city.

Swinging Singapore Sling

One of the things that travelers must have a taste of when in Singapore is the Singapore Sling. This is a delicious and refreshing cocktail beverage that has been around for almost a century, and yet still remains widely popular in Singapore and around the world.

Singapore Sling was the brainchild of a bartender working at the Raffles Hotel Singapore. In 1915, Hainanese-Chinese bartender Ngiam Tong Boon combined gin, fresh pineapple juice, Bénédictine and Heering Cherry Liqueur to make a red-colored and foam-topped concoction. It is said that the variety of pineapples affected the sweetness and overall flavor of the drink. The original recipe used the juice of fresh Sarawak pineapples.

According to stories, a young British officer walked into the Raffles Hotel bar and saw Lady Chin, the daughter of a silk merchant. The young man was so enamored by her beauty, he asked the bartender to send a drink. It is said that the bartender was challenged by the British officer to create a tropical cocktail that would also be suitable for the beautiful lady to whom the drink would be offered to. After all, a glass of scotch isn’t suitable for a lady of refinement.

The sweet and tangy cocktail was a hit. The cocktail became quite famous and was called the commander’s drink. It evolved into the name Singapore Sling because the word commander is “si ling” in Hainanese, or abbreviated as “sling”.

Today’s versions of the cocktail uses cherry brandy, grenadine, sweet and sour mix and club soda. The original recipe has been changed as it was handed down through the years. However, travelers interested in seeing some of the original notes by bartender Ngiam can view these at the Raffles Hotel.

For those who want to bring home some Sling, travelers can also purchase canned and bottled versions of the cocktail. It makes for an ideal souvenir item and presents for loved ones back home who want a taste of Singapore.

“Important Notice – You may use or download information available on our travel guide pages for your own personal, non-commercial use, provided that you give proper attribution, with a link back to our website. Similar to the sources used for the travel guides, World Interpreting provides links to information references even for contents we believe constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. More information here.”